Seizethedance

For anyone else who might be looking for similar information - I went back to Barclays and asked them to confirm that they wouldn't close my account as the guy on the phone had assured me. Their response was that in the past month or so people had been turning up with letters from the bank stating that as they are non-resident their accounts will close unless they have £75k in the account. The bank guy said he had called higher-ups but not been told much about it so he couldn't advise on whether this was a new policy or anything. Had a moment of panic but he basically said just to use our UK address even though it's not our residential address. So that's what we've done. Crazy business.

Panic over - thanks to everyones' comments I rang the bank and they said of course I could keep my bank account! Dont know what the guys in the branch were talking about, they seemed very sure that it would be closed but I have now been assured that they are wrong. Phew. Thanks everyone who replied

I had planned to keep our UK bank account to pay our UK mortgage from (we are letting our house out when we move to Australia in a few weeks). But the bank has just told me that they will close the account when I move.

What do other people do? If I pay the mortgage from an Australian account wont I lose out on exchange rates and money transfer fees?

Anyone help please?!!

Just to add - although isofix is available in Australia now, I think it's only in seats for little babies, though I'm not sure. If you're on facebook there is a group called 'child restraints. Is your child restrained correctly?' You'll get an answer if you post in there.

As others have said, you cant use UK car seats in Australia. In the past year or so new seats have been released in Australia that harness until at least 8 years old (and often several years more) and these seem to be considered the best on the market for older kids. The main two are the maxi guard SICT and the infa evolve caprice. There are a couple of other newer ones that are cheaper as well I think they're called type G seats. We've got 2 evolves for when we arrive in Australia for our 2 and 4 year olds.

Oh crap, they've cancelled the flight we were on from kl to melbourne!

I am planning to, but already on a PR (spouse visa). I dont know the answer to your question but what do you want to teach? If it's maths, science or engineering then that is more in demand. Also worth noting that they are phasing out diplomas and replacing them with masters which would cost you more. I think 2017 might be the last year you can do a diploma (not sure though) but you have to think how employable you are compared to most teachers who will now already be graduating with a masters.

I expect you'll find remote indigenous teaching isn't something you can/want to do now, but still you might find this other blog interesting which will give you a sense of the politics and challenges of indigenous teaching. It's written by the teacher husband of the blog I posted above (the wife's blog is more about the challenges of life there, this is specifically about the teaching). https://jarvisryan.wordpress.com/

Here's the blog, it's written by the wife of a teacher while they were living in Arnhem land. You'd definitely want to visit before living there - it takes a certain kind of person to live in these communities. https://remoteareamum.wordpress.com/

I'm not sure what you can do to get a visa, I have no idea if remote schools would even sponsor someone, I dont really see why they would, especially if you have no experience in remote communities (but I could be wrong). There is a teachers thread somewhere that you might find helpful.

I have been in a lot of very remote communities - some aboriginal and some not. I am writing from the township of Norseman in WA at the moment. Norseman is one of the better regional communities. It is 750km from Perth, so not too remote. But certainly not commute distance. However, even here, it would take a special person to move from the UK to set up here and want to stay. We have a main street, but, it only has about 5 shops. A small (very expensive) supermarket, a newspaper shop, a hardware shop, a café and pub / bottle shop (off license). That is actually a lot by many standards. The houses are all tiny and made from fibro. So, think something along the lines of a garden shed.

 

The surrounding area is desert. Though winter, like now is cold and can be pretty wet - it was actually slightly sleeting when I left for work at 5am. Summer is blistering heat.

 

The really remote places, particularly some of the aboriginal communities can be pretty atrocious to live in with conditions worse than I have seen in places such as Democratic Republic of Congo. This one is sadly not unusual http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/children-swam-in-sewage-ponds/story-e6frg13u-1226117647023?nk=143e96b868478944a29904d9595475e7-1434961574

 

There are many social issues with these towns including mass alcoholism, substance abuse (you can not buy petrol any more in many in an attempt to stop people sniffing it. Children have major issues with health and generally just a huge bag of problems.

 

Going to teach in these areas is more than just challenging!

Yes the only reason we were considering remote service teaching is because we have lived with indigenous communities in remote Congo basin so understand the emotional and practical issues. I love this kind of work but even then we have decided to wait until our kids have left home (a looong time from now) and then reconsider as we didn't feel it was right for the kids. Having said that, there is a good blog I read from someone who did remote service teaching with young kids that I'll see if I can find, it will give you an idea of what it might be like.

Places that are not so remote and are actually nice places to live (especially for kids) probably dont have a problem recruiting primary teachers.

Very remote indigenous communities really are very remote - rainy season you can often only access them via plane. Definitely not commutable but even if they were, it's important that teachers live in the community because living elsewhere can create a sense of division. There are bigger town though which you would probably want as your eldest would need to go to a high school. You may be one of the only non-indigenous people in the town and indigenous towns can have a fair amount of social problems (for example, most are 'dry', as in alcohol is banned for everyone living in the community). It may well be quite isolating especially for your eldest. However, some of the bigger towns have mining families as well. You have to be very committed to this kind of work and it is not easy. I dont know if they sponsor applicants for primary teaching or not, but here is the website http://www.teaching.nt.gov.au/remote/

As I said there are easier options that are small rural towns but not 'very remote' which might suit you better as there would be more cultural familiarity for your kids. They are still very cut off from everywhere, no way you can commute. Think remote Scottish island with a small community (but sunshine) and then add several more hours onto the journey to the nearest town and you come close. No idea if these places sponsor teachers.

Remote teaching is often in indigenous communities, which is usually quite unlike other kinds of teaching jobs and can be particularly tough and challenging but also hugely rewarding. Teachers are generally wanted to commit for three years as turnover is high which disadvantages students. Communities are varied and you can get a sense of what they are like by looking on the NT remote teaching website. Sounds like this isn't really what you're thinking of but might be worth considering if it's something that interests you. We very nearly went that route but our eldest son would be 6 and we felt it was the wrong age for him as we really want to go somewhere to settle long term (younger one would be fine and hubby would look after her). Rural (rather than remote) communities could be an option, though you are still likely to be in small quite isolated communities. But I'm sure many of these places would be great if you dont mind the small community thing - personally I'd rather that than go to a major city but it's personal preference

Anyone know if biology teachers also in demand, or is it mainly the other sciences and maths? I'm planning on training as a teacher in Australia but can only train in biology methods, maybe general science if I up my chemistry (this despite having an MSc and PhD in social science - madness!).We'll be in north-east vic.

Thank you everyone!

We've been married for 6 years and have two kids. You should go straight to 100 as well then right? It was important because I'm hoping to study and we may depend on the Austudy benefit if my other half cant find work initially while I'm studying - and I would not have been entitled to that on the temporary 309 visa. So good news for us.

Great news. And good that you got it at the lower end of the estimate.

What is your visa based on, defacto or marriage? We have been married for Two years and living together in total for 4, and we have a son, so we are hoping to go straight to 100 too.

VISA GRANTED!!!!! Wahoo!!!! Straight to a subclass 100 That's 8 days short of 10 months - we applied on 28th july and were quoted 10-14 months.

Cant wait to get there now, we fly on August 26th and are heading for country vic. Exciting times!

Just the way to start the week. VISA GRANTED. 9 months 28 days. Case officer: VF. Got the 309 visa, although we qualify for the provisional 100 visa as we have been living together for over 3 years now, they said because date of application was before, we got the 309.

 

But who cares, WE GOT IT, only means we have to wait another year and 2 months. Whoop whoop. So happy.

 

To all those waiting, good luck and although the wait is long, its worth it in the end.

Congratulations!! Hopefully not long for us now then

Anyone been granted a visa lately? It's gone very quiet..

I think we're in the limbo between those that were quoted 6-9 months and those that were quoted 10-14. We applied july 28 just after it went up and now on 9.5 months. Hoping it will be on the 10 month mark.

As MaggieMay said - applying online is much easier. Wait for medical and police checks as these are only valid for 1 year and you must enter Australia to validate the visa before these expire and visa grants are currently 10-14 months so you may have to get them again if you did them prior to applying. Waiting doesn't slow down the granting process, they will tell you when to get them.

Good luck (I applied online 9 months ago, fingers crossed the wait is nearly over!)

One more thing - the notes on the application talk about having 2 statements from friends about your relationship but I was only asked for one and later clarified with my CO that this was correct. In our case this was obviously all that was needed (married for years with 2 kids) - my point is that you dont have to have everything done and ready, apply and they will let you know what you need as it may vary for your circumstances.

Hi guys,

 

A few quick questions based on my partner and I applying online:

 

1) My partner and I are writing personal statements but we are not using the Statutory Declaration form - do we need to have this typed-up statement/document witnessed or can we submit it online without any witness? I cannot find anywhere that tells me that we need it witnessed. NB. All our birth certificates and family's 'Form 888's' have been witnessed and certified.

 

2) Submitting the passport-sized photos of the applicant and the sponsor - Is this supposed to be scanned in and submitted online, or do we have to post them?

 

3) Is there an option during the online application to provide a signature for those documents requiring one, and how is this done?

 

Basically, we want to have everything organised before we start the online application. Can anybody provide a thorough overview of the online application process? i.e. any problems, hints or tips and/or anything you weren't expecting to be in the online application.

 

Thank you all so much and forgive my ignorance!

B

I cant remember clearly the application process (it was 9 months ago) - I think though that the personal statements about your relationship are part of the application form - as in the application form contains a series of questions about your relationship and you can just answer these online with the rest of your application - this does not need witnessing.

For signatures I think you can print the form, sign and scan it, though I cant remember doing this we might have.. I dont remember posting anything so I think you can scan the photos.

Birth certs and the like I dont think we had certified (though cant be sure...) because you scan the original they dont need certifying.

Dont rely on this though, I really cant remember. I did find it very straightforward though. Dont worry about having everything done before starting the application. I think you initially submit the form and pay and then they tell you what you need to do very specifically so it should all become clear. Again cant remember the specifics... sorry that's a bit of a rubbish response!

Has anyone been granted their visa who applied after the change to 10-14 months yet? I applied on 28th july, I think about a week after it went up. I'm wondering whether they are going to continue granting at the current time-frame which is around 9 months or, as the post further up indicates, no one will get it sooner than 10 months if that's what they were told. I suspect the latter...

Any August folks here? Found this on another forum regarding the London Embassy. Was hoping for a sneaky 9 month timeframe but doesn't seem to be the case.

 

"I just called the London office and it is just a change of terminology.

 

I also pushed the guy around what happens in terms of the month between 9-10 (when the processing times change from 8-9 to 10-14 months) and he basically said that the visas processing staff will be looking at other visa classes during that time and the earliest anyone who applied on the 21st of July or after can expect their visa is at 10 months. Which is a bit gutting but hopefully he's just towing the corporate line and some will get lucky.

 

Fingers crossed for everyone."

Oh no! I applied on july 28th and was really hoping I'd hear in the next couple of weeks. Mind you, another month doesn't actually make any difference but still..

Cheers. Yes, our paperwork was very thorough and I think our evidence was strong - and also they don't need much for the PMV anyway.

 

It'll be hard to wait a year with no news and no update, but at least it's been suggested now that there's probably nothing wrong. I mean, I have a wedding to organise, and how am I suppose to do that with no idea when things are going to happen?

 

From reading this forum, it seems the 10 - 14 months is quite accurate, although the letter I received did say 9-12 months - can anyone shed light on this?

Your letter said 9-12 months and you applied in december yes? So does that mean they've dropped it back to 9-12 months? great news if they have! I applied end of july just after they raised it to 10-14 months, but at the moment grants are being made at around 9 months, and I cant see why they would suddenly jump to 10 months.

The idea that a family would migrate to Australia, or to Britain, for that matter, and deliberately choose to live far away from your partner's family, so that he or she would not be able to 'pop over' to see them is bizarre. If your partner is particularly close to their family, why would you want to make it difficult for them to see them? I'm not married, amd perhaps that is WHY I am not married, but I just can't imagine how I would perhaps meet a girl, marry her, and then tell her 'we're not going to live near your parents. It's not fair on me. My parents are 10,000 miles away in England?' To my way of thinking, I would be turning down the chance to 'adopt' a new family.

 

What if someone in the family was ill and just when it would be lovely to be able to see them every day, maybe help them, you can't do it because you are an hour's drive away? In 1997, my mother had an accident, and my father practically LIVED in Southampton General Hospital, driving there and back twice a day, and that was a fifteen mile round trip. We had my grandmother on my Mum's side living with us. One of my cousins lived in the same village as her mother, and I remember her mother - my aunt - telling me her son-in-law was everything she could ever have hoped for, always willing to pop over and help her with anything.

 

The idea that one partner has 'everything' and the other 'nothing' because one has their family nearby. and therefore you should move far enough away to deprive them of their chance at easy contact, seems to me like you are deliberately punishing your partner. Would the partner without the close family be so insecure, so lacking in the ability to build a new social network for themselves?

 

I guess, as a single bloke, I can see it as a variation on the idea, that as soon as one of your mates gets married, the woman, who naturally hates you, makes every attempt to prevent you from having any contact with him. I've finally found the word I'm looking for! It's just plain 'mean!'

One of the things we are most looking forward to is being near family - here we are 5 hours away from my mum and the thought that our kids might be able to spend an afternoon with their grandparents while we have a child-free few hours - WAHOOOOO!!!!! I think it's lovely to be near family for us and for the kids, 20 minutes away is perfect. I hope it will also give me a sense of connection to the people and place.

Thanks everyone for your interesting replies. It's actually very reassuring because it seems like we're in a good midset to settle in Oz.

It's not quite his hometown - it's nearby. He doesn't know anyone in the region (or the whole of Oz bar family) anymore though as he hasn't lived in country vic for 18 years so it will be a new experience for both of us. I'll be training as a teacher and we'll get involved in the kid's school and toddler groups for the youngest.

We joke that I'll have to find an AFL team to follow because I have zero interest in sport, despite marrying a sports journalist!