Beffers

You will be given access to a screen once you've submitted which allows you to upload all the evidence. You get a limited number of uploads and so put things together in compilation PDFs. We uploaded loads of evidence, so start compiling all your files now. It takes a fair bit of time to get it all together.

Given all the comments since my last comments and more information coming to light, I'd speak to an agent if I were you, to make sure you're going down the right path. They can guide you on your best options.

Or non-marriage relationships where there have been children arising from the relationship, as that child will need to be declared etc.

How long have you been together? I'd say for for the 309/100 and providing your evidence is worthy and you've been together for a number of years, the. He would qualify for the 100 permanent residency straight away. We had been together for 14 years, me British and Aussie hubby and a daughter with both passports, who was almost 6. We had 12 years of defector evidence, and our Stat Decs and own Statements backed all this up. We had enquired at Australia House in Londom and they said providing we were fastidious with our paperwork, and told us how to present the information, and not to bother with an agent, so we did ourselves and it took 3 months from start to fi ish last heR and we went straight to PR. We've now been in Australia just over a year. That said, Partner Visas have been under a lot of scrutiny and you'll have read elsewhere on this Forum that some refusals and appeals have been discussed, so you may wish to discuss your application with an Agent to reassure yourselves that it's the best option for you. In terms of his career, I wondered whether my own government clearance had given me a quick turnaround but I don't know that it did make a difference, or whether we were just lucky. Whatever you decide, good luck!!!

Judging from press release, one in four middle management are being cut.

Normally marriage and defacto/long term relationships I think, although someone else may comment to confirm.

You submit the application first and then you'll be given access to the upload screen for both you and your partner.

I don't know much about the visa stream you're interested in, but have the following two comments: Firstly, due to not quite having enough points, and other factors you mention, use an Agent who can assess your situation properly and provide a proper assessment. Secondly, you'll probably find it easier to get a job once you have a visa, as most employers can't offer work to someone who doesn't have working rights. But. Erin Networking, lots of Aussie firms look at LinkedIn so make sure that's up to date. Put the feelers out and network with agencies in your chosen locality but bear the above in mind about work rights etc. good luck!

Sounds like you need to apply for a 309 visa. Your evidence will need to prove you're a genuine as-good-as-married couple. There's lots of info on the 309 visa on these pages, and there's a Partner Visa booklet you can download from Immi website.

Drop me a line with any specific questions, happy to help!

Yep we were also wondering whether we had given them information overload (like 80 pages of financial evidence across 15 years)!! And most of our evidence was interlinked (Facebook post about a trip to see friends, booking.com evidence to prove travel, bank statement showing debits, friends stat Dec including the trip in their statement, joint travel evidence, etc). It was extremely tedious, but I can remember thinking at the time that if that doesn't get us across the line, then nothing will lol.

And I'm adding 2+2 together here, Brunswick + 17.5% Super sounds like RMIT - if it is, go for it. Fab uni. Have friends who work there. I used to work at Monash but have since transferred into a specialism within government.

Get your Mrs to join UK Mums in Melbourne Facebook page. Lots of support on there. Melbourne can be busy, traffic wise, so choose your suburb with public transport in mind. Your wife should find work but she needs to be prepared that she may not get the contract or pay she wants as a secondary applicant on your visa. Childcare is fairly pricey with places at a premium and long waiting lists, and no Childcare subsidies or help at all on a temporary visa. For the northern suburbs, maybe check out Templestowe, Eltham, Montmorency, and around that area. Your rental estimate is a bit on the low side and I'd be moving towards the 600/week to be more realistic. Rentals can be hideous so you'll need to choose with care. Do some basic research on realestate.com.au and check out suburbs on homely.com.au for viewpoints. When we came to Melbourne last year, our initial costs were flights, £1500 for family of 3 via Singapore, our 20ft container was £4500 all in, all following in $$: rental car for two weeks 500, then we got a second hand Astra for 2500 to see us thru. Rego was around 800 and insurance around 200. We had 3 weeks in an AirBandB which was about 700 all in. Then we paid months bond and months rent up front on rental which was 1716 bond and same in rent (we live in a different area) and another sum for contents insurance. We had to buy a few things whilst we waited on our container to arrive. Make sure you also factor in private health insurance, for which we pay around 130/fortnight for a family of 3 and Ambo cover is not expensive but essential. I think utility bills are quite high here but you can set up payment plans etc. as a tenant, you don't pay rates, as your landlord pays those. I think your 20K should cover a fair whack of all that. Finally a temporary visa is just that, temporary. You need to accept that, whilst you may be able to secure PR, it's not guaranteed, the regs become tighter every year and you may be returning to UK at end of the adventure, just something to bear in mind. The other post above about removing children is a very real one. I know two families who are stuck here as they failed to take that seriously. Credit history works differently here. I got a car loan without any difficulty by showing pay slips and paying a 2K deposit. It's not based on what you've done so much, but about your ability to repay. Lots of people lease here too and you can do that with a few payslips behind you. Carsales.com.au is good for second hand cars if you wanted a cheapie to give you a runabout from the off. Notwithstanding all the above, we've been here a year now and have not looked back since we touched down last year. Victoria is an amazing region, and we've had a ball!! Good luck!!

They certainly demand top dollar for what are glorified shacks lol - think it's going to be interesting when I start looking to buy a house later this year!! ?

Yep I'm outer East as well, and it's certainly been nippy the past week or so. It's my second Melbourne Winter and it feels colder this year than last, but perhaps as I was newly arrived last year, I hadn't acclimatised!! Insulation may now be mandatory but certainly where I live in the Dandenong Ranges, a lot of the housing stock is much older and older building refs were not up to much, clearly!!

Let's hope you get a reasonably timed grant!! Ugh the deck uttering, that's one bit I hated but we were determined to just have a 20 foot container so halved our belongings!!! Still bought my library over tho lol

Congrats on getting your visa. Good luck with the BIG move. It's worth all the heartache!

Assume you could use a Uk solicitor/notary to certify your paperwork on sight of originals etc. Good luck.

You've an excited ride ahead!! Can't believe we've been here a year now and it's been great! I remember the packing and clearing crap in advance of the container arriving!! It's one weird feeling watching it chuff off down the street with your life in it!! Good luck with it all tho, and good luck on the 100!

Ah I see. Thanks!

We opened a GBP migrant account with Westpac that sits alongside our AUD current account, we just transfer money online between accounts. No fees at either end. Our bank in Uk was Barclays who are Westpac's UK partner so we avoid all ATM fees in Aus and Uk, and can transfer in either direction within 24 hours without any fees at any point in transactions.

Just ensure you pursue the temporary visa with the view that you will be returning to the Uk at the end of it. I've seen too many people sell up, come over on a temp visa, not qualify for PR and have to move back to Blighty, esp difficult if there are kids involved.

Do people not use this thread any more?? This was a godsend to me whilst I was going thru the process!

She has 12 months to get private health cover sorted. You get a letter when you first register with medicare. Ambulance cover needs to be set up separately. Bank account, set this up online before you go. Saved us time and was far easier to transfer GBP to Australia that way. I did my driving license straight away as I did like showing my foreign (UK) passport as ID! I also registered with the British/UK Consulate (as a permanent or temporary resident, you're not entitled to Australian consular services only British until she gets her Australian citizenship). Other than that, I can't think of anything more I did when I arrived on my 100 last year. Good luck!

That must've changed since last year as when I arrived in Melb, my Aussie husband and daughter when thru AU Citizens and I was told to go to other passport arrivals. My passport activated visa automatically, I had a copy of my Immi grant letter on me just in case, and I got into arrivals before them as there were more people in their queue!