Sarahelle

I agree with the BBQ thing. I hate them! Not just relevant to Australia either, I never enjoyed them in the UK and I don't enjoy them here - I'd much rather take the money I have to spend on meat and booze and go out for dinner. I see nothing fun about standing in someone's garden trying to eat steak from a paper plate with a plastic fork

Quick list - Rude drivers Going shopping with no shoes on Beetroot on burgers - not for me! Decent sausages The way adverts always refer to everyone as 'Australians' as if they're a different species, lol The fact that the news is on ALL THE TIME and I miss dressing up. No one dresses up in Redcliffe. Ever

I had quite a bad period of depression when I was in my early 20's due to my ex but I haven't suffered with it since which I'm quite surprised about since my time here in Oz has been very difficult. Unfortunately tho, I don't see us getting back to the UK ever atm, since I'm British and my fiance is Oz and we have no money!

I agree with Lady R & Quoll too, take some time out to spend in good old Blighty and see how you feel, there's nothing to stop you from coming back or indeed staying there Home is where the heart is!

Yeah, my OH is Australian too and wants to return to uk, but he's in the same situation as your OH - no family or anything. I'm just clutching at straws!

I just wrote a whole reply but my stupid laptop deleted it! Dammit. It was actually quite interesting. I had a bit of a Eureka moment when I discovered the Resident Return Visa because I had been wondering if it was possible once an IRL had lapsed, but unfortunately it seems from other people's experiences that it's one of the hardest visas to obtain. When they ask for 'strong ties to the UK' they don't necessarily accept owning property, a business or even having grandchildren in the UK, which makes me wonder why they even have this visa as an option in the first place. I believe that if the holder of the IRL has been out of the UK for 10 years, spent more time out of the country than in it and only popping back every now and then to keep it valid, this can cause suspicion since the whole point of having an IRL is so that the holder can settle in the UK not just go back for short holidays which is fair enough I guess. I'm not really sure whether to go down this route or not as it requires a lot of evidence from previous jobs, rent books, council tax etc and I wouldn't know where to start! As I mentioned, my DF lived there for 8 years and we've been here for 4 so we could have time, but still could be refused. I'm kind of running out of ideas and the spouse visa might be our only option What's your situation PP, if you don't mind me asking?

Don't worry - I found what I was looking for.

Hey all, me again and my never ending quest to return to the UK. Any advice would be gratefully received! Here's the thing...my DF had Indefinite leave to Remain in the UK for 8 years but it has lapsed so therefore we may be able to apply for an RRV. According to the website, he may be valid apart from the 'strong family ties' part. I don't suppose having me as a British Citizen partner and our daughter would be enough? He has owned property there and obviously worked there for as long as he was a resident. This is the only quibble for us. Many Thanks, Sarah x

Thanks for your lovely message Helz, it somehow helps to know I'm not alone I totally understand about the boxes thing, I would be the same I think. Things aren't so bad - I do have a wonderful fiance and a gorgeous baby girl and some don't even have that. If I was happy in my environment and all I would have everything, I just hope that it happens eventually because sometimes it feels like I'm wasting my best years here. Hope you're feeling better xx

37 Redcliffe Qld Since September 2010 I'm from Wiltshire so there or Bath would be lovely

We got a very full on but very brief downpour last night. Every day on the weather they predict rain but it's hardly rained at all here in Redcliffe and when oh when is the autumn coming?? I'm done with being hot & sweaty and I'm getting impatient to dress my lil girl in her cooler weather stuff x

No sadly, as much as I would dearly love a visit home, we can't afford it. Mum & Dad have been over for the last couple of years and so can't really make it this year. We just need to get ourselves sorted so that we can start saving some money, easier said than done tho!

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better. I think it's a good idea to have an extended holiday in the UK. It's soo hard when you want different things - I'm in a similar position myself, my fiance being Australian, it's always going to feel like one of us is tearing the other from their homeland and family etc. I had a very bad night - my DF is away working in the week and I just found myself bawling my eyes out in the middle of the night. I'm lonely and very unhappy at the moment and not a day goes by when I don't wish I was back home. I have a baby girl who's nearly 6 months old and I hate the fact that my friends and family aren't around to enjoy her. I might take a leaf out of your book as little one is due to start day care soon and I really need to make myself get out there (I've become a bit of a recluse). I definitely don't want to buy a house here. We have talked about it and are planning to move home at some point if we can although it might be a few years, but I am worried that we'll get there and not be happy but I can't imagine being any more unhappy than I am here. I suppose I just worry that DF will resent moving and being away from his parents again as he had been in the UK for nearly ten years when we met. I hear ya about the heat - I thought it was going to cool down but we're back up to 31 in Brissy! I really hope things work out for you - a positive frame of mind definitely helps. Keep us posted xxx

I'm sorry you're feeling like this too. I can relate as part of my problem is money related - we got ourselves into a bit of trouble when we first came here and we're still paying for it, it doesn't help that I'm on maternity leave atm and can't quite figure out if it's worth the money to go back to work due to day care, travel costs etc. I'd love to go home for a bit, but again, we just can't afford it. As much as my DF says he'd like to go back to Britain and if we work out how to get there, I worry that he's going to get homesick and miss his family - as you would quite rightly expect - and we'll spend our whole lives ping ponging back and forth which would cause another problem as I'd be more than happy to visit, but I think once I leave Oz I won't want to live here again.

Yes, it's crazy. I do understand it's one rule for everyone but it's causing a lot of grief. Looks like we'd better start saving that 65k needed for us to return to my motherland!

I did mine before I submitted my application because they're valid for 12 months - overall it took 15 months for it to be granted but they didn't ask me to re-do the medical. I did call DIAC to ask if I would need to do it again and they said it depends on your case officer. Good luck with your application.

I agree with Pablo - my Dad's family live in Cumbria and we've stayed in Ambleside a few times, it's beautiful. I'm jealous x

I applied onshore for a partner visa and I didn't have to have an interview, as Snifter said, if you've supplied everything it should be fine. I only know of one couple that had to but I think that was because they hadn't been together for as long as Immigration stipulated you should be. Don't worry about the eyesight thing either - the medical really isn't too bad, it's just a blood test, chest x-ray, weight and a urine sample. Good luck xx

Go! I'd be gone like a shot if I could, we've been completely broke since we got here back in 2010. Life's too short to be unhappy.

Thanks Snifter. Yes, I'm British and fiance is Aussie as is my baby girl I suppose, so we're definitely in for a difficult time when we decide to make the move, much to my disappointment and frustration

Just a quick vent I'm not currently in the process of moving back but will be someday, so I was looking at the UK Immigration website to get an idea of what I'd need to do. Is it just me or is the whole thing just massively confusing?? Applying for my Australian partner visa was a piece of cake compared to this lol!

I agree with Lynn78 - I'm in Brissy and I find the summer unbearable, I think this summer has been the hottest so far since I've been here. I definitely stay indoors the whole time it's hot if I can! I had to go grocery shopping with my 5 month old baby girl yesterday and she got so hot in the car I couldn't wait to get her home and put the air con on! I do love the autumn & winter here though. I also find that I miss 'dressing up', it's just not something people do here unless you're in the city. My DF misses this too having lived in the UK for so long, he's a big coat & scarf fan. He really wants to get a Sherlock coat but if we don't make it back to the UK for Christmas he may never get the chance to wear it! I also feel bad for the tradies when it's really hot, that must suck.

Oh my goodness, the humidity and the sweating. I really hate summer! - I disliked it when it was hot in the UK (which wasn't often, lol) I have met a lot of Aussies that hate summer too though including my boy who is a native. Bring on Autumn & Winter! I did put a lot of weight on but that was my own fault because DF really likes fast food and I'm too weak to say no!

Oo, keep us posted! Yes, I realised that I'm eligible this year, I thought I had to be a PR for 2 years but it's 12 months so I'll be doing that definitely. My DF and I have decided to do two more years here and then return to the UK if we can. I've always got my fingers crossed that the rules will change between now and then

I'm so sorry to hear about your niece, that's truly awful, and that you're having such a hard time. There's no rule that says you have to give it two years and in light of your circumstances, I think it's understandable that you would want to go home - I've heard of people going home after 3 months and there's no shame in it. Speaking from experience, it's difficult to live on one income at the best of times without having to pay such a huge amount to the CSA every month. What are your husband's thoughts on returning? x