ramot

Doesn't quite make sense. Have just heard a report on the local news, said they have been together 4 years? Or possibly applicant had been in Aus for 4 years, as was on a student visa before, it wasn't clear. Then it was reported they had applied for not sure which visa, but it was refused as they have only been together 18 months. I don't know if QLD is different, but in NSW, you can register as a de facto couple, and then apply for partner visa, if granted you have a 2 year temp visa. Then if you are still together for those 2 years, you apply to make it permanent. So something doesn't add up. Doubt we will never know, unless it stays news. the implication was that they had applied before the 2 years, but it was all a bit vague.

Another thing to be aware of, at least in QLD. Some one I know was stopped for a random police check. Breathalize clear, walk round car clear, but then told she would be fined $60. Why? Because her hand bag was on the front seat and could cause injury if it flew off the seat in an emergency!!! Apparently there should be nothing on either the front seat or back seat. Another little known law that you can be fined for?!

Kellie if you stay a little longer and read mbbuk from the side lines you will soon realize that certain phrases get the "Australia wasn't for me brigade out" no one place suits all, and it actually is useful hearing about the negatives, but some comments can hurt and posters should realize this. If you want to move to OZ and can then make your own mind up, but consider the negatives. Having said that you can get a lot of help and advice from PIO, so don't be put off. every ones circumstances are different, some people thrive in OZ others don't. As a family we have never had much family support, as our extended family is very small, we have moved loads because of my husbands work, and survived and stayed close. Good luck with whatever decision you make and don't be put off the PIO forum, it's helped many many people.

Yes we possibly have to prove we have we are there to stay, but it's the last thing we want to do. We love living here. Our visa is now for 10 years renewable. One of our 3 now has PR and if our daughter stays we would pass the balance of family test, so it could be an option. A friend of mine managed to get travel cover with major health problems. I will ask them when they return from UK what cover they managed to get and let you know.

I'm sorry PQ I didn't know that insurance was refused for anyone. I know you have had a rough time and only ever wish you well. I was really trying to make the point that if you are in UK for a short time then it might not be possible to see an NHS specialist in the time scale. picking up on your point about not being able to get travel insurance, that is potentially a problem for us. Even though we are British citizens, because we only have a temporary visa here (410 retirement visa) we are not entitled to any NHS when we are back in UK, a) because we no longer live there and b) because we aren't eligible for Medicare so no reciprocal for us. It's good to be aware of potential problems.

Surely it makes sense to have travel insurance, even if you think you have reciprocal health cover . I landed in UK having had a bad fall in Africa on the way there, and there was no problem to see a GP, but even though it was urgent that I saw a specialist quickly, I had been operated on in Nairobi, it would have been at least 6 weeks on the NHS to see someone. Whereas it was instant to go private. I'm not saying private is better it's just that if you are on holiday in UK you don't necessarily have the time to wait to see someone. Obviously I'm not commenting on an emergency situation when you must be treated at once, but there was no way I was there long enough to wait 6 weeks to see someone. I totally agree that there is a lot of abuse of the system and it needs to be tightened up, I think lots of countries insist on seeing your health cover before they will treat you.

Had a great Christmas, one of the only times we haven't had every one at ours. Flew to Sydney on Monday, spent the next few days with daughter + partner, full Christmas lunch her first time to cook. Also some of their friends there. Watched the sydney to Hobart race start and Then flew back to Brisbane to spend time with son + wife. Their first as a married couple. We have been really spoilt and I feel quite tearful as it has been so good, not least of which I have done nothing except eat an drink!!! Could get used to this.

Sorry but I have to laugh at the getting older and ask how old do you mean? We moved to Oz when my husband retired aged 60. Is that old? We have been here for 11 years now so even older! We had no family here at the time, oz was just somewhere we wanted to live for a while. We have made great friends, and have been made so welcome, and have never regretted it. I know it's not for everyone, and sympathise for those that it hasn't worked out for, but age isn't necessarily the problem.

My son commuted from Mountain Creek to Brendale, which is just as you get to the Gympie Rd. for at least 2 years. Before North lakes really expanded the journey averaged 1 hour. It ended up at least 1 1/2 hours and that was just to the start of the Gympie Rd. He was used to driving on the M25 before moving here, but found the standard of driving pretty poor as well, so has moved nearer to Brisbane. he loved the Sunshine Coast, having lived here for 6 years, but the journey proved too much long term. As others have said try it before you commit. Welcome to the Sunshine Coast whatever you decide, it's a great place to live whatever your age.

I'm not commenting about this visa or the wait for this visa, but want to mention what happened to a friend of mine who was on the 12 month visa. She was in her 60's, no threat to anyone with a daughter in NZ and Oz. she spent 3 months at a time in Oz with side trips to NZ. She broke none of the conditions of the visa, but had visited Oz over the years on 3 month visas, but not annually. however on her last re-entry for 3 months to Oz, (Sydney) she was hauled out of the immigration queue, put initionally in a room on her own. Then interrogated as to her real reason to be in OZ, her passport was taken away while she had to prove where she had visited as a tourist!! She is well travelled has lived overseas and no shrinking violet, but she was very shaken by the ordeal. Her passport was eventually returned after well over an hour with no explanation of why she was questioned when she had done nothing wrong. So just wanting to pre-warn posters that immigration does sometimes question people's motives, and hope no-one minds my imput.

No I wasn't just being kind. I have had to adjust to Christmas in several different countries as an ex service and ex pat wife, often with my husband working away over Christmas. So my suggestion was to perhaps fore go the traditional English Christmas meal and do something different, with no mention of sausages. However I think I am a kind person, who has opened her door to many a waif and stray over Christmas.

Sorry but trying to lighten up the post. If you think it's difficult now, I moved to Lusaka Zambia from London in the swinging 60's!!! Where trust me it was all happening!! I survived, so hope you can adjust. Life is what you make it where ever you are.

Just want to send you some support. You have had some excellent replies and suggestions. I have moved most of my life, have never lived anywhere for more than 11 years, as I was an army brat and then worked overseas and then met and married someone in the RAF, lived in Asia as an expat and retired to OZ with no family here then. So like others really understand how you are feeling. It's all so unfamiliar, you don't perhaps feel you belong, you are more than likely shattered, both physically and emotionally. You are not alone with your feelings, lots of posters have probably felt the same, so vent away, Christmas might be hard, so perhaps celebrate it in different way, picnic, or BBQ on the beach? Take care, and hope you start to feel better.

Perhaps it's an age thing. Have been married for 43 years and hardly ever had a Christmas off, but no complaints about that usually. Have always taken in waifs and strays, extra to family, especially as an expat. And been happy to do so, but I think I am just tired still after the wedding festivities, and visitors last weekend and new DIL's birthday to celebrate here this weekend. Will put the tree up today, find the Baileys!!! Put Michael Boubley's (can't spell) it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas on and try harder. It's nothing to do with the heat, had 20 years of hot ones, and normally can just celebrate the whole spirit of Christmas anywhere. Still remember the fake snow one year from a snow machine in a hotel in Brunei, 35' and high humidity outside. now that's made me smile, so perhaps all is not lost this year.

You are not alone. 20 days to go and I have done nothing! We had a family wedding here 6 weeks ago with our middle one finally tieing the knot. A really busy happy 3 weeks with our UK son, wife and grandchildren here, + daughter and partner from Sydney and new DIL's family from NZ, so really feel we have already had Christmas if that makes sense, and just can't find the enthusiasm to sort Christmas out. ideally I just want someone to say they will take over. could go to son or daughter, but they don't live near and normally everyone is here together, including a few friends who always come. Everyone does muck in, but the organization does fall on me, and if we go to either son or daughter then one or other will be on their own. Might just run away!!! Perhaps if we put the tree up tomorrow I might feel better. let me know if you find a solution!!? Good luck.

I am sadly old enough to admit going to Eel Pie Island where the Rolling Stones played in the early 60's as well as so many more groups, but what memories. It was such an exciting time and a lot cheaper to see them then.

There is on the whole really good access to JP's here, we have them in the local library and the plaza on the Sunshine Coast, so hopefully you should find one quite easily, they sign everything straight away, and it's free as well hopefully. I'm no expert, but as long as you lodge your partner application before your visitor's visa runs out, then you should go on bridging visa A, which kicks in when your visitor visa ends. You can then work anywhere, so in some ways it doesn't matter if your 820 takes a while to come through. The 2 years that you need to be on the 820 before you can apply to make it permanent starts from when you lodge your temporary 820, not from when it's granted. this is what my daughter has been told by her MA, so hope that's correct. make sure you have the long UK birth certificate, and I'm sure that there is a thread about everything you need, and it's up to you if you want to lodge with everything in place, eg police checks, or wait till asked. the only thing my daughter waited to do was her medical, but she did take it only a few weeks after she lodged. Her visa took 10 months, but she had problems getting a police clearance through from a country she had lived in. good luck, and try not to stress!!!

It might not be the ideal way, but for some, eg my daughter it was the only way, as she wasn't elible for PRand it was up to her to take the chance, and accept it if it didn't lead to anything. We live here and she wanted the opportunity to live near us for a year. I think if you are older and have a good work record, then you are potentially more employable than perhaps some younger person on a WHV. She secured a good job fairly quickly and then sponsored on a 457 before her 6 months in the job was up, and still here 2 years on. It would have been unlikely for her to have been sponsored from overseas, but at least being here on a WHV she had a chance, but she came and was realistic that it might only be for a year. She was too old for a 2nd year. out of interest what are the negative tax implications?

Personally I wouldn't put any food in at all, customs are very strict about food stuff. Your choice, but said slightly tongue in cheek, you can buy dried pasta here. Good luck with your move.

Not something everyone thinks about is (don't laugh) Christmas decorations, we had some confiscated as wooden or might have cones/berries attached, obviously I am not talking plastic baubles. We had all the wooden items together so easily checked and treated if necessary.

Good to hear you feel more settled, wish you a happy future. I think unless you have had a rough time for whatever reason, it's hard to understand how fantastic it feels when it hopefully gets better. I had a pretty rough childhood, will spare you the details, but realized I could either sink or swim, it was up to me. I never sank!! good wishes for the future.

You sound such a lovely person, hope all goes well for you health wise.

Welcome back and hope it all works out for you, keep us posted

Might be worth reading my posts, as you might be on bridging visa E until your 457 ceases. This happened to my daughter, and it's no joke not being able to work or leave the country if your 457 is still valid for quite some time, after leaving your job.

Yes totally my mistake, I should read and concentrate better, I was posting out of concern and did edit my post.