jawaustralia

Wow, 14 months...is that a ballpark range of how long it takes? In the long run I know the time will fly but that is a while

Hi I am an aussie and my wife is British. We will be applying for her subclass 309 visa through the Australian High Commission in London in the next month. The question I have is any advice on the process or any recommendations for using an agent or not. Not sure whether to use an agent, but I guess it will save mistakes being made in the process. Also I expect it will take some time, maybe 6-9 months so we both just keep working in the the meantime. Any advice would be great on this process? Since the spouse/309 visa is a bit unique and not a highly skilled visa I find less information on the internet about it. Cheers James.

Hi guys Trying to work out the best advice around shipping, got a one beddie flat in London, two bikes, bed, sofa, couple of appliances and a wardrobe full of clothes...want to get our stuff shipped to Sydney. Any advice on what not to take due to quarantine problems? Or are you better just putting everything in half a crate, then getting it all sprayed anyway? Does anyone know ballpark what it would cost? Cheers James.

Hi guys I am an aussie who worked in Sydney for 4 years, before moving to London to work for the past 10 years. Therefore I have a aussie Super Fund with some funds in it (with KPMG which is a QROPS fund) and a UK pension. In the UK I have a defined benefit pension and a PIA (pension investment account) which atm will give me about £15k-£20k pa upon retirement. I want to move back to Sydney at the end of this year permanently and retire (in 25 years) and want to know broadly if it is normally sensible to move your UK pension into an aussie Super Fund? I know there is a time limit around this after returning back (I think around 6 months). I guess if I set up a SMSF when I return, then it might be a good idea to move it into this so that it can be more effectively managed. I also have property in London and in Sydney which I might move into a SMSF if this is the case. Any pointers, referral or guidance is appreciated. Regards James.

I have a 5 year fixed rate mortgage with RBS at the moment and I have a 40% LTV, and am moving to Sydney next year. Yes I was told that consent to let would be fine to get once I move out as it was taken out in good faith as a residential mortgage (as opposed to a buy to let mortgage). My understanding was there isn't any penalty interest applied to this. The reason for asking for consent to let is due to me moving country, not taking the piss which will help in getting the consent I previously had consent to let with the Halifax for another property but once the period of the residential fixed rate mortgage came to an end, then I was having to pay the buy to let rates going forwards which usually also require 25% equity in the property.

There are some good textbooks as a guide on business law in Australia or an Intro to Australian tax law...usually you will find these in university bookshops. Won't be cheap but some nice bedtime reading