Lurkio

A friend of mine applied for citizenship in April 2018 and only did their test this week. So that was over a year from initial application to test.

Just repeating what others have said. Don't rush into anything. Take your time and be certain that you even want to stay. The standard of building here is unlikely to be what you are used to. The construction appears to me to be shoddy - think Barrett Homes! Having said that, it is fun to plan your dream house. Just be prepared for the budget to skyrocket. And really ... One plug socket per room is standard.

Supply and demand. People are leaving WA in droves. The Kiwis, Irish, Poms ... First time I was looking for a house there would be 12 or more people at every viewing. Now there are one or two and often none at all and the viewing is cancelled. High quality properties in the Secret Harbour/Rockingham/Baldivis areas have seen significant rent reductions by as much as 100 bucks a week in some cases. Properties are taking longer to rent at significantly lower rents. From my own experience the only landlords that are likely to accept chunks of rent in advance are those doing it privately. I'm told that if it is being done all above board through an agency it seems to be more trouble than it is worth. There are apartments and units at around 200 bucks. There are 3x1 units as low as 260. But be warned that they are often utter dumps in lousy areas that you may not want to live in.

Obviously not medical advice, but we've been here 3 years and the beloved hubster has had the flu twice! There are people here from all over and they are concentrated in small areas. Maybe there are different strains that we Poms haven't been in contact with previously? But amyway - flu jab!!!!!

Baldivis is a new development really and growing weekly. My opinion only is that it is a series of huge housing estates that melt into each other. The plot sizes are generally quite small. There is one retail centre with quite a good number of shops. A couple of bars and restaurants. No trains but a bus service to Warnbro train station. You defo need a car. I doubt whether there are many jobs in the area. Don't know about the schools. As it is a bit more inland it is several degrees warmer in the summer. Mandurah is nice to visit for the day, but I seriously wouldn't want to live in a lot of the grottier suburbs which suffer badly from crime, drugs and unemployment. Like everywhere else there are nice areas though. Generally the older suburbs have larger plots but the some of the houses are pretty run down. Particularly the older rentals. The canals are lovely but pricey. Nice estuary for boating. I couldn't comment on the schools. There is a direct train line to Perth for City workers.

And once you get PR then you're back on the Immi treadmill to get Citizenship. We moved over with PR and only recently understood that our PR visa only lasts for 5 years then you have to renew with another 5 year visa. After that you can only get one year at a time...

Hi Jake, are you enjoying it here so far?

Well I guess this is more of a whinge than anything else, but after all the wailing and gnashing of teeth exhibited by my Mother, she rarely makes contact. We've been here a little over a year now, and she has initiated contact three times... I don't want to hear the usual stuff trotted out by people who piously state that as we are the ones who left we should be the ones to make the effort to keep long distance relationships going! It should be a two way process dammit. Look, I know that the gap we leave in other people's lives doesnt stay empty.... Other people and activities move in to fill the spaces, and I wouldn't expect her to sit on the phone waiting for my calls, but a little effort wouldn't kill people would it?:mask:

Pic and a price would be useful. :wink: