whatsitallabout

We waited 7 months for our ens nomiation to come throug, once received got medicals done, had done everything else by then. Then we put our papers in PR was granted 3 weeks later, we had a issue with our daughters health. I didn't realise that once your ens number comes through you are on their system & we could have put our medicals in without our daughters. So start getting everything ready once you get your ens get medicals done, then start your family have fun practising!!!:wink:

Hi Andrew, Glad you have settled in to Melbourne! Been here nearly 4 years & can honestly say we love it! Wasn't easy to start with. I also grew up around the East London area, lived in East Ham, Barking Dagenham & had many nights out in Romford. Going back next year for a visit & cant wait to go to Romford market & have my beloved Pie & Mash, boy do I miss that!!!

We have had two friends transfer to different employers 1st one took around 3 weeks but our 2nd friend is having a nightmare for some reason has been waiting over 8 weeks, so it all depends on who you are using & I am pretty sure that the immigration here shut down over the christmas period last year when we needed immigration they were not available for 3 weeks so bear that in mind & check their holiday period out. Good luck hope it gets sorted out & their wives were still working at their current jobs.

I had a friend who started his own business, things were good for a while, then recession hit BIG TIME! He really struggled to get back on his feet. The europeans arrived & were undercutting him big time. He couldn't compete with their prices! He went to the banks asked for help. "Lets lend this man more money that will help him" he has assets. The strain got too much for him & he took his own life. His family lost everything as suicide doesn't pay out. His 3 young children will never know their dad. If his was alive today my advice would be to run away start again. I know all you do gooders at there wouldn't agree with that, but I really couldn't give a t**s. The effect this has had on this family is devastating. Having worked for a major finance institute for many years & seeing 1st hand the treatment of people having finance difficulties has certainly changed my opinion & remember everyone this is MY OPINION. The money wasted on bonuses, corporate functions are too stressful to talk about! These companies have a lot to answer for! & so do the goverment for overunning the population. I really wish you & your family well. Please don't delete from PIO we need real people like you on here look at how many people have read your post. You won't be the 1st & you certainly won't be the last.

Can really understand you not wanting to pay your electrticity bill, as they have tripled in the time we have been here. We had friends who went back that didn't pay any of there aussie bills & have been back for over a year!Haven't had the hangman over to them yet!But they have no desire to ever to return to OZ, thats why they left the household bills.

I Think so yes! But if you had asked me 2 years ago I would have said NO WAY! Is any country all cracked up to be? Lifes what you make it. Good & bad in every country you choose to live in. We really enjoy living here & we make the most of it. Australia is certainly a beautiful country which has lots of offer, but then thought that of the UK too!

Like other people say it depends on where you are going. Just had friends arrive in Melbourne, they ended up staying with other friends for nearly 6 weeks, as was having a nightmare in fi nding a rental. So be prepared! They looked at plenty but wasn't considered for any! They had to pay 4 months rent upfront. Good Luck

We know someone who got PR through their employer after a year. You could ask your co if they will nominate you early! He said that he was leaving his job as wife couldn't find anywork rather them paying for his return, they put him through to get his residency. But you would still need to do TRA as you haven't work for 2 years in Australia which is a cost you would have to bear. When we went through the ENS system with our employer, the visa only took 2 weeks to come through.

Thanks for the info Goochie, I think travelling with kids I might just pay that extra for my santity & peace of mind, what you said was what I read on the reviews. Thanks again.

If you do fly with them let us know, as I have been tempted to book with them too! As we are going home for a visit next year & the price for return for a family has been outstanding!I too looked at their reviews for me the only thing that has put me off was the stopovers & length of the flight 40 hours plus for th etime I want. With kids not sure I want to be stuck at a airport where english is limited & a bit chaotic thats what I read on the reviews, so at this stage haven't booked yet china eastern & china southern have been coming out the cheapest.

Totally agree with the other posters, you certainly work hard here!, but you are rewarded with good salary. IMO I am a working mum & I see far less of my kids as always working. The aussies I work with don't take much holidays they all have loads of time to take & never take it! When the school holidays are here, I want to book time off to spend with the kids & I feel I am frowned at for taking what I am entitled too!I had to work a year nearly to get the 20 days. Very different here to the UK.

How I wish we could have started the process back home, just taken my teenager & was appalled at the cost, between $6k & $7 for everything, the one good thing is we can pay installments phew!! Get what you can done while you can. Good luck.

When you have a budget, you work to that budget we didn't have much, but what we had did get eaten up pretty quick! Just spend what you have wisely. Its surprising what you can pick up from other people junk! I am not ashamed to say we got some get little things for our house that other people where throwing out! The biggest expensive for us as a family was the car $6,000 which turned out to be a pile of cr*p. Then we had to buy another one in hindsight if we used the $6k to put sown on a depoist for a new one we would have been better off or rented one for a while & had a good look around. We are still here 3 years later & now can save. Good Luck with your journey, spend wisely, it can be done.

It can be done but it will be very hard for you as you have a family to look after. Just spend what you have wisely, don't rush into buying a car. Think the rent will be a big expensive for you we had to put down 6 months to secure a rental. Then school fees. It is possible but be prepared for the stress. Good luck

Hi wronged, Can you be my friend? You come across how a true friend should be! IMO I have tried to stay in contact with certain friends who I thought were true friends but when you are the one giving all the time, its start to wear off a little I really have tried my best 1 friend who was such a big part of our lives godfather to my children has really let us down & my kids! but I kept trying & we got back in contact & he said to us he was so hurt that we left him, & angry that we could just leave like we did! So we are building our friendship back again which has made us overjoyed! So I understand your post

This is sooooooooooooooo correct people we felt were our good friends have disappeared from radar, some who haven't heard from in the 3 years we have been here! We have moved on & made some fantastic friends here who really count as good friendds & like you if we did plan on going back we would go to a different part of the UK for ourselves not our friends. As the good saying goes out of sight out of mind! This is so true!

Fantastic post, you are so right on the things you say, when I 1st arrived I found it hard to settle & just wanted to know what was going on back home. I realised that being on FB made me miss the UK very much, so came off that was the best thing for me to do. I really needed to give OZ a go. No ones realises how bloody hard it is to settle, oz is very different from the UK. I really fo wish you & your family all the best, funny enough if it does work out for us here we to said we would give Cornwall a go, a lovely part of the UK.

We applied through the old system too, we had visa 186 which employer done after working 2 years with them, if you apply now then you would need to have the TRA done. But not sure what time of visa you need sorry & if I am right the state sponsor would mean you guys going offshore to get your visa. Not sure about the visa your employer could help you out with as thought you had to be working for them for 2 years. Good Luck

TBH I didn't for a long time! It took me ages to settle, but I stopped looking at the negatives & just started to enjoy life here 3 years later I love living here! The feeling you're having are pretty normal. We will always miss the UK & family that feeling never goes. But I started to realise that we came here for a reason & I needed to let OZ in my heart. I hope that you will find your feet soon.

I remember that feeling! living out of a suitcase wasn't the fun part! As we lost so much stuff living at different places lol Enjoy your time saying goodbyes treasure these moments. Good luck it is worth it! x

Champion league is on SBS hubby watched it the other week man city was on & then man u don't think it showed all the game but gave him his fix without having to pay for it. You can get uk football on foxtel but its a extra cost.

Just heard that someone was arrested, my heart goes out to the family.

Coming on a 457 worked for us, we managed to gain PR after 2 years, but I have heard that some people have been laid off while on this visa, thus happened to somone we know who managed to find another sponsor, but I would try & gain PR if you can. Good luck with your decision

So with the $1200 & $4k spent on your card total of $5k spent thats pretty good going. Each person has different circumstances, I wish we only spent that in our 1st month here. But we are a family & had to get a car & pay all the school fees, uniforms etc etc & because we couln't secure a rental paid 6 months upfront.

Fingers crossed, she turns up soon x