Chris in Bris

Mine is still 'Received. I applied 18th October 2017 and had the email confirming receipt but that's all the correspondence. I'm guessing I'm going to be one of those 10% that doesn't even get processed for a response or anything with the 15 months. You can' follow-up on the application either until it's been 15 months since submission.

I applied 18th October 2017 and still nothing from Immigration apart from 'Received' as my status. I had the email saying they had received it, that's all. I'm guessing I'll be either one of the 10% that isn't processed in the 15 months that they suggest and I'm starting to wonder if it was worth it in the first place, applying for citizenship. I'm concerned that I'll be told that my application isn't valid any more and I'll need to reapply and start the whole process again. It's not like my application is a difficult one: it's just for me as the sole applicant with no issues attached and I've been in Australia for 10 years and a permanent resident since 2009. If you call them up they can't (won't) do anything unless you've gone past the 15 month processing deadline and you just have to sit and wait. Absolutely rubbish service to be honest.

My wife and I are keen to meet others in the North Lakes area with young kids. We have a daughter who is almost 4 and a son who is coming on 18 months. Although we socialise with local playgroups many of the kids are just babies and it would be good to meet others who have young children who are a similar age as our and who live local to North Lakes and north Brisbane. We'll be no doubt going to the park in Aurora Boulevard this weekend (weather permitting) if anyone fancies having a kiddy meet.

Thanks Boomerang. It is something that we've been considering as well and luckily is an option for us as my employer has an office in every major state capital city. Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart are my preferred ones. But my aim would, and always will be, the UK

It's a bit of a way to go and probably best by flying. Driving would take a good day each way.

Wishing you and your family the best for the future back in Blighty. You know when you've done the right thing which will no doubt be confirmed when you step off that plane in Caledonia, the place you'll long to be.

I may be wrong but I think the bacon has more water content in it. And yes, lets not get started on the Australian sausages.

I would recommend no more than 1 stop over. We flew back to the UK for a holiday in April (Royal Wedding watching + other things). We flew Ethiad. Dreadful. They ran out of food and drink plus we had stops in Singapore and Abu Dhabi. By the time we got our daughter to sleep it was time to wake her up again as we were landing. We said next time we would choose just one stop over in Singapore then fly direct so we could sleep (or at least try and get some sleep) for at least 10-15 hours. Remember, and I hate to say it, the children are your priority on the flight so I ended up with no TV or anything. We bought a portable DVD player for our daughter which helped.

Thanks. We're about to give birth to our second child and in my heart of hearts I'm aiming for 2 years time (end of 2013) to return. Looks like Mum and Dad are coming to visit next Christmas so I'm aiming for Christmas 2013. I'm lucky in a sense that my current employer is a huge, global organisation where employees can and do regularly move offices not only within Australia but globally, many of whom go to the London office. In a perfect world I'll get a transfer with them in 2 years. My wife has always said that she is willing and happy to go back to the UK but not immediately. I'm just hoping she never changes her mind.

You sound like you're getting cold feet. Was it the same when you came to Australia? but you coped, right? Sure, there's nothing to guarantee work to anyone regardless of where they live, so why is Scotland any different? You could get offered something within a week but you'll never know. The benefit it is that you have work at the moment and you could consider delaying 6-12 months before returning home but what is to say that a) prospects might get worse, and b) in 12 months time you may delay for another 12 months? Then you could be here for another 2 years. It's hard but go with your gut feeling. If you return to Scotland will you have family and friend support? Basically if you don't go will you ever?

Spot on. Each country is its own and has different things going for it. It comes down to what you want in life - at least I think.

Do it, or you'll regret never doing it. I'm worried that we'll get stuck here and I'm always dropping hints to my wife about going back to the UK. Time will tell.

PR=Permanent Residency, correct? If so, why would it take 6-8 months? Is it the visa you are on? I arrived on a 309 de-facto that was applied for in the UK. After 2 years here as a temporary resident, I've now become permanent and didn't have to wait anytime at all - apart from applying for it. You need to check the conditions of your visa. It may be that Permanent Residency can only be provided if there has been a continuous residency or if you are not been away from Australia for a certain length of time. My gut feeling is that for PR to be granted you must have been classed as a resident for a minimum amount of time. To the best of my knowledge your a is valid until its expiry date regardless of whether you are in Australia or not and providing it has been activated (ie you have entered Australia and have not been deported, meaning the visa has been cancelled). You should be able to apply for a de-facto off-shore and by being previously a holder of a valid Visa - providing it has not been revoked - then this can put you in good stead. However, you will also need to meet the requirements of a de-facto (such as living at a permanent address togther for the specified time, proving you are recognised as a couple in public etc). Regarding your Super, I would call your Super provider. I know people who have returned to the UK and have rolled their Super into the reitrement fund in the UK, and vice versa.

Being away from your descrption of the typical UK winter evenings makes me want it more. When I was in the UK I took all of what you are describing for granted and longed for something different. Now I have that something different and I long for what I had. It seems absence can make the heart grow fonder.

Agree with it all Covkid. People forget that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side (I've found this out). It's not a holiday you are coming to; it is your life in another country added to the fact that all those things that remind you of home will be more stronger than ever before. Even just the mention of UK news on the television gets me turning my head. You still have bills to pay, familys to bring up, traffic jams to deal with, STRESS, weekly groceries, alarm clocks to set. EVERYTHING is the same as my life in London, there is just a hell of alot more sun, heat and Australian ways of life to work with.