Phoenix16

I will say moving to Australia in the way we did, incredibly quickly due to hubby bring headhunted, I was like YES a pool! It was literally the number 1 request we made to our relocation agents, but it was Feb in UK and it was still snowing, so a pool sounded bloody amazing!! So we did get the pool, I think ‘pool’ clouded all other reasonable judgement on our house viewings! Firstly, we landed in June, I thought woo hoo a hot summer, yes I admit, although quite intelligent I actually thought summer was the same in OZ as UK, I’m embarrassed to admit in my excitement to move I knew no different!! I was walking around Freo in shorts (it was 20 degrees ok) walking past people in balaclavas, that really was my first impression of Freo, like Balaclavas?? But I digress, so we had the tiniest of pools, it was literally a sunken hot tub, but we were on the beach, the view, the walk, it didn’t matter.  We then bought our first house, again a pool was top of the list. We actually bought a very small house with a very (and I do mean very very) large pool, the pool was bigger than the footage of the house.  We loved that pool Andrew we loved that house, we debated increasing the house size, we got quotes (500K plus), we would have broken the ceiling for the area, it wasn’t worth it we walked away, BUT, I swam in that pool every single day of my life living there, I loved it.  SOOO, we moved, to basically a McMansion type house, with a little pool, a dark blue pool (I love the light, bright blue pools!), it’s lovely, it’s there, my daughter and her friends love it, it’s a pool, we have one, OK, whatever, I think I swim in it once or twice a year when the weather gets so unbearable but maybe that’s too generous, I don’t swim, I just dunk, for a few minutes and that’s literally it.

On 30/04/2019 at 07:32, WayneM said:

On 10/02/2019 at 20:36, Phoenix16 said:

This is the view from my camp kitchen in Ningaloo marine park, this is also my camp set up with no power hook up or amenties, I love solar ha ha.... and I hope it gives you a taste of the camping opportunities you have here xxxxx

Is that a solar powered TV?

PS yes, that campsite was over 1000km from Perth, there was no access to any power or phone signals, we were 100km from any help/resources whatsoever (Exmouth being the nearest town), it was simply amazing, you would love it as a camper.  PS lovely brand new toilets, I’m a long drop phobic but these were pretty modern long drops that even I could tolerate!!!!!

On 30/04/2019 at 07:32, WayneM said:

On 10/02/2019 at 20:36, Phoenix16 said:

This is the view from my camp kitchen in Ningaloo marine park, this is also my camp set up with no power hook up or amenties, I love solar ha ha.... and I hope it gives you a taste of the camping opportunities you have here xxxxx

Is that a solar powered TV?

Yep, every single appliance is solar powered, solar panels on top of the trailer, 1500w inverter, I can even use my hair dryer and straighteners (hubby goes mad as he says they ‘pull’ so much power’ but that’s the compromise of bush camping for me ), the solar power runs everything and it’s never ever let us down even in winter, it runs 2 fridges and a freezer, lights, we always have heaps of appliances charging, hot water, we’ve taken the slow cooker with us, microwave oven, bamix hand blender, it will run anything under 1500w, we’ve just camped for 7 days unpowered and the solar maintained full power (ampage hubby refers to) at all times.  Even in winter, a glimmer of sun just tops it up continually.  Hope this helps, hubby is the expert but we are massive campers, feel free to PM me any questions at all xx

On 30/04/2019 at 11:50, Paul1Perth said:

You see quite a few vans parked for a night or two in the hidden car parks off West Coast Highway near Hillarys. Great place for them to stop. Nearby restaurants galore, showers and toilet blocks, free barbecues, nice parks and right next to the beach. No fees for anything. 

They are big car parks too and I've seen vans there for a week or so mid summer. Not families, usually just a couple of people in a self contained van.

I suppose if there were too many the rangers would move them on but it's not been a problem so far.

I agree, I see heaps of vans parked up in similar areas around Freo area near to facilities and it’s often backpackers doing the tour, I’ve never seen any trouble or issues and everyone tends to turn a blind eye.  But, I can honestly say that when you travel outside of the metro the rangers are pretty vigilant, I’ve seen camper vans parked up in lay-bys on long lonely stretches of roads and in such instances it’s safety, taking a rest after many hours of travel before they continue on and that seems to be acceptable (rightly so) but then I’ve seen very extensive camp set ups hidden behind sand dunes in the most remote and stunning places that clearly look like its not just for the night, not saying I don’t agree with it, in fact pretty envious, some stunning locations and some well maintained camps but trust me, the rangers will find them!  We’ve 4WDriven to some pretty remote beaches only to see the ranger driving past, particularly evening time when they know camps will start to be set up!!  Don’t know if you’re familiar with Wedge Island? Would love your views if you are, it’s an absolutely stunningly place to visit, the beach is just incredible in the summer months, but there is a big shack community there who are very protective of their area, I can understand as it has attracted hoons in the past, but as a regular, peaceful family with kids and a few labradors, I have never been so intimidated as my last day trip with ‘locals’ driving past constantly and giving the hard stare, it’s time Wedge was bulldozed and made available to everyone in my opinion.

On 15/04/2019 at 14:03, ifleeds said:

Ok, small update. Given my apparently complicated timeline, I've decided to use Paul's (MARA) agency to handle my application, mainly because the cost is reasonable when the risk involved is taken into account!

I'll update further when anything new happens. This will be a long ride though, so bear with.

Am patiently waiting for what I hope is a great outcome!! You do have a complicated timeline but you also seem to have pretty strong ties to Aus so fingers crossed for a wonderful result for you and a happy ending for us all here holding our breath with our fingers crossed for you xxxxx

So I’m just sharing a personal experience of a friend, back history is that they came on a 457 visa in the full knowlede they could never move to PR, age being the biggest factor but also so many family ties to the UK,they didn’t really want to go PR, it really was (and still is) a massive adventure to make fabulous memories. However, this guy (my friend) was very much enticed over here because of his particular talents, he came over and worked hard on some pretty major projects, as his contract ended other companies snatched him up and took over his his 457, we would host Christmas and joke every year you’ll still be here next year! They still are by the way, the moral of the story is, he was working on a project that was critical, he worked 24/7 was promised so much TOIL in return, worked public holidays, weekends the lot but as he was salary the real returns for him were TOIL down the line. Overnight the company went bankrupt, he literally got a call to say ‘don’t come in tomorrow’. To cut along story short, he was snapped up literally within days and is still here on a 457 or whatever, it was 24 hours turnaround allocating it to his new employer, but.... whilst all of his work mates got paid out for their extra hours he was told that because he was on a 457, he wasn’t entitled to anything, all of the late nights and weekends he had worked for nothing in return for extra time off was worthless, simply because of his 457 status, as I said, all of his PR and citizen colleagues were paid out by the administrators. As it is he was snapped up by a competitor instantly and offered a higher salary, they are still living their dream/adventure in the full knowledge they will return to the UK at some point, he’s made enough to complete his full retirement plans (especially being able to collect all his super as he departs) and as I said loving every minute of his life in OZ. This is not the usual story of a 457 visa holder but I wanted to highlight how his status was very detrimental to him when the company went bust and  how disadvantaged he was despite paying the same taxes as everyone else, for him it was a que sera sera moment in terms of his visa stability as his long term plans were to return to the UK but it could have been pretty devasting for others, myself included as our initial entry was via a 457 visa but many years ago under very different rules.  I just wanted to share this for those who might find it  useful.

Hey! Gutted you’re not a citizen, was hoping for a really lovely surprise ending! However, the second best surprise lovely ending will be you get the RRV, it sounds like you have so many ties to OZ for a good MARA agent to make a compelling case on your behalf, an agent will be worth every penny/cent, besides the much lower costs of going the full PR route again and I would imagine, be a much smoother and less stressful process.  I wish you all the best, please do keep us updated on your progress, many of us on here really do love a happy ending (and I’m confident yours will be a happy ending, especially with a great agent behind you), my bestest wishes and fingers crossed for you xxxx

3 hours ago, JetBlast said:

How did you travel to Australia on your recent trip? Did you have a visitor visa? If so it could have replaced your PR visa and as a result you can't apply for a resident return visa. However it looks like there could be a chance you're a citizen.

I think there has been discussion on here about previous PR’s travelling here on visitor visas then later being granted an RRV so don’t give up hope and  perhaps consult with a MARA agent for expert advice as it seems you can prove strong ties.... that is if your not a citizen, we’re still hoping here...!

There was a bigger article on the news about this, I agree with peoples right to protest but I don’t agree when it breaches the law by breaking into abattoirs and breaking into farms and running amok.  A sensible protest will usually raise public awareness around the issue they are protesting about rather than just being perceived as a bunch of yobs trying to enforce their opinion on everyone else.

Just a random thought, but you can’t get a HECS loan unless you are a citizen, was it the same back then or were PR’s eligible at that time? Just made me think perhaps you are a citizen without realising..... (fingers crossed!)xx

I have my trusted GP who I always go to, charges $75 and worth every penny but 4 GP clinics have opened in the last year within a couple of KM’s from home, all bulk bill, have used a couple of them for weekend ‘emergencies’ for various family members and have to say all we’re absolutely superb, would have happily paid for the service/treatment we received.

This is clearly a really big factor in your decision to move to Australia and as you say yourself it may not be permanent perhaps for peace of mind it might be the right decision for you to stay in the UK.  Another option may be to consider private schools? My daughter goes to a private school, they do not normally move children up a year, in fact they try resist it in most cases, however, there is a child in my daughters class now who was moved up, she was exceptionally gifted and has adjusted well, and I would say she is still now far advanced than most of her current cohorts, however, as I said it was an exceptional situation and I can see clearly the rationale for their decision, but just thinking out of the box that perhaps private schools have more discretionary powers available to them? Although I don’t know, just a thought xx

36 minutes ago, Tulip1 said:

The YTS always seemed to have a bad reputation and yet I have friends in senior management positions in big corporate conpanies who started there 30 odd years ago aged 16 on a YTS, for many it was an excellent scheme. 

In the beginning it was a truly awesome opportunity for young people, I started as an admin assistant back in day, the skills I learned and on the job training, when I finally left to migrate I was a senior manager with a compliment of 147 staff under my management, I learned so much ‘on the job’, I don’t think there was anything more I could have learned in a university environment but alas on arrival in OZ the elusive degree meant more than 20 years plus on the job experience! My best friend went the same route into a massive supermarket in the UK, YTS entry and he now sits on the board of directors, and NO, he doesn’t have a degree....

2 minutes ago, Lauren & Luke said:

Thank you very much for replying and I personally don't think it was negative at all. 

I am open to all advice and I know it will change from each person.

I understand your views 100% and I wish we made the move years ago (I am 32 and met my husband when I was 15. I'd say we have been talking about this for the last 13-15 years) things just get in the way don't they? General living, weddings etc. ha! I am adamant we will try to make the move (as long as the visa allows us!) I am sure there will be ups and downs and it will be an emotional roller coaster but I just don't want to get to a point where it is too late and I say "I wish we gave OZ ago!" 

Fingers crossed we get our dream life in OZ!

Sending my best wishes to you too

x

Hey! My views are simply just urging you to maximise your best chances of getting that visa! It takes determination and persistence but you are both young (loads of visa points for that!!) and you both sound really motivated! I genuinely do wish you the best, I love your energy and motivation and I believe you can achieve your dreams and I also think when you do get here you will grab opportunities with open arms and make it all happen for you both.  It really can still be done and once you’ve got your visa (the debate of this post was how best to do that) I think the world will be your oyster!!  My sincerest best wishes to you both, please do keep us updated on your journey, I think it’s wonderful and with wise decisions you will most certainly achieve you dreams xxx

@Lauren & Luke, my best wishes, my post wasn’t meant to sound negative, it’s a wonderful aspiration to want to move to Australia, where ever we live in the world it’s humdrum work all week, jobs, responsibilities, commitments... yada yada!, but OZ is certainly a bonus place to wake up on the weekend even when it’s raining!!  Xxxxx

Hi there

ive noticed recently that many of my posts don’t have the ‘heart’ option in the bottom right corner to either like or otherwise... It seems to be random, so do but many don’t? Just wondering if it’s something I’m doing or just a blip? 

4 hours ago, SWMOY04 said:

This is true...

Knowing what I know NOW... I wouldn't use an agent... but that the point...I now Know...

there are a few instances where I would have answered sooooo wrongly and jeopardised my application...

Fair play to you, but I feel it’s important not to make light of the visa process being ‘easy’ to the extent it just needs competency in form filling, I have posted many many encouraging, optimistic and rose tinted replies to people over the years when they have had negative ‘doom and gloom’ responses (and yours isn’t, that’s not my point), but I don’t think it has ever been this difficult to get a visa and the outlook suggests it will only get more difficult.  I admire those who really want to make the move, they have their own reasons and motivations and it’s not for me the question that.  However, the reality of being granted the desired visa is so so much more different and difficult to the journey many of us went through and Australia is now a very different country to the one we all arrived in. I truly believe that for those still determined to make the move (and why not, I’m certainly loving my life here....), their best chance of making a successful application and having honest expectations on what It entails to start a new life in today’s Australia then an agent is vital.  A genuine MARA agent is bound by many regulations that are based on honesty amongst other things, a genuine agent will not allow you to embark on this process if your chances are very poor,  you will get expert advice and be guided through the process based on knowledge and experience you could never match, they know how to present you in the most favourable way they can within the limits of their role and they will do it far better that you ever could.  Not too many years ago it possibly was just being able to fill out a form competently, but I think it’s so very different now and whilst an agent might be a cost, it might be the cost of not losing even more money on a rejected visa and actually gaining a visa. Many of us on here can give you advice based on our experiences, but we didn’t face the hurdles you now face so I would advise caution and some perspective on today’s reality of obtaining a visa to live in Australia xxx 

We gained citizenship as soon as we were eligible and proud to do so! But, it also gave us the final piece of security in our journey and means that we can always live in the same country as our child, no matter what happens in the future and not having crystal balls that gives us piece of mind. I know I will get shot down in flames for this example but being an avid ‘real housewives of....’ viewer (I know I’m sad, just my secret pleasure ), there is a guy on the New Jersey franchise who moved to USA with his parents  aged 1,  never took out USA citizenship, committed mortgage fraud 40 years later and got 4 years, he’s just completed his sentence and has now been removed to a deportation centre and is being deported back to Italy.  His wife, 4 children, parents, siblings, extended family etc are all staying in the USA, he cannot speak Italian and has no family there.  It is sad, and all of this for mortgage fraud... no one can ever know what the future holds, or how laws change, but I’m guessing this guy really wishes he’d just filled in his citizenship forms when he had the chance!! As I say, shoot me down In flames for my bad taste in TV !

From my experience of living here in Australia and seeing how much things have changed in my 10 years here I would say go with an agent, but do your research and get the right agent.  That’s just my opinion, but visas were granted like smarties back then and jobs were aplenty.  It’s not the same now and as such the visa process has changed massively and become much harder to obtain.  Australia has a massive supply (in some professions even an over supply) of its own talent and resources that it can afford to be rather more choosy granting its visas.  That’s not to say you won’t get in but I think these days your odds are increased with the knowledge and expertise of an agent to guide you, and a reputable agent won’t take you down the long, stressful and expensive journey of a visa application unless you have a genuine chance of obtaining one xx

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

If you are leasing the property to a relative at a rent that's far below the commercial rate, then it may cost you in tax. You'll have to declare the income on your Australian tax return, but you may not be allowed to claim all the expenses.  

You really need an accountant who knows both Australian and British systems and they're very thin on the ground.  @Alan Collett is one. 

Love the assumption this is all being done without declaring it on the relevant tax returns , just for the record everything is all above board and properly declared to relevant tax authorities, I take advice from my accountant who has served me well so far but thank you for your concern xx

I do believe that recently it was mentioned on here that once on a bridging visa you can work longer than the 6 months of the WHV, however, I am no expert and given the consequences of breaching a visa I really do think this is a question you should put to a professional MARA registered agent.  There are quite a few on here who regularly post, I’m sure someone will come along and point you in their direction, but I would strongly advise you not to breach your visa based on advice from others on a forum, there is too much at stake for you, best wishes xx

Hey!! Remembered you from a few years ago, hope the 10 years have been good to you! I can’t advise but I can truly empathise, I still own a home in the UK and have had it trashed, poor agents etc, such a pain to deal with from so far away, I now have my sister living in it paying mortgage payments only (150 pound a month) obviously the cheapest rental in the UK! We could clearly make significantly more from commercial renting but the the house is being very well looked after,  sister covers all ongoing maintenance issues and one day soon when the mortgage is paid off we will have a pretty nice nest egg to fall back on so watching your thread closely! I’m sure some one will come along soon with some great advice, all the best to you xx

PS if the session does give you the green light to go ahead,  be cheeky and ask them to knock the $360 off the overall fees if you decide to go forward with them!! Xxx

That makes sense! I’m assuming they think there is a possibility of you being eligible for a visa after an initial understanding of basics of visa eligibility for your particular circumstances,  so a deeper evidence checking session is worth the $360 (pounds!) before you go further into the process and spend lots more money.  That does make sense to me and seems pretty reasonable in my opinion (but I’m no expert I have to add!), all the best to you, I hope the session goes the way you hope and you’re on the way to your visa xxxx

I’m reading this to mean you are applying for the visa yourself and are merely booking a $360 (pounds!) evidence checking session to assist you, I would assume if you were actually using a registered migration agent to apply for the visa on your behalf then evidence checking would be part and parcel of the not inexpensive fee you will be charged... for me the agent would be firstly assessing your chances of a visa before you part with a lot of money (although I appreciate there is never a guarantee of a visa) and advising you accordingly,  requesting the appropriate documentation from you (and obviously checking it on receipt), completing all of the paperwork they can for you and then submitting on your behalf? This is what happened with us, although the company paid for everything so I cannot categorically state there wasn’t an evidence checking fee but it doesn’t make sense as evidence checking tends to be a big factor in deciding to go with a migration agent in the first place.... just my thoughts.