BadgerLady

So, nearly three weeks into Nomad Life now... I've mostly been house sitting. In Melbourne I took care of 8 foster cats in a house, then moved to Sydney with 5 very high maintenance show cats, one of whom demanded to be spoon fed from a porcelain bowl! I then had a gap so moved into an Airbnb room for a few days and will be going back to the show cats this weekend. I don't know where I'll be living from Monday, and unfortunately can't make plans because I'm waiting for my next client in Perth to confirm a start date - if they need me there on Monday, I need to be available for that, but if they're not ready yet I have to stay in Sydney. Fun!

Hey Andy, have you had some advice about this yet? Fortunately I'm not in your situation, but have been worrying about you and anyone else in this circumstance...

What about if you applied for 186 ENS and are waiting for a result?

Hmm, so that was interesting... I finally worked out the login for my health insurance and changed my address online. I changed it to the PO Box in QLD and it flagged 'you have moved interstate'. That prompted a phone call from the insurer who confirmed that it actually changes my benefits and premiums. Apparently all QLD residents are entitled to free ambulance services across Australia, so there's no need to include it on a health insurance policy. And I guess I'm a QLD resident now. LOL!

Whereabouts are you based? I used a fantastic trio of freelancers in Sydney this week (and was let down by a lot of bad ones) ;-) ETA: Ah, sorry, just looked at your other posts - you're talking about the move from the UK?

Thank you - yes, he's back in England now at my sister's house so he's finally getting some proper rest and being well looked after :-)

Yeah - I found it all really bizarre. I can cope with people deciding they don't want to do the work... but why wouldn't they just tell you their plans? Or at least answer the phone? Anyway, it's done. It was hilarious, the scary old landlady was hovering around watching so I kept hidden on the opposite side of the moving truck. My car broke down at a petrol pump in Padstow but I managed to get it started again in time to put it in storage and catch my flight from Sydney (thank goodness for lounge access with showers). In the taxi from Melbourne airport I was sooo tired and kept thinking "I just want to go home". And then realising I don't have a home any more :-D My project in Melbourne finishes next week, and I've secured a house sit here for Easter weekend. I'll fly back to Sydney on Easter Monday and take over a house sit there for a week, then I've got a week in an Airbnb room. That takes me up to May 1st, which is the earliest date I might be put on another project (there's a good chance it'll be in Perth).

Finally out. Feels weird.

Well today didn't exactly go to plan! The storage unit provides a 3-tonne truck and driver, and you get 1 hour to load it plus 1 hour for unloading at the other end. I hired a couple of removalists from Airtasker to help out with that. So 8am today the truck showed up, but no removalists. I sent messages, I tried to call them, but nothing. In the meantime I went ahead chucking boxes in as quickly as possible, then my very ill father helped me get some of the bulkiest furniture in there. One hour later, far from finished, we had to go. A good 45 minute drive to the storage place. Unloading was easy enough, but Dad was starting to feel much worse and we still had heavy stuff to move, not least of which an upright piano. So I posted another 'URGENT' Airtasker and a guy responded "I'm 45 minutes away from you - will be there right away!". I phoned him, he said he was on his way, but three hours later there was no sign - he was no longer answering the phone or messages. That was when the cleaners turned up. They couldn't be a nicer, more professional pair! But they looked around and said "you're not ready". We rushed to clear out the bathroom, laundry and kitchen for them, and they did an outstanding job polishing everything up. They just couldn't do any of the floors that were still covered in furniture. In the meantime, my Dad was getting more stressed and more ill - he had to go and sit on the steps outside, breathing and wobbling. So I packed him into the car and drove him to hotel, reassuring him that I've got it all under control and that he should rest and relax before his flight back to Europe tomorrow. So I posted a THIRD task and got a quote for $550 from someone who promised to bring a truck and a mate this afternoon. An hour later he told me it would actually be $800 and I told him to get lost. I called work to tell them I can't come back tomorrow. I called Qantas to change my flight back to Melbourne - my ticket was Red eDeal though so it was basically sacrificing one airfare and buying another - and I called the estate agent to inform them I'd be moving out a day later than my notice period. I've finally got a professional to agree to doing the removals tomorrow morning. It's way less than half the household now and is costing $712, but at least it'll finally be sorted! Logically it should all be over by lunchtime so I can give the floors a good clean, photograph everything, head to the estate agent's, park the car in its new storage space and then chill out in the airport before my flight back to work. Whew!

I really don't... it's probably a good idea to keep doing it at least until I get Permanent Residency, which I'm hoping will be August / September this year. If I'm still 'footloose and fancy free' at that point, it means I'll have the option to go anywhere and do anything!

Well I'm as ready as I'll ever be! Boxes are packed... furniture dismantled... I've re-horribled the apartment (replaced my made-to-measure blackout curtains with the landlady's vinyl, mould-infested ones, etc)... the upstairs neighbour has kindly invited me to dinner tonight (she's getting a case of wine for that), and we'll be outta here tomorrow. Things that have made me feel better about the situation: - When I got home after 10 weeks working in Melbourne, the first thing that struck me was a stench of damp and mould. This place is not watertight and there was fur growing on food jars, on wine bottles, on my shoes... best not to be stuck here during a damp winter! - Having moved so recently, I've been able to put most things back in the same box with the same label on it. So it's been quite easy to do. - Playing my favourite music and pretending I'm wrapping presents for my future self to open :-) My Dad's here helping ENORMOUSLY too. He's the one who remembered how awful the kitchen looked when we arrived and has been able to replicate that, shoddy craftsmanship an' all. Although he wouldn't let me take photographs because he was worried people online might think that's actually how he builds cabinets. I've also been applying for house sits starting from Easter weekend, which is when my Melbourne project finishes. Does anyone here regularly house sit and if so do you have some tips / recommendations? I've used 'Happy House Sitters' for the odd holiday before now but am hardly an expert.

Oo, good question on the voting. I'm not a permanent resident yet so that's not an issue for me, but interesting to explore :-) I have just changed my address with Service NSW for car registration... they kept my old address on but added the PO Box as a postal address for all correspondence. They didn't seem to mind that I won't be living there, just wanted to tick a box in the computer system. This weekend is the dreaded move. I'm flying to Sydney this evening, meeting my Dad, and we've got 48 hours to pack before our Airtaskers arrive to help load the moving van and clean the apartment. I have to hand the keys back by 5pm on Monday and then fly into Melbourne. Dad's booking an airport hotel and flying to Europe on Tuesday. I have to confess, I've been suffering signs of underlying stress BIG TIME. Fingers crossed it'll all be relieved over the weekend! Nothing left to stress about :-P

After 5 years I'm still paying mortgage, utilities etc in the UK, and I even pick up the odd contract of work when I visit there sometimes so a bank account is essential. I use a digital mailbox (http://www.pc2paper.co.uk/) - it's a good deal, gives you a PO Box (which my bank and almost everyone else accepts) where someone scans all your post in and uploads it to cloud storage with an email notification. That way you always have access to it wherever you end up. If they receive something like a new bank card, they can deduct a few pounds from your account and forward it to an Australian address of your choice.

I love GoGet but actually my 'car' is a campervan - if I'm in Sydney overnight I can check it out and go camping :-) It features a fridge, gas cooker, sink, bed and even a porta-potty if it comes to that... There are cheaper parking options around Sydney but none that are as secure... being away for weeks or months at a time I'd rather be sure. Will keep a look out for any safe garages though!

Yeah, I've got everything for a three-bedroom house, so they've suggested a unit that's 3m cubed. That's only $250 a month - the outdoor car space is another $265. I'm not planning to get insurance. To be honest, there's nothing particularly valuable or sentimental (that's all in my old house in Wales), I'm only keeping it so I don't have to start all over again whenever I do get a home! And maybe I'll gradually sell it all on, reduce the amount.

I did post a thread about this but it got lost... after living in a succession of rental properties where the landlord has booted me out (nothing I've done!), it's time to just give up. I have to be out on 3rd April and have therefore booked a storage unit but no further accommodation. 70% of the time I travel for work anyway and am provided with hotels on location, although it's difficult to ever predict when that will be. I'm restarting this thread to keep you guys informed on how that's going and to log progress / issues for anyone who chooses to go down a similar path in future. So far, I have: - Booked a storage unit and parking space in Bankstown, which will cost $515 per month: http://www.rentaspace.com.au - Cancelled my utilities - Telstra charged $320 for breaking a contract but TPG was no charge with a month's notice - Set up a 'digital mailbox' (PO Box where someone scans in and emails all my post to me): http://www.sosmail.com.au - Listed an Airtasker for removals help and end-of-lease cleaning help I've also contacted organisations to change my address: - Employer accepted PO Box - eToll and NRMA accepted PO Box - MyGov accepted PO Box - Commonwealth and ANZ took my PO Box as a correspondence address but wouldn't change residential address (I've left the old one for now) - Informed my immigration agent who're making a call on what to pass on to DIBP (they're treating it as a temporary situation) I keep a detailed budget spreadsheet so will be able to easily see any change in spending - fingers crossed it drops like a stone while I'm of 'no fixed abode'!

So my PR application was finally submitted this week - the countdown begins! Work isn't any better... but I spent some time speaking with a psychologist who helped me to rediscover my self confidence. So I don't let these things get to me any more ;-) It's entirely possible that the work situation will improve in the next 6-8 months and I'll end up building a career here after all - who knows?

I've been on 457 for over three years now and am in the process of getting nomination for ENS 186. In the meantime, my employer has asked me to carry out a project that includes working in developing countries, something I'm very keen to do. Normally for these projects they ask the employee to take a salary cut of 25-50%, to make the work more affordable to the (usually non-profit) client, but special arrangements can be made. I explained that my 457 visa requires me to work "in my nominated occupation for my nominated salary" and the project manager is now seeking approval from HR to go ahead at full pay... however it will really help his case if I can attach a document that proves it! I've spent all afternoon Googling and can't find any trusted source that clearly states that I must receive the same salary that was declared at the time of my visa nomination approval. Who's got a lovely resource they can point me to or scan in?

I've just gone through my emails and found the original job description from July 2014. It clearly states "must have willingness to travel and work overseas". That's gotta help, right??

Thanks! The argument given is that 'overseas work is not stated on the job description'. But all the above is certainly true - my employment with an Australian employer has been continuous and consistent. I have never had a break in salary, never had unpaid leave or even sick leave...

My employer. Hence the lack of trust...

I started work (457) with my current employer on 22 September 2014. So I was pretty delighted to finally reach my two-year mark and apply for nomination! However I've today been told that I'm not eligible yet. My work often involves going overseas. I'm a design researcher so I go to different countries for about a week at a time to conduct field research, as well as occasionally heading over to meet colleagues and clients in different locations. Nothing unusual - just standard business trips as part of a global company. I've been told that every day I've spent working overseas now has to be deducted from my period of employment for the purposes of eligibility. So, if I spent 2.5 weeks meeting bank managers in the Solomon Islands, I now have to add 2.5 weeks onto my 24 months. In my case, the total 'add on' is 97 days which would take me well past Christmas, and would be extended further every time I take another trip. I'm shocked because this is the first I've ever heard of such a rule. It's never come up in my previous questions or in my research. Where has it come from? Is it real, and how can I double-check that this really is a requirement? I just want to get on with this thing :-(

I've now been with my employer for 2 years (huge global conglomerate) and have asked them to nominate me for my PR, which policy says they'll oblige with as long as I cover all the costs up front. I've already attended and passed the medical assessment, have all my paperwork together in one place with JP signatures... I've got new police checks from the UK and Australia... it's all ready to go from my side. In the meantime, I've been contacted by my *dream* employer for an interview on Tuesday. It's the job of a lifetime and they're not in a rush, so there's a good chance they'd wait for me to be able to start. My question is: how long would they have to wait? Do they have to wait until the PR has been approved, sent back to my current employer and issued to me, and how long would that be? Is there any possibility of switching employers during the application process?

Thanks Westly Russell - we also confirmed this offline :-) Worth noting for anyone who Googles this thread! If you have the same conditions on your visa, you can almost use it for a two-year stay (as long as you leave Australia and then re-enter before the expiry date).

Yeah, planned the same - actually this letting agent only took online applications. I had everything available electronically and submitted it 1 hour after the viewing. They'd actually taken an application before the viewing and the landlord officially accepted it while I was there. Nothing to be done! I've still got 6 weeks until I plan to move... and my employer will help me out with a hotel for 30 days after that. I'm not worried ;-)