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Happy little Vegemite

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  1. Happy little Vegemite
    Whoop whoop, insert happy dance here, visa granted today!!! 8 months and 1 day after applying 19th June. I emailed CO to ask how it was going, where we were in the pile, etc. and got the grant in their reply, couldn't quite believe it! So bizlarker, I don't see that it could hurt for you to do the same, best of luck to you!
  2. Happy little Vegemite
    It definitely sounds like you have the raw end of that deal! We used our frequent flyer points to get an iPad. Congratulations on getting the visa, what a relief, there's a glimmer of hope for the rest of us that it will come soon then. Sod's law that you get your grant early and can't go while we are all sat staring at our emails every 5 minutes impatiently waiting :chatterbox:
  3. Happy little Vegemite
    Me too, me too! And hand our notice in, and book shippers, and organise estate agents to manage our house for us here, and.... Maybe today for you sjn87, fingers crossed. It seems like there are quite a few of us heading to WA, we're off to Mandurah, hopefully in time for Easter, cannot wait to live near my family again Congratulations to everyone who has been granted recently and good luck to all of us waiting, waiting, waiting!
  4. Happy little Vegemite
    And us Sorry to hear your news juliusoz, I was so hoping you'd have a nice surprise when you arrived in Oz. On the plus side, at least you'll have to have a holiday soon
  5. Happy little Vegemite
    That would suck majorly if you don't get it before you leave meaning you'd have to go off shore so soon after arriving, fingers crossed for you! And for all other applicants too, may the grants come rolling in soon, especially for all us June applicants!
  6. Happy little Vegemite
    Things can't be going too badly for you here if you can do trips like these. Stay and get your wife whatever rights it is she needs to get then re-evaluate your position. Meanwhile, keep exploring Europe while you've got the chance and enjoy it.
  7. Happy little Vegemite
    I have my fingers and toes crossed for all of you April and May applicants still waiting that you get your grant for Christmas, how cool that would be! Hopefully we'll be following shortly behind, fellow June applicants. Merry Christmas everyone, I assume for a lot of us it will be the last one in the UK for a while :biggrin:
  8. Happy little Vegemite
    Hi Richard, I don't know what your definition of 'near future' is but I just wanted to make you aware that the current processing time for a spouse visa is 7-9 months. If you went to Oz before it was granted then you would have whatever work rights you have on the visa you enter with, so if it's a tourist visa then you couldn't work. It shouldn't take too long to get the citizenship then you can get the ball rolling on the partner visa. If you and your wife have been together over two years and have children together you should get granted permanent residency straight off (I think, don't quote me one this though!) Good luck with the application!
  9. Happy little Vegemite
    We registered both of our children soon after they were born and didn't have to attend an interview, but did to get their passports, go figure! Earlier this year we had to renew my sons passport (how he is 5 already is still baffling me!) and did have to go to Australia House. Hubby and I used it as a good excuse for a weekend in London, we had our 'interview' on Friday and the passport arrived in the post on Monday, can't get much quicker than that!
  10. Happy little Vegemite
    As snifter says, your application is in so don't worry, you've done a month of waiting already so only another eight, give or take, to go, yay! I am amazed at how quickly the time is going, we submitted in June so are already four months in and with Christmas coming up I know that the next couple are going to absolutely fly. Good luck everybody on your migration journeys! Cath
  11. Happy little Vegemite
    Check if your bank has an agreement with any Oz banks to avoid extra withdrawal fees. Barclays partner with Westpac I think so as long as you use a Westpac ATM you don't get extra charges (you do still pay a transaction fee of around 3% though). Also if you have more than one card, check which one has the lowest transaction fee and use that most often, my credit card was lower than my debit card. Enjoy your holiday!
  12. Happy little Vegemite
    I absolutely agree with the sentiments of Selah, couldn't have said it any better! I am Australian, married to a Brit, and lost my mum in Australia whilst I was living in England. This is something that I just have to live with, it doesn't go away but I don't feel guilty about it either, just sad sometimes. One of the kindest things that my Dad has since given to me is the knowledge that both he and my mum had come to terms with the fact that I probably wouldn't ever move back to Australia and were at peace with this idea. He is, of course, absolutely over the moon now that I have managed to convince my husband that it is time that we give Oz a go and are on our way over next year! When we come to the end of our five year plan and have to decide whether we stay or go when my Dad is another five years older I'm sure I will feel exactly the same as you do now. It sounds like you know what you have to do. It also sounds like you have your mum's blessing, maybe just not your sisters? Do what is right for you and your close family (by that I mean yourself, your husband and your children).
  13. Happy little Vegemite
    Hi CMF713, Sorry I can't help you with any answer but I am curious to find out how you get on with quotes, we're moving from Suffolk to Perth, well Mandurah, next year and getting quotes is something I was thinking about starting to do. When are you off? Cath
  14. Happy little Vegemite
    We are hoping to move over just before Easter next year, to Mandurah. That way we can spend a couple of weeks with family and settling in a tiny bit before my son starts school :eek: The kids and I are off to Oz tomorrow for a few weeks holiday :biggrin: so we'll have a look at a couple of schools and houses and stuff just to get an idea of what's available while we're there. How about you auzziesheila, when are you off?
  15. Happy little Vegemite
    Yep, I'm from Oz, born and bred, though dual nationality through my Dad. I came to England planning on staying for a year long working holiday, but that was over 12 years ago. I met my now husband almost as soon as I got here and extended my stay somewhat! I had a great upbringing in Oz and want to give my kids (2.5 and 5.5) the opportunity to experience life in Oz with my side of the family. Like others have pointed out, a lot has changed since I left, including me, I am no longer footloose and fancy free, and I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not returning to my old life but starting a new chapter in a new place. How about you auzziesheila, are you from Oz or just spent time there growing up? I know what you mean about missing your son, I work part time here in England but we haven't figured out what we're going to do for work when we get to Oz yet so I know that there is a possibility that I might have to go full time for a while
  16. Happy little Vegemite
    It's more than 6 months before we plan on making the move but already I've had moments of bricking it, you're not alone! For me it's nothing to do with not being sure if it's the right thing to do because it absolutely is for our family; moving back to Oz is something that I desperately want more than anything and after 12 years in the UK I have that itch that won't go away that someone mentioned earlier. Still, like you, we have a good life here, a good network of friends and (husbands) family, OK jobs, pets (that won't be coming with us), a house, the list goes on, and giving this all up for an unknown is scary. But soooo exciting at the same time! One of the biggest issues I have is feelings of guilt about taking the grand kids away from my in-laws, but you can't please all the people all the time, and I am taking them closer to my family You sound like you have the full support of your husband, and are maybe in the enviable position of having your company pay your moving expenses? Remember, nothing in life is forever and you can always come back to the UK. Have an adventure and see where it takes you!
  17. Happy little Vegemite
    Not blonde, but both have blue eyes, and are quite cute if i do say so myself, which helps! Thanks Alnaibii for that link, well worth reading for anyone travelling with kids.
  18. Happy little Vegemite
    Many congrats Snifter, what a weight off, and the timeline looks better than anticipated too, hopefully this is a sign that timelines are getting shorter. Don't worry juno about not having a co yet, it took almost 2 weeks for ours to be assigned. Our timeline so far is application received and money taken 19th June, co assigned 1st July. No further evidence requested, police checks are now done and medical is booked for Saturday, so that will be it for us I suppose until we hear that it's been granted. Good luck to everyone waiting, may the time pass quickly!
  19. Happy little Vegemite
    Thanks everyone for the helpful tips, I've taken them all on board! (excuse the pun)I especially like the tip on making friends with the grannies, Incata. Poor you, you sound like you had a terrible experience! We are on a night flight from Heathrow, hopefully the kids will do what they usually do which is sleep on the way to the airport, this then gives them enough beans to stay awake until after we've taken off. I chose to fly with Singapore airlines, they were really good with the kids last time we flew, and that way we have the long leg of the flight to Singapore on an A380 then the short leg to Perth on a smaller plane. We've got the three seats next to the window so i can sit on the aisle, and I am armed with an iPad, but will definitely also try to get kidsize headphones before we go.On the whole my kids are well behaved, I'm just hoping they don't go off on one of their mad ones, you know those times when they see a weakness in you and just go for it, knowing exactly how to press your buttons!We fly in just under three weeks too neenie, good luck to you as well!
  20. Happy little Vegemite
    Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any useful tips on how to handle flying solo with two children, aged 5 and 2? The kids and I are off to Oz (Mandurah) for 3 weeks to visit family and have a bit of a reccie before moving over next year, and I am dreading the thought of the flight without my husband (who is too busy at work at this time of year to come with us). Apologies in advance to anyone who might be on the same flight as us!
  21. Happy little Vegemite
    Hi all, Just wanted to say 'hi' and begin my posting career on this forum... So, we (meaning me, husband and two kids) are planning on moving to Mandurah late March/early April 2014 (the two cats are not planning on coming, shh, I don't think they know this yet!). Partner visa application was submitted in June this year and, as we've been married over three years and have two kids together, I am sure it is just a matter of waiting for the visa to be granted (I am Australian, husband is English) and am hoping for the permanent visa straight away. Mandurah is our destination of choice because I have family there and I absolutely can't wait to live near them again, it's been over 12 years so I am very excited!
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