sarah harmer

4 minutes ago, LKC said:

My husband and I separated about a year after we returned from nine years in Australia. That was about eight months ago, and things are good now. Please PM me if you want a friendly ear to talk to. We have kids too, but honestly they’ve been fine (and one has autism).

Ah thank you so much.

So lovely to have a friendly resource on here.  Very appreciated and I may PM you in the future xx

17 hours ago, LeeBee said:

I agree with Ali above, it is a beautiful country in so many ways but if you already have doubts and relationship worries, moving away from UK would probably just make things worse. Once you move, you have ‘a foot in both camps’ and that causes so many emotional problems and will always be a problem.  My family moved to Sydney in ‘94 when our boys were 13 and 11.  They settled fairly easily and so did my husband.  I found a great job with other ‘Poms’ which really helped with home sickness but I always felt I would go back home at the drop of a hat if I could!  Unfortunately once the kids get settled and start thinking about uni or work, you are committed. We moved to Perth in 2014 as it was cheaper to buy a house and loved it but I still hankered to move back to UK.  Now I am planning to move back to UK in August after sadly losing my husband two years ago and am now wondering if I will regret it.  I still have family and good friends there who I am in contact with, but  I will have one son left in Oz and one who will probably move back to UK eventually so I am still up in the air!  There is no right or wrong answer to move or don’t move, it will always be a huge expense but you need to have as much info as you can and expect lots of problems and mixed emotions.  You and your husband need to be together on this. I wish you good luck but try to keep your options open  if you can. 

Thank you so much for your honest and heartfelt opinion.

We have been trying to get close again, relationship wise, and it hasn't worked.  We just irritate each other now and we have discussed separation.  It's horrible, but thankful that concerns are out in the open and that its all come about in the UK.

I will let you know how it goes and what is decided.  I will just make sure that our kids are protected.  My husband still says that he should come first and the kids second!

So appreciate your comments.  It is really giving me an insight into what I think I already know.

My hubby is full of faith and says that I should put my trust in God.  But I don't think like that.  I can't use faith for this type of decision, I have to decide myself and use common sense.

The scenario I am in now though, is that within the next 4 weeks.......We would have exchanged on our house together..........if we are separating I need to find somewhere to rent with the kids......and find a new home.....and find a new job because they have replaced me with a new staff member.  So lots on my plate at the moment and I am finding it hard to work my brain out.

I'm getting there and talking on here definitely helps.

Hope more people find this topic and it's helpful to them too.  Any more comments will be read with much interest and appreciation.

xx

Wow, thank you all so much for your honest replies.

I have told my OH that I have doubts and he is not happy at all.  I have wanted to move to Oz for 25 years and now we have the visa, I am looking at our relationship and wondering if I can stay with him at all.

We are trying to look at our own relationship before we can honestly yes to Australia.  We have both become very distant partners and need to pull our relationship back.  It is so much harder then I even thought possible.

I thank all of you for replying, it has confirmed things for me (like kids not being allowed to come back unless OH gives written permission), so I am so thankful for that.

At the moment I am in a okay situation with finances and job will have to change soon anyway since I handed my notice in a few months back.  But I do feel like England is home.  I have 2 kids an I'm 41 this year, maybe 10 years ago it would have been a different story .

Thank you again x

Hi

Can anyone tell me what costs are like to return to the UK compared to moving out in the first place?

Has anyone returned and fallen short on money due to a massive difference in the housing costs, shipping and every other cost involved?

Just heard that coming back can be very hard for people and want to be able to know that I can do it.

My hubby is 100% certain he would not come back, but I am definitely not so sure and worry that I will be stuck.

I know I shouldn't be thinking of this because we haven't left yet, (house here in the UK is about to complete).  But with 2 kids under 8 and years of household goods coming with us, I need to understand the problems that may arise.

Thanks

Sarah

Hi

It's quite a hard property to rent out.  There is a large Koi pond and filters.  Lots of trees and shrubs that need tending to.  It may be wrecked if we let it out to someone.

Hi there

Does anyone know if the following is possible?

We are 2 adults and 2 small children, all with a 489 SS visa already granted March 2018.  We visited and validated in July just gone.  But our house is still on the market and there doesn't seem to be much interest.  We also now have my hubby's mums house being renovated and will on the market in a couple of months, so there is a delay for us there.

Am I able to go ahead of my husband (I was the primary applicant)?  I feel this is not what we'll do, but I am worried that if we don't get to Adelaide by March/April 2019, it means that 1 whole year has dropped off our 4 years to get the requirements needed to apply for the permanent visa.

Also, if my husband did find the 1 year of work and we applied for the 887 Permanent under his name (is this possible as I was the primary applicant),  does he need to do an Ielts test?

Any advice appreciated.  Maybe I'm just being silly and worrying about nothing.

Many thanks all

Sarah

Ah thank you Wendy

We have got an AirBnb sorted for the whole trip.  Lovely of you to offer.

Best regards

Sarah

Absolutely brilliant news woody2709.  So happy for you.  Exciting times ahead of you and the adventure starts  xx

On 19/05/2018 at 13:20, flossybeth said:

I would suggest that your children will definitely paddle at the very least because the sun is still pretty warm, when it's out. What you won't get are days lying on the beach or long evenings (even in summer the sun's gone by 9.30 at the very latest) and some of the winds might be a bit blowy.

As the majority of the others have said Glenelg or a CBD location would be best for such a long term stay because of the transport options but public transport is pretty good around Adelaide with trains up from the south, into the north and the Obahn coming in from the northeast so there's lots of options. The parklands around the CBD are really good, lots of playgrounds and the linear parks along the Torrens are easy walking.

I don't think you'd want to spend you month up in somewhere like Hahndorf or Mount Barker, they will be chillier and although they might be lovely places to actually live in I think you'd find yourself bored pretty quickly if you were left without a car. Your husband might have to drink his wine pretty early too if he wants a view with it - it's dark by 5.30 just now.

Thanks Flossybeth

Very helpful.

We have actually booked 9 days in Stirling and 10 days in Glenelg.  We're looking to book another 9 days somewhere else....but don't know where.  Do you reckon Aberfoyle or North CBD (but close to the CBD) for the last 9 days......I'll have access to a car most days.  It's just the odd morning that I may not.

11 hours ago, Zet01 said:

Hi Sarah

I sent a filled out FORM 929 to the Immigration to let them know about my new passport including a photocopy of the new passport photo page.  My VEVO has showed my new passport before our holiday, so I had no issues last Month when we had our holiday.

Here is the link for your reference: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/lega/lega/form/immi-faqs/how-can-i-update-my-address-or-passport-details

 

Thank you so much for this.

Are Citroen DS3's like ten to the dozen in Australia (Adelaide)?  Or are there less of them so that it may be worth me bringing it?

It is a 2014 - Diesel - Cat D (repaired after someone had an accident) - High spec car, but because it is was Categorized D, it'll only be worth about £6,000-£7,000

Is a category D car considered less money in Australia too?

37 minutes ago, snifter said:

Also tend to agree with Marisa that you are trying to fit too many places in and it can be really hard to make a decision based on a short stay somewhere. Especially in winter. Stirling for example will most likely be cold (hills are always a fair few degrees cooler than the plains) and wet and often sat in cloud. Hardly at its best. In Fire season it’s a high risk area as it’s in the hills, so that to consider and contend with. We had a catastrophic fire rating this summer for the first time since we moved up here. That’s as bad as it can get in terms of fire danger just so you know. You spend the entire day checking the updates, watching the CFS website for fires and schools are closed. It’s stressful and fires can and do happen. We had a huge fire here a few years back and though it was 40km or so away from us the air was thick with smoke over our way and you could see it also. Same most everywhere over the hills for a few days. I woke in the night when it broke out and windows were open and I actually thought it was closer or even our own house on fire the smell was so strong on the wind.

We started in Glenelg (family there) and we knew the area pretty well. However we also knew we didn’t want to settle there in the long term but that for 6 months or so it would be good till we did find an area to buy a house and settle long term. And that is exactly what we did.

I never fell in love with Glenelg as a place to live but it did the job to get us going and ticked a numbe of boxes but not all of them, nor even a majority tbh. Perhaps approach it like that with the move and once living here take time to explore, see suburbs in spring, summer and get a feel for the market, prices, demand and research schools for the longer term then. We did all that and 4 years plus on our house up in the foothills are still as happy as he day we got the keys and moved in.

Had we rushed into settling on an area before we moved here or chose somewhere long term early on we’d probably have long ago regretted it for numerous reasons. 

Thank you so much.  You are always so helpful.  You take the time to reply in detail and wow, it really is nice to get some good advice.

I do agree, and trying to get a feel for places in a week or two is not going to work.  We just want to have a little variation and make the most of the month we're there.  I think we'll look at the 3rd stay somewhere south, not sure if it'll be coastal or more in the foothills.  (Question. Does the foothills mean at the foot of the hills?)

What are Maclaren Vale, Willunga and Noarlunga like?  Someone else mentioned Noarlunga.  Is it a nice place in general and is there much to see?

xx

Hi there

We are doing a Validation visit to Adelaide in July/August.  We're a family of 4 and the 2 little ones are age 2 and 7.  We have currently booked a few days in Glenelg and a few days in Stirling to get a feel for the different areas.  We are wondering on the 3rd area we could visit and need some help.  Should we also stay in the CBD?  Should we stay more down south like Brighton or Seacliff?  Maybe Norwood or more north of the CBD?

We are trying to find out what suburbs are nice to live in, not too cramped and not congested (we're from the UK so not interested in too many queues ).  We need to also look for good Primary schools. 

Once we move, our final destination will need a good sized garden, along with a view of some sort (sea or hills), it just boils down to space and views but not too far out with lots of traffic.  Not asking for too much are we! .

Has anyone got any advice on where this 3rd holiday stay could be?  I am thinking of Norwood, Brighton or going 40 mins north or south from the CBD, but don't have any idea on how remote they really are.  We both need jobs, so don't want to make it difficult for ourselves

xxxxxx

Ooooh, what about Marino?  There is a place on Airbnb that has a nice view from a balcony with a green garden space with a swing set.  That would be perfect for the kids, but seems that the distance from Marion to Glenelg is one long road.  Is there a lot of access to beach/rocks?  Is there much sand or will we have to drive 10 mins towards Somerton Park to get any sand?   is there much to do in Marino/Marino Rocks?

You can tell my lack of knowledge to the area!!

Thank you all.

4 hours ago, Barry1986 said:

Glenelg would be good. Tram to the city nice area plenty of shops. What do you both do for work?

Hi Barry1986,

I am an office based person.  I've been an Office Manager, Customer Service Manager and general Administrator.  I'm going to look for both the same admin type role and maybe a completely different role.  This depends on what I can find.

My husband is a Painter & Decorator who also fits carpets, kitchens/bathrooms and is a very good ex-car sprayer .  He also said he wouldn't mind trying something completely new too.  He can put his hand to anything and do it well.

Do you know of anything that may be around that we can keep our eyes out for?

Amazing info guys, thank you.

And the last question in regards to this subject, if we go further towards the hills or just east of Adelaide CBD what suburbs and towns would be good to look at?  This is mainly because by husband would like a nice garden or good view for the evening wine o'clock time!  .

I know its the worst weather and so the beach will probably be too cold, so we may as well see if there are other options.

Snifter....Absolutely brilliant PM.  Thank you so much.  Its either going to be Glenelg then or if someone can give us some ideas of areas with bigger gardens or nice views x

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone could help us.

We are coming over for a 1 month holiday to validate our visas and have a good look around for schools, suburbs and properties in July/Aug.  We have a few Airbnb holiday places that I wondered if you could tell me if the area is a good location for us.  We have 2 children (one is 2 one is 7) and we'll be hiring a car.

We will all be in the car a lot, looking around, but my husband will most likely be taking the car off on his own to have a browse around too.  That mean's I'll be left in the holiday home to either go to the beach, go shopping or visit the local entertainment areas.

My question is, what area's a good to live in for a month as a base point?  At the moment we have an option of Devon Park, West Beach, Renown Park, Pooraka, Walkervile or Glenelg or Henley Beach.  Which area is best without a car with 2 little ones in tow (pushchair too)?

Any help really appreciated.  I am posting this on the main site also to get a general consensus.

Regards

Sarah

Hi there

My husband has a highly modified Fiat Abarth.  Everything about it is new or altered.....from the engine to the paint.  It's only a 2009 plate but that doesn't mean anything because its all new.  It is worth bringing it over.  But he is afraid it may not be accepted for some reason into Adelaide.  Has anyone got any advice on where we go for more help with this?

I woke up this morning to find that after around 7 months and 1 week, I had an email to say that we have been granted a visa . Our Initial Entry Date is 30th August.

I was hoping that by 8 months we would hear back.

Lots of planning ahead!!

I woke up this morning to find that after around 7 months and 1 week, I had an email to say that we have been granted a visa . Our Initial Entry Date is 30th August.

I was hoping that by 8 months we would hear back.

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice xx

I woke up this morning to find that after around 7 months and 1 week, I had an email to say that we have been granted a visa . Our Initial Entry Date is 30th August.

I was hoping that by 8 months we would hear back.

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice xx

56 minutes ago, varun410 said:

Ok thanx will call them tom morning only .... ?

Can you let us know how you get on?

6 hours ago, NewDeep said:

Hey guys,

Keep your fingers crossed. You will get there soon.

My sister received visa today and her timeline is:

Date of Vetassess Application submission- September 23, 2017 

Date of Vetassess Application Result- November 20, 2017 

Date of SA nomination Application submission- November 29, 2017 

Date of nomination Application Result- 13 December 2017

Date of Visa 489 Application submission- 14 Dec 2017

Date of Visa Application grant- 2 Mar 2018

Good luck everyone!!

That's great news!

Did she have her Police checks and medicals done BEFORE she applied or did they ask her for it?