PhoebeW

Phoebe, I've just seen your post that says your hubby is coming round to the idea. You lucky lady! If it works for you I will just have to buy three dogs for our neighbours.............

He's a way off that's why the next trip is so important :yes:. I'm still seeing consultants still can't eat solids so can't even book flights yet :arghh: baby Harry was only 10 weeks old when we left he's going to be almost 2 next time we see him and the girls are getting so big......miss them so much as I'm sure all of us in the UK do..........

Phoebe

PS I'll happily send you these 3 they've got us up the bloody wall.............

Hi Phoebe,

Yes, we got debit cards quite quickly sent to our daughters address. If you open one online, the cards will be waiting for you on your next visit to Oz. You just have to pop in with your passport.

When we came home, we wrote and told them of the change of address and they always send statements and stuff to our UK address. The bank manager knows me quite well now as I've been a nuisance over Centrelink and DIAC payments. We also now have a savings account which pays better interest than here.

Good luck, Val, x

That's a big help ladies. I've had a quick look at their web site hubby's having a look later (we have to let them know they are in charge :laugh:). Once him indoors is happy we will give it a go.

Apart from the convenience of having an Aussie account we are looking to hire a motor home next time we go, with 3 bairns in a 3 bedroom house it's a tight squeeze now since we are going for around 8-10 weeks.

We will have the first week or so at start and end of holiday with them but we want to have a good tour around to see if hubby feels it's worth spending the money to make the move...........he is slowly coming round to the idea since we got new neighbours last year with 3 constantantly barking dogs :goofy: we are both dog lovers but these are totally out of control. Hopefully we would get a better deal if we have Aussie Dollars to trade with :yes:

Apologies for the last posts spelling was typing in a hurry didn't think to check it :twitcy:

Phoebe

Hi Phoebe

 

We opened a NAB account online from here ages ago and just had to go into a branch to validate it when we first arrived,( Sydney for us)

 

It was very easy and I still keep an eye on the Forex sites, so, if the rate goes up, I just transfer some more.

 

They do know that we are in UK and that we are not 'actively' seeking a visa and it was no problem.

 

Also worth thinking about the interest rate too, a lot higher over there!!

 

I'm sure all the Oz bank accounts are similar, as Val has said.

 

Good luck with your choice.

 

Cheers Pam

Thanks ladies :biggrin: I was thinking about NAB as there is one close to my daughter but on their web site it is saying you have to be intending to move to Oz within 12 months.......was that not a problem for you Pam?

Also did you just collect devit cards etc when you went on holiday, do they send your statements etc to your home in the UK? Sorry for all the wuestions :swoon:

Phoebe

Hi Everyone

I am sure this had been covered in the past but can't find the thread!

Were any of you able to open an Australia bank account before you moved out there or has anyone still in the UK have an Aussie bank account?

Thanks

Phoebe

Hi,

Yes, that's correct. Once you have been resident for 4 years you are eligible to take up Australian Citizenship thus allowing you to have an Australian passport. You can still keep your British passport as well. So, you exit and enter Australia on the Australian passport and enter and exit UK on the British passport. Once you have both passports, you can please yourself where you live..................always assuming you have the funds!

 

A friend of mine has done this, he lived and worked in Brisbane for just over 4 years, got his citizenship and passport then came back to the UK to work some more. He intends to retire in Oz in a few years and meanwhile, his Brisbane home is earning a nice little nest egg from his tenant.

 

We'll be lucky if we can afford a tent when we get to Oz the way its going with the housing market in the UK at the mo!

 

regards, Val x

So if you moved to Oz on a CPV143 then moved back to the UK after a while then decided to move back to Oz you would have to pay all over again?

Am I reading that right?

Phoebe

On the same theme.........

I believe I'm right in thinking if you go for the 173 you don't have to pay the AoS unless you then either go for or opt to updrade to the 143 and I know you then get it back after 10 years :swoon: or what's left of it (please anyone correct me if I'm wrong).

This being the case what if you decide after say 5 years Oz is not for you for some reason do you get it back and if so how/when.

Thanks

Phoebe

Wow Val soooo happy for you both

Phoebe

WOW so much going on for so many people. :jiggy:

Good luck to you all :cool:

Phoebe

As soon as you arrive head to medicare to get your medicare card!!! Depending on your visa type or visit type you can get a visitor medicare card or a perm res medicare card either way get it as soon as possible!! In QLD you pay your ambulance fees in with your electricity which is great as in Vic when I was there is was a seperate bill.

Once you have your medicare card any medical visits you have to pay for (should you not be bulk billed) you can claim some money back.

That's good info thanks :biggrin:

Phoebe

That is soooo weird we've posted similar Q together !!!!!!!

Phoebe

How does emergency health cover work in Oz for our age group.

My daughter has a 'bulk bill' doctor so I understand that and I know UK had a reciprocal agreement with Oz but what happens if you for example took suddenly ill or had an accident that required hospital treatment/stay?

Way my healths been the past 15 months feel I need tto clarify this :swoon:

Phoebe

Could you go on the 173 initially and rent your house that way you still have your house if you need/want to come back and the money you have spent was for the experience. Just couple ideas for you to throw around :biggrin:

Phoebe

I can't believe you've been there a year already :swoon:

But sounds like your settling right in :biggrin:

Phoebe

Yippee! Just checked our emails and YES!!! we have our Visa grant letter!!!:biggrin: Such a relief! Thank you everyone for your help and support along the way. Good luck to those still waiting! Angie x

So happy for you guys :biggrin: And just a teensy bit jealous :wub:

Live your dream :cool:

Phoebe

I used Walkabout for our last return holiday trip their quote was excellent :biggrin:

Phoebe

Thanks Angie. I think I finally have an answer to what's been going on this past 15 months but one of my consultants just phftt phftt it :mad: Back to see myother consultant on Tuesday and I've made a private appointment for a second opinion in couple of weeks spending the precious pennies but so sick of it all :dull: Can't even look at flights to go for a visit and my new grandson is 17 months old now :cry:

Great to hear your news and it must be hard with guilt etc but like my daughter said to me before they left "you did the very best you could for your family and I have to do what I feel is the very best for my family we only get one chance" and I couldn't disagree.

So this is your time :jiggy: Live your dream :cool:

Phoebe

Hi everyone

Been a while since I posted (still battling with hospitals :swoon:

So good to read all the great posts congrats to all who are now on their way :biggrin: so happy for you all and to those of you with OH still uncertain if it's the right thing to do.......I know exactly where your coming from :daydreaming:

Phoebe

Woo Hoo! We got our Case Officer today!!!! So excited can hardly speak! We have to provide Form 80 and copies of passport, but Ohhh the relief! Did you all not hear my screams of joy at 05.50 this morning!!!

Val x

Hi Val

Sooooo happy for you :biggrin:

Phoebe

Hi

I do know it's a benefit from Centrelink because of the carbon tax due to come in as my daughter has received it but I don't know if it comes out of AoS. I would be ringing Centrelink to ask unless someone here knows for sure :biggrin:

Phoebe

Hi Gill

Great post thankyou for all that info and I too will be looking into the Post Office Credit Card thanks for that :wink:

So glad you are happy living the dream :cool: not to mention being close to your lovely family now :wub:

Phoebe

I've also managed to get a tenancy agreement out of them for their rental before they purchased, started on the 12th of August 2010. Probably should wait until this date to submit to be on the safe side then?

Hi

My daughter waited until they had PR for 2 years then proved they were settled rental, jobs etc.

Obviously it's up to you but personally I wouldn't chance it for the sake of a couple of months :biggrin:

Hope it all goes well

Phoebe

Hi all,

 

I'm new here, but I have a problem that really troubles us. Please give us some advices, experiences and inputs.

My parent has 3 children, two elder sisters and me. One of my sisters is living in Oz now, she's an Oz citizen for several years. I myself is just granted Permanent Resident visa, and I plan to come over Oz for 1 week to validate that visa next month, then coming back Canada as I am working here. We want to apply parent contributory visa for our parent, my sister is sponsor. But we don't know if we can pass the Balance of Family test, since I don't live in Australia, eventhough I have Australia permanent resident visa. We have asked 2 agents, one of them say no problem, but the other say can not, they said I have to stay in Australia during my parent visa processing time (1, 2 years), to prove I am a "usual resident in Australia". Is it necessary??

 

We are really stressed now, and don't know weather I need to go and stay in Australia in order to apply the PR for our parent!!!

Hi

Welcome to the forum. You will get the advice you need here.

As I understand it your parents pass the balance of family test because they now have 2 out if their 3 children as permanent residents, however both the children living in Australia have to prove they are 'settled'. This means you have to show you have a job, a property either mortgage or rental etc so if you are not living in Australia I don't believe your parents would qualify

Im sure people with more knowledge will confirm or correct this information.

Phoebe

They can take it into consideration. I don't think you will get a firm answer as to how much etc. each case will no doubt be assessed at the time. In my case I applied for a 103 in April 2010. I then applied for a 143, withdrawing the 103 in April of this year, I got a case officer at the beginning of May. In the acknowledgement correspondence it stated that time served on the 103 could be given consideration, but there was no indication of how much or when. You pay your money and take your chanch

 

Dave

Thanks for that Dave :biggrin:

Did you withdraw the 103 before/after or at the same time as you applied for 143? It's deffinatly a route I'm considering :yes:

Phoebe

Thank you Pam and Phoebe for your input. Phoebe I didnt know that time on the 103 list was taken into consideration if you swapped over.

 

Kath.

I've just remembered I'm sure I asked this question via email to the DIAC website and was told the time didn't count :eek:

Can anyone else confirm it :biggrin:

Phoebe

PS I agree about the support on here - I only know as much as I do because of the kind people on this site sharing their knowledge. Let me know if you have any major insights! Kath

Hi Kath

I just remembered seeing this from 'hitchers' not long ago it could be worth looking into :yes: crtainly got me thinking.

"One route, the route I have taken may suit your circumstances. It is a more expensive way but gives you more control. I applied for a 103 non contributory visa in early 2010. The time nor finances were right for a 143 application. I had no intention of waiting for the 15 years it would have taken. Earlier this year the it time was right to apply for a 143 contributory visa. The time waiting on the 103 was taken into consideration and I got a case officer within a few days of lodging the 143 application. It is more expensive as you have to pay he 1st fee again, but to be able to time it to my needs has made it worthwhile."

Phoebe