TomJonesDad

I started down the same road with a similar company and was planning to go ahead until I took some advice from a firm in Oz. Basically, once you transfer your pension out it cannot be transferred back to the UK so you have to be damn sure you are staying. Whilst it is fully our intention to stay, who knows how things will pan out. So from my perspective, I'm happy to leave it until we are settled in Oz. I know there are tax implications for not transferring it within 6 months of arriving but was told there are "ways and means" of minimising this. I think the "not being able to transfer it back" bit was the one that clinched it for me.

We were told by the removal company goose feathers would be ok but not duck feathers. Just realised our sofa cushions all have duck feathers :arghh:

Interesting question - our daughter will be starting in reception in Sept too and we are migrating in Feb 2013 but she won't be able to start school in Oz until 2014. She has been in nursery a couple of days a week from the age of 1 so is pretty used to things in that respect. Our aim was to go ahead with things as if we were staying in the UK so are definitely sending her even if it is only for a few months. I guess only you can make the judgement for your daughter.

Very difficult question to answer. I can only pass on my experience - we waited until we had our visa approved as I thought there was little point causing grief and upset if we didn't end up getting the visa anyway. Mixed response really, my mum is doing the guilt trip thing and telling me it won't work despite me trying to explain how long we have spent planning and researching and we really are heading to Oz with our eyes wide open. My dad doesn't say much at the best of times but he was really supportive despite the fact he dotes on my 3 year old daughter and it will be heartbreaking for him when we take her to Oz. My wife's family have all been really supportive. Everyone pretty much reacted as we expected. I would say you know your family best so try and judge how they will react and base your decision on that. My family now have 8 months to get used to the idea before we leave so I'm hoping my mother will come around - not sure she ever will to be honest.

You may want to consider booking a room at the transit hotel which we found to be invaluable. When we were last over we travelled with a 13 month year old and the room was a godsend. They book them out in chunks of 6 hours I think. Check the web page http://www.changiairport.com/in-transit/transit-hotel

As others have said try not to worry until you get the result. I thought I'd completely stuffed up the speaking section and ended up with a 9!