chellywell

Nope not really missing anything. I fancied a sausage roll the other day and the one I got at the footy was horrible, but it is definitely not enough to go home for! I can get Minstrels in Woolies and I can get Monster Munch in North Sydney. I stock up on Boots Moisturisers if somebody heads back to the UK though, my skin is much better for it.

Be careful when choosing! I signed up with the Overseas Health Cover with HIF. I have been with it for a year and have just found out (after the tax year) that as a UK resident with reciprocal Medicare cover it doesn't entitle me to the Medicare Levy tax entitlement. I have now changed over to a domestic health insurance product. So sign up with what you need to for your visa and then look into the tax implications so you don't get shafted!

My furniture arrived today! Now it is starting to feel like a home, even though it is up to its eyes!

Have you been offered a job in Sydney? If the job is in Melbourne then surely Melbourne wins - but I've been to neither. I got a job in Sydney so that's where I'm headed!

Do you have a bank account with ANZ? They have an offer with Emirates. 45KG instead of 23kg. Maybe worth a look if you haven#t already got a bank account?

I love it, it's lighthearted in places but it's got good advice in others! I really like the bit about schizophrenic mood swings and pre and post emigration ailments. It's good to know the constant WAnting to go and then not wanting to go is normal. I'd definitely recommend it on an emotional level but it has practical advice too.

I didn't actually have access to the immigration site as the agent did it. Just got told when it was granted and given my TRN then. Good luck - hope it won't be much longer! We'll have to catch up in Sydney. It'll be nice to know a scouser out there!

I've had the 2.5 times calc mentioned a few times and used it to decide if I was going to accept my job offer. What puzzles me is do you include super in that figure ( I think I did as I roughly thought of it as NI). Just wondered what your thoughts are?

Hi Aaron, what job do you do? Curious as to all the extras you needed. My waiting was bad enough, I was offered my job on Feb 4th 2013, I accepted Feb 8th. Visa was submitted on 22nd March through company migration agent. My visa was granted 6th April but I found out 9th April. I didn't need medicals or police checks. I hope you find out soon. Cheryl

I'm hoping to go with BA. They can cost a little more and you can pay for extra bags. This is from their website. Just remember all flights must be BA - no code shares! If you wish to take more bags than your free checked baggage allowance, you can pay to check in up to 10 extra bags per person with the same weight restrictions as your free allowance. Extra bag charges when you pay in advance on ba.com. Cabin Free allowance 1st extrabag Further extra bags First Club World Biz Bed 3 bags £77/$119/€98 £77/$119/€98 World Traveller Plus Prem Plus 2 bags £77/$119/€98 £77/$119/€98 World Traveller Y class (full-fare Economy) 2 bags £77/$119/€98 N£77/$119/€98 World Traveller Eco 1 bag* £34/$51/€43* £77/$119/€98 Club Europe 2 bags £34/$51/€43 £34/$51/€43f Euro Traveller UK Domestic 1 bag £34/$51/€43 £34/$51/€43 Euro Traveller UK Domestic (hand baggage only fares) 0 bags £20/$30/€25 £34/$51/€43 * Some Frequent Flyer members have a free checked allowance of 2 bags, please refer to the section above for more detail (Size and weight of free baggage allowances) Customers travelling to and from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and on connecting journeys between India and USA/Bermuda/Canada have a free checked bag allowance of 2 bags. Extra bags will be charged at £77/$119/€98 per bag. Charges are shown in UK pounds, US dollars and euros. Charges in euros may vary depending on current exchange rates. Charges will be converted to local currency at the airport. You cannot purchase extra bags for an infant, under 2 years of age. Pay for extra baggage using Manage My Booking

Hi I scanned my passport, birth certificate, qualifications, CV. The company I work for provided a Migration Agent. Didn't need police checks, medical or passport photos. Got my 457 today! Just need to get organised now. It actually took 8 working days.

Received my 457 visa today!! Then handed in my notice here! :biggrin:

typo- corrected not easy googling on an iPhone!

I do have a job to go to though, which makes my move a lot less crazy in my mind. I also am going on my own so nobody else to worry about. I think anybody that goes with a family and no jobs etc. is very very brave.

From experience, it depends on the state of the plaster. I have used them in a few places without a problem, but in one it took chunks off the wall. landlord wasn't impressed!!

I do think it's crazy to move without a visit, but I'm going to do it! :swoon:

My friends did that, they went travelling and couldn't book a return for when they wanted as it was too far in advance, so they booked for the latest they could, and as soon as the flights were available for the date they wanted they changed it. It may be that you can get one change included if you talk to an agent at skyscanner or elsewhere. I'm the sort that thinks worst case scenario and go from there, so plan to come home, and change it to stay if it works out better.

If it were me, I'd book the return to come back at a time for if you didn't get jobs(3 months) so you don't have to find money to change a flight if you're worried about money anyway. If you get jobs and get to stay longer then you can pay to change the flight so you can stay longer (and have the job to pay for it). Because you would be changing for about 9 months ahead, hopefully it wouldn't cost much in fare difference. Also, have you looked on STA travel as I think they do a ticket with one change allowed. This all assumes that you can afford to come and find a job etc. I'm sure others will come on to offer more advice. Good luck with your decision.

I'm just applying for a 457, but you can't get one without having a job, as you need an employer to sponsor you. They have to nominate you and from what I understand you need their Nomination number before you can apply. I applied for a job internally in my company so I can't help with looking for jobs though.

I'm not an expert on any of this but have you thought of contacting an agency, we get adverts in our society newsletter (radiography), but they may help. I don't know the following agency but they have a UK phone number so maybe they could answer some questions? http://www.healthcareaustralia.com.au/workingholidayvisa

I live in the UK. I know about it, don't know much about Oz tbh which is why I'm on the forum. Hearing about the UK bores me and hearing how bad Australia is scares me although I do want to know the positives and negatives.

My Favourite is CJ Sansom, but also like Ken Follett and Lesley Pearse. I tend to read most things - I tend to go by the cover if I'm looking for Chick Lit, but go for the thickest book I can find if I need an escape. I'll also read what is flavour of the month, so read Twilight :confused:, millennium, hunger games and 50 shades. Need to know what the fuss is!