Hello from a Newbie & a couple of questions

mandisfam · 19-03-2008, 09:48 PM

Firstly hello to everyone. Wow what a wonderful site. Only came across you all yesterday and can't stop reading.

My husband finally came home from work last night and said he really wants to consider moving to oz. Finally a lightbulb moment from him, I have been slowly trying to get him to consider moving for last 5 years but he has been very against till now. Our main reason for considering is to give our children 5 and 3 and ourselves a better life.

Thing is Im at an advantage, I lived and worked in melborne for 6 months back in 2001 and travelled the east coast during this time, so I kinda know what to expect. My husband has never been to oz so its difficult for him to decide. He is very much of the of the opinion that he couldn't up root and go and live in a country he has never step foot in, which I understand.

So this brings me to my first question how many people on here and in oz or planning to go to oz and have never been to oz before????

And to my second question; how are people financing the costs of skills assessments and migration agents fees and visas. Personal question I know, but just curious.

One more question, are the oz expos worth going to. We have an expo happening in a couple of weeks near where we live, as was planning of going if they are worth it.

Just for info, if we go we plan to go on the weight of my husband's job being a skill in demand as he is an IT security specialist. Sorry just thought of another question, which going to sound really dumb but what sort of visa's do apply for myself as the wife and the children. Is it just one visa for us all, or do we all need to apply separately???

Sorry to waffle and ask so many questions, there is just so much information everywhere that I beginning to confuse myself.

Many thanks and best of luck to you all.................

KP Nuts · 19-03-2008, 10:05 PM

Hi there, and

Ok, here goes your questions:-

1) We have never been to Oz before, we have no family there, and only the friends that we have made here on PIO.
2) We have used an agent called Go Matilda, who have been great, their fees have been approx £1300 - 1400, plus $300 for the TRA's, plus £850 for the Meds, plus $20** sorry can't remember the last two numbers for the visa application, plus £10 each for police checks.
3) Sorry haven't been to an expo, so can't help with that one.
4) The whole family goes on your oh application, so only one fee.

Hope this helps,

Good luck with your application

KP Nuts

PS our meds were for 2 adults and 3 children

claire&fred · 19-03-2008, 10:10 PM

Hi

Welcome to PIO.

Think KP Nuts has answered better than I can. However, we have been to Oz. Only on holiday which is very different to living there. I have family there.

Our Agent is Immigration Downunder/The Immigration Group and we paid them £1800.00 in 2 separate payments but obviously on top of that we had TRA (can't remember how much that was), Our Visa was $2060.00, police checks, same as KP Nuts and our medicals came to £690.00 all in.

Have not been to an Expo either but there are quite a few people on PIO that have, so I am sure someone will pick up your thread.

Best of luck

Claire

misschief · 19-03-2008, 10:38 PM

Hiya and welcome :)
My OH and I are uprooting our 3 rugrats (12,11 and 8 years) and are taking them to a country none of us has ever been to!!! We cannot wait!! Good Luck :)

ali · 19-03-2008, 11:08 PM

We visited my brother in Brisbane and during that time visited Cairnes and Sydney, we decided we liked the aussie way of life and used some savings to apply for the visa (which we did ourselves). We actually chose WA (without visiting) and haven't been disappointed.

I think if your hubby really wants to do a rekki then try to do it as it may go along way in making him feel more settled about the idea, some people who go back say they wish they had gone before, whilst others say being on holiday isn't the same as living there ..... do what's best for you.

Ali

markandtraceyessex · 19-03-2008, 11:39 PM

hi,and welcome
ok, we are not in oz yet, but plan to be by oct 08, august if we get our way. we have been to oz before back in aug 06 for 3 weeks, went in winter to see what is was like when weather not to good, and loved it,
was a culture shock though, i expected all the streets to be like ramsy street, & home and away etc, but glad we went and helped us make up our minds. i would advise people to go and stay for 3 to 4 weeks
we are using an agent; george lombard associates. george is a great bloke with a good team and has a website (pm me if you want it) our costs because paid in instalments were paid by part of monthly salary when we could aford it and by credit card when we could not!. fees were basically £2.4 k (ish) via agent and £900 for xrays & medicals.
our plan is to pay off ALL our dept with equity from our house sale and take whats left to oz :)
went to 2007 expo and found to be not worth it for me. i think it depends on how far down the migration journey you are and what skills you have.
my whole family applied on the back of my skills visa with my wife applying on a permenant visa for spouse, so she'll be able to work if shes chooses to.
hope this reply helps
regards mark and tracey

Mrs C · 20-03-2008, 08:02 AM

Hiya and welcome to PIO

KP NUTs has answered your auestions very nicely, so I just wanted to let you know that I am moving to Brisbane on 2nd Sep 08 and have never stepped foot in the county before.

Some call me mad and some call me brave, I just wanna give it a chance, if i don't like it UK will still be here for me.

Life is for living, and this is going to be a great big adventure for me, it might last two years and it might last a life time... who know's?

I do agree, that if you Husband is a bit worried, take him over and show him why you love Australia.

jonny.co@tiscali.co.uk · 21-03-2008, 09:00 PM

hiya and welcome to PIO.
we have never been to oz before either.we have no family over there, but know a few people who are friends of ours, who lived over there,and have moved back to britain,but are going back to oz,as they have said it was the worse decision of their lives to come back to England,as they cannot believe how much this country has changed for the worse.so we are taking the plunge,and hoping we can make a go of it.
good luck.
nic xxx

kernow001 · 21-03-2008, 09:18 PM

Hi to all on this site, just joined this evening, me and my husband have never been to Oz but i do have family in Brisbane, we are apprehensive, but life is for living and it carnt be worse than living in the UK, my only concern is i carnt get my eldest daughters to come to, one has just made us grandparents, i will miss them but i think they will follow in time. Take the plunge,
Best of luck,

coxey · 21-03-2008, 11:48 PM

Hi I Have Just Found This Site And Am So Pleased, We Have Just Decided To Move To Aus , We Have No Family There And A Large One Here So Its Gonna Be A Wrench. Give Me Any Advice And Tips Pleeeeaaaasse. We Come From A Small Town In Devon And Are Trying To Decide Where To Live We Want Decent Shops, Not Rough Area, Safe, And Good Community.
Some Of The Threads Have Frightened Me About Slums Etc.
We Are Gonna Use An Agent Called Jo Grist Has Anyone Used Grist Int. If So Please Advise Good/bad