Kev Rad

Hi I've just used a service called Currency Fair and they were absolutely brilliant. They take a really small amount off, it is a peer to peer service so the cost is low and it is pretty quick. Only took 2 days to get money from NAB to NatWest, spot on. You just set up an account, send some proof of ID and you're on. I'm going to use them all the time from now on. Cheapest I've found saved me $80 on a $3400 transfer, over Moneycorp as well.

Just a quick question to see if anyone has gone out ahead of the rest of the family and how that goes in the UK with finances etc. Obviously things are going to be tight trying to keep the house here going till it sells and keeping myself going in Oz. I'm not one to try to get anything I'm not entitled to but as I will officially be a PR in Oz would my wife be able to get reduced Council Tax or some tax credits etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Kev :confused:

I know that super excited feeling. We just got back from a 2 week reccie but I managed to get a really good job offer while we were in Perth so I'm off back for good at the end of September. We stopped up in Quinns Rocks and we are looking to move to Banksia Grove when the rest of the family follow me over in Jan. If you haven't been already give the Spud Shed a go off Wanneroo Road. Loadsa great food and some of the offers are unreal. We got a full scotch fillet for $27, would have cost about £100 back home. 3 melons for $1! Good luck with everything and I'll keep looking for your updates to see how you are getting on.

Hi Ours was granted with the date as well. You mention the visa sticker. How did you get that as I got told that the visa is electronic and just entering the country will be enough? Cheers Kev

Just got our quote back from DFD. Spoke to them on the phone too. Seems they are getting a lot of enquiries at the minute. Door to door service on self pack only £1950! (Chorley to Perth) MASSIVE saving on the quotes from the usual suspects. We need only find insurance and customs fees in Oz. Saves us about 2 Grand just for a bit of hard work packing our stuff and getting the container sorted. Probably throw a 'Packing Party' !!! Link is below for those who are interested in getting in touch with them. Happy Days!! :jiggy: http://www.dfdshipping.co.uk/Contact-Us.html

That'll teach me to read things properly. I'll certainly let you know how we go. Kev :err:

Hi! Do you mind me asking who you got the quote off we are looking to go self pack and that does seem like a really good price. We are only in Chorley so hopefully the price wouldn't differ too much from yours. Thanks Kev

Hi Kirsty, The timeline at the bottom is in the settings section of your page header. If you go into that and enter the signature menu that is where you put it. It's as easy to copy and paste one then edit it with your own information. I am an Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineer by trade and from start to finish the whole thing only took just over 12 months. (Would have been quicker but I have been working abroad) From doing the EOI in July it took 5 months. We waited for the new system to kick in on 1/7/12 and it was surprisingly quick. If you are thinking about it get it done and Good Luck. It's a great feeling when you get the email telling you your application was successful. Kev :yes:

Hi Scott Ours took 1 month from submission to acceptance and issue of the visa, the CO herself was assigned and got in touch after a week or so from submission. Seemed like a long month, watching the email, checking your application update. Then 1 day you just get an email telling you you have been successful, Happy Days :smile: Good Luck! Kev

I was just after some firm info on exactly what you need to get when you arrive so as you can get licensed up and get a job? I know you need the ARCtick Licence, a restricted electrical and you need to do some training at a college. Could anyone let me know what order you have to do it in. Where do you have to go to get it done as if I need to book etc I want to do it before I get there, or see if I can get something done on my reccie visit. Not sure if there is anything I can do before I leave the UK? Doesn't seem to be from what I can see. Moving to WA by the way. All advice will be gratefully received Thanks Kev

Thanks All Was what I thought. We will try to do as much as we can with regards the vets etc and buying our own IATA crate but think we will go with a professional mover for the rest. Anyone got any recommendations? The ones I've looked at all seem to get good reviews. PetAir seem consistently good. Anyone got any rough costs and what service you got from where? My wife is a great believer in going with a good recommendation. Thanks Kev :err:

Hi Chris I would start here buddy. http://www.vetassess.com.au/migrate_to_australia/assess_my_trade_skills.cfm Plumbers are still on for the permanent migration. Start with the online application towards the bottom of the page. You will have to do a practical test but they are normally at a technical college somewhere at a weekend. Good Luck Kev

Chris, To be honest mate I would try to do the lot. I've just had ours granted and we did everything ourselves VETASSESS, EOI, State Sponsorship, Visa Application. VETASSESS is easy to apply for. If you get a bit stuck further down the line you can always use an agent at that stage if you are more comfortable. I believe 'Go Matida' are pretty good. We just thought that paying up to £2.5K for someone to fill forms in with the information you give them was a bit much. There are always people on here who are more than happy to help if you are unsure. Although it was quite involved and you are always hoping you have got it right it is so much more straightforward than it used to be. So long as you give good clear information and just go from stage to stage I don't think you can go wrong. Hope That Helps Kev

Might be worth practising some of the oral tests before you go. I can talk a glass eye to sleep but when she asked me to talk for 2 minutes about the 1 place in the world I would like to go, who with and why I found it a bit hard under exam conditions! Oh, don't take anything with you as all you can take in is your passport and that's it. No phones, no favourite pen. Not even money in your pocket?? Not sure what they think you are going to do with a 20p piece? Good Luck, You'll be fine I'm sure. Kev :chatterbox:

Hi We have just got our visa through with our son on. He is 20 as well. All you have to do is be able to give some evidence that he is a dependant, quite easy for us as he is at Uni and we just gave all the course details and put how much we give him every week, quite a easy form to fill in really. Is yours still at home? Not sure how it would work if he is not a dependant though but I am sure there is someone on here who has been through that. Hope that helps Kev