Apimentel204

This is EXACTLY what I feel like I've been going through.. But the opposite. I've been the one at times where I have little to no desire to catch up before I leave. It's awful and in a way I couldn't understand it but I believe I'm beginning to cope. It's something my girlfriend has been saying. Force yourself to spend as much time as possible with everyone because you'll regret it down the road and she's right. Ps - I leave the day after Christmas, so it'll surely be a bittersweet christmas and thankfully I'll be able to see most of my family before I head off.

No, I also got to know some of her friends. As well as met a couple Sydney locals I still keep in contact with from Thailand.

I own a condo back in Canada, that I rent out. So I'm using documents proving that and bank statements as proof. Also have a criminial check which wouldnt hurt.

Inquire about rental apartments now. It's very competitive and busy. Lane Cove, Strathfield, Kogarah... Just some areas my gf and I have been looking at in terms of price/location to the city. I sure Sydney residents could give you a lot more info.

Moving just after christmas. My girlfriend lives in Sydney and have been doing the long distance thing for 9 months now. We met in Thailand last Feb. Haven't seen her in 3 months, last time I saw her she visited me in Canada in september. And like many others. extremely excited. extremely nervous.

really hits once you're in the single digits.. sydney in 8 days :xmas25:

bump...anyone..:frown:

You get a blue card once you apply or once you get approved for the 820 visa?

Yeah, I'll have to make photo copies of all my docs and save it on my home computer. No, I wont be living with her at first. I'll be living in hostels. I have one weeks worth booked in sydney. Yeah, a little skeptical myself for bringing all that cash. might just have my girlfriend deposit it in her bank and have her be my "temporary atm"

So I leave 3 weeks from yesterday (December 26) and naturally I'm beginning to panic. But not so much stress out about making the big move, as it is I think I'm forgetting to plan/bring things before I leave. My plan is pretty straight forward to being with, travelling down the NSW coast for 2.5 weeks then settling in Sydney and looking for work. My girlfriend lives in Sydney and we'll be looking towards organizing an 820 partner visa down the line. I've made a thread about my prep for that already, so not really looking for prep tips there. Essentially looking for tips on setup essentials, maybe something that would help me with working/finding work in Sydney that I've yet to think of. Not really looking for packing tips, but by all means! - I have my WHV - I have my NSW coast accom. set up - I have my first weeks stay set up in Sydney - I have a westpac bank account with $4600 AUD in it - I have $1350 AUD cash for spending money for my nsw trip (since I wont be able to activate my westpac account until Sydney) Still to do: - Update my CV - Get letter of recommendation from former boss - Get my TFN - unlock my iphone - set up westpac online banking :confused:

You cannot do you RSA certificate online for New South Wales. So it'll have to be once you're there.

applied for 2, both got approved in less than 10 hours

Similar plan as me, will be arriving dec 28. good luck!

Looking through hostels. I'm a little overwhelmed. Any reccomendations? I'm a lone traveller, my girlfriend lives in Eastwood, Sydney. So I'd rather not be too far from her. But want to be where the action is. North Sydney, St Leonards, Crows Nest hostel's seem hard to come by (which would be better for travel to eastwood) looking for around $30 a night.

Yeah, I think I'll go with Canadian Forex. Thanks.

I've been following the exchange rate and it continues to go against my favour , through my bank. I've seen some money transferring sites that suggest better rates but dont trust it like the bank. Might just settle on taking the hit and going with my bank and it's current rate, considering I'm heading to Sydney in a month.. Any other options/experiences?

Helpful! Thanks. Yeah the only thing there that would concern me is potentially getting injured at work.

I got my police check about a month ago. So after we plan on lodging our application. So I suppose the issue would be the police check expiring not before we send the application but before they review our case?

Also, my girlfriend is currently studying and is only working part-time. She will graduate in a year and a halfs time though. I was wondering would this interfere or upset her sponsorship eligibility?

Yes. Nothing along those lines for NSW

I've seen this throughout many forums and thought I'd give it a go. Which I've debated because I wouldn't want our hopes inflated/crushed, but I suppose it'll be helpful to hear some opinions and advice. My preperation/evidence to lodge an onshore partner visa in sept/oct 2013. My girlfriend and I are in a long distance relationship currently. We've been together for 8 months now and met 10 months ago while travelling in Thailand. She is an Aus. citizen and I a Canadian. I'll be heading over to Sydney on a WHV after christmas, in which we'll be travelling up the NSW coast for the 1st two weeks of my time there. Once we get back, we will be getting our relationship registered. At first we will not be living together as she'll be living at home with family and I'll be living in hostels. For approx a month in which we'll move into a room in her sister and her partners house. That is until we find ourselves an apartment to rent out (under both of our names.) She visited Winnipeg, Canada in September and met my family for two weeks. Aside from that, we've been apart since Feb. 9th 2012. Relationship Evidence Financial - We've shared costs of our hotel bookings for our NSW trip - I put her flight to Canada on my Visa, in which she paid me back - We plan on sharing rent and labeling that on a lease - We plan on setting up a joint account in which we’ll use to save for the partner visa and rent money - Various dinners/events/and future accom. Will be shared financially Social - My family has met and hung out with here and all accept her - We have 1 photo with her and my mom (unfortunately we lost some of the photos we had with her and my fam L) - A Christmas card has been sent from my family to her - I’ve met and hung out with her friends from our time in Thailand therefore have friends in common. Will also be spending some time with these friends on the NSW trip and my time in Sydney. - Her flight documents to Canada, my flight documents to Australia Nature of Household - Will be living together firstly in her sister and her partners house (will be stated on her partners stat. Declaration) then renting our own place. - Will be sharing as many bills and household items/duties as possible - Have letters sent to us with both our names on it Nature of Commitment - The many MANY logs of chat through skype/email/messenger (Talking about everything from marriage, to our partner visa, to when we first got together to planning her trip to Canada and mine to Aus, to how much we miss eachother, to our intentions.. ETC..) - Receipt of flowers I sent when she we ill - Receipt of care packages we’ve sent eachother History - Will be writing our own “stories” so to speak of how when we met - Proof of when we got together and stayed with eachother through all this time - Proof of gifts we’ve sent eachother - Proof of emotional and financial support for eachother Statutory Declarations - From our friends and her siblings - From my family - Have these declarations signed by an authorized person Medicals and Police Checks - We’ll get our medicals done by a panel doctor when it comes close to application time - I’ve already got my Canadian police report I realize most of this is standard info and evidence everyone can obtain, just thought I’d include everything thus far. While the more important facts are the ones about our living situations and time living together. Just looking for opinions, advice.

I feel like I've found the best deal possible with World Nomads. Covers medical, lost or stolen luggage/belongins, cancelation/interuption, travel accident. the cost is $436 CAD for 6 months. Just seeing if anyones used WN or has tips for any other travel insurance options?

Can you tell me where you got this info from?

Virgin Mobile

So I'm heading over to Sydney Dec.26th and traveling up the coast for NYE in Byron. I was quite torn with not being able to see NYE in sydney but I guess I'll be there for 2014! Anyway, i'm 22 so will plan on hefty partying. But not every night.. my girlfriend and I enjoy cafe's and going out for dinner and drinks. Which from what I've heard will be hard pressed to find considering everything will be packed during that time? Just wondering if anyone has any experience/reviews/tips with the whole Byron Bay New Years experience?