BimbleBee

I wasn't sure where to put this thread but it's a simple enough question. In our new Aussie town full of KMart and Best for Less, I'm sorted for cheap basics but I'm missing the chance to buy the occasional cute dress for me or cool pyjamas for the kids that I used to get from Boden. Does anyone know a similar brand - mail order or a shop?

Phew! Thanks for that. With just a few weeks to go and having spent a whole weekend cleaning our kayaks and camping gear ready to ship over, I was feeling a bit down about all these comments! Thank you for your honesty though guys, it's good to be prepared - and easy to imagine that life will all be drinking white wine in the sun.

Hi Everyone I keep being told that I'll be more chilled in Australia. I've also been told that my children will stop wearing shoes :rolleyes:. I'm sure I'll stop worrying about 'wasting' sunshine and sunny days. How have you changed since you joined the Aussies?

Visa granted yesterday. Woo hoo!! Stats: 10 full months. 309/100 Applied 20 August Additional info requested 10 September Meds done 3 April (a mistake - should have done them earlier) Meds referred 5 April Meds confirmed 12 June Visa granted 13 June

Hi SkippyChick11 I know your message wasn't aimed at me but I found it reassuring anyway so thank you I certainly am nearly at the 'point of mo fo'. Surely only a matter of days now...! ​x

We applied mid-September but still no Visa. One of my sons' medicals has been referred (though it's REALLY minor), I think that's what we're waiting for - that has been referred for around 5 weeks now. When that was sent for a referral our CO suggested mid May as a likely Visa date - the full 9 months. This thread makes it feel like all the September applicants have been granted. Is that the case??

We went up to Spire in Edinburgh from Durham this week for our medicals. I drove because the receptionist said that they were out of town but actually I think the train would have been as easy. They were very efficient and nice and the hospital was new. It was a lovely day so we stopped at Bamburgh on the way back and made a day of it

Little Kitty I feel your pain! We're happy enough here - don't have any house sharing issues or whatever - but we're just ready to get going now that we have talked about this for so long. Every day I have a conversation with someone which starts "Have you heard any more about your Visa?", regardless of how many times I say that we don't expect to hear anything until May! My OH is making inroads into getting a job but of course doesn't want to commit until we know that I can definitely go with him. I hope he doesn't miss out on something great just because we're not ready. That's my biggest concern. Plus the cost of flights are going up. Everything else (organising shipping, schools, house, some kind of job for me etc.) will be fine to organise once we have the visa, I just want to get on with them because I'm excited. We applied on 11/9/12 and have been told May twice by our CO, no mention of June. I was in touch with her today so I decided to ask if she could be any more specific. I think I know the answer but thought there was no harm in asking politely! She gave me the impression that our paperwork was signed off a long time ago so I think the 8-9 month wait is purely to do with quotas, not how long it takes them to actually do the work. That makes sense because it must put some people off applying. It's just us hardcore lot who put up with it. That first glass of Cab Sav by the barbie is going to taste sooooo sweet... :smile:

Hi Ceejay I can't advise on the country of application thing but, having done the De Facto application ourselves, and had that bit approved, I know a bit about that. I would start collecting evidence of your relationship now including proof of places you've stayed together, flights you've taken together, joint membership of anything, statements from people who have been with you together (including employers, language teachers etc.)...get as much as you can. If you haven't already, get a joint bank account and also make some payments to each other. Like ours, your situation doesn't fit the classic of living together and sharing bills for 2 years but if you have enough evidence it should be fine. Hope that helps.

It's now 6.5 months since we sent in our Partner Visa application and are dying to start booking flights, applying for jobs, looking for accommodation etc. Our CO expects us to hear in May - 8 months after applying. Does that fit with anyone else's experience? And do you think the COs know or are they just as in the dark as us??

Thanks, guys, that's really, really helpful. October it is then I think! I hadn't thought about having play dates in the holidays. Wow - you go to bed and in the morning there are loads of messages waiting for you - I guess that's part of the Poms lifestyle I'll get used to :smile:

We're looking to move to NSW in August. Therefore our boys (5 and 7) will have just finished the school year in the UK but there will be a few months left of the school year in Australia. Does anyone know how quickly they legally have to get enrolled in school? Could we just wait until the new school year in January? And if so, is that a good idea - I.e. they have a few months to settle in to Aussie life - or do you think it is easier for children to just drop straight in to school and get a bit of routine and new friends ASAP?

Thanks guys, that's very helpful. Will get cracking!

We've only just done the medicals so that's fine and I've ordered a replacement police check so that gives us plenty of time too. Basically I'm dying to get on with it but I've no idea how long it takes to get yourself sorted and out of the country once you've finally got the visa - 8 weeks? 12 weeks??

We've had word from our case officer that my Partner Visa is all fine, she's just waiting for approval to send out the next batch of them, expected in May. We're not going to book our flights or anything but can use the time between now and then to research shipping companies etc. Everyone wants to know when we'll actually leave the UK. If we get the visa in May, how long do you think it would take us to be ready to go? (there are two of us and two children but we're pretty organised generally!) Thanks