liverpoolloo

Hi Gill

Like other people I just wanted to say thankyou for that very encouraging post, very inspiring and like others I will read it again. At the moment I feel as If all I do is try to find out information and make decisions!! I telephoned a shipping company yesterday and discovered that anything that has touched the ground has to be disinfected, including wicker, I was planning on taking a unit with wicker drawers (they have been varnished). Does anybody have any idea how much customs charge for disinfecting if they decide to do it.? I am supposed to be taking over a bicycle of my sons, but it is pieces in a special box and I fear if I take it out I wont get it all back in again. So I was thinking I might let customs disinfect it.

So thanks again Gill and I will get a Post Office card

best wishes to you and your family

Moira

Saga also do a credit card with no charges for use abroad, i have just changed my card for this reason also, Ann

Okay, we are, thanks to the info on this site, planning to apply for a non contributory parent visa, with the intention of swapping to a CPV as soon as we can see the future a bit more clearly (elderly mother can't be left).

 

Before we begin this process, I have a medical question. My husband has a condition which necessitates a regular colonoscopy examination. (currently every two years). He had a tendency to produce polyps and the exam is to identify and remove (during the exam) any that may later become cancerous. He has never had bowel cancer, just suffers from an elevated risk. Can any one advise whether this sounds the sort of thing that may cause him to fail his medical for a parent visa? I stress he has never had bowel cancer, just this regular preventative check.

 

Many thanks for any replies.

I had a lump in my right breast which was discovered Jan of this year, i had all the mamograms , ultra sound scan followed by a biopsy which came back as benign showing no cancerous cells present, the consultand decided to remove the lump as it was quite large and the biopsy from that was also benign, i had my medical in May for the visa and took a letter the consultant kindly wrote explaining the procedure and the results, the doctor at the medical Hospital in Manchester was happy with the letter provided had a quick look at the scar and said it would be fine, i have not heard back from Sydney were the medical info goes so i am hoping no further investigation will be required, i suggest you take as much info as you can to the medical from your GP or consultant explaining the problem. I am sure ll will be fine as no cancerouse polyps have been found. Hope this helps.

That's why we're here! See: www.gmtax.com.au !

 

Best regards.

And worth your weight in gold as far as i am concerned Alan, i will check out the above as i shall be renting my house as from next month, i was under the understanding that i have to pay tax on the rental income here in the UK and and in Australia too as the rental income is classed as earnings in Australia. Although you still have your tax allowance in the UK so i don't think my rent income will be above that per tax year. I shall be working in Australia so will have to declare the income. Ann

Everyone who is worried about this issue should send an email to CPV to querry. I believe they will make it clear to you that:

 

-the sponsor does need to have PR at time of lodgement (so if no PR at time of lodgement, then the application will be refused - I am sure),

 

-and the sponsor does need to be in Oz for 2 years (legally on any temp visa, I am sure)- and settle (by proving with job/ houses/ cars/ children enrolling at school... I am not sure which one will be enough). So if the sponsor has not been in Oz for at least 2 years on a legal visa, the application will be refused. But if the sponsor has been in Oz for at least 2 years even just on any kind of temporary visa, then when gets PR, the sponsor applies for a CPV, it will be ok.

 

I did check this with a friend who had been in Oz 2 years as a dependent on her husband who was a student. She got a full time job then had PR. 10 days after having PR, she applied for her parents CPV and got it last month.

 

Regarding migration agents, many of my friends have bad experience. Some lost their chance to have a PR, some had to apply for another one, some had to take it back..., So please be careful with them, the best way we can do is to double check.

 

I hope this helps someone who is worried.

 

@liverpoolloo: I think you are eligible to apply for the CPV right now. If you are still not sure, just check with PVC so you do not have to wait more. Regards.

Thank you for the post, this was explained to me by my present agent who comes highly recommended on here and has been excellent, informative and very promp in answering my queries, i think you have explained the query and hopefully put many minds at rest. :smile:

Originally Posted by denzil53

We have just heard, after a 14 month wait, that our visa application has been refused. Our sponsoring son had not been resident for the full 2 years at the start of our application, although he has now been there almost 3 years! Not sure what to do now . . .

 

The above re-post is from page 407 in this thread and is for all the people who can't decide what the rules are about PR. Not heard whether Denzil has had his appeal yet but beware - DIAC do take it seriously. They didn't even let him know at the original lodgement that it would be rejected - he had to wait the full 14 months for a rejection!

Hope this helps! Val x

So worrying to read even though you tick all the boxes for being settled, it seems harsh they didn't let him know at lodgement and he had to wait 14mths to have his application rejected, i used an agent before and my son did not have PR then, my application was regected at lodgement, i was a bit miffed as i thought the agents should have known it would not get through, my son has had PR for 15mths now so i can only hope it gets through. He was on a spouse visa since 2008 prior to getting PR last year.

Fingers crossed....... and another worry for the 3am ovaltine worry wake up call......:twitcy::wacko:

must say this is my understanding too. PR &."settled" rather than PR 2 years....certainly hope so anyway :daydreaming:

Thats my understanding too, certainly hope so or i am snookered,:eek:

Hi Liverpoolloo, you really put into words exactly how I feel sometimes. The trouble, I think, is that there is too much time waiting for the Visa and so we have wobblies and worries where there probably is none. If it was all processed quickly we wouldn't have the time to worry about the various costs - the money would be handed over and we would be there seeing for ourselves how we cope with living costs. Obviously, from a practical point of view, most of us need the time to get our finances etc in order, but really there is not much to be done until nearer the time anyway.

 

I wake up some mornings thinking that maybe my daughter doesn't really want us to go - absolutely stupid thoughts I know - but shows how paranoid I have become - totally impatient and feel my life is in limbo whilst waiting for Visa - and of course, that's not definite yet.

 

I am sure you and all of us will be absolutely fine once we get to Oz - we will "cut our cloth accordingly" and being able to see our grandkids as and when we want is priceless! This is the thought I hang onto when doubts start to creep in regarding the huge outlay to get us to Oz.

 

You are not alone!

 

Val x

Yes Val i think you are right on the waiting time emotionally is to long but practical on the finance sorting on needing more time to get funds together. I think when it draws near there's just so much to think about and do that the stress is colossal, to add to mine is getting the house finished by 1st june for renting and my daughter/son-in-law finishing necessary jobs in their house they have just bought by that time too ( they are living with me) i am then going to live with them until the big move. I am now dreading the medical and being examined again after the last few months at the breast clinic hope they are happy with the letter from consultant and they want no more info to hold things up, all was benign so i think it should be ok. My son has his own business and is so busy i can go for weeks with unanswered messages and like you val i think perhaps he doesn't want me to go, then i catch him on the phone and we have a great chat then i know it's all in my mind. I transfered money over begining of last week when it hit $1.55 to my oz bank to pay 2nd vac and would you believe the day after it started to rise and reached $1.59 so maddening to see that happen....... Ah, well win a few lose a few :cry:I have had quotes on boxes, had my dogs sorted with the rabies jabs now needed and had quotes for them, can't sort rentals out till i get there i hear it's difficult with dogs and more frightening folk are offering more rental money to obtain a property, the rents are already high enough, i think i will have to join the hippies in a beat up camper van at this rate. Friends, family and folk i happent to mention my move to think i am courageous and brave to make a big move at my time of life ( feel like and old fart) sometimes it seems madness but once there and all the what if's can be dealt with we can all settle down to sunshine, beaches new friends and family........and all the stress a forgotten memory. Thanks for the replies girls. Ann

Woke up thi morning in a sweat and palpitations with the enormity of this parent visa, it's took all my savings and my sanity i think, been dribbling money over to my oz bank in preparation for the 2nd vac and it's so dissapointing to see how little we get now. must stop reading posts on other threads jut how expensive it is over there. Think i feel it's for real now as i have tenants moving into my house 1st june, they seem a lovely family which is a relief. Also had a scare with a breast lump that was removed and biopsy result was benign ( thank goodness ) have letter from consultant to take to medical when i go. All a bit of a rollercoaster just now, good days bad days seems to be the norm these days. Must stay possitive and keep telling myself how lucky i am to have this chance, i seem to worry over things that haven't happened yet, as in what if i get sick and can't work to pay the rent etc.... lordy lord it goes on and on...... sorry for moaning ..... but the sun is shining today so things can only get better....... thats off my chest so all good now. :chatterbox::twitcy:

Hi Fran,

 

Looks as if the DIAC has speeded up unless as you say the 143 is dealt with slightly quicker than the 173 - anyone else have any thoughts on that?

 

Regards - john and joan

I asked my agent for a rough idea when i would hear on getting a CO, i lodged last june 2011 she hoped i would hear around August as they are now dealing with applications from last march, i wouldn't have thought the 143 has priority over the 173, i wouldn't like to think so anyway as we are all so desperate to make the move. I have just heard i have tenants for my house as i have decided to rent and they want to move in 1st June, going to have to move in with my daughter until the big move. They seem a lovely family so i am pleased with that. Another bo ticked off my list. Ann

I checked it on here the other day and the rate was 1.50 I think. So I sent some over with Halo Financial on Wednesday (4th) and got 1.53. They say things may change for the better towards the end of April but there are no guarantees! I was happy enough with 1.53. Good luck!

 

Val x

I haven't heard of that one, i used HIFX to transfer a small amount as a trial run to my oz bank Westpac, i chose HIFX as you can do all the transfer on line right into your bank account in oz. I haven't sent any since as the rate took a nose dive and has took ages to creep back up, may keep a check and transfer some next week in the hope it may budge up a tad more. I am hopeless and terrified of all the financial side of emigrating. Thanks for the reply folks. Ann

Is anybody else having a problem with the Money/Transfares link at the top of the page, everytime i click on it the last couple of days i keep getting ' problem on page ' i like to see what the exchange rate is doing, keep hoping it will go a tad higher to transfer some money over to my oz bank for the visa payment. So hoping for some improvement. The tracker seems to have slowed up again as much as i love these holiday breaks you find yourself wishing them over so the CO's can get back to work. LOL

Hi Ann,To answer some of your points:

 

We have only approached the Commonwealth Bank so have no idea what other banks look for.We are the same age as you (well Wanda is, I’m just a touch senior:cool:) and that did not appear a problem with the bank (CWB).

 

Our wages have always been paid into the CWB plus our Oz money is with them so they know we can cover the required 5% deposit, plus they can see what we pay for rent.

 

They do not lend on a set multiple of earnings but ability to pay, they will include the credit limit on any credit cards you have as part of your borrowing.:policeman:

 

If you have permanent work they want a copy of your contract or a letter from your employer, if you are employed ‘casual’ they want to see 3 months earnings.

 

The next stage is to get a formal mortgage offer which is like an agreement to lend a set amount of money against an unknown property.

 

Remember the bank will lend only against their valuation, not the asking price. The bank lady we spoke to had paid over $600k for her new build house 2 years ago and had just had it valued for a new loan at $490k.:arghh:

 

Our advice would be to expect to rent for 6 months to a year before you make any decision, things are so different over here it is hard to pre-plan from the UK. We learn something new every week and still am not sure which way we will go.

:wubclub:

Regards Les and Wanda

Thank you so much for the reply and the information you have given which is very helpful, i will take your advice and rent while i seek out the info i need from the banks. What would we do without the help and advice we get from everyone who shares their experiences. Ann

Hi Guys :cool:,Well it’s been 5 months since Wanda and I landed in Brisbane and I think I have only posted once or twice, partly because of time and partly because of poor internet connection.

 

We stayed with our son for the first month and then moved into a rental, we are paying more than we wanted to but it is in a nice area of Shailer Park.

 

Wanda beat me to finding work, part time at first and then at a second job full time but still ‘casual’. I found some casual work before Xmas and also did a 3 week Warehousing and Forklift Driving course (thanks Sir Matt) paid for by the Qld government (the only help both of us had to find work).I found more casual work after Xmas and this week found permanent work with a third company 5 minutes away from where Wanda works so we are still running 1 car for the moment.

 

We still have not moved any more money over from the UK but have managed with money we had sent over when we first applied for the visa plus our earnings.This week we were offered a mortgage of $400K with repayments just a bit higher than our rent so that gives us another option if the exchange rate does not pick up soon. The bank seemed to miss the point we would be in our 80’s by the end of the mortgage term.:wacko:

 

Reading my last post, we did not get our Xmas day swim in the ocean (used a friends pool) but did on Boxing Day on the Gold Coast. We often go to the Bayside area for a swim when time allows and have a BBQ on the beach afterwards.

 

We have started to pickup Oz friends for a meal and chat but are most surprised at how much we missed ‘going to work’ and now enjoy that more for the company than the money.Wanda and I had worked together for 13 years so it is still novel to get home at night and say ‘how has your day gone’ and not know the answer.

 

The last couple of days have been naff with rain but it has still been 22c, and that has been after a long run of shorts and t-shirt weather.

Nearly forgot, our son and D-I-L wasted no time on our arrival to Oz and we have our first grandchild ‘on the way’.:wubclub:

Best wishes to all, Les and Wanda Avalook. :biggrin: Dreaming the Life.

Hi Les, i have followed yours and everyones post on here with interest over the years and especially since i lodged last june so fingers crossed for this year, i have just read with interest on you being offered a mortgage, the rents are so high in perth i did wonder if they would concider me for a mortgage at 55yrs and live alone although i do intend to work until i am 65 plus, i have my house here in the uk which i am going to rent due to fall in house prices and poor exchange rate, but i do have a inheritence of 100,000 pounds left to be by my parents which would be a down payment, i know this would not be enough to buy outright on a small place ( new build as they are usually cheaper) but i did wonder if i would be concidered for a mortgage on what was left to pay on the price of the house. I work in aged care and intend to go agency as they pay more and work is also plentiful , i just wondered by your experience on being offered a mortgage if you thought i may be in with a chance, i would sooner pay a bit more on a mortgage than pay a rent so long as it's within my means. So glad you and your wife have found work and are settling down to live your dream, all the best Ann

Hi Betty, thanks for the info, we had never heard about house sitting. I will certainly look into it and the other things you mentioned.

Best Wishes.

Ann and Roy.

My son and his wife did house sitting for a year while saving for a deposit on a house, honest they were booked up for most of that time, most people had animals that needed looking after as they didn't want to put them into kennals. I would certainly have done it but i have 2 dogs of my own i am bringing so it puts the blockers on that one. I would love to live in one of those lifestyle complex but as it was mentioned i think you can only buy them and not rent, such a great way to meet people and all the social life is on your door step. Best wishes Ann

Its tough starting again when you are over 60 - we have come out as a couple (married for over 40 years) and plan to remain 'retired'. For social company we firstly joined a local church (have made good friendships with about 5 couples of similar age and younger) who really helped us to settle in to a new culture.

 

We've also joined the Bowling Club - Night Owls - Monday Night Informal Club Night ( meals and a game followed by drinks and raffle and less than $20 for the 2 of us)

 

Seniors Aquaerobics at the local swim centre,

 

PROBUS group (Separate Ladies group for me and Men's group for Clive) - we've got day trips planned and a joint short Autumn holiday in Goolwa

 

Beria group - meals and walks planned

 

PIA - meet-up at Noarlunga (haven't managed to get there yet but hope to make one of the meets)

 

Australia Day celebrations Our council has arranged/organised a free picnic and sausage sizzle for the community (family away on holiday this year at that time)

 

We've got to know many of our neighbours in the small cul-de-sac and plan to arrange some picnics/BBQs together at the local reserve just 100m away.

 

Clive has tickets for various cricket matches at the oval and i hope to book some craft classes (card making and scrapbooking) soon.

 

Haven't seen much of the family for at least 2 months - just Christmas lunch, a meal out and 3 lots of baby sitting!

 

Also check out the front of your telephone directory (yellow pages 9-13) for upcoming events

What a great post and so glad you are both settling in to your new life out there, good to see you are making a social life outside the family as i think this is important , also good to see theres so much to join if you look. Although i will be working when i come over i hope to join some social clubs to get to know people, i have always fancied bowls for some reason so hope to give that a go and they do have the weather for it don't they. I loved power walking when i was over on visits so intend taking this up and joining a walking group, also one that walks with dogs also so the 2 pooches can socialize too. Great to hear your having a great time. Ann

i can understand your worries as i had them too. strangely i have found lifevto be less expensive than i was fearing even though my rent is a lot. i could have got somewhere cheaper if i had been less fussy about location...!

 

As fas everything else is concerned, i found the initial outly regarding cars licence, rego etc to be expensivebut once this initial expense was over i have not thought things much different than the uk.

 

 

you need to shop carefully for food but if you do its a similar price. kmart and big w and of course aldi are all cheaper than 4 years ago thanks to china. even eating out can be fine if you use recommendations.i do however still buy quite a lot online from the uk and get people to bring it out or post it to me....

i am lucky in that i have now got a job over here but even without that i think i wd have managed.hope this reassures you! Fiz

Thank you for your posts Linday and Fiz, i do intend working when i get over there as i am 54yrs and still have a few working years left which is just aswell as i have to build up an Australian Super as my work pension from the uk is buttons although will have my state pension, i think when i first get there i will look for a cheap rental for a short lease until i get on my feet and know whats what with the cost of living, i work in age care and although the salary is not that great it is better than the uk, i intend doing a course in Assistant in nursing which is like our Healthcare assistants here, the courses are costly about $1000 but if it gets me a better salary then it will be worth it. Like you say it's the initial outlay for things which is costly and eats up the savings, i am not taking furniture so will have to start from scratch but will look for second hand stuff, i keep telling myself to stop reading threads from the other posts on high cost of living but it just draws you in, i will just have to keep telling myself to remain possitive......to be honest my future prospects here in the uk are not rosey, your posts have reassured me heaps, thank you so much. Ann

Have finally found time to get back on the computer and visit poms in oz. Moved over to perth on 143 in August this year, spent 6 weeks living with family whilst looking for our own place. Moved in to our own house 1st October and been busy getting extra furniture that we did not bring wishing we had actually moved more of our stuff with us. Then with christmas our first ever in Australia which all though was different because of the weather was so enjoyable because we had most of our family with us. Now just need to find one or two new friends and will be quite contented. If there are any meet ups in the perth area please inform us as we would love to meet up with one or two of our age range.

So glad you had a lovely christmas and are settling down to your new life in Perth, i hope to get my visa this year but as the new year is fast approaching i have spent this christmas with serious collywobbles as in ' oh, my gawd am i doing the right thing spending all my savings on this visa' 'will i be able to afford to live?? ' the list seems endless and i seem to find another worry as the days go on, think i shall be reduced to a nervous wreck in a few weeks. I keep reading posts as to how expensive everything is now, especially rentals. Then i have moments of great positivity and try to rationalise everything, is this normal , did anyone else feel the same?? I so want to start the new year being confident and possitive about moving. Ann

Hi Ann,

 

Sorry to contradict you about NAB, but you can transfer money to them before you arrive to validate the account.

 

I opened a NAB account online and then used Ozforex to transfer AUD into it for our holiday this time.

There were no problems at all, once I had the account numbers, I entered them as the beneficiary from Ozforex and hey presto, money to spend when we arrived.

It has actually been a godsend having aussie currency to draw directly on, they even gave us a visa card so we can buy online etc.

 

You sound very organised with Westpac, but I just wanted to say NAB are good too!

 

Must be 23 weeks now??????? ha ha Counting in weeks is much better isn't it? Our holiday is 10 weeks long, sadly we're over half way now, maybe I should go back to counting in months and say it's still another month here!!!!

 

Cheers Pam

Nab are a very good bank and i had no trouble whar so ever opening the account, i missed the bit of info that you can't do online banking until the account had been validated in oz plus you can make deposits but can't withdraw until tha account has been validated in oz this was no good for me paying my visa with my agent. Westpac can validate the account here in the UK as your bank here in the UK can be your certifier, you take along passport and photo driving licence ( must show home address, or household bill ) once they have opened the account you are free to transfer money into the Australian account online plus i can also make withdrawals. Unfortunately I won't be going back to Perth until i finally move so can't validate the NAB account. I hope to get all that done this week then make my first transfer with HIFX online and see how easy it is. I have been with my bank here in the uk for over 30yrs so all this is very new to me, my brother-in-law has been helping me which has been such a help as i don't have a partner to bounce idea's off........ everything to do with migrating just isn't easy so much to think about over here aswell as over there,,,,,,, still counting the weeks though and keeping a beady eye on the tracker:biggrin: Ann

We deposited our Visa money into Westpac and when we got close tohaving to pay, we transferred it to our Daughter's Westpac account and once the whole amount was done, she drew the bank cheque for Immigration and sent it with the case file number. It all went through really easily. Just note, there is usually a daily limit (ours was $10000) for transferring funds to another person so allow enough days to transfer to whole amount. Gill

Thanks Gill, my agent has a system to help you pay the final vac through their client bank account, i then transfer the money from the westpac bank into their account which is why i needed to validate before going to OZ. My agent if very reputable and often gives sound advice on here so i am happy to pay in this way. Also i will be able to transfer money via Hifx to Westpac online, other banks such as NAB wouldn't allow that until i had validated in oz. Phoned and spoke to a nice chappy on Wednesday and the forms arrived Thurdsay so well pleased with efficiency so far. He did mention only $10000 could be withdrawn daily but also mentioned a B payment will have to ask again what that is as i forgot to write it down while he was explaining. So shall be busy doing that today........feel like i am doing something possitive for my move, hopefully only 6mths until i get a CO or 24wks as it sounds better, ha. Ann

Hallo out there

I havent been online for a while so it was nice to see the messages and hear how people are getting along.

I am going to Melbourne in 11days, I will be over there for 2mths. I have never been over for christmas before and I have been invited to the kindergarten christmas party.

I have opened a bank account with ANZ and will verify it when I am out there. If I put the visa payment in an australian bank account, is it easy to pay the Immigration dept from that account (I will be in UK)? maybe a cheque of move it over online? I would be interested to know. Although I dont expect a CO until next August.

My best wishes to everybody

Moira

I have just received the info from Westpac bank, you can open an account here in the UK and your bank in the UK can be your certifier so there is no need to go to oz to verify the account, you can deposit and make withdrawals online . You have to take your passport and photo driving licence for proof of identity to your uk bank and complete the necessary forms for westpac. Like you i hope to place the visa payment into the account over there. I hope to get a CO next june time , 24 weeks sounds so much better than 6mths. Enjoy xmas in the sun, i loved it. Ann

Again, not a tax expert but I pursued this very question as i too have a teachers pension. I spent hours on the phone to various tax departments before I left the uk but eventuallygot the definitive answer: under the double taxation agreement between Australia and the uk, government pensions including teachers are paid gross once you have opted to be taxed as an Australian resident. Two points...this is not the case wiith most countries but the oz uk agreement is a special case and secondly most people in uk tax offices seemed unaware of this and I too got told that it would be paid net. Finally I recently met a retired uk teacher out here who confirmed that her pension is paid gross.

 

My news is that i have a job! More hours than I originally wanted but a good job, close to home and well paid so i can stop worrying how to pay the exorbitant rent! I was worried that my age-60- would count against me but the question never got raised. Hope that is reassuring News for Liverpool Loo who I believe was concerned about this subject.

I don't start till the end of January so i still have another 8 weeks of " holiday"..lovely!

Thanks for the info which will be helpful to know when i get round to dealing with that one, still in the process of sorting a bank account out so i can drip money over there as the interest is better and it will be easier paying the final vac. Westpac seem the best option as it looks like my bank can be my certifyer to validate the account whithout me going to oz to validate in person. Phoning Westpac tomorrow for more info.

So glad you managed to get a job and so close to home too, i have been told there's lot's of work for care but also the salary isn't that great so i will more than likely have to work long hours to pay the rent which you so rightly say are exorbitant. Enjoy the holiday in that lovely warm weather. :cool:

Hi Ann

If I understand you properly you do not transfer money on line to your Oz bank account. When you do the deal with Ozforex you pay the sterling to their account in London and they pay the funds to your Oz bank account. You need to set your Oz bank account up as the beneficiary of the transfer with ozforex. I do not see why Hifx should be any different but I have heard that you can only deal on the phone which does take some of the spontaneity out of dealing.

Hope this helps

Thank you, that explains it , all very confusing when you have never done anything like this before, appreciate the advise. Ann

Hi, has anyone opened an account with Westpac whilst still in the UK, if so were you able to transfer money over on line using HIFX without validating the account in oz. I know you can transfer money over but can't withdraw without validating the account in OZ , you can't transfer on line with NAB Bank, just wondered if westpac did. Ann

Tuesday

Household belongings left the North East today with Pickfords heading for Brisbane, don't know whereabouts in Brisbane as my son has yet to find a rental for him or us.

Checked in on line today for my flights tomorrow with BA from Newcastle to Heathrow to Singapore to Cairns.

Packed the cases and ready to go.

 

David

Wishing you all the very best for your new life in Cairns, Christmas in the sun how good is that !! :jiggy:

Hi - we went through this process leading up to our emigration in October 2010. Neither of us are 65 yet, my OH will be this year. I am so glad I took advice from a financial adviser. We talked to 3 at a Get Me DownUnder Show....one was very pushy and tried to scare us into using him. The other proved to be worth his weight in gold.

I am more than happy to send you his name by Private Message. We paid him for a report which was very good and moved our money from various places so that we could take advantage of any blip in the exchange rate. It gives you the freedom to move the money when you consider it is the best time. He can explain more clearly. He advised us to write our wills over here with Australian witnesses.....as one more way to prove that you have cut your links with the UK to avoid any inheritance tax in later years.

Please feel free to contact me, we have set up Self Managed Super Funds over here - the advantage being you pay no tax on any interest made on your super fund....unlike interest made on bank accounts....should you be lucky enough to be able to transfer any funds at a reasonable exchange rate.

Julie

hello Julie, sorry to but in on your reply post but i was reading your message with real interest as getting sound advice from financial advisors can be like playing russian roulette with your life savings. Would it be possible to PM me his name please . Ann