doubter

True very true I wish I could experience the best of both.Sometimes wish I had never gone the first time having had a taste of it.The theory you will regret it if you don't go for it didn't really work for me.

As I said in my post if you take into account the family trip to OZ in 2009 for interview and reccie the year before I actually went and removal costs it was close to £20000. Not everyone goes for a reccie or interview but as you said they may have visa costs where I only had medical costs as employer sorted out my PR and I had a job also.These opportunities are more limited 5 years on.

Agree with all of this hit the nail on the head you need to have a positive attitude and embrace the Australian way of life and not compare to the UK.I will add if you have ties to the UK like I did it's easier to feel unsettled and return.I was renting out my house and was on an unpaid employment break with my employer.If I never had this comfort blanket I am sure I would still be there having worked through the homesickness and the changes.I had sorted this out in my head just prior to leaving but everything was already planned and booked and too late to turn back.It wasn't long being in the UK before I thought **** what have I done my life was much better and I did all the hard work to get there.What I mean by life better is for me it's like being on a holiday without having to pay for it all the time.When I came back to the UK in the winter everything looked old and dirty compared to Australia's bright,new and clean looking houses and streets.Maybe that was just my impression.

Maybe the planning wasn't as good as we thought first time round work and location is key to help you settle.Sometimes we move because we can so why not millions do.

Certainly didn't cost me that much in 2010 doable on much less.After booking flights for family 4 to go I took £10500 with me and that paid for short term renta,bond on long term rental,food,setting up the usual things and a second hand car.I did have a job lined up wich I started after 2 weeks but I managed fine.Prior to that it was visa medical costs as employer paid for application and removal costs.We also went to OZ year before to look and I had an interview so that cost too.Things were slightly cheaper back in 2010 I guess but I managed fine.

I would stay in Manly liked it there more of a townly feel with Wynnum down the road where I was for a short while.Its about 15-20 mins drive to Paradise Point from Pacific Pines/Helensvale.Preferred Brisbane area for living Gold Coast good for days out.

Not sure what you do but if you work shifts and weekends that can have an impact on your social life.Most meet and greets and invites to BBQs were weekends.If I was working I missed out then again the wife was loving it,partying and without me :smile:

Good luck with everything,hope it works out :smile:

£10500 5 years ago family of 4.Short term rent, car, bond for long term rent and living costs for 1 month before I started work came out of that figure.Prior to leaving UK £3500 for 20ft container and cost of flights and visa medicals. Job arranged before leaving and they payed for visa which I filled out myself. I would say £20000 tops for everything but I had a job to go to.

Thanks for the counselling advice Marisawright :smile: Maybe limbo was the wrong choice of words but I am unsure whether I am going back or not as I can't seem to accept the fact like you said. As long as I have a visa I will still like to go back even if the wife is not keen to do it again at the moment. That doesn't mean I am going to do a runner if she doesn't agree as I accept that.My point was what makes people totally put Australia behind them. I miss aspects of Australia like I missed aspects of Uk, pros and cons for both.

Hi James, Glad it's working out for you and your family and you made the right decision for you. I have been back 5 years now and I can't seem to let go. My family have moved on but for some reason I can't and constantly talk about going back. How do you completely move on as I can't seem too having returned to the UK due to homesickness? It's like living your life in limbo. Gary

I have friends in Cairns who are not keen on Townsville but I liked it and would have lived there if the wife agreed. There are pros and cons for both but the main one is employment where Townsville comes out on top. A few of my mates moved from Cairns to the Gold Coast for work. As for crime Cairns has its fair share like other places in Qld, I lived in the Gold Coast and you can't leave your door open. I loved the north beaches around Cairns, Kuranda and the coast drive to Port Douglas but it definitely rains more than Townsville. Not that keen on the town but it does have that pool on the front. Loved the strand and the rock pool in Townsville and the climb up castle hill but the shops in the town were poor when I was there. when you look around up castle hill it's a great view but not much else around so maybe I would feel isolated. however you are central to Cairns and The Whitsundays. All the best with your health Pom Queen.

Cheers

Thanks probably just fill in a few over the next year and see what happens.

Was there 2010. Thought it would be a tall order. I suppose it depends what your employment is in regards to prospects

Maybe I am wrong then but I am sure there is a lot of people in the healthcare professions who have secured jobs from the UK and I know a few who had Skype interviews. I was just looking for feedback on people's experiences in various roles who had managed to do this. What I know from my last experience is you spend way too much money when you first arrive and it was a month before I had my first pay and it was a bit costly. I take my hat off to those that do it without a job but I don't think I have the nerve.Buying a car, accommodation costs,food and day to day living is daunting if you have nothing coming in to replace it.

Is it difficult to secure a job from the Uk before you move but not necessarily in your current profession? I managed it last time in my chosen profession albeit I had to go to Australia for the interview and I know many have secured jobs before they go. I wouldn't take the risk to find a job when I am there as I wouldn't have the financial clout to support myself without a job.Enjoyed Australia but wasn't entirely happy working in my role last time. looking at a lot if job adverts they don't tend to have mandatory qualifications like the UK but ask for transferable skills like communication, teamwork etc. I would be interested to know people's experience of managing to do this.

Wrote about 2 A4 pages which I attached online basically explaining the moment we left to the present moment. I submitted application 3 days before it would have been 5 years since I left Australia but I gave compassionate reasons as well as substantial ties. I attached 16 documents altogether which I sweet talked a local solicitor who only charged £25 for all of them. My original PR visa expired December 2014. The only substantial ties I talked about was my previous occupation in Australia and how it contributed to the community and enriched the lives of Australians and others (wording I read on an official document somewhere) and how I still work in the same occupation in the UK(Paramedic). I attached previous contract and recent emails where I had contacted my previous employer about the possibility of coming back and reapplying, but no firm job offer or contract. I showed document with Q Super pension and Westpac bank account with small amount of funds in both and a PAYG summary from 2010. I stated that we made a decision as a family to return to the UK after 8 months because my son who was 17 at the time was unhappy and homesick. I made the point he is self sufficient now and in hindsight he wish he had stayed. The reason I gave why it has taken so long to return is that we focused on our son getting back into education or training as he never sat his GCSE,s because we had to leave initially within 3 months for my job. My daughter then began her preparation for her GCSE,s and we didn't want to disrupt that because of what happened to my son. I made contact with my previous employer back at the beginning of 2014 but they were slow in their process and there was no concrete opportunities.My daughter then began her A Levels September 2014, which I attached proof of, and is in her last year finishing summer 2016 so I did not want to disrupt that. A bit long winded but that was basically it and still no opportunities with my previous employer (not that keen doing the same job again anyway) so never had a job offer.

I see what you are saying but an RRV will automatically cancel the visitor visa but as a previous permanent resident a visitor visa will not cancel your previous status. I am proof of that and I also had that confirmed by immigration.

department of immigration and border protection just googled it:wink:

That was just about my claim to go back and mentioned delays as daughter was completing her education. I never had a claim for a job offer

I was in oz just over 5 years ago on a PR 120 subclass and came home after 8 months. got a RRV today for a year online from the UK. You may well be eligible as well and it's far cheaper and faster than applying again.

Applyed for an eVisitor online which was granted a few months ago and applied for an RRV online 10 days ago which was granted today. So the answer is applying for another visa does not affect a previous permanent visa if you still meet the conditions.

If anyone is interested and would like some hope I managed to apply from the UK for an RRV without a job offer and filled the application in myself online which was done in a day. I spent 8 months in Australia in 2010 and it is 5 years this November since I left Australia and my visa expired December 2014. If I can help anyone else with my experience of filling in a RRV application I will as I have shocked myself. It was granted today and it is for a year but only took 10 days to process. I know every case is different but if I can do it anyone can.

http://www.fox-moving.com/ They are nationwide so you may have seen the green trucks around Cardiff.