pfeds

I feel a pm on the way...

I want to ship my car over, but I have very little free time to go through the motions. I want a company to do it for me and just tell me what documents to provide and where to sign etc. Has anybody used an import company in Perth? Are there any? My car is in the UK rusting away on my parents driveway, mush to their disgust. I have a defacto spouse visa so believe the best way is for my partner to import the car and for me to submit a letter saying it's my vehicle but will be imported under her name.

You forgot to state the excessive use of the Australian language :em4500:

That's great news. I'm 34, single, and gay. x

If you tell them they might send you a bottle of champagne.

:em3600:

The potatoes in Brisbane are better.

Sounds like this is the way to go. The car's only worth a few k so it's not as if I'll be doing it for profit. How can they say no?

My point was more about the mindset. I heard a story about a girl who moved from Canada to Brisbane. She hated Canada. She hated Brisbane too so moved to Perth. She hated Perth. Point is, some people hate wherever they live. It's not always about the place, it's about the mindset. I thought Australia would be paradise until I moved here. When I did I just found it different, and the things that were different I hated because I wasn't used to them. I hated that most people I met in Perth were millionaires, and I hated that it was 40 degrees on Christmas Day instead of being cold and wet. It took me a long time to realise things were simply different, and not necessarily bad or worse. I spent 2 years going back and forth to England. I find I miss England, but when I'm in England I miss Australia. In technical terms, I'm f*cked, basically. I can tell you Miss tfarell, if you go back to Ireland you'll be regretting not sticking it out in Brisbane. Brisbane is a lovely place and has lots to offer. In time you'll see through the homesickness and see that. Surely that's worth experiencing? Stop thinking of it as a permanent thing. Your husband is working which should help. Convince yourself you'll see it through for another 6 months, enjoy it, then you can decide then if you want to go back to Ireland. I live in Perth. I love Perth. It's not paradise, but it doesn't matter. It's still pretty good. Who cares about the economy? It means didley squat.

Good thinking, that didn't occur to me. I'll look into it.

I just read I need to be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident. Is that true? I have a car rusting away on my parents drive. They hate it being there, I want it here. I have another year on the 309 before it should become a more permanent visa. I don't even know whether I'd become a permanent resident then...?

Stop being a wuss. Oz is great!

Ha ha, I'm glad I got through that dark phase as otherwise I wouldn't have been surfing today and barbecuing a nice tasty steak tonight ;o)

Thanks so much for the help, it's really appreciated. I know my parents have considered it. My Dad's brother lives here as do his children and grand children, and he would be happy to move here. My Mum procrastinates but she speaks of visas every now and then. I believe they're on the fence so wanted to give them some facts and figures to get them thinking. I wouldn't force them here, and I know it wouldn't be an easy move for them. They have the money but also the notion it's mine and my sister's inheritance. I'd rather they moved here than kept the money. My sister is 36, attractive, and for some reason single. She would love to live here and wants to visit. If she can come here for 6 months I'll have to do my best to introduce her to all the Aussie men I know...

I started reading the Parent Visa thread but it's endless and I'm meant to be working... I've been in Oz 3 years, and currently on a 2 year temporary partner visa which should hopefully be made permanent in 10 months. It's been a hard battle persuading my parents to move here but I'm sure they would love it. I can tell they've been on the fence for a while. In short, what would they need to get here? How much will it cost? Will they need to prove capital and if so how much? Do I need a permanent visa before they can apply? I'd rather they spent more money and got here quickly than have to wait years. They're in their mid-sixties now. Another issue is my sister. She would jump at the chance to live in Australia, so if my parents came I would hope she could come too. She's anorexic which I believe could be a big problem, but has recently had tests to prove she is currently healthy with no medical issues. Could she come on a parent visa or would she need to find another way? It was very hard for me to get to Oz and I'm a professional, where as she lacks any substantial qualifications and skills. Any advice appreciated. I'm only looking for short answers at the moment as can research more when I get time.

I feel a long post coming on, which is fair seeing as I haven't been on this forum for 2 years! I know your pain and know how hard it is. I went through hell moving to Australia. It was probably harder for me as I had no intention of coming here. I loved England, had loads of very close friends, great family, nice house, my own business. My life in England couldn't have been better now I look back. Then I split with my long term partner, work dried up, I did some backpacking and met an Australian girl. That was in 2009, and my life was torn to shreds. I moved here begrudgingly, having to make the decision between a woman and a prior life. I was in my 30s and set in my ways. It was horrible. Before I elaborate further I should say where my mindset is now, 3 years on. I absolutely love living in Perth. I've made good friends, I love my job so much more than anything before, I earn more, and enjoy so much more than I used to. My life is easier and it's probably fair to say a lot healthier. I'm closer to my parents than I ever was, and I've probably seen them more since I've been in Australia than I did in England. I still love England. I appreciate it far more than I used to, and it's so much nicer to visit than to live there. I don't think I could live there now, not that I'm used to the quality of life in Australia. So back to the dark days... I hated Australia. I found the people simple, backwards, and naive. I found Perth pompous and often said it was like that Jim Carey film where he lives in a perfect world until he finds out it's all fake and he was on a tv show (title has slipped my mind). It pissed me off that the supermarkets were tiny and I couldn't buy things like Heinz beans and sausages. I thought people were idiots for paying 10 bucks on beer and 40 bucks on a steak and then another 8 bucks on a carrot and stick of broccoli. I hated that all the pubs were like bars and were more gambling den than anything else. Honestly, I could go on all night about all the things I found lacking in Perth. Every day I woke up with a visceral hatred of having to be so far from loved ones. When I wasn't with my partner I was very low and cried a lot. I remember her leaving for work one morning and I sat on the kitchen floor crying and screaming in anguish (which happened a lot, and I thought I was going mad). I became very scared of being away from my parents. They're getting old and my Dad is haggered these days, and I feared how it would feel if he died while I was in Australia. Could I live with myself? My life felt empty and I had no friends in Perth. I wanted to work but I couldn't find the drive, and even 6 months later when I started looking I couldn't find sponsorship to get me a working visa. Nothing went my way and I ended up back in the UK a number of times. At one point in 2010 when I was trying my hardest to secure a visa, all my luck ran out and I had to return to England. I found work for 8 months and spoke with my partner over Skype every day. It was horrible. After 6 months I met her in Hong Kong for a week but it was very laboured due to everything we'd been through. Only a year ago did I finally get a partner visa approved after 2 years of trying, and even then I was suffering from being here. A number of things changed that. On my return to Perth I landed at 2am and had a 10am interview and a 2pm interview. I got offered both jobs on the spot, and a few more in the coming days. I took the first one as a consultant, which was scary compared to 10+ years as a software engineer geek. I started a few weeks later and really settled in. I instantly got on with the other people in the office and they're now good friends. Having a job to focus on took my mind off the hardships I'd been suffering for two years. I started to meet more people through work and my partner, and it was a nice feeling to start bumping into people I knew while out shopping etc. A social network is important, but it takes time and it's strange having to start from scratch. Having money helped a lot. I had a motorbike accident in England a number of years ago and gave up riding. Perth roads are quieter, and with it being so nice in the summer I decided to get a full licence and now cruise around on a Harley! That's something I would never do in the UK for love nor money, but I love having a bike here. I have a four wheel drive which is fantastic for driving over the dunes and going through the bush Kangaroo spotting. We've toured up and down the coast and seen some amazing places. We're often going camping which is superb compared to a wet English field. There is not end of lovely places to visit here. I find people friendly in Perth, and it helps to realise so many people have emigrated and gone through similar hardships. You meet people from home all the time - English, Scotts, Welsh, Irish. There is so much variety in Perth which you don't realise until you start exploring. We're planning on moving near to Fremantle as we love the wackiness of it, and have found a lovely location with pubs and cafes which is near the sea and the river. It's very exciting stuff. My advice to you is to stick with it. The first month is hard and don't kid yourself that it will get easier in the near future. It's a length process with a lot of ups and downs. Now your husband is working you'll have less money worries. Never think of it as permanent as you can go back to Ireland at any time. With that in your head you have no pressure to leave, so you may as well sit back, crack open a Crownie, and start enjoying the lovely weather... :biggrin: