Melbkitty

Who spends all their time in the suburb they reside in? By all accounts the village I grew up in in the UK was boring for a kid and eventually teenager. Wow the life you've described sounds completely boring but I literally don't know anyone in Aus who has that lifestyle, even people who live a good hour out from Melbourne. What a bizarre argument!

It's hard to say! The supporting docs could have really helped there but who knows - I'm sure they would use the same logic though if you'd had the medical and just waiting due to processing times. I was all set to have the X-ray and had researched it greatly - there really is no risk and I can't remember why I decided against it, my parents were here at the time and my Mum probably talked me out of it knowing her...

Hi there - I had my baby in March 2014, had the X-ray/medical immediately after and my PR was finalised/granted in May 2014. I applied for the PPL at that point (you have 12 months from birth of baby) and it was granted, even though I didn't have PR at time of birth. I sent in supporting docs to Centrelink from my GP & immi stating that the X-ray was not recommended and it wasn't questioned. I would just say get it lodged and hope for the best, there's not much else you can do as Centrelink won't give you any guarantees and the customer service staff don't have knowledge on immi related topics (or even Centrelink issues usually). You could write a supporting letter with your application for PR, not sure if it would help. You'll also be asked to complete the X-ray and medical close to approval and if you're still pregnant you'll have that decision to make also. I would say you'll most likely have the same outcome as me - applying when your PR is granted and baby may be a couple of months old - it is backdated though. You can then apply for family tax benefit a & b and if your partner is on a low income you may get a reasonable amount. You'll also get all the assistance with childcare which from July 2018 is going to be more generous to low-medium income families. Good luck and try not to stress too much like I did towards the end of my pregnancy over this!

I think it's important that your partner is also aware of her rights if she was to move to the UK to have a child. She should be aware that if she misses her parents and Australia, you would need to be fully on board with a move back here. Consider the scenario of you are blissfully happy and she is not - she could feel very stuck indeed and legally/physically with the kids, she would be if you did not agree to a move back. Not everyone is really aware of the Hague Convention and how it works.

Think long and hard about bringing children into the equation at this point. Whilst in love and happy it's hard to conceive that things could ever not be that way - but an international relationship/marriage is hard when you both have different hopes about where to 'settle'. I'm in Melbourne with my Aussie partner and our 3 year old plus another on the way, I've been here for 8 years and no family here, luckily my parents are still able to visit yearly but that won't last forever. His family are in Brisbane and he would move there in a heartbeat - siblings and a new cousin are his drivers (plus the weather). I'm settled in Melbourne with a good friendship network, I get on with his siblings and can see the pull of living in Brisbane however he is closed to moving to the UK so I feel, why should I? Our relationship has suffered because of these issues and the reality is, I'm in Australia indefinitely whether I like it or not. He's worried that moving to the UK may mean him being stuck there if things break down. I'm worried that if we move to Brisbane, I'll be stuck there without support should we separate. A family court could absolutely stop me moving back to Melbourne with the kids. Then there is the question of, do you really want to live in the UK? Really? I'm not sure if I would truly settle there anyway, even with family around. Siblings/cousins all great but life gets busy, personally I'd prioritise a closeness to parents and I agree the woman seems to require the support of her own parents more and vice versa. It sounds like you already have some bitterness towards your fiancés Father in particular (he sounds like my partner's Dad) which would only be harboured more if you moved closer to them. But then life in suburban Melbourne sounds like a bleak prospect to you...personally I still love Melbourne and having kids has only enhanced that. I'd love to be able to say to my partner 'let's do 3 years in each place and see how we feel' but realistically things can change, people change, kids change you and your relationship, and once the kids are 'habitually resident' in a Country, it takes you both to agree moving them, and you may not always agree... I wish I'd listened when people warned me of this very real scenario that affects so many people.

Your last point isn't true - your local MCHN put you in touch with a group of new Mum's when your baby is born. And it's free (unlike the NCT).

Oh dear...something tells me you won't be happy in London either...

Oh and I'm in Melbourne now, much easier transition from UK!

I hated Sydney too and spent my first 3 weeks in Aus there, in the rain, wondering what in earth I'd done! Fast forward 5 years and I couldn't imagine going back to the UK, I'm struggling to get back for a visit as my relatives love coming here so much! Can you call beyond blue as a starting point for a counsellor? Explain your financial situation and ask about community services. And please don't feel so helpless, you can always go back!!! Maybe you should go back and see how you feel, I did that quite soon after arriving in Aus and it helped me to establish that indeed I had outgrown my roots. 3/4k on a credit card has to be worth your sanity and even more depreciation of your emotional health.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3051078/Wild-bluebells-carpet-floor-woods-country-spring-bursts-colour-traditional-April-showers-return-weekend-temperatures-drop-10C.html#comments :twitcy::twitcy:

Oh no sorry to hear that! Well I'm sure you're in very good hands - I ended up with an emergency C/S and could not have asked for better care from the public system. And of course it's all worth it when you finally meet your little one. I'm clucky for my next already yikes! Good luck!!xx

Oh yes my Partner being Aussie would have made us eligible for family tax benefits as minuscule as that amount is!! The PPL however was entirely based on my employment situation and residency status. How long now Blossom or is your baby now here??

Hi I didn't update when granted as I've been busy with a new baby! My 457 transition 186 was granted on May 22 14 and I submitted the app on 22 Dec 13. Nomination approved in March - the rest took longer due to issues with chest X-rey and pregnancy. Good luck everyone!

Hi there i know this had come up a few times so I thought I would share my experience. I became pregnant on a 457 visa and applied for PR whilst pregnant (186) but this was not granted until after my baby was born. I made the decision not to have the X-ray whilst pregnant so the visa couldn't be processed until after delivery. I was advised that I would not be entitled to any Centrelink benefits. However - I put the application in anyway as I thought I could appeal any rejection. I sent supporting info etc letter from immigration saying X-ray in pregnancy is not advised. Anyway, my paid parental leave has been granted. Along with family tax credit! So if anyone is in a similar position and anxious about going the X-ray while pregnant to speed up the process - all is not lost and you may still be able to get the allowances if you decide to wait until after baby is born.

Hi there were you advised in your own immiaccount the nomination had been approved ?