MissEmma

Hi Jean, Yes - just ring and explain that you would like to open a bank account in the UK. And just to echo what Flathead said, transferring money from an Australian HSBC account to a UK one is really easy (via online banking), the exchange rate is very good, and you also have control over when you transfer funds (you do need to fill in a form to get the daily transfer limit increased if you are transferring a significant amount, but HSBC will advise you on this). Hope this helps. Emma

Contact the international banking department of HSBC Australia, we set up a UK account over the phone, and the entire process was extremely easy. Emma

Just over 9.5 years... (and only 1 week away from going home permanently!)

We move back in 2 weeks and are taking a car. There's room for it in our 40ft container, along with all our household effects - so not really costing any extra money to ship it. We are going back with Kent and it's costing just over $13,000 for everything, inclusive of packing, collection and delivery. Taking the car back seems to be very simple. We too have found a company in the UK who will collect it from the port, make all the necessary modifications, register, tax, MOT and deliver it for £1,600.00. We thought about selling, but 1) we've had it from new and know it's history, and 2) it would cost more to replace in the UK than we could sell it for here. If you would like any more details, I'm happy to supply. Emma

Sapphire, I completely understand. I have lived in Melbourne since 2003 and never really felt 'right'. As Chortlepuss said, I also think it has a lot to do with loneliness and isolation. I'm not an unsociable person, but only have a couple of people here that I consider 'proper' friends (neither of whom are Australian) - on the other hand, those I left in the UK are still very much a part of my life. Having said that though, for me it also has a lot to do with 'belonging' - I've always felt like an outsider looking in here, not just in regard to interactions with others, but also in day-to-day life - even after all these years the Australian lifestyle feels alien to me and I've never settled. Every day is the same; breakfast, work, dinner, bed...I was never this boring in the UK, but here I can't be bothered half the time! I was in my mid-teens when my family emigrated, and to be honest, I feel like I've spent the last ten years somewhat oblivious to everything around me, just waiting for my sentence to end! We're all leaving Australia permanently for the UK next month, and I know I'll feel a millon times better once we get home. I am very much looking forward to being around people and things the 'same' as me, and that I can relate to. And as others have said, I too hope to feel more like the 'old me'. Emma

For us it works out more economical to take it with us. It's a fairly new Nissan X Trail (which we've had from new), and we wouldn't be able to replace it with an equivalent in the UK for the money we'd get on it here. Emma

Pro-ject Tonnnn, (as opposed to 'tun' for the unit of volume) Fish and Chippery Emphasis on 'Shire', e.g. York-SHIRE, Wilt-SHIRE :laugh:

Thanks for your replies, I probably won't bother with insurance either - just nice to see what others have done! Connie, I am taking my car back too, many are under the impression that it's a big 'process', but I can't believe how straightforward it is! Thanks again, Emma

Can anyone who has moved back to the UK and received their belongings from Australia advise me re insurance? If you took it out/if you didn't take it out, the condition of your stuff when it arrived, etc. Also, for anyone who has shipped a car back in the same container as their household items, did you insure both/one or the other/none? Just trying to get an idea of whether to/how much to insure for - it's hard to know what to do. Thank you! Emma

Great! Thanks for getting back to me, Ghost. :biggrin: Emma

We are returning to the UK in February and have a number of bottles of perfume we'd like to take back. These are only for personal use, but some are still very, if not almost brand new. Can someone tell me if I would be liable for VAT or Import Duty on these? They would be shipped in the container along with the rest of our belongings, however, I am aware that I will have to specifically declare each bottle/percentage remaining, etc. This may seem like a silly question, but just wondered if anyone else has had a similar situation? Thanks!

Hi Laguna, I moved to Victoria when I was 15, at the end of Year 10 in the UK. I completed VCE in 2005 (Victorian equivalent of A-Levels) and planned to return to the UK for university. However, when I began looking into the application process, I was informed that I would be liable for international student fees; at the time this was approximately £8,000 per year vs the usual £1,000. Apparently this was because I had been out of the country for more than two years, and during which time had paid no tax (which is ridiculous, because my parents had paid tax all their lives!) It's extremely unfair and still makes me cross! I ended up completing my university studies in Melbourne; I qualified as a secondary teacher this year and am finally moving back to the UK in February 2013. In terms of advice to you, if you opt to stay for the full 4 years in order to gain citizenship (and your daughter intends to go to university), she would be better off doing it in Australia. It is too expensive/an insult to have to pay international fees, and in the 3 years she would have to wait to be considered a 'home student', she could have completed a degree in Australia. I'm afraid I'm unable to help re eligibility for A-Levels without GCSEs - hopefully someone else can. Emma

We are set to move back to the UK early next year. Just wondering how others have gone about transferring money back to the UK? I am currently with the Commonwealth. However, would it be easiest to open an Australian account with HSBC, and then transfer with them as they have branches throughout the UK? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you! Emma

Like you, I knew very early on that Melbourne wasn't for me (a matter of months). Unfortunately though, the longer you stay, the more ties you create (jobs, house, etc.), and thus the more difficult it becomes to leave. I've now been here for the best part of ten years and am finally in a position to go back early next year...and I cannot wait!

Thank you very much for all your replies - some great info which has given me lots to think about. Emma