familywright
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Thanks so much for your replies. I didnt mean to omit this part and I do apologise but I am actually the Australian in the family. For me, its coming home. I just want to be sure its the right thing for everyone.
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Every person I have met around the world has heard of Brisbane
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It depends on what you like. My husband thinks London is incredibly boring. He isnt a "cities" person.
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We have been in Oz for 9-10 months now. We are at that stage now where we have to make a decision. This is a decision re selling our UK property and staying here in oz. We are so confused and honestly dont know where is the better place for our family. If we go back to UK: *no mortage and a bit of money to tide us over for a while- an "easy" life * no jobs- would have to start again (we are both 49 this year) *cheaper life, no school fees * back to the cold and damp * austere schooling, pressure of 11 plus, maybe not being able to get child back into his old school (child is 9 and in year 4 this year) * husband happy to just go back to trundling along the way we were If we stay: * starting from scratch with businesses - not an "easy" life * no proper jobs (we have been set back a good 6 months by some family issues) * leaving behind a pretty special UK property * better lifestyle for our child, he looks so much healthier and is happy * more expensive to live, school fees etc * better schooling in our view (nicer ethos in the system we are in, nicer clas environment, fab resources and no 11 plus pressure) * new lease on life - different challenges, not just doing the same old thing I think the thing that will swing it for us is whether or not we do feel life is "better" here for our family. If we could lift our property in UK to here or have some way of keeping it and buying here, It would be heaven. What are most people finding? Is life "better" here for YOU, especially for kids.
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Hi. We are in a bit of a quandry. We have only been in Australia since April 2013 and have been renting our UK property out since May 2013. We havent made the absolute decision to stay in Australia just yet so, for all intents and purposes, this is still "our home" which we may return to. Since discovering that they may be a huge CGT on a sale of that house, (rental aside), should we decide to stay, we have been all in a panic. We feel that we are almost being forced into having to return to UK and/or even an early sale, which we are not quite ready for, to avoid a huge CGT on what is just our family home. (The rental part isnt even profitable, we are just doing it to avoid an empty house but we are aware of that year having to be figured in at some point.) Not sure where we stand with this change that is looming 2015. Can anyone make this clearer? Additional details: I am Australian and my husband is on a perm spouse visa.
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Hi. We are in a bit of a quandry. We have only been in Australia since April 2013 and have been renting our UK property out since May 2013. We havent made the absolute decision to stay in Australia just yet so, for all intents and purposes, this is still "our home" which we may return to. Since discovering that they may be a huge CGT on a sale of that house, (rental aside), should we decide to stay, we have been all in a panic. We feel that we are almost being forced into having to return to UK and/or even an early sale, which we are not quite ready for, to avoid a huge CGT on what is just our family home. (The rental part isnt even profitable, we are just doing it to avoid an empty house but we are aware of that year having to be figured in at some point.) Not sure where we stand with this change that is looming 2015. Can anyone make this clearer? Additional details: I am Australian and my husband is on a perm spouse visa.
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Moving to Brisbane: Money + Advice
familywright replied to jetjetster's topic in Renting & Real Estate
15mbps? How do you convert that? I used 4 GB in one day when I tried a hot spot. I need unlimited so need the big one I'm afraid. I also have had bad experiences with the non major internet companies but will look at that, Do you pay line rental? We dont. I also use internet on the phone? What does the $17 cover? I will be looking at that. Groceries include household goods - cleaning etc. I even shop at aldi! I'm thinking for 2 athletic people, they might be looking at high end products and possibly even supplements. -
Moving to Brisbane: Money + Advice
familywright replied to jetjetster's topic in Renting & Real Estate
Oh yes, your partner will also need public liability/professional indemnity insurance -
Moving to Brisbane: Money + Advice
familywright replied to jetjetster's topic in Renting & Real Estate
Hi, we have recently moved to Brisbane and some of your calculations are a bit out * you will not get a decent car for under $5000. We were determined to and got one for just under but it is a bomb. Most cars are usually just under $10000 (second hand). We pay around $55 per week petrol and the rego is $670 pa just as a guide. Insurance is separate. * food - you will need around $200 a week for groceries * internet with a decent carrier is around $120 a month (ours includes all line rental, phone calls to all aus and uk land and mobiles). I need good internet for my business * our mobiles are around $30 a month pay as you go * I dont know what you are imagining a PT will earn here but it isnt much * I have no idea what medicaid is (apologies if this is medicare and a typo) * minimum wage is $16.37 an hour but you will find a lot of jobs here are zero hours equivalents so you wont be able to guarantee the full time (sorry). * we have found it incredibly difficult to get jobs here and it has been 9 months, we are below minimum due to causal and abn hours. I would highly reommend trying to get jobs first. * you will have quite a few big hits at first - paying to get aussie licences etc, so watch that 3-4 month budget * we dont eat out as we cant afford it but I think a meal at a restaurant for 2 will be over $100 each time? * we havent got an elctricity bill yet but will let you know how much it is when we get it. (we are in a small flat) -
I would like to know this as well. We also have only sent the one email, in January, after a 23 august application.
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Hi, its AB
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Sorry that was a bit ranty...I get quite homesick on Australia Day
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I totally agree. Im only popping in occasionally now as its just too upsetting . I think I will knock looking on here on the head. My husband applied 23 august and from what I see, its pretty straight forward - we have been married nearly 10 years, together 13, have an 8 year old son who has an australian passport so he isnt a concern, no medical or police issues, plenty (well enough, we dont have megabucks) money to go with, a home to live in when we get there and a job to go to. We have pretty much organised and ready to go and could fly asap as my husband has sold his business, I am self employed and this crosses over to home anyway and the house is ok for us to leave for a year or so, as is. We were told 8-9 months, most likely the 9 - so we are looking at the very end of May just to get the nod. Now, our CO hasnt even told us if he is getting a 309 or 100. I have sent one polite email after the new year, just saying that I will be cracking on with my list of things to do before we move and was wondering if there was anything we need to know/do for the application as I will get onto it asap. I just said, feel free to let me know. I also said my son and I may go ahead as he needs to start school but that we will be using the same email. Just a courtesy to let him know as we thought we might do this . (We arent going ahead now as it will be too much for an 8 year old boy to be away from his daddy for 5- 6 months in my view). The response was a very curt "the time frames havent changed and remain as originally stated and I will let you know any thing about the application when and only when I am able" or words to that effect. This is really stupid, isnt it. I could go on until the cows come home about the 9 months but am aware that we are all waiting and thats life. Im trying to be patient. I know so many are in the same boat, we arent special or different. BUT, when you hear all the differences in what people are being told and when things are being granted, it is really upsetting.
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Just giving a vigorous nod to all comments above re the dreadful wait and "long time no hear". We have served nearly 3 months or our 9 month sentence. No contact at all after the CO requested medicals and police checks when we first sent the application. No indication at all of which month. I imagine we wont hear anything until mid next year. I hope to god we dont lose our school place.
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Hi all. Is it the usual practice to have your documents returned? We haven't had any returned (and not a word since all the checks lodged)
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I find it disturbing that if the CO is off sick, the quota remains at a "few a day". Surely the CO could work on the group that would have been done during the off sick period over and above the quotas for the day or so of return from illness to tidy up. It seems very inefficient.
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we should probably have a "Aussies waiting to go home" thread
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Yes, I am. We werent told which subclass but the medical was requested (as was the police check but it has already been applied for). The letter says 6-8 (or was it 9?) months. We really need to go home so my son (also an aussie citizen) can start school in January. I suppose we should have applied earlier, so ultimately its our fault and we shouldnt whinge, but i had no idea it would be that long. We werent intending to travel separately, mostly for my 8 year old's benefit. As far as finances go, yes but no...I work freelance and can pick up work here and there but given I am going home soon, am not pushing and marketing myself, so its a bit awkward.
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Just wondering - how can you be so sure when the visa will be granted (i.e so sure as to book os flights to newzealand)?