khm1981

Well no other government agency needs to see a visa label. Medicare, Centrelink, ATO etc all them check electronically. However, according to The Post Office, this is a new requirement by the Passport Office (that they've introduced in the last few months). This seems like a backwards step and one that baffles me. Surely, if Australia want to be an electronic visa country then passports should jump on board???

Unfortunately, you aren't given the option when your visa is issued anymore (been here since March 13). In fact, it clearly states that you do not need them and should not apply for one! It's crazy!!

OK, big deep breath........ count to 10!!! My PR visa is electronic, all I've got is a notice of grant letter. However, In order to get my Aussie baby her first passport, the passport office want to see proof of my residency. They do not accept the grant letter, they want me to get a label in my passport or a certificate of residency. The label costs $70 and the certificate $100. According to the immigration website, all government agencies should verify my visa using the VIVO system. However, the passport office will not do this. Has anyone else had this same problem. Do I need to bite the bullet and pay the $70 (plus $9 postage), or is there a way round this???? I can not believe that government departments don't communicate with each other!!!!!!! Arrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!! I am so frustrated!!!!!

I am up for bounce and play, any day bar Tues is good for me, Kath

Hi, sorry not replied, been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and seem to spend all my time going from one appt to another! Claire, I am in Brighton Qld, but good luck with your move. Alaska I've requested to join the fb group so hopefully meet you soon, as long as its on a bus/train route as my husband takes the car to work. We've been here a month now and only just moved into our rental this week, I hope to start meeting people now. Its really hard when your a stay at home mum as you don't get the ready made set of friends like you do when your working. Didn't realise it would be this lonely! X

I live in Brighton, I have a 15month old and nearly ready to give birth to another. I would love to meet up with both of you as we've only been here a month and know no one yet, Kath x

We ended up buying a virgin sim and going with a prepay simplicity plan as its only 15c to call and text anywhere in Oz and to the UK with no connection charges and free voicemail. We found no contracts that could beat that.

Hi are there any playgroups in Brighton or any mums who want to meet for coffee. We've been here for 3 weeks now and would like something to do during the day whilst hubby's at work. I am 31, 30 weeks pregnant and have a 15 month old son. Anyone fancy meeting for a chat, feel like I need adult conversation before I go crazy! Hope to hear from anyone at all soon, Kath

Thanks for all the advice. We are flying with Singapore Air from Manchester. I am hoping the flight won't be full and we can get an extra seat between us. I am taking his pj's and have got lot's of snacks, instant porridge pots and some new things to play with. We have a quick change over in Singapore so I am hoping we will know what to do by then, for the 2nd leg. It will be all over in 4 weeks time, wish us luck! Kath.

Hi, I was pregnant when we completed the forms and you do need to let them know. You need to complete form 1022 both to inform them of the pregnancy and then again to add the baby to the visa. You will need to wait till the baby is born before you have the medicals, as the baby will also need a medical, plus your wife will be able to have her chest xray then as no doctor will xray her whilst pregnant. Please see the link below, good luck, Kath http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/1022.pdf

Hi, any advice, hints or tips to pass on. We are flying on the 4th March from Manchester to Brisbane with our 15 month old baby. I will also be 27 weeks pregnant. Have any of you done this and what did you find invaluable on the flight to keep sane. Thanks, Kath

Thank you for starting this thread, I will be 5/6 months pregnant when we arrive and now I don't have a worry at all about giving birth in Oz. I had my first baby at home here in the UK, so I was worried about having to have Obs led care but feel so relieved I can opt for midwife led. :xmas23:

Hey, me, my husband and 1 year old are also moving to the area in Jan '13, looks like there will be a few of us arriving at the same time. We should meet up and swap relocation stories? See you soon, Kath :biggrin:

We are moving out there before the end of the year too, and fancy Mountain Creek/ Brightwater area as it is 10 mins to Mooloolaba and it looks to have a great community feel. It is still being developed/built though. http://www.stockland.com.au/residential/qld/brightwater-living-at-brightwater.aspx :biggrin:

I have let her know, thanks for the advice.

Thank you for all the advice, it's time for me to go shopping now!!!

Thank you I will look into both the buggies and the slings. A sling looks like the better option, but I do like loading a buggy up with stuff. So think I will have to get both lol!! Can a baby over-heat in a sling in hot climates? We tend to travel with backpacks on our backs and day packs on our fronts, so having the baby in a sling won't be much different. This will be the first time we backpack with a baby but I have always wanted to do it, so en-route to Oz seems like the perfect opportunity.

Thanks for the advice, my baby is 9 months old and we are going to stop over in S.East Asia for a few weeks en-route so having a buggy is pretty essential for us. I have looked at the quinny zapp but I am put off it as it doesn't recline. I think I will definitely get a baby carrier as it makes so much more sense and just get a cheap lightweight one and hope for the best that it is arrives at each stop. Thanks, Kath

Hi, I am looking into finding the correct visas for my friend who is a nursery nurse. She has level 3 in childcare and education and a diploma in health. I can't find her occupation on the skills shortage list, does this mean that she can't emigrate? She will be sponsored by a relative. I am a nurse so it was much more straight forward when I got my 175 visa. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Kath :biggrin:

Hi, I am looking to buy a small buggy that can be taken onboard as hand luggage, does any one know which is the best/smallest to buy? Has anyone done this already and were there any problems at the gate? I was thinking of one that can be put in a bag so it can go in the overhead lockers. Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks Kath :biggrin:

Hi, how did you get the visa label in your passport? I was granted PR in March but I don't have that, just the letter etc. Do I need to send our passports off? Thanks, Kath

Wow, we were torn between Cairns and the Sunshine Coast but I am tipping more towards Cairns now, those photos look amazing! I will avidly watch this thread, Kath

Hi, It is advertised as both and they have put a blurb on it about the town itself and what there is there. I think part of the nursing role is to run a clinic for the town's residents as well as the miners? I tend to spend weeks at a time away in quarries, power stations etc here in the UK (before I went on Mat Leave) but I know it will be very different out there. I am looking at it as an adventure that could set us up for life! Any advice or tips would be great? Thanks, Kath

Thanks Snifter, I was worried about being stung with a bigger bill at the end of it, so that is something I will definitely ask. Who knew that applying for the visa myself would be the easy part?? All this moving stuff is frying my brain! Kath.

Hi, I have applied for a job as an Occupational Health Nurse in a nickel mine in Leinster. I work as an OH nurse in heavy industry here in the UK and I was wondering what it is like to live in an outback mining town? I will be moving there on the proviso that my husband can also get a job, he is an Arborist so I doubt he will be doing any tree work there, but he will do any job. We also have a 7 month old baby and I am under the impression that daycare is available in the town. As soon as we applied for our 175 visa I have wanted to work in the mines, not just for the money - which is a bonus, but for the fact that I love my job and how interesting nursing is in heavy industry. We plan to do this for a couple of years and save up. I have researched Leinster, it has a shop, a post office, pub, leisure centre, school, golf course, swimming pool etc. So if anyone has done this with a young family any advice would be greatly appreciated? Is it just a stupid idea of mine to do this? Thanks, Kath :biggrin: