Rose Fuller

Hi. We are currently in the UK and hold PR visas. I had a baby in the UK in November and we have just lodged the paperwork to apply for a child visa for my baby. What is current processing time based on peoples experiences? It can be up to 9 months however I've been told it can be a lot quicker?

i spoke to our agent today and he said as we have a permanent visa the only way to do it is on a 101 child visa however he thought processing time could be 5 months which doesn't sound too bad as baby is only 3 weeks old so we wouldn't look at returning before then anyway.

That's the danger....which is why I would never recommend emigrating if anyone ever asked me!! I was happy in the UK before we emigrated, life was good. Now no home, less equity, seeing faults in the country that I didn't see before. Family split over who wants to be where. Early days for us. I wish I'd had a crystal ball!

Thats great thank you

We are in the same position. We went to oz a year ago to activate our visa and spent 9 months there. We returned to the UK when I was 30 weeks pregnant, however we would like to get the baby a visa as we may go back at some point in the future. We still have 3 years left on our visa. Both parents English. So based in this feed I take it we would need to apply for a baby/child visa from the UK? We have a birth certificate but it sounds like we may need to get a passport too? And from this I take it processing time will be 8-12 months. Our visas were processed visa an agent I wonder if it's just easy to get them to manage or is it simple enough to do ourselves? Where would the application come from? Any idea on cost?

its still early days, however it doesn't seem to be living up to the pedestal I put it on! I do think it was right in as far as I've now had my baby (8th nov) and it has been lovely to have friends and family around, but the place seems run down. It also seems very crowded everywhere. I guess I must have started to settle in oz and not realized it! It's been nice to see my oldest son who returned to the UK before us, especially for my middle child who really missed his brother. My middle child has settled back into his old class and is happy to be home. Hubby hates being back, he is regularly stuck in traffic on the m25 traveling to/from work and really wished we weren't here and thinks we've made the biggest mistake in returning, and being back just reinforces all of the reasons we left. It is actually a year ago today we left for oz so he's not happy today! We have our beautiful baby though, and have given ourselves a year (length of our lease) to see how we all feel and if we think we have done the right thing it if we should try again less my pregnancy hormones! I'm a little wary as I did really struggle and am also mindful that it will be hard for my middle son who never really settled (albeit we were only there 9 months). Kids are resilient but not that resilient so I'd need to be sure I was going to make a real effort. Plus we have spent so much money shipping stuff to oz, then back to UK. Plus flights each time. Buying cars etc. it could be financial suicide! What at I would say with Insight is that I wish I'd been braver, tried a little harder, but homesickness and being pregnant was not a good mix. Who knows what the future holds, but I would say oz is not a closed door for us.

Not exactly the same situation, but we only stayed in OZ 9 months (I fell pregnant unexpectedly, eldest son returned to UK, youngest struggling to settle & I couldn't settle as homesick & hormonal) I pretty much wanted to go home from the word go!! We have now been back 3 months and I have a wonderful baby boy born 8 Nov. I went with my heart and although hubby did not want to return to the UK we did. What you are saying does sound familiar to me, although now we are back I just wonder if I should have given it a bit longer...been braver and tried harder. But in my hormonal state I had to do what was right, but its a niggle now especially as it takes a lot to get out there. And with insight it was such a small amount of time/our lives there that It wouldn't have hurt to have stayed a little longer to see if we could have settled. Now we are going to see how we feel at the end of 1 year to see if we should go back and give it a real shot. That of course will eat into our funds but its certainly not a closed door (which makes hubby feel better!).

This is brilliant and makes more sense now we are back in the UK. We have only been back 3 months so very early days, but this list is useful. I would agree that surprisingly (as I was soooo homesick) I do miss Australia in many ways. I also do agree to have a 1 year plan...re-assess the situation are we happy and benefitting from being back. And god we should sooooo have moved back in spring. haha. But all great tips )

I was in the same position, although we have only been back 3 months so early days for us. I have private messages the member who started this post.

Ho. I'm 32 weeks pregnant, and have been back in the uk just over 2 weeks. I'm not entitled to statutory maternity pay, despite only being out of the country 9 months and having worked in the uk for 20+ years!!! You should be able to claim child benefit once baby is born and has a birth certificate, possibly you can get support with rent (housing benefit) if your mum charges for the room. I'd look into income support if I was you, try to get an international number to see if your entitled. Regarding flying, you can fly up until 36 weeks gestation as long as you are fit, although you should get a fit to fly letter from your doctor. Good luck xx

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!! It helps when you hear other people experiencing simular emotions/situations. And luckily the majority don't judge as every situation and person differs. We all have the same goal...to be happy!! I do think the pregnancy hormones do play a part in accelerating your emotions, and put into perspective what you feel is important (family/friends). Hopefully the holiday will do you good, and by then you will be clearer on how you feel.You know what...life has a way of working out...human nature means that the majority of people continue moving until they are happy. You just have to make sure that as a family everyone is considered and we find a fair balance. And as for the sparkle...Ican feel mine coming back a little just knowing I'm going home to familiarity and what has been a good life. Good luck to you too x

Agree totally. We came out 4th December. It took us 6 weeks to get a rental and we didn't end up in the location wanted, but panicked and took a property which probably wasn't in the best location to help us settle. Also We missed the UK Christmas and our family. So I would say come out between Feb and September.

P.S. Going back to Essex.....

Thanks, I have been looking at the other side based on your comments and its been really useful, we talked for a lot of the weekend, and I have explained its not a shut door, its just whats right now with the new baby etc. We don't know how it will all turn out, we could go back and hubby may settle (he has a new job offer yayy!!), and I may wonder what Ive done. Our youngest came out and told us he feels like hes starting to settle in the last week or so which we had to laugh at as so poorly timed!!! I see that as a positive as he will have fond memories, and if we did decide to come back it wouldn't be with our son kicking and screaming!!!! Hubby wanted to drive to the port and stop the container!!!!! haha. We had a great weekend with the some of my husbands Aussie family and things are feeling better. Ive told hubby we will work through this as a family and what will be will be. You just have to do what is right for you at the time. I cant thank this forum enough ))))) Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family at the weekend. Will keep you posted on how we are getting on.

I just wish we felt the same. I hadn't foreseen this as a possible scenario before we came, hopefully it will come good I love him to bits. I'm sure we can get through this. I will definitely look at couples counselling if we have issues. I have to say I still feel hurt by his comment. I guess the key is to keeo on talking, although I feel like sulking!!

i think it's hard to understand how unhappy someone is when you don't feel the same way, and when people at home see photos they think it looks amazing and can't understand why you'd want to go home. But a photo can't show how your heart feels and the loneliness that can come with emigrating. Hopefully hubby will be pleased to have the normal me back, I just hope he isn't as unhappy there as I've felt here. Hmmmmm it's tough. Thanks everyone one for taking the time to read and comment, it's been a tough day and you have helped xxx

I do hope so, socially things were much better. I think he just needs a Tequilla night with our besties!!!! ;o) Did you go back to the UK permanently or are you still in OZ? I feel I couldn't live without him but also I cant live here, certainly not at this point in life. He told me he loves me, but I don't understand how he could consider leaving us. Hopefully he didn't mean it and its just frustration that it hasn't turned out the way he would have liked.

Thanks Ali. Id say that is sound advice xxxxx

Thank you Snifter. I hope so. I feel like hubby has forgotten all the good things about the UK and I have probably put them all on a pedestal! I think it really is the right thing for me, and also my youngest. And yes you are correct the oldest is already back in the UK (since March). I just can feel the resentment at the moment, and as much as all of my family and friends are happy for me and understand my reasons, it seems that we do not have the same support from hubbys family who have expressed no happiness at all that we are coming home. In fact his sister mailed him to say that she was angry that he had to give us his happiness to keep me happy!! This really hasn't been helpful when dealing with home-sickness and I fear it may be feeding his dissatisfaction at leaving? With baby due in 12 weeks I think that I would struggle to have the baby here without a support network. I certainly don't want to have one of my children in another continent. just consider coldly to come back to OZ just breaks my heart and puts serious questions over the value of our relationship,if he/we are unhappy there we could try to address that within the UK rather than rushing back here?

I want a time machine. We were happy, albeit hubbys work-life balance wasn't great. With insight I wish we had tried to fix that.

Hi. I found myself in the same situation with my son, however he was 19 and is currently back in the uk. I do think its harder to settle the older the child gets, however it should help a bit if they are still in education so are mixing socially? I would suggest setting a time to review if her feelings are the same....6 months or something? Then you can make a decision/plan based on the outcome? Its not easy to have children on opposite sides of the world so I do sympathise.

Hi all. A week now until we fly back. Our container left Tuesday. Hubby's mood has completely sunk, and he's telling me how rubbish its gonna be back home and that I should have given it longer. Possibly but we have to mitigate financial losses and I really don't think I'll ever have a happier life here. Worse still he announces last night that if he's really unhappy after a couple of years back then he will come back to Australia alone. I feel absolutely heartbroken, and disappointed to. Where do I go with this mess?? In my mind we have been together 26 years and that should mean more than Australia..this is not our home? His opinion is that Id be prepared to go back without him so why is it any different? Feel like someones ripped my heart out (( Will I be on eggshells wondering how it all turns out.

I'd say financially its about evens...but I guess that depends where you lived in the UK and where you move to in Oz. However it depends if you can live without family and friends. I thought I'd cope, however I have found the trade off isn't worth it, no social life to speak of and no one to share the dream with (except hubby and kids of course). The kids might be better off in the long run (less crime etc)...but id say my life isn't better despite the fact its beautiful here. Australia is Marmite...some love it...some hate it. I personally didn't realise the emotional and financial gamble.

2006. 197000kms, 2 seats, will come with a road worthy. Brilliant condition. Starts first time every time!!

Meblbourne. Mornington Peninsula.