WelcomeIf you are new to Poms In Oz and migrating to Australia or currently living in Australia feel free to say hi to all the other either in or moving to Oz.
It's funny but it's the other way round in my household! I want to go badly (but then I am the one with family already there) and my husband needs convincing everyday! One day he's keen then the next he backtracks! I think as well he has travelled a lot so maybe he wants a base now.
Still, it's our children I think of more so that make me ready for the upheaval. How much has the weather put my plans off here? Mmmmmm, every day almost!
How far into going are you Kate? have you already applied for a visa? How old are your kids? I have 3, Emily is nearly 12,Sophie is 9 and Charlie is 7. They are all quite keen to go even though they will be leaving some lovely friends. I want to go but get nervous about giving everything up here, the weather is a big plus point for me, i get so depressed with all the rain here! Where abouts are you looking to go? we are aiming for Brisbane. I have family in Perth but the job offer is in Brisbane, originally i was hoping to aim for Perth but i must admit Queensland looks georgeous!
Helen.
Hi Helen,
My brother is Queensland, Gold Coast and him and his family absolutely adore it there. The weather here in England is so depressing and so I think more sunshine and dry days will definitely bring with it more opportunities for days out with the family. I know you can go out when the weather is cold and rainy here but I don't enjoy myself and that definitely rubs off onto the kids.
We are right at the beginning of applying for the 175 visa. And when I say right at the beginning I mean it!!!! We are in contact with an Aussie company who assess people for an Australian certificate which will then mean we can apply for the visa. My hubby is a dryliner with no qualifications but heaps of experience so fingers crossed all will work out.
We have 2 boys, Toby 2 and Jack 5. So for them the only upset will be leaving family. But children nearly always adapt easier than adults so I'm not concerned about them really.
Do you work? Where exactly is your husbands job offer? Have you been before?
Kate
Hi Kate,
No i dont work, i dont even get housework done any more-i cant drag myself away from the computer! My husband is in the same boat as yours, he has been a roof thatcher for 11 years now but doesnt have any formal qualifications.He had been running his own business ( with a little help from me!) for all this time, so we are hoping he can prove himself! I just sent a few emails to various companys and luckily one had responded. We will have to pay the fees for the sponsership but they will re-imburse them if it all works out ok. Paul (my hubby) is waiting to go over and meet with them, but we wanted to find out our chances of getting a visa were first before buying the ticket. I have never been there, my Aunty and Uncle went over on the £10 ticket about 40 years ago and she visits quite often, and i also have some cousins dotted about. We just want a better future for our kids as we think this country is going downhill fast! I'm sure the kids will soon adapt, and my eldest is very outgoing so will love the outside lifestyle there.
Exciting isn't it! I've just got off the phone from my mum, dad and brother (parents out visiting my brother at the mo!) and I'm feeling more jealous by the minute! They've said it's gorgeous and so inoffensive there. They've visited Burleigh Heads today and said it was stunning and have loads more places still to see.
It's easy to get swept along in the excitement from what people say but I just can't help it!
It's great to chat though and find out your details. I'm sure we'll talk again and you never know may even end up meeting on the other side of the world!
Take care and good luck. Do PM me if you like, I'm like you, stuck to the computer!
Kate
You are so lucky having family there! I dont know how to cope with all the waiting, i just read a thread where someone applied in Jan and had just got it approved,how lucky is that! Have you got to sell your house? I havent got a clue when to put ours up for sale, as we will need to sell it to go. Some people seem to take 18months to get approved, god i havent got a clue what we are doing!
Good luck to you too, perhaps your brother will thow a bar-b-que for both of us when we get there! ha ha!
Welcome to PIO. And congrats on making the first steps towards a new life.
We are also at the very beginning of our journey and appointed an agent on Tuesday. They confirmed that they have received our forms so here we go.
We are going on a 176 as I am a nurse and know that we want to go to Brisbane.
Best of luck. Hope we all have a smooth journey.
Hi Shell, nice to hear from you. It should be plain sailing for you if you are a nurse, why do you want to go to Brisbane? have you been before? Its really exciting isnt it, although i'm useless at waiting for things to happen!
Best of luck, and maybe see you there!!
Helen.
(The Draycotts )
Never been to Brisbane but have scoured google earth and looked at loads of photos. It just looks so nice there. Looked at WA but the only big town seems to be Perth. Flies put us off Perth too.
Seems to be so much more to see and do in QLD, such as Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Barrier reef. Only thing unsure of is darkness at 6.30pm, but will have to get used to it. Looked on net and they are talking about daylight saving time in Brisbane so they may adjust clocks to make it lighter at night. Fingers crossed eh!
From what I can gather if you're applying for a 175 then it can take a year at least. The 457 visas (sponsored ones) can be processed a lot quicker but again if you need to sell a house then getting over there could be delayed.
We do have a house to sell eventually but I'm not even going down that path until I know we definitely will get a visa. I love my house. We've just extended so I have finally got the space I have always wanted. Still, it will give us the financial back up to set us up comfortably when we get there.
Let's hope in a years time the dollar rate is good, the house market is excellent, flights are cheap as are Australian houses and we all get visas!
And of course if my brother doesn't do a barby then I will!
