RockDr

photos of the two of you with each other's families and friends (including the two witnesses if possible), and in identifiable locations (with famous monument or landmark in the background) that you have travel tickets to, do add weight to an application, but 40 seems like overkill.

They can, but it's not the permanent spouse visa, unless the NZ citizen holds permanent residency. The rules you were quoting in your first post relate to the permanent spouse visa. The link lebourvellec posted would be the relevant information to look at in your case. I would imagine the relationship requirements would be similar, though perhaps not quite so strict as it is a temporary visa.

first step is to check that the job would be eligible for sponsorship under the 457 rules (There's a list of occupations on the DIAC site somewhere). Then ask the employer if they're willing to consider sponsorship. While you're at it, you probably also want to do a bit of research on more permanent visas. the 457 is very much just a work permit, so if you're thinking of staying long-term, you need to start thinking about that now.

Sounds like your employer may have had it wrong. I know of several 457 dependents on permanent contracts, in SA, QLD and WA.

Actually they weren't correct, there's no reason you can't be hired on a permanent contract, since permanent contracts are actually indefinite contracts with specified notice periods. I was hired on a permanent contract when I was on a working holiday visa, no problems watsoever, and that's an even more temporary visa than the 457.

Well that depends whether you'd rather use the points to save money, or to gain comfort. I'd be wary of keeping them for domestic flights within Australia though, since BA and qantas are parting ways.

BA recently switched to calling their miles avios points. It's one and the same.

to the OP, if you're happy with Cathay or Emirates, also try airlines like singapore or malaysian. cheapest I've found flights (From adelaide, so more limited options for direct flights than from other cities) was with malaysia in may, we booked during the earlybird sale last year and got returns for $1630pp. Standard prices (from Adelaide) do tend to be around the 2-2.5k mark, rising to around 3k for the Christmas run.

If regular trips back are a priority, you just have to budget accordingly. It's perfectly doable, but you need to decide this and set the budget from the outset, otherwise your expenses will expand to fill your available money, and then it's much harder to cut back on things, because you've already saddled yourself with two cars or a more expensive rent/mortgage, or have got used to eating/drinking out often (or whatever you tend to spend money on)

It says he's got a degree in sport of some sort, maybe he's working at the company gym...

if you've got enough points you might as well use them, you basically save the fare section of the cost, taxes etc you'd have to pay anyway. If you can avoid flying from Heathrow, you'll also drastically reduce the taxes.

For anyone else browsing the thread, insure4less also do one way trips, and insure non-PR residents, and various other loopholes that other companies don't cover.

don't you both have bank statements going to the same address? It doesn't have to be both names on the same letter.

Many congratulations

Her maiden name is still her legal name, getting married doesn't change your name, it gives you the option of using a different one. You can legally have ID documents in either name, it's just generally easier to use a single name (though many people use their maiden name for work, and keep some forms of ID in that name). I travelled to the UK on a passport in my maiden name, as we'd booked the tickets before we got married. I then renewed the passport after I got back to Australia so there wasn't any time-pressure (mine still had lots of time left on it). To be honest, if you don't manage to get your certificate past the Australia post know-nothings, it might be worth just flying out on the nearly expired passport, and renew while you're in the UK (if you've got time while you're out there).

I feel for them, but at the same time the rules for regional visas are pretty clear...

We did the sums, and in the current flat housing market, you need to have a very large deposit before it becomes financially better to buy, rather than to rent an equivalent property and keep your savings in a high interest account (or other investment). paying interest to the bank is just as much money down the drain as paying rent to a landlord.

wanted to do this too, but as fourcorners has pointed out, you need to be over there for a looong time, and wasn't feasible for us, so we did it over here, videoed the ceremony, then had two receptions, one in aus, one in UK where we showed the video, and had the whole cake, speeches, dancing etc. Much less stress all round, and everyone enjoyed it. (and I got the wear the dress twice, bonus!)

We had a registry office wedding. Video-ed the ceremony, very few guests, though our parents attended, then had two separate receptions, one in Australia later that day, and another one while we were in the UK for Christmas three months later. Both receptions were equivalent, speeches, cakes, showed the recording of the ceremony, got to wear the dress twice. Everyone was really positive about it, both in Australia and the UK. The ceremony is the official ceremony, regardless of where, when or how few guests attend. I don't see the point in keeping it quiet, and no-one will hold it against you if you have a reception at a later date.

try months you might have better luck trying to go overland by train as far as SE asia.

My two years is second half of feb, I got my documents end of November.

I was also going to recommend the wristbands. I've also found the ginger based tablets to be pretty good.

Thanks for the info

Alternatively you can pay toddler rates for a seat and use a flight-approved car seat. More expensive, but it does mean you've got a bit more space and bub would be in a familiar seat, not to mention the much improved safety of car-seats vs having infants on your lap.

If you apply for a visa that allows full time work off a WHV, once the application is submitted, you can apply to have the 6month work restriction lifted. You have to do this before the bridging visa kicks in. all the info and the relevant form is at the bottom of the "Obligations" WHV page on the DIAC website.