Alaska

Just be aware that the 457 doesn't always mean that you can apply for PR so be prepared that you may have to go back. With that in mind make sure you are 100% about selling your house. We are on the 457 and so far so good but no guarantees. We have held onto our house until we have that PR visa in our hands. I know you say that renting an option, but make sure that you are happy that you will no longer have a house to go back to if you don't stay long term. Hope it all works out for you. I am heading a lot of positive stories about houses selling much quicker recently so it might not take too long - fingers crossed!

You might be surprised about that! The school does make them wear their hats but that's about it. We even had a problem about the school letting my son take it sunscreen at first - they said he wasn't allowed in case someone, who was allergic, got into his bag! I fought the corner and won. Just afterwards all the Prep classrooms put sunscreen in too so I reckon the school realised they weren't doing the right thing.

No, it doesn't seem to be standard although a lot of schools (ours included) seem to be raising the money through the P&C so hopefully it won't be long.

Just trying to remember as we did that last year. We just picked one up at the airport as there are tonnes around. We needed a mini-van style due to all the luggage and 4 of us. I want to say it was around $50 but don't quote me on that. I think that Apex do a free shuttle service to and from the terminals if you do want to get it that at point. Where we stayed in Spring Hill last year (Tribeca) had free parking so we just parked the rental car there.

Apex car rentals (400 Nudgee Road) are fantastic - my parents used them when they came over. I wish we had known before we came! They quote all the prices up front on the website. Be very careful using a lot of the car rental companies as the price they quote means you have a $3000+ excess. When you walk in to pick it up then you get told that it is pretty much double to bring the excess down. Apex includes a sat nav too which most others charge a fair whack for. The rates are cheaper than all the others I checked because I think their fleet are a couple years old. They have amazing reviews too.

With Youi it depends on your risk factors. We saved a packet with contents insurance as we had very few of what they classed "risk factors".

No it doesn't but it really isn't a representative sample and by definition most people are looking for "help" of some kind. Yes, there are some of us who are happily settled who stick around for various reasons and some who are plain addicted etc. I can honestly say that pretty much all the people who I have met in real life, who have used the forum, have moved on when they are well settled.

It really depends on where you move and what occupation you are in. Just bear in mind that all the people I know who have moved here and are in work, no longer come on the forum. Often people come on when they have a problem with something like work so it isn't going to be a representative sample. I am not looking for work so can't comment from my experience, but the people I know have found work but some have taken a while and lots of applications. Once they have that first job things have seemed to be much easier when they want to move on.

If you enjoy London and like going out, theatre, clubs etc then I would look at Sydney first. I did most of my WHV there at 21 and absolutely loved it. Live in Brisbane now and it's fantastic to live with a young family but not sure about whether I would've loved it so much before. What are your mid-term plans?

Maybe it has changed since last year? We got ours sorted in the first couple of weeks as soon as we had a rental contract. Can't remember what we took from that list but definitely passport, bank cards and UK licence. Was very simple then anyway.

I agree - we are on a 457 and got our licences as soon as we could for ID purposes. It's extremely handy for everything. Some people on Temp Visas don't as you can't receive points for QLD driving offences on your UK licence however there is debate about whether those points are put onto your QLD licence if you do end up getting one.

I am not an expert but I hear people say it's much easier in the UK due to the time you have to be "learning" here before you get your licence. People seem to go out with their parents here rather than have formal lessons.

Are you on a UK licence? When we did it last year, it was very simple. No test, just a form, old licence, proof of address etc. Then they posted it out and it took about 2 weeks etc.

We just went into the bank to check if it had arrived. ETA: Sorry are you still in the UK? Can you phone them in that case.

Rome or Prague - Prague is probably cheaper when you're there (used to be anyway!).

:biglaugh:

I think that you have to be employed in the same type of job as well. I would make some enquiries before you resign from your job and try to get another sponsor on board. Good luck.

I lasted a year in London. I was mugged by a group of guys when walking home from the tube one evening and I didn't ever feel safe again. I know it could've happened anywhere but it was really common there and happened to a few people I knew. Loved it socially though as almost all of my friends from university went there after graduation but it wasn't for me long-term.

Yes that's right. Letting your UK passport lapse doesn't mean you lose your citizenship of the UK.

Does the $1000 without paying import duty not apply if things are shipped in the same way as if you buy things on the internet? If not, I wonder why not.

I would think so. We declared one or two new Blu-ray/DVD players and never heard anything about it.

Are they in full time childcare in the UK at the moment? AJ is right it still does work out cheaper than in the UK in a lot of instances especially if you use the cost of living conversion of about 2.2 to 1 dollar. We are on a 457 with no rebate at all so doesn't make it worth me working. Are you the main earner?

You will find that every school does it differently - well they do around here. In fact even different Prep teachers in our school use different systems! We were lucky that DS's prep teacher carried on with the same Jolly Phonics system that he started in Reception in the UK. It really does vary from State to State and school to school to how things are done.

Interesting question. A while back there was a shopping basket comparison of the same items in different parts of Australia and the groceries in Brisbane were more expensive than the same ones in Perth. That surprised me because of everything I have read on here. It was in the Courier Mail here and it could've been that they had their own agenda with the article of course.

Yes - give them a call. Our school is moving to black shoes. We use the Clarks sports style school shoes (from the UK) which work really well.