Debabrown

Moving countries is always going to be very hard for some people. Everyone has to understand that it is very hard to change what you have always known and I believe we think that a new country, holds all the things we were lacking in place we were moving from. Realization is that often this is not the case and we return to where we came from and are much happier because as at least we gave it a go.

Hi Allan We are in Perth and I know this may differ dependent on where your actually are. My OH is a UK qualified gas heating and plumbing engineer with over 20 years experience, as you say when we got here 4 years ago it meant nothing and he had to do (and pay) for all the courses. He has all his Australian tickets but didn't want to go back to Uni for a year so he could be self employed. We have subsequently brought another business (which does involve some plumbing) and he is loving it :-). It is the land of oppertunites and you just have to find what works for you and that can sometimes be something different to what you expected. Good luck.

Hi My OH and I are in North Perth and moved over from the UK just over a year ago. We would love to meet up, probably like you guys we have found it hard to meet new people. We are in our 40's and had a great social life in the UK and are missing just meeting up for a drink with friends. Let me know if there any dates in the diary coming up :-) Debbie

I think I know how you feel. We have been in Perth just overa year now, we don’t have children together but my partner has 2 in the UK. Ihave found it really hard, we have been lucky as we have some friends here whoalso emigrated from the UK but apart from them we haven’t really meet many newfriends (seems to be quite hard when you don’t have kids). I really miss my friends and family so much, I thought thatthis would get easier but it’s not. I too am contemplating going back but knowthat my partner wouldn’t want to (not discussed it with him yet) as he lovesthe weather etc. I have set a dead line in my head of 2 years and if I am stillfeeling the same then I will go back, I just don’t see here as a long termplan. Good luck with whatever you do, either way the mostimportant thing if for you and your boys to be happy.

Hi She did all the medicals and due to her haveing Arthritis she was refused on our visa although she was a non-migrating dependant. When our PR confrimation came through she wasn't on it and our agent said she had been removed from the application???????? I have emailed our agent today to see if he can help at all, really worried though now as we only have a week to sort, really kicking myself that I didn't get on and sort ages ago.

Hi all HELP HELP...... We have applied for my step daughter, who is 15 is visit us for3 weeks over Christmas (we have PR) and her tourist visa was refused (herbrothers went through fine). We were advised to apply for an evistor visa whichwe have done and this has also been referred!!!! She was on our applicationwhen we applied for our PR visa's to come out as she was under 18 (although shewasn't going to be emigrating with us) but was removed due to health reasons.They are due to fly a week today (I know we should have applied before bookingflights etc. but, stupidly left this to my step son to do!!!!). Could it be they haven’t removed here from our/the originalapplication?????? This would be her first vist sine we came out last year As you can imagine I am going into melt down now andreally not sure what to do, we are waiting on the evistor decision but didn’tknow if there was anything I could do while waiting. Does anyone know thecontact phone numbers for the correct department as the website only shows anemail address, or does anyone have any advice, apart from should have done itearlier. Be really grateful if anyone can help

Hi Holly You need the ICL if you want to work on your own (self employed), as long as you have the TL you can work for a company that will already have the contractor's licence, Hope this helps Deb

Rental in Perth is not easy (sorry). We are currentlyliving North near Hillary’s, which is lovely, but it took us a good 4 weeks ofdaily viewings and putting applications into the agents. Make sure that you canbring references for both mortgage/rentals in the UK or where you at themoment. You will also need personal references so may be worth getting friendsto do that for you now and bring with you, can't be family members. We were luckywe have friends here who said that we rented from them for a while on ourarrival and the agents took this as a good reference. Takes a lot of leg workand can get very frustrating, would really advise that you start lookingstraight away as on good properties in the North there can be up to 30 peoplelooking to rent it, especially on coastal properties. Good luck

We arrived in january this year also and I am only now just starting to feel a little better, the homesickness was awfull, missed everyone and everything including really stupid things that used to get on my nerves in the UK. 6/7 months in and I am now starting to enjoy the weather and lifestyle, obviously still miss family and friends the same but I am now just trying to embrace all the reasons we came here for. I am going back to the UK in October for a short vist as my Dad has been poorly so really need to see that he is ok, will probably put me back again when i return but to see my lovely parents it will be worth it. Good luck to eveeryone on here as it is really hard to begin with and it isn't something you can really understand or factor in till you get here.

I would definitely say you really must think about whatit would be like not to have your family and friends around you, if you have aclose family or really strong friendships (which will survive if you go but only with effort) you will probably find it hard. We moved over Jan of this year and the first few months we were so busy getting everything sorted, house, jobs etc. that we didn’t reallyhave time to think about it too much, it also felt a bit like a holiday. 5months in and the holiday is now well and truly over and reality is setting in.I must admit I have found it really hard, my family and friends where really good and fully supported us (although upset about our decision), they wanted us to follow our dream. I skype and talk to family weekly, which is great, but on the flip side it also makes it harder as I can’t give them a big hug…. They say you don’t realise what you have till it’s gone……………. Well for me that is definitely true. BUT, we made our decision to come here for a better way of life and that is what we are going to try and achieve. It may be for us that after a couple of years the pull of family and friends will take us back to the UK but I am determined to make sure that we have given it a good go here first. Good luck

Hi we are in WA and brought our LG plasma screen from the UK, all working fine but we also only picked up the 5 channels. OH went out and got a freeview box (about $50) and we can now get about 15 channels. Really didn't want to get foxtell as it is expensive here, when compared to Sky etc in the UK anyway. Not been here long so still comparing.

Us tooooo, only been here since Jan 12 so real newbies. Wehave just moved to Hillarys from Warnbro (stayed with friends in Warnbro whenwe got here). Like you guys just feel there is something missining..............some days I drive along the coast Road and think "Wow" and other daysI think "is this it". Guess we have give it more time and allowourselves to adjust. Also starting realise that WA is VERY expensive,especially for us as only 1 of us is currently working. Everything really seems to have gone up since we came over in 2010, except wine that is, this I am at least very thankful for :-).

Us tooooo, only been here since Jan 12 so real newbies.We have just moved to Hillarys from Warnbro (stayed with friends in Warnbrowhen we got here). Like you guys just feel there is somethingmissing.............. some days I drive along the coast Road and think"Wow" and other days I think "is this it". Guess we justhave to give it more time and allow ourselves to adjust. Am also startingrealise that WA is VERY expensive, especially for us as only 1 of us iscurrently working.

Hi we called them this morning and they said that it had taken 4 days for the email to reach them and the 15 days processing is actually 15 working days so they would look at it maybe tomorrow!!!!! if they do look at it this week when should we hear back????? Sorry it is all so close now and getting a little stressed :twitcy:, as we all do or is it just us?

Hi hoping that you may be able to help us with this one…. My OH has been renovating a 1964 Lambretta scooter for 16 months now, as our visa were approved and he wanted to take it with him to save on time he has had a professional finish the job, it has an MOT, but he hasn’t registered it in the UK as we have run out of time. All our stuff is being packed up by the shipping company on the 14th Nov and they have agreed to take the scooter and hold it until the license is through for a month. He has sent all details and the $50 to apply for the import license, sorry a bit long winded. My question is would this be categorised under the pre 1989 (or does this only apply to cars) or something else and how much longer will we have to wait for an answer, been nearly 4 weeks now???? Getting worried that all our stuff will go and the poor scooter is going to be left behind, it is his pride and joy J