Marisawright

Hi Marisawright,

 

As per my post to Sooperlids its Santander. Yes there are some offering up to 6% but you're right they often only allow you to put 2k in them. You can get 60k in Santander at least if its proceeds of a house which is at least something but I know many people don't want to split their money up although technically its safer that way, isn't it only 80k per bank that's protected if something goes horribly wrong?

 

In Australia, the bank guarantee is $250,000 so you're safe up to that limit.

Hi All............I moved from Sydney to Andalucía so if I can help anyone with anything please just ask...........I don't know it all but I have certainly learnt a lot:wink:

Whereabouts in Andalucia? We've moved to the UK for various reasons but are not settling. I think moving to either Spain or Italy would be our ideal solution - still within reach of family but not in the UK - but my oh is very worried about the language barrier. We've thought about moving to an area with a big British community but a lot of them sound like Blackpool on the Med, not our kind of thing at all.

Thanks, do you know if parramatta has any sort of decent nightlife? I don't know how I am going to deal with travelling to the CBD for a good night out ha but it's for my work so the move needs to be done! Maybe a bit of quiet will do me good ha

If you have to live "out west" then Parramatta is the only suburb I would consider. The Western Suburbs are very family-oriented and a young couple would be bored to tears anywhere else. Parramatta's Church Street is one long line of pubs, restaurants, cafes and night clubs. It's not as trendy as the inner west suburbs, but there's plenty going on. There is a rough element late on Friday and Saturday nights, but that's pretty normal anywhere these days, I think.

Thanks Petals, we were thinking of something less formal than teaching in the school system, more like informal lessons for adults and children outside of school.

I looked into this because we considered moving to Spain or Italy. While it can be done, it's very badly paid in Spain. As you know, there are loads of Brits moving to Spain all the time, and for many, teaching English is the first money-making idea that springs to mind. So competition is fierce and people are offering personal tuition for peanuts. The language schools demand a qualification, but even they are spoilt for applicants and expect long hours for low pay.

So, it could be a good pin-money option but it's not good enough to be relied on as a proper wage.

The good thing is that if you're moving from Sydney, you'll find the house prices are dramatically cheaper. So you should have a comfortable cushion from your home sale. Living costs are noticeably cheaper as well so you won't need as much income.

Sooperlids and marisawright, when you say higher, how much are you talking? I have money with nab in Oz but the interest rate is less than 2% I think, I can't easily move it I don't think either, not whilst I'm in the UK. Our money in the UK is getting 3% and is easy access, I wasn't expecting to achieve as much in Oz when we move next year so it would be great so know if it may be possible and with whom. thanks in advance.

What kind of account are you getting 3% on? I've seen some good interest offers on easy-access accounts in the UK, but usually they have an upper limit, so you wouldn't get anywhere near that on a large amount, like the proceeds of your house.

You would have to put your money in an online savings account to get that kind of interest in Australia - but it's easy to transfer the money in and out of your current account online or on your phone. And unlike the UK, you generally earn HIGHER interest the more you put in. You might do even better if you're planning to wait six or twelve months before buying a house in Oz, because you could put your money in a term deposit (and again, the more you invest the higher the interest rate).

You can compare them here:

http://www.infochoice.com.au/banking/savings-account.aspx

Of course, you can't open any of these accounts until you get to Oz, so you'd need to transfer the money to Moneycorp as a temporary measure.

I'm glad this thread is here as I'm glad I'm not the only one who isn't in love with Oz.

I moved here thinking, VERYYY naively that it was "Home and Away"...I couldn't be more wrong. But its an experience none the less!

I miss my life in the UK. Id even go as far as Ebaying my first born to wake up on a cold morning! ;)I certainly wouldn't knock anyone who moves here and loves it or hates it.

 

Of course it's nothing like Home and Away, that's set in a different state hundreds of miles away! I lived in Sydney (where Home and Away is filmed) and loved it, but I wouldn't move to Darwin for any money. It's a completely different culture and lifestyle and it just wouldn't suit me, I'd be miserable.

It's a shame that so many migrants think such a huge country is exactly the same all over. After all, if I said to you, "I love Coronation Street so I'm moving to the UK and I've found a flat in Surbiton", wouldn't you point out that different areas of England have different kinds of people and different cultures.

That's why I am so picky when people post and say "I hate Australia" or "Australian landlords are bad" etc - because they DON'T mean Australia, they just mean the city or state they're living in - and I wish they would say that, so people get the message that all of Oz is NOT the same. The different states are very different in weather, culture, even some of the laws.

I know several people who lived happily in Sydney, moved to Perth and loathed it - and vice versa! Which just goes to show it's all about personal taste, not about some cities being nice and some not.

Personally I would not pay the extra NIC as you will loose from your Centrelink pension if you are entitled to one Plus once you claim your UK pension it's frozen if you are living in Oz there are no annual increases for cost of living index

That makes sense on the surface, but a lot depends on your financial situation. In my case, I have enough assets that I won't be entitled to much Aussie pension for several years after retirement age. Whereas I will get my UK pension from the moment I reach that age. So even in those few years, I will get enough UK pension to make it worth paying the extra.

I've heard that it's possible to claim NIC credit for years worked in Aus prior to 2001 (not sure if I've got the year correct) due to the two way agreement at the time. Does anyone know how to apply this? I have a statement from National Insurance and no allowance has been made for these years.

You can only claim your Australian years if you are living permanently in the UK.

So...both SA and NT have financial requirements.... But NT don't require us to meet them if he goes from WHV to 190 (I think).... According to that screenshot I put on before....

 

Not sure what you mean - a WHV doesn't exempt you from anything, in fact Immigration takes a very dim view of people who try to use a WHV as a "back door" way of getting a visa (something your oh needs to remember if he gets questioned on arrival - if he admits he's trying to get work with a view to staying permanently, he'll be put back on the next plane!).

If you mean that having the 6 months' regional work will exempt him from the financial requirement, I'm not sure about that for either state. The financial requirement for SA is less (about $35,000 for a family compared to $65,000 for the NT).

I may be offline for a while as I'm off to my sister's place in a couple of hours. I do think it would be worth posting in the Migration section if you have any further questions about the in's and out's of the various visas in different states - there are far more knowledgeable people than me here, and they may have some inside knowledge they can share. There are agents here too who can help - don't worry, they will not hassle you for business or anything, they're not allowed to do that!

Mrandmrsh

 

Yes we did all of the above, but several people were going for each property. The agents said without a job they weren't interested in our applications. We even offered to pay the 6 maths rental up front!!

Yes but you're not in the country yet. Most agents won't let to you unless you or a nominated representative have viewed the property. The person you replied to was talking about what you can do after you arrive

Right...so then we'd still need to meet the financial requirements for SA to get 190 though am I right? X

It used to be less than NT for a family

I think his skill is only on the supplementary skills list for SA which has conditions /requirements attached x

Yes, he needs to have held a job for 6 months in a regional area.

Isn't it because his skill would need to be on the sponsorship list whereas it isn't on many?....I'm just waffling on here....I really need to check everything over again.

I apologise Marisa, im just bamboozled right now I need to get it all clear on paper...

His skills are on the CSOL, which applies to the whole country. Then the states decide whether they want to offer state sponsorship. He can only get STATE sponsorship in the NT, SA or Tasmania. But the 186 visa is not tied to any state, at least as far as I can see - just to an employer. But to reiterate - I'm no expert!

:laugh::laugh:

I'm not much help to myself at the moment am I?!

Don't worry, like I said the whole thing is extremely confusing at the best of times. A lot of people would've given up by now, you're trying to emigrate via a fairly convoluted route with no guarantees so of course it's going to be tough.

I do think you're entitled to ask him to summarise WHY he's recommending the NT as opposed to South Australia and Tasmania, both of which appear to offer 489/190 as a backup, very similar to the NT.

I once had a very good accountant and he was great at answering my questions, but he had a bad habit of doing just that - answering my questions, but never putting it altogether in a nice, easy to understand table so I could get my head around it. Sometimes these knowledgeable people know too much and expect you to just "get" it!

Very probably Marisa yes, we also won't have the funds required for some other states, we will have money to take just not as much as most require. If he gets NT 186 it negates the need for funds, and I did ask about Perth as a possibility but I know he said along the lines of NT being a good bet.x

If he gets a 186 it negates the need for funds anywhere, and a 186 is not tied to any state, he could get it anywhere he can find an employer who'd sponsor him. So I'd say he is basing it on the state that would have the best demand for his skills. Which takes us back to your original question!

He may also be thinking that if the 186 fails, at least in the NT there is the chance to apply for a 489 or 190. But that applies in South Australia too I think.

I think it's that he could get 186 straight away without the strings that would usually be attached (or 457).

I'm going to go back through my emails as he has already explained everything- it's me at fault, I've just really got lost in it all.

Thanks x

Not your fault at all, it's all very bewildering isn't it? I'm not at all familiar with the 186 visa, but looking at the immi site, I can't see anything that says it's only available in certain states:

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/186-

So presumably it's just that the agent feels his best chance of finding an employer would be in the NT.

I already have a great agent Marisa. I've just gotten myself lost in all the questions I've asked him and avenues I've suggested... The answers are all in my emails so I'm going to go back over them.

He has told me NT is a most viable option so really I should probably go with his advice or I'd be mad xx

At the very least, I'd be going back and asking him to explain again, HOW the pathway to PR would work if your OH goes to the Northern Territory, i.e.

1. Would he be able to qualify for a 489 or 190 straight from the WHV, or would he have to get a 457 (employer sponsored) visa for a few years first? If he had to get a 457, what entitlements would you be able to get as a family and what extra costs would you be up for?

2. If he could only get a 489, what areas of the NT would you be allowed to live in exactly (so you can look them up and see whether they'd be practical for your family to live there)

Agents know it's complicated, having narrowed it down to the NT it's not unreasonable for you to ask him to summarise the situation for you, just to make sure you've got it all right.

Some cities have something spectacular to catch the eye, Harbour Bridge and Opera House perhaps!? Although when I think of Sydney it's often the terrace houses of the inner city suburbs or one of my favourite beaches. You have to live in a place for a while and hopefully get a sense of "belonging."

But we're talking to someone who's here on a WHV. The last thing she needs is to feel a sense of belonging, because that might prevent her moving on and seeing the rest of the country!

Umm.. Well I did like Fremantle but probably not as much as I was expecting. Its nice though, its got some nice buildings. I hope somewhere I go really does gobsmack me lol. Probably be somewhere like Whitsundays

I don't know why you expect cities to gobsmack you at all. As you commented about Sydney, a city centre is a city centre all over the world. Some are prettier than others, some have a better vibe than others, some have a water frontage with trendy cafes etc, but they're all still just built-up areas in the end.

I say that as someone who loves living in cities, got nothing against them - but you don't sound like a city person, so it bemuses me why you expect to like them.

So I had another one today and hand on heart, I did ask why I didn't get it and he said....."belly laugh".....because i couldn't pronounce FANTA properly and it might confuse people.

 

So, it does sound like it's the accent. That's not being racist - it's just the shop owner considering his customers. Like I said, my Aussie husband can barely understand the regional presenters on UK daytime TV, and they've toned down their accents a lot already. Australians don't grow up with regional accents so they can't make head nor tail of them. The shopkeeper doesn't want his customers going elsewhere because they can't understand the staff.

Getting a ABN costs nothing.

https://abr.gov.au/for-business,-super-funds---charities/applying-for-an-abn/apply-for-an-abn/

I'm just worried about what you're setting yourself up for. He's going on a WHV - that's a year. Then if I'm wrong about South Australia (or if he can't get six months' work in regional SA), he will have to find an employer to sponsor him for a 457. A 457 is just a temp job - it will be a fixed term contract, and in some states that means you'll get no family benefits, you'll have to pay school fees and you'll only get limited medical benefits. On top of that, if his employer suddenly has a restructure (and government depts have cutbacks in Oz too, just like the UK!), if he loses his job then you have a limited time to leave the country or find another 457 sponsor. So you'd still be living with uncertainty and extra costs for a year or two, until the employer will sponsor him for PR.

That seems like a lot to put a family through - especially if it will all be in a remote place, which is possible in the Northern Territory if your only avenue to PR is a Regional visa. The outback has a raw beauty but it is a tough life, desert and snakes and spiders!

Thanks Marisa, I think originally tje reason we decided on NT was if he got a job he could try and get ENS or 457 and not have to fulfill the strings attached to ENS usually... Advised by our agent... As he already has positive skills assessment, ielts xx

I need to reascertain what the hell we're doing my bloody head is in the shed.

Thanks so much for your help it's great thanks x

It's true that if he can get a 457 visa, then his employer can sponsor him for PR in due course without needing to do skills assessment etc - BUT the occupation still has to be on the list and he still has to fulfil the state's criteria, as far as I know.

I think it would be a good idea to post a question under "Migration Issues", asking what visa your oh could apply for and what states would sponsor him for a 190 visa IF he could get a job under a WHV. That way, it's more likely one of the MARA registered agents on these forums will give you expert advice.

How do I search for 'youth worker' on that list Marisa? It won't allow me to.....?...he has positive skills assessment as Youth Worker xx

Do you mean the first link I gave you or the second?

The first link, the search is already done - just scroll down the page.

The second link (South Australia) - click on the "Supplementary Skilled List" tab. Then scroll down to 41 - Health & Welfare Support Workers and click on it, it will open up and you'll see Youth Worker is listed, which means it's eligible if he can meet this criteria:

http://www.migration.sa.gov.au/skilled-migrants/nomination-process/skilled-nomination-requirements/currently-working-in-south-australia

I'm not an expert so I may be missing something, but that looks like it would be reasonably achievable. Even if he couldn't get approved based on work during the WHV, he could get employer sponsored and then apply for PR after 6 or 12 months.

Bottom line, there is simply no point in him going to NSW, Queensland, Western Australia or the ACT because even if he could find employer sponsorship, there is NO pathway for that to lead to permanent residency on those states. Unless I'm reading it wrong, I think NT would be off the list too - because unless you're prepared to work in the outback for two years (which is very tough for a family), you can't get PR there either.

Yeah I did have that in mind, how common is it for Australian companies to sponsor English workers? I'm far from work shy, currently working 70 ish hours a week, and very motivated in the job i do

IF your occupation is eligible for sponsorship, and you've already demonstrated your skills by working for them on a WHV, then you'd be in with a good chance. But you need to check whether your occupation is even eligible for migration, because otherwise it's all pointless.

Many thanks for all taking the time to respond. You've all given me something to think about.

I think we're all guilty at some point of thinking the grass is greener. :-) x

Definitely the case! I think it's particularly true when you think of Australia, because in the not-so-distance past, the grass was certainly greener in Oz. When I arrived in Australia 30 years ago, jobs were there for the taking (I applied for three jobs and got offered all three), housing was cheap, pay was high - bliss! In the last ten years or so, things have slowly changed - to the point that one of the reasons I'm back in the UK was that I simply can't afford to live in Sydney in my retirement.

Don't get me wrong, it is still a lovely country and I loved living there - but nowadays I wouldn't say it's necessarily a better life in Oz, it's just a different life. Some people love it, some people hate it. The main thing is not to imagine that it's cushioned away from life in the big wide world - there are drugs and racial problems and poverty just like any other Western country, no worse no better. So if you're going to move, move because you can see Australia offers you benefits - don't move because you're running away from something.