Marisawright

@Dancha85, if you're set on being close to comps in Sydney, then I'd recommend concentrating your search around Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Good schools, beautiful beaches, housing is half the price of Sydney for an equivalent property, and Sydney is only two hours' drive away. Fifty years ago, Newcastle was a rough, working-class city and a lot of Australians (especially Sydneysiders) still think of it like that. Like any big city, it does have its run-down areas, but nowadays it's transformed and has some lovely neighbourhoods. I used to work with two executives who got transferred to Sydney from our Newcastle office. They commuted all the way from Newcastle to Sydney every day, because they didn't want to move their family to Sydney. They felt Newcastle was a much better, safer place to bring up their kids.

If you are going for the 189/190 visa, there's no point in applying for any jobs until you have the visa grant. Until you've actually got the visa in your hand, you can't have any idea of timelines, because delays can occur at any point in the process. Employers are well aware of that, so they're not going to look at you. That's normal in many states. The Education Department will offer you a job on condition that you go wherever they send you. Not surprisingly, that means you're likely to end up with the postings that no Australian teacher will accept. I wouldn't recommend you taking that kind of offer, because you could find yourself in a remote location where there are no suitable schools for your children, or work for your partner. You may find yourself in a rough school and with an unsatisfying role, too.

It could be a bit more difficult for your wife while you're on a 482. Employers know the visa is only temporary, and obviously they'd prefer to hire employees who'll be around for the long term. While you might have every intention of applying for permanency and staying for good, employers things don't always work out.

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

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Yes, that's right. 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

From the Go Matilda calculator: Month November Year 2018 Get Estimate Visa application is estimated to be processed in: 55.6 months Estimated processed around: September 2028

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

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

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!

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?

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.

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!