JEM44

I didn't use an agent and as long as you do your homework it is quite straightforward. You just need to be very meticulous and organised! My advice would be ask / research and ask again - every step of the way

Is it possible to get a mortgage using a UK pension as a wage? I am am planning on working but my hubby wants to claim his pension and maybe look for part time work, his pension should pay approx £20k a year. Would we be able to get a mortgage? Thanks laura

I'm no expert but I would have thought so. That is the whole reason for using Vetasses. That's how I got the points I needed, they assessed my qualifications and experience so I could claim the points

Hi there, hubby by and I (plus two kids) and planning our move to Oz on PR next year. We activated our visas last year. My my hubby is quite a bit older than me and is planning on retiring from work, he has a really good pension which should amount to about £20k a year. My question ion is how do pension companies pay pensions to people when they live overseas? Does it go into a UK bank account and we have to transfer it every month or will they pay it into a foreign account? Also, if we buy a house (which we plan to do) is it possible to get a mortgage using the pension contributions as income? thanks laura

We are in the same boat, how much of the UK and Europe can we see in 2 years, down to 18 months now. We have two teenage kids We have on our list: edinburgh and Stirling - made the kids watch brave heart before going to Stirling! hadrians wall on the way home london - all the sights liverpool - we live there so did a walking treasure hunt and loved it Chester, do the whole Roman England thing york - very quaint and probably never see anything else like it cornwall - can never go here too many times! Also need to pick a few castles in Wales for good measure Then find all your distant family (via Facebook) and go visit them all - collect photos on the way!!

I did the whole thing myself, it was simple enough to do. Just do your homework. There's enough advice on here for each step of the way. It was probably quicker too because I wasn't waiting on anyone but myself.

I've PMd you x

We recently visited Perth, I bought a Vodafone sim for $20 and used the 3G for 3 weeks driving round using google maps on my iPhone and it was excellent.

Just seen an advert for regional managers in WA for Aldi. We we don't move til 2016 but I'll be chuffed if I can save on groceries in comparison to Coles and Woolworths.

Hi, we have just spent 3 weeks in Perth activating our PR, and are now back in the UK to sell the house, pay the credit card and save up again for our move hopefully around January 2016. Im im just wondering, do I need to let WA know that I have activated the visa and we are back in the UK or what? How will they know when we finally move etc? Im im thinking after 2 years we can apply for citizenship, but is that after we have actually lived there for 2 years, and if so, how do I start measuring that time? Hope this makes since!! Thanks Laura

Hi we have just spent three weeks in Oz to activate our PR in Western Australia and have a good look around before our intended move around January 2016 (assuming we sell our house by then). Im im looking to find out as much info as I can about options my mum would have for coming out with us. Does the parent visas still exist and if so what is the best option. We had originally thought she could apply after we had residency for 2 years, but does that mean from now as we have activated, or from when we actually move in 18 months time? Also which visa would it be and how does the immigration have some options that parents can apply from inside Australia? Does that mean she could visit, apply and just stay while she waits a decision? I assumed she would just come every 6 months on a tourist visa? Also, so, I spoke to a lady out in Oz whose mum had moved years ago and she had paid approx $28k to buy into Medicare but she wasn't sure if this was part of the visa fee or additional?.. My my mum and I rely on each other heavily (she looks after my kids while my hubby and I work) so moving without her will be hard, I only have one other sibling who lives in the UK. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated as I am starting from scratch with this. thanks laura

Thats excellent news thank you x

Hi, we are just about to activate our visas this week on a holiday. We hope to emigrate start of 2016, we have two dogs who will be coming with us and I want to know when is best to have them vaccinated? If we do it now clearly they will have loads of time to have the 6 moth clearance but would they need a booster etc and then clearance again or is it a one off vaccination for life? Don't want to mess this up. Thanks Laura x

Hi, we are heading out to Oz to activate our visas this week (four sleeps and counting). i am looking. For some information on how best to get my phone working whilst there. I am going to take an old iPhone 4 and wonder if it is possible to buy a pay as you go sim at the airport so I can use it straight away? Need to speak to the people whose house we are renting etc, plus use google maps so we can actually find the house!!! My my phone is unlocked (or so my son tells me) and so just wanting some advice on what companies are best to use for coverage in Perth, Sydney and cairns and how much ore paid will cost me etc. plus will I be able to buy one when we land? Hoping there will be shops etc in arrivals in perth international. Any help and advice will be gratefully received as we know no one in Oz so I'm quite daunted by the whole experience although very excited. Thanks Laura xx

Our email from our CO also says to take the letter confirming your visa with you... just in case. He didnt' say how long it would take to update the system, he just said it didn't always work, and he'd recommend taking everythign with you. Sorry i don't have a definitive answer. Someone else might know.

Hi, we had a similar question, I managed to update my passport prior to our visas being issued, but my OH couldn't as he needed his for work. His expired two months after our visa for PR was granted. He now has a new Passport and our case officer just said to travel with both. The visa should electronically show on the system with his new passport number because the Technology is so super clever, but quantified it with - but sometimes it doesn't always work so we suggest you travel with both. Just in case! They don't update the systems in Oz to show your new passport details, they just rely on the Passport IT system which i guess works world wide, that your new passport will be linked to your old one - or something teckie like you have the same name, dob, and face????

Hi, I am just reading as much information as I can prior to our reckie this summer. Thinking about looking at areas in Perth prior to our move. We just got PR last month but need to sell up before we move. I have just googled the 100 points of ID and have a question. When we first land, how do we gain any of the items needed for the 30 points section? We will get 70 points for passport etc. But how about anything with an address or ... for an employer i assume it is supposed to be an Australian employer? [TABLE] [TR] [TD]Name and address of person verified from any of the following: A current employer, or a previous employer within the last 2 years A rating authority (e.g. land rates) The Credit Reference Association of Australia (subject to the Privacy Act 1988) Land Titles Office Records [/TD] [TD]35 Points[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] So basically, what documents do i need to make sure we have to be able to sort out a rental property? Thanks

Mine took around two months so shouldn't be too long. It was 6 weeks for a CO to be appointed, then we needed to fill in form 80 (everyone seems to miss this so fill it in and upload that while you are waiting for a CO) then it was a week to get the visa confirmation. Good luck

Thanks for that. Will definitely stay north of Fremantle and say south of the airport?

Lady Rainicorn, thank you so much, some great tips there. We aren't sure about south or North, I'm heading towards it will depend where we get work, but equally panic about we may have to live and get the kids in school before getting a job! will definitely do the public transport and open houses. My kids have both just started high school so will be good for them to see what it feels like too. We we will try and rent holiday houses both south and North or the river if possible but I had considered Rockingham although now think that may be too far south? Thank you for your comments.

Hi there, we were recently awarded our 190 visas and have to activate by November so are coming to Perth for a week in July, then hope to move January 2016 once we have sold our house. (Fingers crossed). we only have a week in Perth and have no friends or family there so are going in blind, so am looking for suggestions of where to go and what to see when there to get the best feel for the place. I am concerned because we are ultimately planning on going to live there in a few years, we need to make the most of our time there so would welcome all useful suggestions. Please don't recommend a guide book, I have one of those and so am looking for helpful hints from people who have done this process previously. Thank you laura

Hi there, we are just looking at flights for activating our visas. We have WA sponsorship and have to activate our visas. We are looking to make the actual move in 2016. Do we have to fly to Perth to activate the visas or can we say go on holiday to Sydney? thanks

Hi, we recently got our visas and are looking to activate them this summer for a three week holiday then come back sell up etc and move out hopefully in 2016. We have teenage kids so need to travel in school summer holidays and i am looking for advice (if anyone has any) for the best way to do this as flights are extortionate! I was thinking (naievely that summer / OZ winter trip might be cheaper) of stop over flight for a few days to break the journey, a week in Perth and a week in Cairns then fly back. So far i'm looking at £6k before hotels etc. Can anyone suggest anything affordable. I'm even considering looking at back packers instead of hotels or do they have equivalents to Travelodges? Are there any discount type of flight websites for long haul or cheaper routes etc? What have people found best? Thanks Laura

Hi everyone, after applying for state sponsorship with WA on November 6th 2013, we got our visas this morning. Can't tell you how excited we all are. We chose to do our police checks and Medicals as soon as we were on the system so as not to hold things up. All were ok so we now have until November 15th 2014 to first enter Oz and then January 2019 will be our final time to move. hope you all get good news soon x

Hi, we were allocated a CO on the 9th Jan, we need to complete form 80 for both myself and hubby and it is somewhat tricky. Holidays for past 10 years and exact dates for his parents deaths from 20 years ago now have to apply for new death Certs! Hope all all is going well for you guys. Fingers red crossed successful form 80s and we will get the go ahead x