ItchyFeet76

Hi Ken, firstly thanks for answering my questions - I think I understand at least part of it now! Secondly, your reply re: the 6 year rule has opened up another query for me... Will we be liable to pay Aus CGT as well, if we sell within 6 years, or will the Aus-UK double taxation treaty prevent me from paying twice...? So if we leave next June and get the house revalued just before we go, assuming we sell 2-3 years later for £420k, there'll be no tax due as £20k split btwn my husband and I = £10k each which is below the threshold...? Does this sharing of the profit thing also work for rental profit? Ie we can do a joint tax return and split he profit btwn my husband's £11100 and my own, so a profit of £10k divided by 2 = £5k each which is well below our respective thresholds...?

Hi there, I notice there has been a previous thread (in the Vista section) about this topic, but it didn't answer my question and I didn't want to thread-hijack so thought I'd better start up a completely new one, specific to my particular enquiry. Hope that's ok :smile: We're hopefully coming out on a 457 next year (after several failed attempts in the past!) and will be renting out our UK house. If our plans come to fruition and we're able to obtain PR after 2 years via the 186 route, then we'd possibly sell our UK house and buy in Oz. I have several questions if anyone is able to provide answers, please...? :unsure: (1) If we sell whilst Aus residents, are we no longer UK residents for tax purposes (though obvs we'd still do a self-assessment to declare any rental profit)? (2) What's this about a "6 year rule"?? (3) I've seen websites advising people to get their house valued as close toe 06.04.15 as possible, but don't understand if it should be done BEFORE that date or AFTER? We had a valuation done in 2013 and another one last month.... which would they use? (4) We had a loft conversion done in the summer and this has added £50k to the house (but cost us £35k) - how does this affect the taxable amount? Obviously the house's value has increased considerably, but is it only the 'profit' between what we spent and what it added (i.e. £15k) on which they'd tax us? (5) How much would we be taxed? My husband was on the higher-rate tax (40%), so would it be 28%...? Thanks guys, any advice much appreciated :-) I-F

British passport = level 6 so intermediate, I think? Concur re: extra points gained for superior level if required [emoji106]

I think you do for the 189 as that's general skilled migration, and also the 190 as that's state sponsored migration, and both are subject to the 60 points threshold afaik.

Ps yes I see where you're coming from - commitment to the post would be ensured by Direct Entry as you are under a 2-year contract (though I'm sure there are unscrupulous individuals who, once receiving PR via this route, leave and - unless their employer reports them to DIBP - go their own way with their new ticket to freedom!). 467 with promise of ENS after 2 years is also ensuring continuous labour for the employer (for 2 years, at least), but if it doesn't work out he can send you on your merry way (whereas with the DE I think he has to put up with you for the duration of the 2 years - am I right...?) [emoji55]

I looked on the government website and for us (2 adults + 3 kids) it was around $8k... Obviously if it's just one person / a couple with no dependants, it would be less.

Yes I can understand them not wanting to spend £4K if they can hire locally for free, but then if that were the case, they wouldn't fulfill the criteria to give a job to a foreigner on a 457 anyway. So you have to assume that, if there's a real shortage of a particular position, then £4K isn't much if it means securing the specialist skills you need. An agent told us that his clients would probably be fine to go down the 186 route eventually (ie not from the start so not direct entry) but we won't get our hopes up until / unless that actually happens (need a job first anyway!). I-F [emoji106]

I went on the Best Global Movers website, entered a few details and they passed them on to all those removal companies listed in my spreadsheet, who then went on to contact me with the quotes (via email, although a few rang / texted to chase it up). I've just read bad stuff about Doree Bonner on the BE forum though (something about overcharging and not clearly listing all the fees?), not sure if they had a really unlucky experience or if other people have had negative things to say about them...? Thought it worth mentioning, just incase... I-F

Hi there, we're looking into moving next June time and wanted a rough idea of costs so we know (1) how much to save up (and how long that will take!) and (2) whether it's cost-effective to ship or cheaper to sell and rebuy once over there (we're going to be on a 457 hopefully, so any moving costs will essentially be doubled (even if we're successful with our PR attempts) as we'll be back after 4 years (unless we love it and stay longer) so will have to pay to ship everything back again. Here are some rough quotes I've had from shipping companies recently. They're not tailored to any specific requirements and are really just ballpark figures, but I guess that's all you want at the moment...? [TABLE=width: 1579] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=colspan: 13][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Company[/TD] [TD] ​Shipping Type[/TD] [TD] Dimensions[/TD] [TD]Extras[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door or Door-to-Depot?[/TD] [TD] Cost[/TD] [TD] Destination Charges ($) [/TD] [TD] Destination Charges (£) - based on x-rates of $1 = 0.48p[/TD] [TD] AQIS (Quarantine) fee ($) [/TD] [TD] AQIS(Quarantine) fee (£) - based on x-rates of $1 = 0.48p [/TD] [TD] Insurance (approx. 3%/£1k value) [/TD] [TD] TOTAL SHIPPING COST[/TD] [TD]NOTES[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Seven Seas[/TD] [TD] Lge Move Cube[/TD] [TD] 226cm x 146cm x 187cm[/TD] [TD]5 weeks' storage[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right] £1,029.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]$458.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£219.84[/TD] [TD=align: right] $440.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right] £211.20 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£100.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£1,560.04[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Seven Seas[/TD] [TD] Lge Move Cube[/TD] [TD] 226cm x 146cm x 187cm[/TD] [TD]No storage[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£965.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]$458.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£219.84[/TD] [TD=align: right]$440.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£211.20[/TD] [TD=align: right]£100.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£1,496.04[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Doree Bonner[/TD] [TD] 20' container[/TD] [TD] Size of sgle garage? (900-1050 cf)[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£3,918.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]$462.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£221.76[/TD] [TD=align: right] $440.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£211.20[/TD] [TD=align: right]£100.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£4,450.96[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Doree Bonner[/TD] [TD] Half 20' container[/TD] [TD] 10' long (same width??)[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£2,230.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]$462.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£221.76[/TD] [TD=align: right]$234.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£112.32[/TD] [TD=align: right]£100.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£2,664.08[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Simpsons[/TD] [TD] 20' container[/TD] [TD] Size of sgle garage? (900-1050 cf)[/TD] [TD]Full packing / unpacking service[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£3,340.00[/TD] [TD] Incl.[/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD=align: right]$440.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£211.20[/TD] [TD=align: right]£267.20[/TD] [TD=align: right]£3,818.40[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Robinsons[/TD] [TD] 40' container[/TD] [TD] Approx. 2400-2500 cf[/TD] [TD]Full packing / unpacking service[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£6,930.00[/TD] [TD] Incl.[/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD=align: right]$825.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£396.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£110.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]£7,436.00[/TD] [TD]Storage = $80/wk + one-off handling chg of $1248[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]PSS[/TD] [TD] 20' container[/TD] [TD] 1050 cf[/TD] [TD]Full packing / unpacking service[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£2860.06 [/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD=align: right]£788.94[/TD] [TD=align: right]$440.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£211.20[/TD] [TD] ??? [/TD] [TD=align: right]£3,860.20[/TD] [TD]Storage = $50/wk + one-off handling chg of $284[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]1st Move Int'l[/TD] [TD] 40' container[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Full packing / unpacking service[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£5,622.00[/TD] [TD] Incl.[/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD=align: right]$825.00 [/TD] [TD=align: right]£396.00[/TD] [TD] ???[/TD] [TD=align: right]£6,018.00[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Eagle Relocations[/TD] [TD] 20' container[/TD] [TD]Approx. 2000 cubic feet [/TD] [TD]Full packing / unpacking service; 1 mth's free storage[/TD] [TD]Door-to-Door[/TD] [TD=align: right]£3,950.00[/TD] [TD] Incl.[/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD] -[/TD] [TD=align: right]£490.00[/TD] [TD] ???[/TD] [TD=align: right]£4,440.00[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right]£0.00[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right]£0.00[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Customs inspection (random, may not be needed) = approx. £200[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right][/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD=align: right]£0.00[/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD=colspan: 6]MOVE CUBES[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]TYPE[/TD] [TD] PRICE [/TD] [TD] CUBIC M[/TD] [TD]HEIGHT [/TD] [TD]WIDTH[/TD] [TD]LENGTH[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]SMALL[/TD] [TD=align: right]£594.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]2 [/TD] [TD]1.88m[/TD] [TD]1.11m [/TD] [TD]0.96m[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]MEDIUM[/TD] [TD=align: right]£788.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]3 [/TD] [TD]1.88m[/TD] [TD]1.45m[/TD] [TD]1.11m[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]LARGE[/TD] [TD=align: right]£1,248.00[/TD] [TD=align: right]6.2 [/TD] [TD]1.88m[/TD] [TD]1.45m[/TD] [TD]2.27m[/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [TD][/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] Please excuse the awful formatting - took me 30 mins to try and get it all lined up once I'd copied and pasted it (it was all over the place)! I-F :-)

Hi Petkula, are you able to give an insight into the current IT security industry in Vic (Melbourne area), please? My husband is a penetration tester /Senior Security Consultant and will be looking for sponsorship next spring (by which time we hope to have saved up enough to make the trip). He has his Crest CCT / CTL / OSCP, etc. and a few years' experience working for one of the world's largest pen-testing companies (actually more like 5 years in security but ACS knocked off a couple years for his lack of degree). His background has always been computers (hardware - i.e. sys admin, etc.) so he's got a broad knowledge of most things but specialises in security (currently learning mobile hacking). We've had recruiters get in touch with him but one has said there are very few companies in Vic willing to sponsor a 457, which is rather concerning as this is our only route in. Thanks in advance, I-F

Direct entry - thought it had to be specified at time of applying for 457. Didn't mean to confuse you, sorry! [emoji39]

That's a good point - we just assumed it had to be done when you applied for the 457 so that's reassuring to know, thanks [emoji4] If we wait to save up enough money for flights, shipping, temp accomm then it'll be this time next year though, so we'd need to get another skills done...

Ah ok, yes I read about that but my husband doesn't think many employers would be keen to go down that route as it's taking a risk on a complete stranger and spending money / hassle when they don't even know how you're going to get on in the job (my argument for this is that they wouldn't offer the job unless they had a certain degree of confidence in you and your abilities!).

Suzukiscottie - which route is that then? If we used his current skills on a 190 we're still 5 points short (3 yrs' exp, diploma, 42 yrs old, no Aus exp, no partner skills)... :-/

Thanks guys, that's all good to know

Hi there, I'm an old member but have been away from the forum for the past year or so as our emigration attempts hit a dead end due to a rather disappointing skills assessment. We're not revisiting the idea (hoped for PR before we come out but looks like that's not going to happen) and are resigned to the idea of a 457 (again). There really is no other option (other than not going at all) so, for us, it's going to be the risky way or the highway. So, to get to the point. If we come on a 457 (assuming no employer fancies the Direct Entry route, this is) we're looking at the 186 Transitional route where you have to work for 2 years for the same employer on a 457, be under 50, have 6 on the IELTS (or a British passport) and a positive skills assessment (which we will have assuming Microsoft don't 'legacy' the MCITP when we next apply). Question: Do we still need 60 points to go down this route? I've done extensive research (thanks, Google) and can't find anything saying so, so am hoping that's the case as my husband was 42 this month and, if we go within the next year or so, by the time he's worked long enough in Oz to get the extra points we need (3 years' experience) he'll be over 45 and lose 15 points. His current skills assessment runs out 30/04/16 so we either go before then on the Direct Entry route (you need skills + 3 yrs' experience) or wait until we've saved up and do it later in the year or the following year, by which time it won't matter if he's over 45 by the time we apply for PR as he'll still be under 50. Sorry for the long thread around just one question - wanted to explain our situation so it's easier to answer (and also incase anyone has a brainwave idea we're missing!). Thanks, I-F

Yes I think I'll have to, but we have no money spare to pay to hire them, just a free assessment I guess...

Thanks Captain C. We think it'll take my husband several attempts at the PET to achieve 'superior' as he's very anxious about the speaking part and not starting until after Xmas (he's got to sit his CCT Crest exam again in December as it's almost expired), so I guess we'll end up having to redo the skills anyway...

So it's EOI first, then state nomination, then what? (Thanks by the way ;-))

Hi there, Our skills assessment expires end April 2016 and we're 5 points short of the 190 (Vic SS), so are wondering if we should try for a 489 (Adelaide). At what point in the process does the skills assessment need to be valid? Can we do the EOI and then have it expire, or need to wait for SA to nominate us and THEN it can expire, or does it have to remain valid until Skill Select give us our ITA and we make the actual 489 visa application? If it runs out at any of these points, will they give us extra time (more than the 60 days) to get a new one done and, if we fail a new one, can we get a refund on the fee? Thanks in advance, I-F

Hmmm yes I think SA is the only state whose capital is actually classed as regional, and don't think there are many pen-testing jobs there. We've just applied for another assessment but this time under a different occupation (general computer something-or-other) with the hopes that the work experience they previously discounted for his security occupation will this time be relevant for the new code. He's be in IT for over 10 years so it's annoying that they only count the past 3! Also confused as to why they only started counting his skilled experience from June 2012 as he's been a pen-tester since 2011...

Oh dear.... looks like we're 5 points short then (and that's assuming OH can get 'superior' in the PET) :-( Our only other option is to reapply for the ACS and see if they come back with a different opinion, or waiting 2 years, by which time my husband will be pushing 44... It's the age at the time of application that counts though, right? (so we could apply when he's 44y11m and still get 5 points for his age). Cheers, I-F

Thanks for your answers both of you, I appreciate your input. Here is an excerpt from last April's skills assessment:- "Your skills have been assessed to be suitable for migration under 262112 (ICT Security Specialist) ofthe ANZSCO Code. Your qualification has been assessed as follows: Your Microsoft Certified IT Professional from Microsoft completed October 2008 has beenassessed as comparable to an AQF Diploma with a major in computing The following employment after June 2012 is considered to equate to work at an appropriately skilledlevel and relevant to 262112 (ICT Security Specialist) of the ANZSCO Code." His IT experience started in 2007 when he was an IT Support / Systems Engineer. Can't understand why they only started counting from June 2012!?! (His first penetration testing job was in Jan 2011). So we presumed that the experience they discounted would be closely-related and thus eligible to claim points with, as the question specifically asks about experience in the designated occupation or closely-related one. The EOI we did today is for a 190 (Vic ss) and we got 45 points (inc ss). So he needs to get top marks in the English test!! ?

My husband did his ACS skills assessment last year and didn't get the desired result so we cancelled as didn't have enough points for PR and didn't really want to go down the 457 route (although this is now a possible option as my husband is terrified of taking the IELTS!). We're now considering trying again as, although ACS only recognise 3 out of his almost 7 years' experience, we're hoping the discounted time will still be accepted as being in a closely-related occupation (Computer / Network Engineer as opposed to his 262112 ICT Security Specialist / Penetration Tester), plus it's now been over a year so he can hopefully tick the "8+ years' experience" box. Question: who decides whether or not his discounted years (ie discounted as being 262112) are closely-related or not? Presumably we have to upload the actual document from ACS at some point, and they'll see that, despite his work history going back just over 8 years (in IT), ACS only gave him 3 years 18 months ago? Do we need to apply for a review of his skills assessment so they can confirm his extra experience or will the fact that he's still in the same job (and it's been 18 months since it was done) make that obvious? They gave my husband's vendor qualifications the equivalent of an AQF Diploma, but will his extra experience possibly mean they might give him an equivalent of a Bachelor's Degree? (not sure if the qualification is equivalent to x years' experience....) Many thanks in advance, Itchy-Feet

If you keep retaking it and do better in some bits (eg reading) but worse in others (eg listening), can you amalgamate the results from old and new tests (picking out the best) and, if not, does the most recent test result cancel out the previous one...? Thanks.