lea211

It depends where you decide to start, but I reckon as people have mentioned, the seasonal working places would be better for making friends/getting a job. I have always found it easy to find work in Aus before and during uni, so you shouldn't struggle too much but the market isn't as good as it was two or three years ago. Even if you stayed in a hostel for a few weeks while you found a job and made friends, then you could look for more long term accommodation. I don't think your age is an issue at all, if anything you are wiser and know yourself and what you want With regards to jobs, it might be off-putting to potential employers if you tell them you're only allowed to work for one employer for 6 months.... personally I'd just "forget" to mention it. In my experience I was rarely asked what kind of visa I was on, and even when I told them they weren't familiar with the rules. On the other hand, a responsible employer would check what your work rights are anyway.

I'm moving in June to Vic as marrying an Aussie. Have lived in Aus previously so very much know what to expect, and lucky enough to have nearly my entire immediate family there (albeit in a different state) hence having Australian SO. So excited as it's been over 5 years in the making thanks to study. Good luck to everyone moving, I can't imagine anyone not loving it! There are so many opportunities there and having travelled extensively around Aus, I think it's got something for everyone.

Hi guys, I've applied for a prospective marriage visa submitted October. The dept have advised to wait until April to get medicals and character checks, however, I'm going back to Aus in July to wait for visa grant there. I was wondering if anyone knows if it's okay to get my medical in Aus rather than UK? I have to provide police checks from AFP due to living there for a substantial amount of time too, I'm guessing they won't object to me getting my check from Aus too or is it better to have that sorted before I enter the country on a tourist visa? Thanks in advance

Did you pick a venue while you were there? I can't go back before my visa is granted - due to work and uni - so I'm stuck trying to decide if I should get someone else to look at places on my behalf or leave it 'til I move over. It's looking likely we'll have to push things back to 2016

Yep, at Majura Park next to Costco. Majura Road is also getting a well needed upgrade too.

Lived there for a few years and my entire family still does. I would move back permanently in a heartbeat if it was an option. A very clean, well planned city with lots of greenery and little traffic. There are lots of museums and places to go, and lots of restaurants. Like someone said earlier, Kingston and Manuka is probably best if you enjoy the night life. For the size of it, Canberra is spread out. The suburbs all have their own little shopping areas, and each cluster of suburbs have malls and town centres, then there is one big centre/CBD which is known as civic. Canberra, in my opinion, is a very safe city. One thing I loved about it was that you have everything you need around you - a good selection of shops, Ikea is being built, Costco arrived not long ago and even if that wasn't enough you can always hop onto the Hume highway to Sydney for the day. Someone else mentioned that the South Coast is a couple of hours away too, and there are lots of walks and small towns not too far that can be explored. I'm not going to lie, it's not for everyone but with it having a reputation of being boring and in the middle of nowhere, a lot of Australians don't give it a chance. I guess the worst that can happen is you try it and don't like it?

Thanks both. Do they email or phone? Also, how much of your weddings have you planned so far? I've set a provisional date for Nov next year but I think I'll have to put it back to 2016 if this visa takes 12 months!

Hi guys, I'm in the same situation. Sent visa off on thursday and according to royal mail it was received the next day. How do you know when it has officially been lodged? I've been reading a lot on this visa and it sounds like at the moment it is taking a lot longer for people who have lodged in the past month or so - closer to 12months processing When did you send your police check and medicals?

Thanks for that. Pretty sad to know it's gone up again. I guess it's better to get things going now then. If you don't mind me asking, did you book a celebrant before your visa was granted?

Hi, I am living in UK while OH is a citizen of Aus and currently residing there. We were planning on lodging the application in December time as I was informed a few months ago that the current processing was 5 months. As I understand from looking around on here, it's more like 8-9 months, and as my uni course ends (and for financial reasons) it really has to be granted around May/June 2015. So can anyone confirm it is currently 8/9 months? My second question: We have not planned our wedding at all yet. We are still in two minds whether it should be in Aus or to go overseas somewhere, but we didn't want to put down certain plans until visa is granted so we could be 100% sure about dates. As it's required to have a NOIM how does this work if you want to marry overseas? Is it certain that you MUST have confirmed plans or is there anything else we can provide as evidence? I am currently in Aus for another month as we have been house hunting, but I was wondering if we decide to marry in Aus would my OH be able to employ the services of a celebrant and lodge a NOIM without me being here, or do we have to do it together while I'm here? This whole process is so expensive and complicated :wacko: Thanks for any wise words, much appreciated in advance.