Melbkitty

I've been in Aus for 4 years and luckily my parents haven't put any guilt trip on me, however I do worry about my parents (mum especially) & the future as my Sister has now moved here so they have 'lost' both their girls, and my brother who is in the UK with partner & little boy can be very unsupportive & selfish. I'm having a baby next year and my Sister is planning to start a family too - although my parents would never communicate their disappointment at us being so far away, I know they feel it. Saying that, they are currently here on their third trip to Melbourne & staying 5 months this time now they have retired - I wasn't sure they would be keen to make the journey but they love it here. They are both age 60 & I know the trips over will become increasingly difficult. I worry what will happen if they (or we) become sick. I guess you just have to be prepared to be flexible and review your situation when needed

Awesome thanks for advice - didn't realise I could just scan & upload colour scans!

Yep - infact during a flight from UK - AUS you would be exposed to more radiation than a chest x-ray: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/Radiation/UnderstandingRadiation/UnderstandingRadiationTopics/DoseComparisonsForIonisingRadiation/

Hi WRussell I'm applying for the 186 visa and need to provide a certified passport and birth certificate copy

PPL would allow me to stay home with my baby for much longer rather than returning to work and utilising childcare. I've assessed the risks and I can't actually find anything that suggests detrimental effects of chest x rays to the fetus. If anyone can find information they suggests otherwise I would be really interested to read it, other than the blanket 'we do not recommend' from immigration as of course they do not want to condone that such a practice would be safe on pregnancy.

Bit confused & can't find any info on the website! Can a Migration Agent (not my own) do it? Or my GP (but they have known me less than a year)?

If you don't have PR from the baby's birth you are not eligible for Paid Parental Leave, it states quite clearly on the application form. So you can't apply for it a few weeks later/months when your PR is granted on having the X-ray. I know of at least 2 people in the last 2 years however who have gained PPL after gaining PR after the birth - I don't know if paperwork has changed, if they lied on the form, or if DHS overlooked it. The baby bonus is being scrapped on March 1st 2014 but if you have an Aussie partner & baby arrives before then, they could claim it. I'm choosing to have the X-ray in my third trimester because the amount of radiation that the baby is exposed to is considered to be of a safe level, however I know many would still prefer not to take the risk as it is not a medical necessity.

By the way you can still get other benefits if your PR is granted after the baby is born - family tax benefit which is means tested but there is one part that accounts for being a single income family - and childcare rebates. And of course you would then have the option to return to work P/T. For paid parental leave though ($622 a week for 18 weeks) you would need to be a resident from the day baby arrives.

It feels that way at first but people manage and so will you, don't let it take away from the excitement of having a baby! If yours or your partners employer can help you with pr that would be ideal. You do however need to have pr from the baby's date of birth and the process does involve a chest x ray and most choose to wait until after the baby is born to have this. After careful consideration and research I am opting to have the x ray in my final trimester and requesting a lead apron. I do know of one person though who's 186 was approved whilst pregnant and she waited to have the chest x ray after the birth but I think she was perhaps just lucky and had a sympathetic case officer!. My plan is to take 9 months off regardless of whether or not I receive PPL and them return to work 3 days a week. You don't have to spend a fortune on baby stuff - my partner signed up to an online consumer review site called Choice and finding that many cheaper items score just as highly in terms of safety and features than some of the more expensive brands. You can also buy whole bundles of baby clothes on eBay for $30-$40. And at 6 months I haven't bought a single maternity item I am just wearing maxi dresses which are really comfy and sit nicely on my bump it's also worth noting that through the public system I have not paid a penny for any of the care I have revived so far and we start 12 hours of childbirth education classes very soon!

On a 457 you get diddly squat from the government, and whatever your company entitlement is but you would usually need to be working there for a year. Mine provide 6 weeks paid and 12 months unpaid. Will your employer support you for a 186 visa? I'm hoping mine will be processed before the baby is born so I receive PPL. There are other benefits once you have PR also such as family tax and childcare benefits which give you a 50% rebate on childcare when you do return to work. I don't believe you would be able to return to work part time on a 457 visa either. Roxy have you had your baby yet?

With you on that Sarah! My fella's dad is Lebanese & his mum is from QLD - he was born in Aus, he was just a little dumbfounded by the question!

Hi there I'm just completing my application for 186 visa (form 80 regarding character assessment) which is asking for details on my partner who is not included on the application as he is Australian "Is your partner of Arabic descent?" and also asks for the name of his father's father. Does anybody know the relevance of this question? Thanks

Hi there My employer has agreed to nominate me for the 186 (457 transition) & I need to get moving on the process ASAP and hopefully have a grant by March 2014. My part of the application is ready to send, so I'm waiting for my employer to lodge the nomination. I'm aware that lodging nomination & application speeds up the process & also I risk losing the application fee in the event of the nomination being rejected. However, does anybody know if it is possible to transfer the fee to another visa application in this case? Eg if nomination is rejected, I can apply for Defacto without having to pay another application fee? Many thanks

Oh & another thing that helped me when I was experiencing homesickness - I stopped looking on this section of the forum! Whilst it was great to talk to people who could relate - negativity breeds negativity and when you're constantly reading posts about Aus Vs UK and what you feel you have 'lost' - it can keep you in that mindset to some extent, in my opinion.

I felt like this for about 3/4 months and made a trip home which confused me further - I came back Aus though & started working, became settled and almost 4 years later I'm struggling to find the motivation to pay the UK a visit. I couldn't even imagine living in the UK now & of course there will be so many things you miss as they have been part of your life for so long. I find a good Aussie bashing rant with fellow Poms helps when we miss the British culture Why did you move to Aus, what were you hoping for? Remind yourself of that when you feel pants! I'm having a baby next year & do sometimes feel guilty for my parents espcially that they will not be as involved in their grandson/daughter's life - however after visiting Aus several times, my mum would be the first to admit that Melbourne is a much nicer placer to raise kids than many parts of the UK - safer, better weather to enjoy outdoor spaces etc. You could also look at other parts of Aus - I couldn't live anywhere other than Victoria for now - my partner is from QLD & we may eventually move there to be closer to his family, however I may well struggle.

Awww congrats to you too mummy! So exciting

I'm pregnant and on a 457 visa - my baby is due in March and more than likely I will not have PR at this time. As it stands I am entitled to 6 weeks maternity pay from work (other workplaces are more generous, but nothing like the UK) and 12 months unpaid leave, possible additional 12 months and flexible return to work conditions. If my PR has not been processed by the time the baby arrives, I won't be entitled to Paid Parental Leave which amounts to $11k over 18 weeks if you earn less than $150k. As my partner is Aussie, we are entitled to the Baby Bonus & other family assistance benefits - however from March 1st the bonus is being scrapped and will be incorporated into family tax benefit A, and is being reduced from $5k to $1k. So if our little one arrives on the due date we won't be entitled to this either. In terms of matenity care - I'm going throught the public system which has been great so far and all bulk billed to Medicare so I have not paid a penny. The majority of my pregnant Aussie mates are going private though and on average will end up 10k out of pocket by the time the baby arrives. I wouldn't recommend coming over on a 457 with a view to have children in Aus - it's a terribly unstable visa and has caused me multiple issues, even though it's looking like (touch wood) it will lead to PR in the not too distant future. I came to Aus 4 years ago as a single person so babies wasn't on the agenda, however life happens & the visa process can be lengthy - at 32 I'm happy to be starting a family now.

Thank-you very much for the advice - I think I was having a freaked out pregnancy moment back there about 'what ifs'. I have been with my partner for juts over a year - therefore would not qualify for automatic PR and a long wait in store! However, my employer FINALLY agreed to assist me with the 186 visa this week which means I can get cracking on this ASAP. Quoll - I want to raise my child in Aus & my concern was that there would be a possibility of me having to leave and the child staying. I want to get my PR ASAP so I can feel secure in Australia at last.

Hi WRussell thanks for the response. Like I said its not a case of me needing or wanting to return to the UK, I'm just looking at potential scenarios as realistically I won't have PR for another 3 years (even though I've lived here 4 already). Most likely I will be going down the defacto route (just waiting for a 'no' from my employer first - been waiting 1.5 years....) and unfortunately I am unable to afford an agent, the defacto fees, and I will also be on unpaid maternity leave as I do not qualify for any government assistance due to my 457 status.

Hi there I have some hypothetical questions that, although not affecting me at present, are running around my anxious pregnant mind! I am five months pregnant on a 457 (have been on this for 3.5 years). Employer isn't giving me any straight answers about assisting me with PR so I have been looking at the defacto route. My partner is Australian, and we meet the criteria for the defacto visa, however I understand I will be waiting a good 12 months at least before it is granted - and then will have another 2 years on a preliminary visa before PR is granted, if we are still together. I wondered what happens in the event that we break up whilst I'm on the preliminary visa? I would have to gain his consent to move back to the UK with our baby, but I wouldn't have a visa in Aus. So is there a possibility I could actually have to return back home, without my child? Does this happen? Many thanks for any responses

I've worked with a couple of bizarre and toxic people like this in my current company and like you had never previously encountered it. It stems from low self esteem in my opinion - why else would someone behave this way and try up exert some control on people who are usually less assertive. Perhaps she knows that you don't want to rock the boat too due to your visa. I agree keep records if there is anything tangible to go to her senior about, but I deal with these individuals by feeling a bit sorry for them and not allowing it to affect me the minute I leave their company. Also just be super pleasant - they often don't know how to react when they see you are not intimidated or affected by them.

Human resource adviser & manager is on the list for WA - I don't think there is any occupation in that area on QLD or VIC lists. You could try and find another sponsor & ask if they will nominate you for direct entry PR. Is your employer aware of how straightforward the process is for 457 transition to PR? I've been on at mine for a couple of years now & I think they may finally be coming round!

Regional could be an option for you then! I studied Midwifery years ago and dropped out with a year to go which I often regret as its on every list, but no use dwelling on the past and there is more to life than migrating to Australia! You still have time and another sponsor may come through - try not to panic - easier said than done when you feel stuck in a lousy job but things have a way of working out x

Aussieange - you might have to check that as I believe the skill needs to be on the SOL, or the CSOL if it's on a the state sponsorship list!

You can claim workcover for mental health issues that are a result of work - a colleague of mine received paid leave and counselling during a period of stress he said was the result of bullying by another co-worker.