solihullsue

That's great news! Really pleased for her as it did sound like she'd had a crap time with her UK school. I finish teaching on 20th December - on the count down now! I start my new job in January - we're moving out on January 17th! The school has said we can stay at their boarding house until the pupils start back at the end of January - we'll be hitting the road running to secure a house to rent and get our son into Mount Waverly school! I totally agree that there has been too many negative posts about securing a job. Having VIT is a must, along with determination. The teaching agency that I had signed up for didn't help me secure this job so I would recommend teachers applying themselves!

Thanks - I thought as much, but I think I just needed extra reassurance that I wasn't up rooting everyone for no reason )

You know when you wake at silly O'clock and your mind goes into overdrive? That's when I start to panic! My husband, son and myself have PR visas. I was told (by a few people - the Visa Bureau being one so I'm sure it's right!) that all we had to do to validate our PR visa was to get our passports stamped at Australian passport control. Now... we have done that. I don't know whether I thought we'd have more than just a stamp in our passport or someone actually saying "welcome, your PR visa has been validated", but ... Can someone just reassure me that we're not going to arrive in Melbourne in January (when I start a new job) for them to say that we needed to have had something else done with the visa or our passports, therefore 'bounce us' saying we actually aren't residence and the visa is worthless! I think it's having the shipping companies coming to quote that has sparked doubts. Much appreciated for a decent nights sleep!

Hey can anyone fill me in with regards to how car tax works in Australia? Thanks S

We have had our PR visas granted (skilled migrant 175) and are coming over to validate our visas in August. When we do move over for good - how long do I get before I MUST secure a full time position? I'm a teacher and it's through my career that we have gained the visas. I'm concerned that we move over and if I can't get a full time position, our visas will be void - meaning we'd have to move back ( I think I have 12 months, but I'm not totally sure. Any ideas? Thanks in advance S

I think this is a silly question, but need reasurance more than anything. We have been granted PR visas and are coming over to Victoria in August to validate them. I'm sure we don't need a tourist visa as we have our PR visas, but can I get this confirmed? Thanks S

We are looking to move in the next 9 months. My husband's pride and joy is the 1982 mini he built with his brother. It's currently not road worthy (although this can easily be sorted). He's said he'd sell it if the costs to ship are too high, but does anyone have any idea about shipping a car - possibly with our household container? What are the implications with Australian laws regarding road worthiness, tax and insurance? I'd love to be able to say that we can bring his 'baby' with us as I'm sure it will help him settle! (you know boys and their toys!!!!) Any advice is much appreciated S

Hi We've been told one year. We are going over to Melbourne in August to validate ours. S

Hi I'm looking at high school. I've been granted my PR visa and am hoping to move over soon!

Hi, I'm trying to get organised and looking at teaching posibilities. Geelong has come up as a possible location, but as my research for places to live has focused on Melbourne, I know nothing about Geelong. As our PR visa has been granted, my family (OH and 12 year son) are aiming to move out soon. Any thoughts appreciated! Cheers S

Thanks, but unfortunately I don't have a letting agent here in the UK as I own my house - I know friends in the UK hoping to rent have got references from work, is that something I should consider do yuo think? S

Hi I'm trying to get as organised as possible. I'm aware that I need references to add to an application pack when we start looking for a rental, but can these nominated people be from the UK? Is it two people (work and personal)? Cheers S

Thanks Petals - that was really useful. I hadn't really considered being near the beach as I assumed the properties would be more expensive. It's worth me having a look for sure! Cheers S

Hey BB! I'm guessing that these areas are not going to be cheap, but are they really that pricey? The reason I've not really looked at Bayside is because I assumed (maybe wrongly) that being bayside would be more expensive? S

I've been doing some research on different family orinatated suburbs (my son's 12). I've tried to look for good transport to CBD, secondary schools, property prices and general vibe: Here's a list of places: Box Hill Brunswick Coburg Clifton Hill Doncaster Fairfield Ivanhoe Northcote Preston Glen Waverley Mount Waverley Burwood Ringwood Any opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. S

I've been doing some research on different family orinatated suburbs (my son's 12). I've tried to look for good transport to CBD, secondary schools, property prices and general vibe: Here's a list of places: Box Hill Brunswick Coburg Clifton Hill Doncaster Fairfield Ivanhoe Northcote Preston Glen Waverley Mount Waverley Burwood Ringwood Any opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. S

Thanks Matt! We're going for a recci in the summer (unless I can secure a job before hand!) Very excited.

Hi, For my skilled migration visa I had to score 8 out of 9 on each module to get the points I needed. I did think it a farce having to do the test (considering I'm a secondary school English teacher) but needs must! Make sure you have a look at the practice tests online before you go. Don't get too stressed if you have a go at the practice tests and don't do too well. It's different actutally writing your answers instead of doing them online. Don't take anything of value with you when you sit the tests, but if your speaking test is the same day, take something to read as you may be sat around for a while. Hope this helps

Hi Vanessa It still feels like a dream to be honest. My husband is a test engineer and is concerned about work prospects, which is why I think living in Melbourne would be ideal. I've signed up to teaching agencies and have started to get my CV in the system, but can't work as a teacher until my licence from the Victoria Teaching Institiute has been granted. My head's spinning with the different suburbs to look at, that's why we're going over for a recci! We have to activate the visa before September, then have 5 years to emigrate, but I'd like to get out there before that and settle my 12 year old in a school before important exam years start. If I get a job before the visa is activated - we're off! Have you checked out work for paramedics? I would have thought it would be straight forward to register?

After the medicals it was only a few months before the visa was granted. It moved a lot quicker than expected as my agent said it could be 6 - 9 months! In reality, the final visa apllication went in June 2012, medicals completed and visa granted by the end of September!

Hi, hoping to activate it this year, with a move in early 2014. My visa is a skilled migrant one, which took pretty much 18 months to sort and a lot of cash! Being a permanent visa, we're in it for the long haul. I've started applying for teaching jobs and ideally will secure a job before 2014.

Hey! We're coming over to activate our visa soon and need to check out areas to live. Thinking of East Melbourne. I've got a 12 year old and a husband who needs to be a within communiting distance from the city. We'd like to be near a good school, shops and outside space. Any suggestions?

Hi. We've had our permanent residency visa granted! Whoop!! Looking at starting a new life in Melbourne.

I'm new to the site and having had our permanant resdiency visa granted, we're looking at possible locations to move to in East Melbourne. Our son is 12 so we're looking for a place (to rent initally) that is near a good school, family/teen friendly and has good amenitites. Any ideas greatly appreciated!