popper

Thanks. I'll chase down Alan. 100% resident (the visa has just passed go!) and have been employed here for tax purposes both contract (sort it all out myself) and agency (they have paid my super / tax). They are never cheap!! The joy of having 4 incomes over 2 hemispheres huh!

I moved to Melbourne in Apr 2012 and have continued working as a freelancer for UK design agencies for most of the past year. I was still on the UK tax for the year ending Apr 2012 but have since been working for Australian agencies so and trying to figure out if it's wise, and for which country I should do my taxes (the other country would count as overseas earnings I gather). I have worked for Aus recruiters and thus paid a certain amount if taz and annuation and I join the real life by going full-time permanent in June. I will however continue to take on projects (and pay) from UK clients. Makes it a little confusing with my limited tax knowledge over here. I intend to stay in Australia for at least another year and now have residency so this may continue longer (potentially forever but that's way down the line!) so it's not a short fix but longer term choice. Has anyone else had any experience with this? Or can recommend a decent (cheaply decent!) accountant with knowledge in UK/AUS tax changes. I'm only just getting my head round some of the changes!!! Thanks

I'm just doing my tax returns for the UK (11-12) - I moved over to Melbourne in April 2012. As it looks as though I will be continuing to work freelance for UK agencies (and existing clients) I am hoping to find out whether or not I should continue to do tax returns in the UK or if I should claim it all when I do my Aus tax in June. The UK work pays enough to continue working this way but I'm unsure who the heck I should pay in taxes when I start the new tax year. (the return I'm currently oing will be fully UK based so this is a question for next years returns) Also in terms of expenses - are my expenses (equipment and clothing etc) that I purchase over here in Aus something that I can claim for on my UK tax return? Or will they only accept UK receipts? (or vice versa) All the work I have completed in Aus has been worked through an agency so tax and super has been taken off directly. Can I, and is it tax efficient, to pay tax in both countries? Obviously I can only claim expenses once on either...! Failing this... does anyone know a good (good = cheap and wise) accountant that deals with UK/AUS freelancers/self-employed? (1 tax return is always bad enough right!!!!) Thanks

HSBC Aus - so far.. have been OK to use. But they are not 'the world's global bank' and everything is separate to my UK account. They did sign me up easily though when I popped into a branch and I seem to have less charges than with other banks I've seen around. The current sign up included a bonus % on the internet saving account and they popped $10 a month in if I kept dropping over $1000 in a month (easy to do if you are still working from the UK!) HSBC UK have just had a bit of a policy change around. Transferring from the UK - This will charge £9 or £18 depending on the amount. You will be charged the full charge if you transfer you money across as £ - so make sure you transfer it as $AU HSBC Aus will now charge $10-$15 admin fee as the new transfers from the UK are now telegraphic (so they told me). It's fairly painless to be honest and my transfer landed the next morning - I even had a call from my Aus HSBC (branch) to say I'd added the money to my entire account but not to the correct saving account so they were just checking and dropped it in the right place for me. You do need to transfer on UK banking hours though so last minute weekend funds need to be planned ; )

Amazing thread here. Very interested to see if it was worthy to ship a Rover Mini Cooper RSP 1990 (classic) across to Melbourne. I'm heading there asap on a Partner (subclass 309) visa and it pains me to leave her behind. Value here is approx £2500-3000. Mods are 10" wheels and half roll cage but that's all now (all the meaty parts that made her race worthy fell off or died!). I know this is more of a love export but having only seen a small collection of minis during my 2 trips that way and a brief check on the costs for Leyland Minis looks like they hold value ok. Also are there any recommend RO-RO/container services? Thanks in advance.

All our original stat dec and relationship documents were witnessed before sending in but the CO has requested for a few more from our other house sharers &/or Landlord. I was just wondering if these need to be witnessed also? I guess it helps but was unsure if it's necessary. part 2 of my question... what do these people actually need to witness? My lanlord has sent through his statement, details, and passport copy - can I just take these to an official witness or do they need to witness the actual signature? (dumb question I know but he's flipping hard to get hold of normally!) thanks

same situation here - i have just posted a list of documents with questions about what should be signed / certified and just documented - hope someone helps in that thread! From what i've researched you just need to sign it to show that you have written it but no other proof is required - it is what you make it up to say so what is there to witness / certify? I'm unclear though if its ok to print it or hand write this - I'm not sure that it matters but I wonder what would be preferred!

We have just compiled all our supporting evidence for the partner ship visa but are a little confused about what necessary requirements are needed for each document. We know some papers that need to be certified and some that have been witnessed (signed) but rather than spending a heap of cash at a solictors wondered if any one could be of any help. A list below covers all our basic supporting evidence - some showing what we have completed already. Hopefully somebody can be of help and hopefully this will then be of help for anyone else with this questions... so here we go: 01. My UK passport - Certified by solicitor 02. Partners AUS passports - Certified by solicitor 03. Partners AUS passport showing her UK Visa page - ? 04. My personal statement - signed by me - does this need to be certified or witnessed? 05. Partners personal statement - signed by Partner - does this need to be certified or witnessed? 06. My Police Certificate - Original document to be sent 07. A statement about my past and rehabilitation (C. record from 1997) - signed by me - does this need to be certified or witnessed? 08. Copies of Joint bills - ? 09. Copies of travel documents (boarding passes, hotel invoices etc) - ? 10. Copies of personal phone bills (dating back to first contacts and recent) - ? 11. Copies of Skype communication (during time apart) - ? 12. Stac decs/ passport copies from 2 x AUS citizens (in AUS) - witnessed and certified 13. Stat decs / passport copies from 2 x Aus citizens (in UK) - witnessed - do these need to be certified? 14. Stat decs / passport copies from 2 x UK citizens - witnessed - do these need to be certified? 15. Personal statement from Partner: ref sponsorship obligations 40SP - ? 16. Personal mail to both of us - ? 17. 2 x pages of pictures showing our relationship - ? 18. Copy of my UK birth certificate - certified 19. Copy of partners AUS birth certificate - certified 20. Partners letter from employer and pay slips - ? 21. Proofs of current address (bank bills, driving license etc) - ? 22. Both parties passport pictures (4 x me, 2 x partner) - ? 23. My visa application - ? 24. Partners visa application - ? 25. Receipts for events such as festivals, theatre, etc etc - ? any help will be massive thanks!

You pay for the time! £35 gets you a slow mail response - I think they say 5-7 days (plus postage time). £70 gets you the speedy 3 days route. I sent mine via special delivery on the fast track route and paid for special return - it was back within the working week. Incorrect but back!

Thanks Peach, I have contacted Lombard. I'll try and help and relay any activity/advice I receive. I should've just stayed the last time I went!!!

That was the idea but I spoke to a UK immigration agency who deals direct with MARA agents and he pretty much said they would charge £800+ to send my app to a MARA just to oversee and fill out the bits of the application I hadn't completed correctly. To be honest he seemed quite helpful and open with advice (as he wasn't on commission!). Is there anything a MARA can actually do? except advise you what to write? It's not the cost that's a big concern it's the effort if all they'll tell me is what I have been advised. I think his point was - if it was a computer making the decisions then I would be flatly refused but as agents are humans they'll read this and decide if you are suitable or not so you can only write the details as good as possible (and of course get it officiated). The visa route I'm looking into is defacto so its double effort for an visa I guess

I have just had my police checks come back - not so healthy! The case was in 1997 so 13-14 years ago and was a sentence for over 12 months (although the term served was less than 7 months) I'm currently trying to seek any advice on what can be said on your application form and all the advice appears the same. a) Don't lie! b) Make sure you let them know the details and your rehabilitation process (Early release, probation, tagging, good behavior, courses you completed whilst detained and how it has helped you avoid crime since) c) Beg!! (or rather tell them how stupid you was and how it was out of character it was) any other advice would also be welcome as it's a major concern at the moment. It's a pain finding out the info too - I could remember the dates but not the official title of the crime. Police, probation, courts etc - all have been dead ends due to the time lapsed and they just didn't appear to note this down in any files! Double check your police certificate My Police check came back but DO it has the wrong outcome on it (and the HMP I attended is definitely not what is listed!! idiots!) Passports also don't actually flag old crimes as far as I'm aware - just current warrants etc. I did make it to Melbourne last year for a short trip - I was unaware about any of this before I went and just went on an ETA - a bit of a chat with the customs woman for.. hmm.. 2 hours - but they let me through after that - so crossed fingers!