Simonrbh

Hi All We've just returned from a 3 week holiday to see family and do a recce before moving over to QLD in Sept/Oct. We will be in the North Brisbane area, with family initially and then rent or buy somewhere between Redcliffe/Scarborough area and as far up as Glass House Mountains (Limits for commuting with work). It's the first time I'd been over since 2010 and then I didn't bother with smart phones or tablets/iPads. Now I have both, plus taking over our desktop and laptop, I'm interested in what it costs for internet packages. With family still in the UK it's going to be really important to us to be able to use the likes of Skype and FaceTime! Can anyone give advice? I was also disappointed to discover that free public wi-fi in the likes of shopping malls, coffee shops, bars etc seems to be virtually non-existent compared to the UK. Why is this? Is it right that the more rural you are the slower your internet is likely to be and less likely to be able to get fibre optic super fast connection?

Hi dmjg Thanks for the info, I think I mentioned the 2 year timeframe in another earlier post. I'm not sure where I got that from, I think it's from what I've read on postings somewhere on here!

Snifter, thanks for the reply and advice. I agree with what Rupert and yourself say about sorting some stuff out when we are over and we will do most of it when we move permanently. The idea of doing some research whilst we are here now is that if we come across any issues we know what they are and can put, or plan to put, actions in place. Wendy has discovered she needs to do quite a bit form filling to re activate her Medicare so it's been worthwhile is some ways. Also, getting Aussie licences, even if just for ID purposes seems a good idea as it save having to have our passports with us all the time. It's great to have help from everyone. As you guys have experienced this sort of stuff it makes it a lot easier for us to get clear information. Wendy hasn't lived here for over 12 years so a lot has changed in that time and I can't sing the praises enough with all the helpful advice and comments from people on here, to questions I've asked so far. I'm sure I'll have plenty more over the coming months!

Skippy, thanks for the advice. I've checked NMRA and their quote seems really good. Wendy needs the car for when she's back here in late July so it seems to make sense to get it now as it's only a matter of weeks before she's back.........and it seemed to be a bargin!

Rupert, Thanks for the advice and taking the time to reply whilst you're on your mobile. It's very much appreciated as I wasn't aware of the age loading on the private health option! With Wendy being a returning Aussie and her job being close to where she was brought up and I've been here 12 times, its a bit easier for us than your usual movers, I imagine. Wendy can have private health with BUPA through work so we are going to look into that and get a quote. On your advice I'll leave he tax file application until I'm here after selling our house in the UK. With us having been together for 10 years I automatically got my temp residency visa grant ungraded on entry and officially became a permanent resident when we entered on Tuesday to activate my temp visa before the July deadline, just need to wait two years to become a citizen now! I've had a quick look in the weekend paper for jobs to get a feel for the market, but it looks like online is going to be the best option. We're doing the background bits whilst we are moving from one family member to the next and sharing ourselves around........a task in itself with 4 brothers and families, plus aunts, uncles and old uni friends! We've got a trip planned up to Maleny/Montville next weekend, so just like you've advised, we are having some time out to relax and enjoy. Thanks for the advice about NCB on the car insurance, I'll do some more research about it. I was quite surprised when I was sat in the Suncorp branch and she told me that. I even asked her if it was just Suncorp but she reckoned all insurers were going to do away with A1 status!

Hi everyone, Myself and my Aussie partner are moving to Brisbane shortly. My girlfriend moves in 12 weeks and I'll be over once I've sorted the house sale and removals......maybe late 2014! We are over in Brisbane for 3 weeks right now having a holiday and catching up with family. We are using this trip as a recce to sorted out Medicare, tax file numbers etc and look at getting a car. Does anyone have any advice about car insurance, seems pricey!? We've bought a car so we have one for when Wendy comes overs in 3 months. A Suncorp branch told me that none of our no claims bonus from the UK counted and wasn't transferable! So after 35 years of driving and maxing the NCB I'll be treated like a new driver and can't have A1 status?! Any other info on banks, Medicare/doctors, renting etc would also be great! Thanks in advance everyone. TTFN Simon.

Good luck mkeeno, I hope it all works out for you. I don't know how long you've been out in QLD but if you've been out of the UK for over the last 5 years I think you'll be shocked when you return, maybe not if you're going to be London based though! I've recently had my job outsourced after working for a huge multi-national for 23 years and jobs in North-West England are not easy to come by, so you're in a great position. I'm doing the opposite to you and giving Brisbane a chance, emigrating with my Aussie partner. She's been here 12 years now, so it only seems fair for me to give her the opportunity to see if Australia has more to offer than here in Cheshire and be close to family again after so long. She has a position commencing August and we have a 3 week recce coming up in a couple of weeks to do background stuff, validate my visa and see what job opportunities there are for myself as I've not visited since 2010!

Hi Chipperroz Myself and my Aussie partner are in the process of moving over. My partner has a position starting in Aug in Morayfield. We have a 3 week hol arranged for May to activate my visa, see family and do some initial background stuff like Medicare and Tax File Number applications, set up bank accounts etc. We've been looking at areas to settle, renting first, then buying in the next 12 months. Areas we like are Samford Valley, Narangba, Joyner, Cashmere and maybe Bribie Island. We like Dayboro as it's close to family but very pricey! Have you you found the process of selling up and moving from the UK easy? Lots to do! I hope it all goes smoothly for you. TTFN Si.

Received an email from my CO last week, visa granted with no conditions or restrictions....happy days! Just need to work out with my g/f where we are best to head to for jobs and house prices. We plan to have a recce trip early next year to see family and work out options,possibly QLD tobe close to family or VIC or WA.

Phoned my CO today as it's now two weeks since my police certificate was submitted and four weeks since my medical. The police check is fine but my medical has been referred to the panel doctors in Australia because of my pre-exisiting diabetes!

Strange, I thought there might be some members with personal experience to share! I've had a few replies from the posting in the Health Forum though so that's good. Thanks to people for their advice. Latest news is the police certificate was posted to the CO today!

Thanks for the info Snifter. We aren't in a rush for the visa to be accepted as we 'fast track' to Permanent Residency status by virtue of the fact that we have lived together for more that 3 years. This gives us a 5 year window to sort out our affairs and move over, all I have to do is go through Australian Immigration within 12 months of the Temporary Residence being granted and the PR status will activate. Obviously this is as long as the medical and police checks are clear! With all the effort,time and money that applicants put in to get a visa it is great to have a forum like this where sharing of information can take place. Once the visa is granted then it will be a question of do we head to family in QLD or where job prospects are best? Decisions, decisions! The postings so far are re-assuring. I thought I might of had a post from a member who was type 2 and had similar personal experience to myself. I've done a search and read some postings from type 1 scenarios.

Hi Rupert Thanks for your help. I'm waiting to hear from my CO and will take it from there. I should also get my ACPO check back this week too.

Hi Bertie Thanks for your reply. The question I'm asking is if the results would be grounds for turning down my visa application or if further enquiries would be necessary before a decision is finalised? I have presented myself at the medical as a type 2 diabetic who controls the condition by diet and exercise alone, no medication. Whilst on holiday, like most people I'd have a couple of beers with my evening meal, maybe three at the most. I also try and eat low GI food types if possible, these are slower at releasing their sugar content that other foods, but on holiday I didn't bother that much. At home, I work shifts so my free time is limited and may have no beer or at the most 4-5 pints during the week. So my feeling is that the holiday and then the following week of having surgery followed by a month of inactivity, will have contributed to the readings being every so slightly above the norm. Some family members have said to contact the case officer and explain the circumstances but I don't know if it will be a problem yet so don't see the need to explain that if it is not going to be an issue. That being said, what I don't want to happen is to be rejected and then find out that I could have explained the results to the case officer's satisfaction. Without knowing the process, who the medical goes to and how it is interpreted at Australia House, it is worrying that a true picture is not evident. It could be that I may be asked to have further tests, get a specialist report, I just don't know! Hence my reason for seeking help on this forum. Once again thanks for your assistance and good luck if you have also applied to emigrate.

Hi All I live in the UK with my Aussie g/f of the last nine years. We have had a house together for the last 5 years. My visa application was submitted late Dec '12. I have applied for a Partner Migration visa (309/100Class). I have just had my medical this week (12th July) and I'm awaiting the ACPO police check to come back. I was diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic 2 years a go and have controlled my condition with diet and exercise since then with no medication. I had my HbA1c results from my annual check at the GP's in May and that gave a result of 5.7. I was originally scheduled to have the medical in June but the hospital had to reschedule it and this means that the blood results from my GP check in May were not valid. Has anyone got advice on how the following results of my blood tests from my medical will be interpreted? Am I likely to have issues? I've just had two weeks holiday followed by a month of inactivity after in-growing toenail surgery, this has contributed to the readings being elevated. I had brunch an hour before seeing the doc. The figures on the left of each line with the asterisk are the test results and on right of each line is what I am assuming is the accepted benchmark as determined by whoever, the hospital or Australian Immigration. Thanks in advance. [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD]BIOCHEMISTRY[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]CREATININE[/TD] [TD]83[/TD] [TD]umol/L[/TD] [TD]66 - 112[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD]BLOOD GLUCOSE (SST)[/TD] [TD]* 9.0[/TD] [TD]mmol/l[/TD] [TD]3.5 - 7.9[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD]Haemoglobin A1c[/TD] [TD]* 6.1[/TD] [TD]%[/TD] [TD]4.0 - 6.0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD]HbA1c (mmol/mol)[/TD] [TD]* 43[/TD] [TD]mmol/mol[/TD] [TD]20 - 42[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]Note new units. IFCC standardised results[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]28th May 2010.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD=colspan: 5][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]ENDOCRINOLOGY[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HIV 1 & 2 / P24 Ag screen[/TD] [TD=class: cms_table_reportBody, colspan: 3]Not detected[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]Combination testing of HIV-1 and -2 antibodies[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]and HIV p24 antigen, allows for earlier[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE=class: cms_table] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]detection of HIV infection.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

Hi All I live in the UK with my Aussie g/f of the last nine years. We have had a house together for the last 5 years. My visa application was submitted late Dec '12. I have applied for a Partner Migration visa (309/100Class). I have just had my medical this week (12th July) and I'm awaiting the ACPO police check to come back. I was diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic 2 years a go and have controlled my condition with diet and exercise since then with no medication. I had my HbA1c results from my annual check at the GP's in May and that gave a result of 5.7. I was originally scheduled to have the medical in June but the hospital had to reschedule it and this means that the blood results from my GP check in May were not valid. Has anyone got advice on how the following results of my blood tests from my medical will be interpreted? Am I likely to have issues? I've just had two weeks holiday followed by a month of inactivity after in-growing toenail surgery, this has contributed to the readings being elevated. I had brunch an hour before seeing the doc. The figures on the left of each line with the asterisk are the test results and on right of each line is what I am assuming is the accepted benchmark as determined by whoever, the hospital or Australian Immigration. Thanks in advance. [TABLE] [TR] [TD]BIOCHEMISTRY[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]CREATININE[/TD] [TD]83[/TD] [TD]umol/L[/TD] [TD]66 - 112[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD]BLOOD GLUCOSE (SST)[/TD] [TD]* 9.0[/TD] [TD]mmol/l[/TD] [TD]3.5 - 7.9[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD]Haemoglobin A1c[/TD] [TD]* 6.1[/TD] [TD]%[/TD] [TD]4.0 - 6.0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD]HbA1c (mmol/mol)[/TD] [TD]* 43[/TD] [TD]mmol/mol[/TD] [TD]20 - 42[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]Note new units. IFCC standardised results[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]28th May 2010.[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD=colspan: 5][/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]ENDOCRINOLOGY[/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HIV 1 & 2 / P24 Ag screen[/TD] [TD=class: reportBody, colspan: 3]Not detected[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]Combination testing of HIV-1 and -2 antibodies[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]and HIV p24 antigen, allows for earlier[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE] [TR] [TD][/TD] [TD=colspan: 3]detection of HIV infection. [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]