saunders 5

We have the most timid Maltese Lap Dog that we took back to the UK. She was on the same flight as us and we even saw her being loaded onto the plane. I was so worried how she would cope but we picked her up at the other end and she strutted out to see us as Happy as Larry I'm sure she didn't love the trip but she thrived just fine.

I am wanting to return to the UK but have a 16 yr old currently in Year 10 in Oz. He will now have missed taking GCSE's in the UK so he's stuck in the middle of two education systems without any qualifications. Has anyone else been in this situation that could advise me of possible options for him ?

Just had a chat with Alastair, he reckons membership is around $2000 a year at The Pacific and should be around $42 to play at the w/ends and $31 in the week for non members.

Hi Lou, My husband is one of the Golf Operations team a The Pacific in Carindale. He used to be the manager at Links in Hope Island on the Gold Coast. He reckons The Pacific is a far more friendly place, quite a few expats and reasonably priced compared to some. He played off scratch / +1 so is reasonably fussy but I don't think it is a "real flash" place. Depends what he is looking for. Good Luck with everything

Thanks for your replies - much appreciated

Great - many thanks

Sorry Tina, I live in Sorrento on the Gold Coast - should have been more specific but it's a long way to school from Victoria lol. Some times I wish though haha!

Hi, We have just moved to Sorrento and wondered if anyone had any experience of Benowa State High and Primary schools ? Many thanks ?

Hey Alan, Just having a mooch around PIO and thought I know who that is when I saw your post. I wondered if you had come back to the UK. We too are heading back to the Gold Coast at the end on October. Nothing to do with either country really as I have loved being back in Manchester with the hustle & bustle but my husband has been offered another job back in Brisbane, I can have my old job back and we now have PR so we will return. I'm actually going to find it much harder to leave this time as I feel for my family here having to say good bye again for the second time around. Let me know how you go ..... Alison

At the end of the day I asked a question that I would have liked a straight forward answer. I didn't ask for everyone assumptions and opinions.

I'm a very placid person but this was just insulting ! I asked a general question that relates to money everyone in the UK has been entitled to up until this year when the Govt brought in an income fresh hold.

Where in my question did I say I was relying on this money ???

Well all I can say is you Patronising Pig Ignorant Lot ! (except you Cal who has always been helpful with any advice) My husband and I have worked full time all our lives, have three children, studied at Uni for Bsc and Msc whilst also working full time and you have the cheek to say I want to live in Aus on benefits. How dare you ! We have lived in Qld for over 4yrs on a 457 working as a nurse we are now lucky enough to get our PR. In the UK every family has been entitled to Child Benefit or Family Allowance as it used to be called. We are not relying on "benefits" as you put it to return but as we are not millionaires either it all helps! Rant over & go get a life !

Not quite sure where to post this but do you as a family receive any kind of Child Benefit like the UK if you have Permanent Residency in Australia ? Is anyone able to tell me how much it is ? We have three children and just trying to weigh it all up financially. Many thanks

Thanks so much LS - I'm keeping my fingers crossed !

We have now got a CO but she just does not reply to my emails. I am getting very disheartened by her attitude compared to previous communications with others when our 457's were being processed. Has anyone else had this problem ?

I had a two week gap between my 457 running out and my two years with my employer to lodge my ENS direct entry PR. I was told I would need to apply for a new 457 and those medicals could be used for my PR way back in June. Its obviously just bad luck that we had to wait so long to be assigned a case officer compared to others who seem to be flying through in a matter of weeks !!!!

Thanks :biggrin:

Thanks Sticks but that's kind of my point, they have now expired as I waited along time to be appointed a case officer.

Going a bit mad with my questions now I have a CO. Do they still accept your Medicals and Police Certificates if they were less than 12 months old when you first submit your application. I am just about to send them to my CO as requested but they expired last month because I have waited so long to get to this point. Aaarrrrgggghhhh !

Thanks - I feel a little less paranoid now

I'm really sorry if this is a thick question but does everyone have to do a Form 80 - Evidence of Character ? Been trying to find some posts about it. I'm very excited to finally receive a Case Officer, now feeling a little concerned about this form - not that we have anything to hide ??? But it appears to be awfully long .... Stressed me ? Nooooo ! :arghh:

I applied December 7th 2012 and still waiting ..... Arrrrrrgggggggghhhhh !

We have a bit of a dilemma. In December 2012 we had lived in Oz for just over 4 years and had just submitted my ENS 186 visa application for my job as a nurse. Two weeks later my husband was made redundant and feeling fed up over Christmas decided on a whim to come back to the UK. My question is how will that effect our application now as my sponsor is willing to remain as my sponsor to come back to Australia if possible, or will our visa application just be cancelled if I inform immigration we are now living back in the UK. We are gutted as it took us so long to save for the application and we really don't want to have to start the whole process all again as I believe the 186 can be applied for off shore. Sorry its so long winded but any advice would be hugely appreciated.

Can anyone give me any advice on claiming back my super and tax on return to UK on a 457 visa. Is it refunded quickly or does it take forever. Really appreciate any advice.