Marisawright

10 hours ago, Dancha85 said:

Could you define what you mean by expensive? We currently keep them at home in England, which probably (for us) works out cheaper than agistment.

Does that mean you'd want to keep your horses on your own property in Australia, too?  Acreage is expensive everywhere around Sydney.

Check realestate.com.au and domain.com.au for property prices.  Also check suburb reviews on Homely https://www.homely.com.au/find-places

Just in case you haven't found these resources for show jumping:

https://www.australianjumping.com.au/

https://www.equestrian.org.au/worldcupjumping

1 hour ago, Dancha85 said:

No reason for Sydney, only that when I have asked re horses, most people recommend Sydney. 

I am happy to go regional, just want to make sure we are not too far out that we loose the horses competition part. Also want an area where it is good/safe to bring my own children up in. 

Ah, I was assuming you were thinking about the ease/cost of keeping the horses, but it sounds like competition is the most important aspect. What kind of comps?  

1 hour ago, Ausvisitor said:

Agree and don't agree...

I agree that rental agents and car dealers care about the job not savings in general but...

If you have the cash to pay it all up front they don't care then.

Yes, but it doesn't matter to them whether that cash comes from a UK bank account or an Australian one.  

3 hours ago, StevenP said:

Thanks guys! I thought it would be more difficult than I first thought. Would it be easy if I can for a holiday and set one up to activate my visa without a permanent address?

You'll need proof of an Australian address so a holiday won't help.  As Tulip1 says, you can use your British debit and credit cards everywhere here, just like you would at home, so it's not a big deal.   If you have an account with Wise, then you can easily transfer larger amounts at reasonable cost if you need to (for rental deposits etc).  

Having an Australian bank account won't help you get credit, if that's what you're thinking.  Real estate agents don't care about your bank balance or where your money is, they want to know that you've got a job.    Australians don't lease their family car, as a rule, because leasing is an absolute rip-off over here (unless you can get a lease through work, called a 'novated lease').  If you can't afford to buy a car outright, then a car loan from a bank is the best bet (car finance from the dealer is a rip-off, too) -- and again, having a job is more important than having savings.  Reality is that you may have to settle for a cheap second-hand rattler until you get yourself settled. 

2 hours ago, Dancha85 said:

Ok thank you, I will look in to that. I thought I had decided on NSW, but everyone has different opinions so I doubt my decision! 

What made you choose NSW?   Are you really thinking NSW, or are you just thinking Sydney?

One thing to be aware of:  although Sydney and Melbourne both have much smaller populations than London, they are both larger than London in square kilometres!  It takes over two hours to get from one side of the city to the other (if the traffic is good).  They're so sprawling because historically, our houses have been built on such large blocks.  So if you are thinking of living on the fringes of the city, think how far out of London you'd have to live, to find a 'horsey' area.  That's how far out of Sydney you'll have to live.  

Needless to say, those fringe areas of Sydney and Melbourne, just like the fringes of London, are very expensive, because they are very desirable to commuters.  You'll pay more for a nice home on the far fringes of Sydney, than you would for a nice home near the centre of a smaller, regional city. 

Many migrants have to come to Sydney, Melbourne and the other capital cities because that's where the office jobs are.  As a teacher, you're lucky -- you can live in a regional city while earning the same salary as if you were working in Sydney, and you'll be much better off because of the cheaper housing and more laidback lifestyle.  There are good private schools in regional areas too -- wealthy farmers have to send their kids somewhere.  For example, Armidale, a small university town in NSW, has no less than three prestigious private schools.   

2 hours ago, Dancha85 said:

But I guess like you say the first thing we need to look at is if we can get in. I’m going to speak with an immigration expert, but if we decide to try the 482 route then would need a destination to start applying. 

would you advise the best way would be a 482? I saw on other posts people saying teachers should go for a 190? It’s such a big can of worms, knowing where to start is very hard. 

If you were single, I'd say go for the 482.  With a family, you don't want the uncertainty or the disruption to your children's education, if it turns out to be a short-term adventure.  You'll need a lot of patience to go the permanent visa route, but it's a heck of a lot more sensible.

I would say, let the agent advise you whether to go for the 189 or the 190, though I suspect they'll say the 189 (which means you can get the ball rolling immediately, and then take all the time you need to research locations).  Suncoast Migration and Go Matilda are good agents to consider.

A few years ago, you needed very high points to stand a chance of getting a 189.  In the last couple of years we've seen several teachers get a grant with much lower points.  That's another advantage of using a good agent:  they have a much better idea of what's being granted at what level.  

Have you looked at taking the English test?   It's not compulsory for English-speaking applicants but you are allowed to take it, and that will boost your points.  

44 minutes ago, Msmit said:

i work in hospitality I've been here for 18 months and i am due to apply for 186 very soon, over the past 18 months 4 of the chefs i have worked with have received there 186, all have left within 3 months with no repercussions. some within weeks and ive heard of a couple previously who just stopped turning up. a few changed industries.

I'm sure you're right.  The downside of this, of course, is that those employers may never sponsor anyone for a 186 again.  They'll just keep hiring on 482s, with a promise of the 186 at the end, then pretend they've changed their mind.  After all, the 186 is a lot of work and expense for the employer, so why should they do it if there's a good chance the employee will p*** off as soon as they've got it?  

It's the same as the 'moral obligation' to stay in one state for the 190.  There's probably no repercussions for the person who does it, but it spoils the scheme for everyone else down the track.

4 hours ago, StevenP said:

 I have my 189 Grant and wanted to set up a bank account before coming over in November..... 2024 I am hoping it is more simple than this!

 

Actually, it's getting harder as the years go by,  not easier.  The reason is that money laundering and scams are so rampant now, and overseas accounts are a way for the perpetrators to hide their money.  So banks are more and more reluctant to give accounts to foreigners.

There's nothing to stop you buying a car with your British bank account/credit card.   If you're with a bank that doesn't do fee-free international transactions, change banks before you move. 

You're not going to get a mortgage immediately anyway, so looking at houses won't be an issue.

I hope you weren't thinking of closing your British accounts when you move, because you'll find they come in handy for the long term (UK holidays, gifts to family).  Also there's no equivalent to an ISA in Australia so if you've got some, keep them.

7 hours ago, Dancha85 said:

so far we are thinking NSW, north Sydney. This looks to suit our lifestyle outside of work, we have horses.

  I'm not sure Sydney is the right place for a horsey person, frankly.   I assume you mean the far outer north suburbs of Sydney, but then you're setting yourself up for a miserable commute.  Also, Sydney housing is literally double the price of every other city in Australia except Melbourne:  so unless you have friends/family in Sydney, or you love a big-city lifestyle, I'd say it should be the last place you pick.     @Toots might be able to advise about the best places for horsey folk. 

7 hours ago, Dancha85 said:

Also, time of year, I think it suits us to move just after Xmas, so the start of the new term. Should I wait until sept ish to start looking/applying for jobs?

You can't get a job without a visa.  You have a choice: 

•  find an employer willing to sponsor you for a temporary visa (482), which is a faster process (but can still take several months).  The downside of this is that it is only temporary, and you still have to apply for a permanent visa at the end of it, with all the same hoops to jump through.  It's stressful, and if something goes wrong, you have to go home again.  
   
• Apply for a skilled visa (189 or 190), and then if you get the visa (which can take a year or more), decide whether to move to Australia without a job and then apply for jobs once you arrive (which is the most common approach), or try to secure a post from overseas (which will take longer as some employers are reluctant to hire from a distance).

I say "if" you get the visa, because it's a highly competitive process, like applying for a job. Before you can even apply, you have to be eligible.  Some British teaching qualifications are not acceptable, so you need to check that.  Age is an important factor (the older you get, the more points you lose, and 45 years old is the ceiling).  Then as I'm sure you know, thousands of applications are received every year, and only hundreds are chosen.  You're lucky to have a skill that's so much in demand but you should still not count your chickens before they hatch.

36 minutes ago, Perthpops said:

We were advised by our agent to apply to more states? So we have done just that after initially just applying to WA. I’m so confused now? Is there anywhere online I can see the info it says to not apply for EOI on other states. 

It's not a rule, it's just something that experienced migration agents (like WRussell, who posted above) have observed.     The whole idea of state sponsorship is that they want people who will settle in that state for the long term.  They don't want to spend time and effort on people who won't stay.  As you know, there's a moral obligation to stay in your nominated state, but it's only a moral obligation, and far too many people are skipping off to another state immediately.  Naturally enough, the states are p***ed off about that.

Therefore, if there's a choice of applicants, they're always going to pick the applicant who's nominated just their state, because that shows a commitment to living there.  So I guess it really depends how much competition you think you're up against.

42 minutes ago, Azzie said:

1.) As we have activated the visa, does this mean we now have until XX Feb 2028 (the must not arrival after date) to relocate?

Yes, that's right.

43 minutes ago, Azzie said:

2.) Assuming we leave it until late 2027 to relocate, my wife’s travel facility will expire on XX Feb 2028. Do you think we will have any issues with renewal of the travel facility at that point (i.e. obtaining a resident return visa) given the limited time we will have been living in Australia? 

The RRV won't be granted automatically, because she won't meet the residency requirements, but if you have moved lock stock and barrel to Australia, established a home (rented or bought), both have jobs, bank accounts etc, she will be able to demonstrate strong ties to Australia, so she shouldn't have any problems getting the RRV.  Because it'll be discretionary it will take longer to process, so it would be wise to allow plenty of time when you apply.  

2 hours ago, plato said:

 

Has anyone used Hoxton Capital Management? This group appear to be financial advisors re UK Pensions etc.

This company is not an impartial financial adviser. They're an investment company and they want you to give them your money to invest in their products.  

5 hours ago, Streetyx3 said:

From what we've been told from various agencies, this would allow us to gain the points required over the 2 years to then gain PR. So yes, I know that, thanks. 

Ah, that makes sense. If you're sure that you meet all the current criteria for a 189 visa and you're just short of points, then getting the 482 is one way to get those extra points.  

How many points do you have currently?   As Bendigoboy says, delaying your PR application is always a risk, because rules change all the time.  We've had plenty of members who've taken a 482 and then found, by the time they're eligible to apply for PR, their occupation is no longer eligible (or their employer isn't willing to put them forward).    So I'd be checking that there's no other way to get your points up - have you done the English test, for instance?  

5 hours ago, Streetyx3 said:

Hi, thanks for the advice. However it does seem that the 482 pathway to PR is now an option: 

https://ethosmigration.com.au/tss-482-visa-permanent-residency-pathway-confirmed/#:~:text=This means that all TSS,a pathway to permanent residency.

 

I think you're misunderstanding.  Yes, there is a pathway from the 482 to permanent residency, BUT you still need to be eligible for permanent residency under the usual rules. So I'd check that if I were you.

On 22/02/2024 at 18:39, Streetyx3 said:

Hi All, 

Apologies if this has been covered off before, we're looking to move to Oz and it seems that I would need to go down the sponsored 482 visa route.

Seek.com.au will give you all the roles that are advertised in Australia.   Of course, not all roles are advertised, but you can look at which recruitment agencies are in that field, and try contacting them direct. 

LinkedIn is a good place to try making connections.

I hope you're aware that the 482 will only give you an adventure in Australia for a few years.  If your qualifications and experience don't make you eligible to apply for a permanent visa from the UK, there is no additional pathway that opens up once you're in Australia.

36 minutes ago, LaurenUK said:

My mother in law is currently here on 173 and waiting on her 143. 

We received notification of her queue date - 06 NOV 2018. 

Does anyone have an idea on what the timeline on on visa processing or grant would be from here?

From the Go Matilda calculator:

Month  November 

Year  2018

Get Estimate

12 hours ago, TheGrahams said:

What bank was she with? Just been speaking to nationwide on the live chat and they are adamant they will send a cheque in GBP and there is no other way!

Can't your child endorse the cheque to you or someone else with a UK bank account?   

58 minutes ago, Kieran Leahy said:

Thanks for advice Kim. Likewise, I’ll give it a few more months and look into that IELTs idea. 

You're mad not to do the English test.  The more points, the better your chances so it's a no-brainer.

1 hour ago, BendigoBoy said:

Honestly?  Depends on the build of your house.  A small outlay on decent loft insulation, and the beauty of the front and rear verandahs, I haven't needed the air con on at all for the last couple of months.  It's never been above 26C inside.

It also depends on what kind of lifestyle you lead. If you're an indoor person, then as you say, you just have to set up your house appropriately.   If you enjoy lots of outdoor activities, you'll find Bendigo too trying, IF you can't handle the heat.  But then again, there are people who don't mind the heat and they'd have no problem enjoying an outdoor life there.  Thank goodness we're all different!

On 06/02/2024 at 20:15, palaceboy1 said:

But it wasn,t it was UBank and the ATO have many instances . 

How do you know the ATO have many instances?  Because one person on an email, or the end of a phone, said so (which was probably just an excuse)?  Or because you've seen an article or report?  

9 minutes ago, Kramvi said:

i am a New Zealand Citizen and arrived here as a permanent resident in Australia....  During this period am I eligible to sponsor my partner ....

You can't apply for the partner sponsorship like an Australian citizen. You need to apply for a 461 visa for your partner.   

To get the visa, you need to be in a de facto relationship, which means you need to be in a relationship that is the equivalent of marriage, and you will have to prove that with documentation.  It is harder to prove when you're living apart, but certainly not impossible (after all, many married couples have to live apart for work or family reasons, too).  Inevitably, Immigration will be more suspicious of a couple who aren't living together so you'll need to dot every i and cross every t. 

I would suggest getting a good migration agent to help you with the application, because they can advise on the best way to put the application together.  Suncoast Migration or Go Matilda are very helpful on these forums so I'd give one of them a try.

1 hour ago, TheGrahams said:

Yes, the cheque converting bank sounds best but my concern is my youngest still has 2 years to wait and the likelihood of cheques even being a thing then is slim ....

but if that's the case, then the issuing bank will probably have caught up with the rest of the world by then, and be able to transfer the proceeds by electronic transfer!

28 minutes ago, TheGrahams said:

I'm not sure if this is possible as they are not UK residents. 

I meant a HSBC Australia bank account which is multi-currency.  However I am assuming they would accept a sterling cheque into their sterling account and maybe they wouldn't.  

It does sound like the solution is to find a bank in Australia which still accepts foreign cheques, and get the kids to open accounts with that bank.  

The other option is for Granny to go back to the bank and ask them why they are so antiquated that they can't send the money electronically instead of giving her a cheque.

12 minutes ago, BendigoBoy said:

Don't be so hasty.  There are some lovely little 3 beds on not unreasonable 650sqm blocks up here in Bendigo going for the $525-550k region.

It's $10.60 return on the train to Southern Cross, and that's less than 2 hours each way.

Edited to note: apologies if you meant 2 hours in total.  I read it as 2 hours each direction.

 I did mean 2 hours each direction.  Good to know that Bendigo is still affordable.  

I agree with BendigoBoy, the first thing to do is, decide where you want to settle.  Then research house prices in your chosen location.  Housing affordability is a massive issue in Australia at the moment.

I would forget Melbourne or anything within 2 hours' commute of the city.  House prices are so high that people are moving further and further out, to Geelong and Ballarat and Bendigo and all the smaller towns in between, and pushing those prices up too.  Ditto Sydney.   Your money will go a lot further in Queensland, South Australia or Tasmania (I recall you didn't want to return to WA).  

Of course, if weather is your main concern, then you need to consider that too.  Tassie might not suit you -- it's still warmer and drier than most of the UK, but most Australians see it as too cold.