OzzHammer

Hi there, Not much going on on that site I'm afraid..... I've registered, but not many people posting. Cheers Sent from my Hudl 2 using PomsinOz mobile app

Hi all, Same here, my daughter will be finishing June next year and my son finishing college. My daughter will be 17 on 8th September 2018 so we were wondering if she would need to legally return to school ? We plan to move to Gold Coast / Brisbane straight after. Anyone able to advise ?? Regards Colin

Hi Westly, Thanks again!! Good thing you mentioned the visitor visa as I was contemplating flying out there for a week or so to have some job interviews and get a job offer to support my RRv application. Are you able to provide any further comments on my points 2,3 and 4 at all? Kind regards Colin

Hi Westly, Thanks for the quick response, much appreciated. Just so I'm clear, because the travel right has expired on the 856, we are not entitled to re-enter Australia on that visa even though the visa is still valid? Kind regards Colin

Hi all, Background: 457 Granted 31.01.2005 Arrived in Oz 04.03.2005 856 Granted 18.12.2007 Left Oz 01.06.2012 (Transfer within BMW Group back to UK) 856 Expired 18.12.2012 We now want to return to Australia and have read through the form 1085 and have a few queries. 1. Is there a time limit on when you have to enter Australia after the visa is granted ? 2. Question 31 on the form "Do you have any substantial business, cultural, employment or personal ties with Australia which are of benefit to Australia? Answer - NO. I am applying for jobs in Oz while in the UK but getting responses stating they are happy to talk to me once I am IN Oz. When talking to the call centre at Australia house, i was told without a job offer it would be difficult to get this visa - chicken and egg scenario...... 3. Q34 "Have you been absent from Australia for a continuous period of 5 years or more immediately before lodging this application? Answer - NO, but from June 1st this year, YES. Is this likely to cause me an issue if we can't apply until after June ? Also, I will be 52 in July, could this also go against me ? And lastly on this question, what is the relevance of 5 years, it is asked in Q29, Q34, Q36 and Q37? 4. Q39 "Did you have a compelling and compassionate reason for last departing Australia? I would have said YES given it was a transfer within the BMW but also a chance of a lifetime to which I have supporting documentation. So, sorry for the lengthy post, hopefully there's some experience out there that can help and guide me here. Many thanks Colin

Hi All, Well, the flights are booked for 1st June, so now we are looking at areas to live around Chichester, Goodwood. I found this thread on another forum (sorry for posting): http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394817 albeit six years old, and I'm not quite sure if a lot of what has been said is true by today's standards. If there's anyone on here from around that area or has moved away in the last year or so, I would love to hear your thoughts on where to live, our budget is around the 250k - 275k mark. Many Thanks

Hi there, I'm in the same situation as you, moving back to the UK in early June. I spoke to my tax person on Monday, she is happy for me to provide her a folder with ALL invoices, receipts for the 2011/2012 tax year and she will process the tax return for me even though we have left the country. She will then email me once she has the funds in a holding account to obtain my UK bank details, however what I will more than likely do is tell her to put the funds into my still active Ozzie bank account and then wait on the exchange rates for a bit, maybe use Moneycrop or one of the recommended companies on this site for the transfer of funds back tot he UK. Hope this helps you.

Well, it took a bit more than six to nine months, but we are off !!!! Got the fantastic news on Friday that I have been accepted for a position down in Chichester and I start second week of June. A lot to do in a very short space of time, my last day of work being 30th May, our house isn't sold yet and we also have a car to sell and two iphone contracts to sort out before we go.....:eek: . The only thing we'll need help with once back in the UK is finding a nice house rent along with some rental furniture until ours arrives. We'll keep our Ozzie bank account for a couple of months until all outstanding bills and credit cards have been paid, if anyone else can think of anything else or advice, you are welcome to post up. Can't wait...........:biggrin:

- LMFAO !!! Brilliant post.

- I work for a major worldwide prestige car manufacturer, so I know what I'm talking about regarding vehicle pricing. I heard it on the ABC radio news program I'm sure they said that Commonwealth had put their rate up by 1%

Hi All, Firstly, please don't think that this is an anti Australia post, but having just watched a news program tonight "Today Tonight" I have had my thoughts confirmed - people living in Australia are being taken for a ride financially. The program, and I'm sure there are posters on here that also saw it, basically have proved that Australians are being way over charged for practically everything they purchase, food, cars, electrical goods, etc etc sometimes up to 14 times more expensive that other countries - mainly the U.S and U.K were covered. So for anyone thinking they are going to come here and be financially better off, you should really do your homework first, check the prices of cars in the UK and then compare to AU pricing for example take a Ford Focus on a UK web site then price up the same car here, or look at MINI car prices - cheap cars in the UK and Europe but cost waaaaay more than they should over here. Also, the main four banks have just put up interest rates, some by a whole 1 percent, totally independant of the Reserve Bank - then they go and announce huge profits - in the Billions of dollars and have the cheek to say they raised the interest rates because of rising costs, despite making hundreds of people redundant in the same few weeks !! Lastly, have a look at some of your utility bills from the last year or two and ask some people on here what their average gas, electricity bills are, this year they are only going one way with recent changes being made through parliament Sorry for the rant, but I honestly wanted to provide anyone thinking of coming over with some very useful real time information as to what is going on down here. Again, apologies if any takes offence as none is intended by this post, this is supposed to be information for people to use to make an informed decision before moving country. Regards

- That would probably be The Snooty Fox in Olinda - nice place but has gone downhill over the last year or so. Good post Dave, thoroughly enjoyed reading it, perfectly sums it up for me...agree on everything you said !! We have our house on the market and can't wait to get back - job or no job - I'll do what I have to....although there is a possibilty of a job in Chichester - fingers crossed.... Regards.

- Hey WN, Your'e not Nick Price by any chance are you and a friend of Nick Prevost ?? Anyways, you'll be fine down here to watch the Hammers. Even in the npower they have been on at least eight or nine times and have been the main game on the hoghlights show a fair few times. I think me and my boy saw them maybe 20 - 25 times last year.......back in the Prem. Thanks for all the posts guys, some may think we are completely bonkers, but to be honest if we can sell our house we will go back to the UK even if I dont have a job as we have decided the U.K is most definitely home. I also feel that it would give me a better chance of finding a job being in the U.K rather than having email 'chats' and skype interviews....people would see what they are getting. Anyhow, thanks again all, and come on you ironz. !!! Good luck Watford Nick !! Ozz

Hi All, Mr OzzHammer here, Quick update, the house has been on the market since September but the a*** seems to have dropped out of the market in South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne and we are facing a $100k drop in the value of our house in less than a year !!!!! This along with listening to the ABC and hearing all about the IMF boss saying the eurozone is in deep sh*t with Greece about to default yet again is really beginning to but doubts in our mind if going back to the UK is going to be the best thing to do for at least the forseeable future. Tonight driving home an economy specialist stated that Australia along with maybe two or three other countries will be best placed to get through another slow down or even a full on depression....although the depression WOULD affect Oz in some ways. So, here we are back in that indecision zone again - what to do....... Any advice from posters that have been back in the UK for the last few months would greatly be appreciated, we were looking to move back to Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, so if anyone has moved back to that area we would like to get some feedback on what the current financial status/feel is like. Thanks again Oz (Mr)

Hello & thanks for your post - yes we have given it along time, which again could work for me or against - I think this is why I have concerns, as soo much as changed since we moved here & back in the UK. I know nothing can stay the same,but I guess its the dreaded fear of the unknown which is scary. I want to be positive but I find it really hard which ever decision we end up making - I so hope it will be the best:confused:

Hi Anita, We have the house on the market for lots of reasons,but the main one is to free up equity & help decide where we go from there,& yep we have done the list of good n bad with oz & uk & to be honest it does'nt help as there are pros & cons with both - if we stay we are finacially comfortable but have no family if we go, not sure yet if we will be financially sound but will have friends & family. Have been in oz 7yrs in march

:wacko: Hi everyone.... its been really interesting reading the threads lately & a comfort to know that i am not alone. My last post was about feeling torn .... this post is about ... well feeling torn, I think you could look at the pros & cons - the whys & wherefors & still feel just as confused as you were in the beginning - thinking you have made the right decision one day then the next day feeling very different. Hubby is in a secure job,gets lots of perks incl not paying for petrol so financially we are sound & I only work 1 day a week. Are we happy, well my hubby is, my children in general are, but... we are alone...Im i happy... no. I am depressed currently seeking professional help,have had 4 visit so far,only breifly spoke about uk & dont feel differently yet about what to do... I need a crystal ball:wacko:. Everyone has an opinion about what to do the best decision to make & everyone is different with their situation. O/H has sent c.v to several companies,didnt hear anything,& only gets e-mail for students work or contract work,however recently he heard from a friend who might have a job - but could take a while before he knows what,so we are sitting ducks right now.House on market soooo slow - have had dog rabbies shot to go back to uk,this was done a while ago as you cant go anywhere for 6mnths,so wanted to get it done & out the way. Im concerned about school as my son is 12 in Jan so here he is finfishing primary yr6-start high school next year...yet in thw uk he should be in year 8 of high school,infact i have several concerns about alot of things - how it would all map out & no one will know if its the right decision to make - you have to do it - which involves money - lots of it - planning - changing everthing even lifestyle... I need a crystal ball:arghh: but I cant change the way I feel - most people would say go back some would say stay here. Want things to be easier & want to make the right decesion for the family ... Any feed back would be appreciated - thanks:err:

Hi there,just curious as to how things are going since your move back - from settling into routine - to having a job etc etc Many thanks Jess

Morning all, We went to a Grand Final BBQ yesterday (most of the people met through this web site :wink:) and would you believe met a couple who had lived in Perth for ten years, went back to the U.K (village in Kent) for a year and have now been back in Melbourne since April. We were told that wages don't seem to have moved on in the last ten years and that there is so much negativity around. Also, one interesting point was mentioned that there just seems to be too many people around, whether thats because they were used to living here in a spread out country or not I don't know. They told us definately do not sell our house and to go back for four or six weeks during winter to see the county at its worst. So, we have woken up this morning with sore heads in more ways than just down to too many beverages.:happy_face_mummy_go

Hi there,Ozzhammer o/h here,have read so many threads about going home - staying here,its been this feeling for so long now,do we stay or do we go - & what the outcome will be if we do go back I think is the one thing holding me here,as we are,or should I say for now all going back together with a whim& a prayer that everything will fall into place. Im not saying it will be easy I know it will be a very rocky road,as there is sooooooo much to do & think about,with jobs,schools,where to live,bank letting us borrow money,the list is endless. You could say that the reasoning for going back is friends & family so Ive answered my own question with why do you want to go back!, however I then have this horrible wave of doubt in my mind on a daily basis saying, is it really that bad & are you sure your ready after 7yrs of being here that this is the right decision. Its driving me crazy:wacko: I just want to make a decision & stick with it,also what does'nt help is the time, as one minuite I could be having a great day & as my husband says "oh so your having an Australia day today then:laugh:,& of course the next I could be having a "Get me on a plane right now day:arghh:. I would like to know other peoples reasoning & how many years here & what helps you stick to a decision & say no going back. Thanks - would be a huge help :cute:

Hi there,just wanted to know how old your son is & is he currently still in primary.My dilema is my son is 12 in January & is finishing year 6 at primary,but obviously back in the uk he should really be in year 8,& the fact the we are going back next year maybe march time thats alot of the year missed already.I did speak to the education authority & they advised I get a letter confirming this,but could not say if the schools would be willing to hold him back in year 7 or not. So this is a bit of a concern to me. I also wanted to ask how long you have been in oz,we have been here 7 years in march next year. kind regards Jessica

Hi there, was just wondering how long you have been here for,we have been here 7yrs in March next year, & have decided to move back, I have a son & daughter & my son is in yr 6 of primary school,my concern is that because he is 12 in January he should actually be in year 8,but I feel that will be too much pressure on him to put him in the 2nd year of high school. I spoke with the education authority in uk & they said to get a letter from the principal confirming that he has just finished primary school.however that could not gurantee that he could be held back,also they didnt mention anything about having to apply,I also assumed that he would get into which ever high school we will live near to!!!!

Hi there,Wife of OzzHammer here,we have finally made the decision to move back to UK after being here in Oz 7years,my o/h has a really good secure well paid job here,with good bonuses,perks etc.He has been in the car industry forever & thats all he knows,worked at dealers in uk,but here works at a h/office. The plan was for us to literally sell the house & all go home together & for him to get job once we are back,but the general feeling from friends & family is not to do that & for him to come back first to secure a job because of the employment state the way it is right now in the uk. At the same time though if we do all go back & he cant get a job - then what do we do,plus we have a dog that will cost around $4.500 to take home.I feel so helpless as its totally down to my o/h to make this work as he is the main income. I would love for him to just get a job transfer,but for a number of reasons thats not an option,1,the obvious he would be telling his employee that he wants to leave & 2,if they cant do that they already know that he trying to get another job, we also need to take alot of factors into account like the current salaries being offered because of the financial chrisis Any help or advice very much appreciated :arghh:

Hi there, Wanted to see if anyone is in the same position as us with regards high schools in uk, basically our son is 12 in Jan but will just be starting high school in Feb,so right now still in primary school,obviously in the uk our son should be in 2nd year of high school(year8). Im very concerned about this & have spoken to the education board uk,but even they could not confirm the high school would be ok with letting him start year 7. Other than advising us to get a letter from the principal stating the situation we are left guessing whether or not he will be able to stay back a year. The other concern is we are planning to go back in February so this means he has already missed 6months of high school,would love to get back before then but for many reasons this is not possible. :wacko: any advice most appreciated

Oh yes thanks for that