junellew

I knew there was a magazine but couldn't remember the name, thanks

My son is currently job-hunting in the UK. I think he's using the mainstream sites - Indeed and the like.

 

Where/what are the jobs you're advertising?

its live in hospitality work on the Isle of Mull at a castle tearoom

Yes it's live in hospitality, will check work about out thanks and see what I can find on Facebook!

If its hospitality type work then there's a website called workabout. It's mostly Live in type jobs. There's a Facebook group but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name them on here. Otherwise just use gumtree and indeed.com

Bit of a random one but I was wondering if anyone knows what websites the Aussie backpacker generation would use to look for UK work these days? (eg Aussies or Kiwis on working holiday in the UK) I'm wanting to advertise for jobs we have going over in Scotland and I'm a bit out of touch. I would just use gumtree but not sure if Aussies/Kiwis still use it to find UK work or if there is a more well know site now?

Any ideas?

Great thanks for the info again Bungo. Just lodged my 'residents return visa" for a hefty $360. Ouch!

What Bungo says is absolutely right. Don't risk your PR by applying for a tourist visa, just get on and apply for your RRV.

 

It's always best to ignore what Immigration says on the phone because you're just talking to a clerk in a call centre, not an expert. You'd be amazed how many people we've had on these forums who trusted what they said and came unstuck.

Great thanks for all the confirmed info. I'll get on to my right to return now. I also don't trust immigration much so glad you guys have my back!!

Off topic but ....... if I'm a permanent resident still in their eyes would I have to start the 4 years again for citizenship when we return or will it still be accumulating?

Finally did anyone know about having to go to London for passports or is there closer? Same as the lady above when we renewed our British ones in Australia they were just posted out......

Thanks again

One more question.....is the only way to get the boys passports by lodging them in London???? We live on an Island off teh Noth West Coast of Scotland - it's going to be a huge mission. I thought there used to be an embassy in Edinburgh?

All visas are electronic now. If she gets a tourist visa she risks cancelling out her PR as a person can only hold one visa at a time.

 

As far as I know I don't have a "visa" any more. I wet over on a spouse visa which "runs out" after a certain period of time. I was just there as a permanent resident and awaiting my 4 years for citizenship but we left before I had time to apply (kicking myself now as I have to start again when we move back).

 

I wasn't going to bother with a right to return as when I looked into it you have to stay in the country for a certain amount of time to be issued with another one and this won't be happening. It will run out before we move back eventually (plan is 2.5 more years in UK).

 

When I spoke to immigration before we left they said that when we want to return I will have to go through a process where I have to prove my links to the country to be able to get back in. They don't issue spouse visas twice. I'm hoping 3 aussie children, a husband and a mortgage there should do it.

 

I suppose I best call them again and see what's the best thing to do.

 

I'll definitely get the boys passports done then if that's the case that they can't get a holiday visa! Going to be an expensive trip!

 

Thanks for all the advice

Family of "ping pongers" here going back to Australia for a holiday in November after 2years back in UK. Previous to this we were in Australia for 4 years. Kids are dual citizens and I was a permanent resident.

i didn't get a "right to return visa" when I left so wondering if it's ok if I enter on a holiday visa and if this will cause me any problems? (We have return flights booked).

Also my 2 eldest boys Australian passports have expired so wondering if they will have problems just entering on their English ones or if we are going to look like we are trying to "break back in" to Australia?!

Could do do without expense of re-needing the boys passports right now but will if we have too. More worried about my entry and exit as don't want to stuff up being allowed to return in future!

Thanks for your help in advance ?

Hey all,

Been a while since I posted but moving back to the UK for a while and hubby needs a medical done before we return so he can get his provisional bus licence ready to do his test when he returns.

The form for the medical states that we need a "GMC" registered doctor, not that they actually have to be in the UK. Anyone have any suggestions or experience in this? Surely there must be some UK or EU registered doctors over here that can do this?

We have a real short time frame when we move back to get the proper bus licence so we really need to get the medical done here if we can so we can apply for the provisional!

TIA!

This is what we did when we went back for a holiday in September. Youngest's passport had expired, so we just took that plus her Aussie passport and had no trouble at all.

Yeah hadn't thought about them getting renewed over there - might have to do that thanks.

I have had to get an Australian name change certifcate to get my visa changed to my new passport as I came over on my maiden name in my passport/visa as I was too lazy and cheap to waste a few years on my passport and get my nae changed when I got married - wish I had now for all the trouble I am having. Just waiting to hear from immigration as to what they want me to do with the damn thing now I finally have it! It is crazy that they would not except my English marriage cert as proof of a name change!

If they have valid Australian passports and they have dual citizenship, there is no need to go and get UK passports too. Our children are dual citizens and only have Aus passports due to their UK ones expiring.

 

Cal x

Thanks, I thought that would be the case but didn't want to complicate things at the airport. Both their aussie passports are valid until 2015 so that will be fine. Should save me some money and time not re-newing! Already struggling to get my visa put into my new passport!

Hello all,

Quick question on passports. We are going for our 1st holiday back to the UK after nearly 3 years in Oz - YAY!!! My hubby and boys are both dual citizens however one of the boys English passport has completely run out and the other will have less than 6 months on it. My hubby will have both UK and Aus passports, I will have UK and we will have a new baby on Aus passport only as don't think we will have time to get the UK sorted (8 weeks old when we fly next April!). Do you think we will have any trouble with the boys just using their Aus ones or should we get new UK ones for them? Don't want to get turned away at UK....we are also doing a few mainland European countries so the less issues the better!

Any advice greatly received! Thanks guys !

We flew with ours twice so far as littleies. 1st time 3months and 17 months, 2nd time almost 3 years and 20 months. 1st time was easier despite having to get bottles as little one just wanted food and sleep. We spent heaps of time walking up and down isles 2nd times. People gave us looks but I just ignored them. We did all we could to keep them quiet so what more could we do?!

Flew Emirates 2nd time who were fab as others had said. Def recommend getting spare seat if you can. We booked our 3 seats on the "4" rows both times with a gap in between us hoping the single seat would not be taken and the 1 time it was they were happy to swop rather than being stuck in between a family! It was a good plan! Also got bulk head seats for extra leg room so kids could play on floor. It wasn't fun by any means but we made it and same as you we were heading to family so could unload when we got there.....best thing is they slept for about 17 hours in a row the night we arrived - bliss!

My best tip that got me through (although some may think it negative) was having it in my mind that it was going to be the WORST 26 hours of hell I had ever had......then anything that wasn't like that was just fab!! A vino or 2 helped to Also keep their usual routine....we did pjs, stories and milk at bed time as usual and let them lay in the seat/on us with a blanket and their teddy. Good luck. Hope it goes well. We are out in the Longwarry (south east towards Warragul) if you want a friend when you arrive!!

Option 1 - going to a crap school never did me any harm. :yes:

i agree....your children spend most of their time and do most of their learning at home not at school...i'd think more about living in the best area for the kids....safe, friendly, affordable so family not stressed out as they can't pay the bills! i went to average schools....don't think people even thought of catchment areas back then and I turned out fine as I had great parents to encourage and guide me!

:notworthy:thanks! so I'm not going mad then??

Nope, definately not. Sleeping in my socks at the moment....when will it end?!

Thanks all, yeah looks alot when it's written down doesn't it!

Davina 35 I could not wait to get back and then I realised I was missing out on the last bit of my boys as babies. They will be at school soon and i'm missing out on fab trips to the beach and park and watching them grow and learn.... And as much as I thought I was doing a rubbish job as a mum and childcare would be better for them I actually wasn't.....I was doing an awsome and rewarding job and it took my that long to realise it. Plus childcare was a fortune and we are only marginally worse off with me at home!

Would recommend the big trip round the country with or without kids - such an amazing country. Hope to get the east coast done one day soon

Yup its bloody freezing and I moved from Scotland! Accliamtised or what!

Well its been some time since I last posted as life has been crazy but I have been roaming when I can spare a few minutes and will endeavour to get back in to contributing!

We have been in Australia over a year now (arrived May 5th 2011) and I cannot believe what we have seen, done and achieved in that time and the varied emotions that have gone with it!

We arrived in May and stayed with the inlaws (husband is Ozzie) whilst we bought a car and camper trailer and set up for a big trip around Oz. We set off in June last year and headed for friends in Perth. Saw the most amazing sights along the way even though it was bloody freezing and had a substantial amount of rain! From Perth headed to Darwin to see more friends where we settled for 3 months. This part of the trip was just amazing with the most beautiful sights and weather I have ever experienced. I often dream of the 6 long beautiful nights we free camped by the beach at James Price point just above Broome.....life was simple and care free....alhough I have to admit travelling in a camper trailer with a 3 and 2 year old was pretty challenging at times. We also travelled with some pommies from home which brought along its fair share of fun and arguments in equal measure!

Darwin did not work out for us as my father in law became ill and we headed for Melbourne to be close to family. I loved the NT, like stepping back in time. The heat however was pretty oppresive for me in the build up but the dry season was just perfect......I also often dream of a glass of fizz by my friends pool in Darwin (most days, beacuse the weather just lent itself to it!)

So we headed back to Melbourne with an awsome whirlwind trip down the centre visiting friends at Ayres Rock Resort on the way down. We lived with inlaws and I got a job after a couple of weeks as an employment consultant for people with disabilities. This proved to be a huge change in circumstances as I had been a stay at home mum other than a bit of part time work for almost 4 years by then! HUbby was meant to stay at home and be house hubby but got offered 4 days work so boys did child care and a day with nanny and one with daddy!

So we saved and decided to buy our very first home! We settled on May 15th almost a year to the day we moved here. We didnt go for a new build and have moved out into the countryside in a lovely weatherboard home on a big block in a small town.

I have now decided to give up work as I miss my kids....as a woman I am obviously entitled to change my mind after begging to go to work coz the kids did my head in! Ha ha.....the grass is not always greener in many situations! I am going to study to be a fitness class instructor and waitress a couple of nights a week to make ends meet.

SO thats the low down....... Life has been a crazy rollercoaster of emotions. I miss home ALOT and have had times when I have felt so lonely and wanted to go back. However I have gotten through them and am glad we are here and have done what we have. We left a very different life in the UK as we lived on a remote scottish island. People come to oz for the laid back life but we cannot get more laid back than what we had there. In comparison I feel like we have been thrown right in to the middle of the "rat race" as life is so different in the suburbs of melbourne to the isle of mull. Thus the move to a country town to try to get a little more sense of community back. I have had to learn that as most people say on here not to compare oz to uk, i should DEFINATELY not compare it to my Scottish Island as that was such a unique place to live and cannot be recreated here (especially the cold weather!) talking of which I have well and truely acclimatised and am finding these 15c days freezing! Need a trip back to appreciate it again!

My eldest boy will start pre school in January...if he was in the UK he would of been at school half a year. More things that are so very different here and have taken alot of "getting over" and excepting that you just cannot compare the 2 countries.

The main thing I have learnt in my year is that Australia is about as close to a British culture as Spain is. I feel stupid to have made so many comparisons along the way, even with my hubby being Australian I am still shocked at the culture differences here. I am also trying hard to embrace them....whilst holding on to my heritage and identity (which funnily enough lies in Scotland for me not the England I lived in for 19 years!)

Who knows whether we will live here for 1 more year or 10 more years. We are so privaleged as a family to have the options to swop between the countries but for now we are happy and homeowners, an opportunity we would nevr of got right now in the UK so we feel very grateful.

Hope this low down helps anyone just moved or about to move......and as its my birthday today I'm off to pour myself a very large glass of lovely cheap aussie vino!!!

:smile::smile:

Would just like to say I was officially granted my subclass 100 "PERMANENT" visa to Australia today at 2.15pm !

It has been a huge mission and journey and thank you so much to all those that have given me support on here but I am there at last and the weight off my shoulders is immense !

I only applied for the 309 so despite the 6 month and 1 week wait I am pleased that my next mission is going to be my citizenship and then I will be the same as my hubby and my 2 lovely boys!

Happy Happy Happy!

Good luck to all those still waiting! To you all x

Anyone fancy a wee Bundaberg rum with me right now?!!

It is worth pushing them to put a sticker in her passport - DIAC may have updated their systems to be electronic, but potential employers, bank managers, medicare staff still ask to see a physical visa.

Didn't realise this was an option so that's good to know thanks.:notworthy: Will be hard pressed to get my visa at all at this rate though, let alone get a stamp in it! 6 months and 4 days and counting :mad::mad: :arghh:

Well I'm glad its not just me in a way!

I waited until my medial was requested which didn't take too long to be honest....just don't bother asking her any questions about it or expect any replies! I didn't have a waiting list as we are in Scotland and got in with in a couple of days. At the time I wasn't sure whether you definitely had to have one or not so didn't get it before but it does seem it is a given tha:mad:t you have to have one now so I doubt it can hurt to get on the waiting list for it?!

Good luck with your journey - sorry you drew the short straw too! I'm still waiting!

Thanks Biffo - I'm glad its not just me she's short with - she must be sad she doesn't get to move to Aus too!:tongue: I think she's fed up of me by now, just so annoying when I know other case officers have said it's only a matter of pressing a button when your time comes. I Hope its our time this week then! Lets put the champagne on ice just in-case!

congrats on getting your visa. I'm still dead miffed why I can't have my confirmation - mine was sent a whole month before yours! What a waiting game! I must learn some patience! :wink:

Just wondered if anyone has or has had case officer with the initials SV??? I am struggling with her! Keep chasing my visa and she gave me the date of 26th Feb after much persuasion then when I call today she says "that was just an estimate" and that they're really busy and I have to wait. It's been over 6 months now and I want it!!:mad: She is always really short on the phone as well and I think "I paid hundreds for this visa, wouldn't mind a bit of decent customer service" . Anyway, rant over! :wink: just wondered if anyone else had any experience of her?

Ps - Hi Bezza, good luck with your visa, hope all goes well!