clairebear82

Hi, Welcome to PIO! Loads of info on here that should help you, and make sure you check out sydneyforum.com too - but any specific questions, just ask! Bank accounts - see above!! as MichaelD says, Westpac (and a few others) will let you open an account online from the UK - they are really helpful too Mobile phone - contracts are quite expensive here compared to the UK and also quite difficult to get when you first arrive. Pay as you go (or Pre paid as they call it here) is the way to go. You can pick up a phone pretty cheap and just top up whenever, or do a monthly top up and get bonus credit (as above again!) - I paid about $70 for a phone and sim Travel/health insurance - this really depends on your situation, what visa you have and how long you are coming for. Obviously you will need your standard travel insurance for the trip itself (loads of uk companies to choose from), but most will only cover upto a max of 6 months for one trip (some are only 1 or 3 months) - so if you are just using travel insurance, you need to make sure it covers the whole time you are here. Some Visas require you to have additional health care (private medical insurance type policy) - but it is advisable to at least get some ambulance cover, if nothing else (you have to pay, should you ever need an ambulance, and its not cheap!!) - I used HIF for my health insurance. Best/safest places to live - this is controversial! It all depends on your point of view and what you are looking for and also budget - so to be honest, you need to first look at how much you can afford. Also depends what you will be doing here etc if you want to be close to work, beach, city, nightlife etc. Then you can start shortlisting areas. Sydney is actually a pretty massive place so there is plenty of choice - so you probably need to narrow it down a little first! Good luck!

Hi Amy, Welcome to PIO! Congrats on getting the visa - exciting times! I moved to Sydney 4 months ago and loving it so far - you have lots to look forward to! There are loads of threads here that you will find useful, quite a few socialising ones too - check out sydneyforum.com as well, lots of useful stuff and general chat for sydneysiders! If there is anything specific that you would like to know, just ask!! Claire

Hi, Welcome to the forum! - will try to be gentle! I can't give you the answer, but I can give you a few pointers and things to consider, which will hopefully help you!! Firstly, the Visa type....... 457 is a temporary residency visa that is tied entirely to the sponsor, so whilst it means your hubby will have secured a job first that is providing your visa, it does mean that he is restricted - if he wants to change jobs, you would have to find another sponsor first and if you can't, or just leave that job, then you have 90 days before your visa 'expires' and would either need a different visa, or leave Oz!! So if he is on CSOL could go for a sponsored permanent visa through skillselect (maybe 186? - I can't remember all the numbers!) - which would give the security of a job and being permanent resident - but you need to find someone to sponsor you first – could take a while (not sure how long it takes if you register through skillselect?) 　 If he is on the SOL (don’t think finance manager is, but Accountant is, if he is qualified at all??) you could do the skilled independant 189? visa, which is permanent residency and not tied to any sponsor at all - so this one would allow you to live and work here, essentially with no restrictions at all - but he would need to try and find a job once you are here However - the type of visa almost becomes irrelevant if you can't get a job! which leads me on to my next point..... Keep in mind that although the occupation may be on CSOL (or SOL) and so technically 'In demand' - this does not mean there are hundreds of jobs waiting to be filled. It is a little misleading and have spoken to far too many people here with 'wanted' skills, that have been unable to find a job 3 months down the line. There is a lot of competition in the jobs market here so it can be tough to find a job, as there are many other people applying for the same one – so without a visa it is going to be very difficult. A lot of agencies here aren't particularly interested if you are not in the country and some are still not interested when you are!! - some will just keep telling you to check the website and apply when you see a job that suits - very helpful! They aren't all like that though!! Having said that - people do find jobs!! and some get them quicker than others. A big thing here is the attitude of 'its not what you know, its who you know' - making a few contacts really does help! Try and do some networking when you come over for a visit (there are forums that are business related too, so get posting on there!!) Another thing to think about is the CV - the format over here is quite different to the UK, so its really important for your hubby to do some research into resumes for specific jobs and make sure he has created an Oz friendly version!! - just have a look on some of the job sites, most have advice sections for resumes (try seek and mycareer maybe?!) Hope that helps :-)

I'm coming!!! :-) Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Hey, I think creating a new social group etc can be one of the hardest things about moving (not just to a different country either!) - but I don't think you are alone in this either. Check out some of the social threads on here and on Sydneyforum.com too - it may help? Worth a try before you give in and head back? Good luck

Hey, We used John Masons in the UK, and Wridgways over here, but.... Most companys have 3 options when they deliver your stuff 1 - unpack everything and remove all packaging 2 - unpack selected items and remove that packaging 3 - Deliver your items and leave the unpacking completely up to you (no removal of packaging) In cases 2 and 3 - they will not normally come back and remove the packaging. Some will offer that as an additional service but you will need to pay extra. However, most companies (and me!!) would usually recommend that you allow the company to unpack all your boxes - firstly, so that you can check everything has been received and that nothing is broken - if you accept boxes without unpacking them, you will often be accepting some of the liability if anything is broken. Make sure you check your insurance on this, as you may have a limited time to claim if things have been broken, so it may not be wise to leave the unpacking too long! Secondly, it can be difficult to dispose of the packaging yourself. Most apartments will not have an area to leave large boxes etc, and you will usually not get away will just leaving them in the garbage room!! - So yes, you may find that you would have to pay to have them removed!! Not sure about keeping them for the next move, but I would assume you can have similar services here that would supply boxes when you need them - so I guess a lot of this also depends on how much storage you will have in your apartment too. Hope that helps

Thanks for all your replies - it has helped a lot and I agree with the comments I think the 189 sounds like the way forward - and I'm pretty sure I have at least the 60 points if I go with the Accountant route (plus I have checked the current stats and the ceiling for this year is over 9000, with 184 granted so far) - so I am going to look into applying sooner rather than later (or at least EOI and hope for an invitation!) Looks like I need to be booking my IELTS soon! Just one other question, if anyone knows the answer..... I assume applying for this won't affect my 457 in any way (until, fingers crossed, the visa is granted) - but will there be any impact if, for any reason, the application is not successful? ie in terms of applying for another PR visa in future etc? Thanks again

Hey, So I am wondering which route to take and would really appreciate some thoughts!! .... Basically, my situation is as follows: I'm currently here as a Business Analyst on a 457 - having taken a transfer with my existing employer Arrived in April 2013 (I know, still a newbie!) I am ACCA qualified accountant Been working as a BA for 5 years - the last 2 1/2 with the same company 30 years old (almost 31 eeek) Hubby is also here on a spouse 457 so.... My plan is, and always has been, to switch to PR as soon as possible. I want to stay here indefinitely and I'm not overly keen on the 'temporary' side of my current visa - It makes me nervous!! (but that was the standard route for my employer) Now, I know probably the easiest route for me to take is to wait 2 years and go down the transition route, employer sponsored subclass 186 visa. But... My concern with this, is that it is heavily reliant on my employer agreeing to sponsor me - now, I have no reason currently to believe it would be a problem. I have been with the company over 2 years and they obviously were happy to sponsor my current visa and pay a lot of money for me to be here!! However, I am well aware that things do change and I can't guarantee that the situation will be the same in 2 years time - this is a worry! so, to eliminate the concern and give me some security I am looking into the possibility of going down the skilled independant route, sublass 189. So I was wondering, firstly if anyone has been in this situation or if anyone has any thoughts or advice? My other question would be - if I go 189 - do I go Accountant or Business Analyst?!! (I have worked as both, but most recently and currently BA) So I'm not 100% about points for my ACCA qualification - if they would count towards the BA route or not! I think it would also be wise to do IELTS as well, to get a points boost Any advice much appreciated! Thanks in advance :-)

Pre sale tickets are limited to four per person

YAY!!! Just got my tickets for Sydney 13th December! - they have just gone on presale (today at 3pm AEST) if you register with Frontier - otherwise general sale on 29th! they are $130 for GA Standing and 'A' reserved seating or cheaper for B seating :-)

For all those Muse fans out there, in case you hadn't already heard, the 2013 Australian tour dates have been announced, tickets go on sale 29th july :-) 30.11 Perth Arena, Perth 04.12 Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide 06.12 Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne 10.12 Arena Brisbane, Brisbane 13.12 Allphones Arena, Sydney

Hey Chris, Just seen your thread! Hope you are meeting some great people and hope your partner arrived safely too and enjoying Sydney life! - Me and the hubby (30 & 32!) have been posting some very similar threads lately!! we are trying to arrange a get together on 3rd August, seems to be quite a few people looking to meet new friends - check out these (have you tried sydneyforum.com yet?) http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/socialising-get-togethers/191093-3rd-august-get-together-sydney-all-welcome-join.html http://www.sydneyforum.com/threads/sydney-social-group-wanted.161480/ But just drop us a line if you fancy meeting up at some point anyway Claire x

Hey, Check out the thread for the 3rd August meet up - trying to get together a social group seeing as there are a lot of people on here looking for new friends :-) Also, have a look on sydneyforum.com as well!

Unfortunately its unlikely - sorry. Here's an extract from the 457 visa FAQs that my agent sent when I was going through the process 6 months ago. The 457 rules have changed recently, but I'm pretty sure the de facto principles are the same - but may be worth contacting an agent to check What if I am living with, but not married to, my partner? Australian immigration law recognises de facto or common law partners — that is couples, including same sex couples, who are living together in a marriage-like relationship but who are not legally married. In order for your de facto partner to obtain a visa on the basis of your relationship you will need to provide evidence that you are living together and that you are regarded as a couple. Generally, you will need to show that you have lived together for the last six months. The types of evidence can include:  rent receipts, lease or property ownership documents in joint names and utility bills — such as for electricity or gas — in both names or for each of you at the same address;  bank statements in both names showing that the account is used regularly;  receipts for major purchases in both names;  records of joint assets or liabilities;  mutual wills or insurance policies;  joint memberships of organizations;  photographs taken at family or social situations or on holiday and evidence of joint travel detailed statements or statutory declarations about the relationship by you and your partner; and/or  any other documentary evidence that demonstrates that you are a couple.

How about the Slip Inn on sussex street?? Tacos, cocktails and good music?!

Hi Guys, What's everyone doing on 3rd August?? - trying to arrange a get together (see below!) http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/socialising-get-togethers/191093-3rd-august-get-together-sydney-all-welcome-join.html Be great to meet up - any suggestions on places etc welcome!!!

Awesome! Hope to see you at helm! We have been trying to get a group together and so far so good! Fingers crossed for a good turnout!

I'm free Monday! Be great to catch up!

Hey, There have been a couple of very similar threads posted in the last couple of days, think there are a few people looking to expand their social groups, myself and the hubby included! Check these out! http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/socialising-get-togethers/189941-looking-meet-friends-sydney.html http://www.sydneyforum.com/threads/sydney-social-group-wanted.161480/ http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/socialising-get-togethers/190038-time-sydney-social-thread.html We have been here 3 months, I'm 30 and he's 32, also on a 457 visa. We are living at kings street wharf on darling harbour, moved here from Gloucester. We love meeting new people, so be great to catch up! We are off to helm bar on Saturday for the rugby too, if you want to come along! Have a good one! claire

Hey, I have been in Sydney 3 months now, and in need of some new friends! I'm here on a 457 visa, with the hubby, I'm 30 and he's 32 - we both need to expand our social groups!! Have just posted a thread on Sydney Forum about the very same thing! http://www.sydneyforum.com/threads/sydney-social-group-wanted.161480/ Be great to meet up!