MelanieJS

As above, what are your thoughts about moving money from UK to Australia - is the exchange rate good?

Hi,  I need to transfer money from UK to Australia.   

I have used Moneycorp, who were fine but that was two years ago.   

Can anyone recommend others and why? 

TIA

Hi,

We have the money from the sale of our house in our UK bank account and will be moving it over to Oz when we buy a house here.

However, with everything going on in the UK with Brexit etc. and the dropping £pound, is it better to move our money over now rather than wait in the hope the £pound gets stronger?    

Any advice?

Thanks

8 hours ago, Paige03 said:

That's great news! Worried sick about my two. Can't wait to see them again 

I'm sure they will both be fine.   I picked mine up from the airport and we went to the park and it was like she hadn't even done two flights and 10 days' quarantine.   

Where are going to/living in Oz?

18 minutes ago, Paige03 said:

Just wanted to second what @Patphillips47 has said about Golden Arrow as we are using them. My dogs fly out tomorrow. We had an issue 2 weeks ago with one of them at their penultimate vet check and Golden Arrow were great at sorting it out. I thought they were going to have to be separated so know how devastating that feels. Really hope you get it sorted quickly x 

I spoke to Chris today and I am definitely going to use them.    He gave me good advice, so hopefully my two girls can come over earlier than having to wait 6 months.    

Good luck with your dogs' flight tomorrow.    Mine have already done the flight before and they were fine.   x

21 minutes ago, Patphillips47 said:

Melanie Golden Arrow picked our boy up from home we lived in the North East ,Sunderland , cost extra but well worth it -he stayed with them for a week prior to shipping and I truly can not fault them we would have been in a right mess with the lost blood test but they took Ralphy to their vets and couriered the bloods to the place that tests them 

I am more than happy to pay extra - I think I will give them a call and see if I can use them instead.    Thanks for the advice

35 minutes ago, Patphillips47 said:

Oh thats so bad -our  vet lost the last blood test before our boy was due to fly and told us when we were in Singapore en route ( we had left Ralphy with Golden Arrow who were shipping him )

Luckily Golden Arrow pulled out all stops to get tests done and through but the stress ruined our stay over in Singapore 

I was so careful too about step by step procedures with our vet it was devastating - have you spoken to the people who will ship your two maybe they can advise as well 

 

OMG!  That is terrible.  However careful we are, as owners, to be organised etc. it seems it is the vets that make silly mistakes.   

Our vet will now be paying over £4k for our dog to stay at carers for 6 months - just because of getting a digit wrong.    

Apparently, our vet spoke to Airpets who we are using.   I emailed Airpets too but the girl who is dealing with sending the dogs over is so lacklustre in replying, it is ridiculous.   I have sent her two emails recently and hasn't responded to either.   I may request a different handler anyway.   

I wanted to use Golden Arrow but it was too far for the carers to drive to take the dogs.  I know they could meet them at Heathrow but Airpets collect from home and I used them before.   

Imapla - I'm hoping to persuade the Oz side to allow my dog to have another blood test and if that is fine, have another blood test about 6 weeks later.  Hoping that if they are both above the required level then they will allow her to go.    They have said that they have never heard of it happening before and it is bizarre that the level is so different only 4 months later.    

Both my dogs have travelled to Oz already in 2015.   

My carers will look after both dogs for the whole 6 months which is a relief but it is a lot of money £4k+ for 1 dog.   The vets will be paying for Maisie and we will have to pay for our other dog Mabel.     Mabel is fine to fly but I couldn't separate them as Mabel relies on Maisie too much.   

It is a nightmare I could do without.

They were meant to fly out at the end of August so they were going to stay with carers for 6 weeks but I doubt they can look after them for the whole 6 months as they will have other bookings.   

The vet is looking into every avenue but it doesn't look like it.   

I was on a RRV and had to return to UK as my mum is terminally ill. I have just applied for another RRV and it was approved within 3 days.....it is a 1 year RRV.

I bought my Samsung Smart TV (series 6) back to the UK from Australia.

Do you know if I can use it in the UK?

Does anyone know how to change the location settings or do I have to change the DNS settings?

I can still watch the Smart Hub online channels All 4/ITV Hub/BBC iplayer etc., it just won't allow me to tune in UK channels.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Contact Airpets. We used them when we took our 2 dogs and they were great. I didn't think it was complicated. You just have to put all the dates they need vaccines etc. on a calendar, that way you won't miss one and be on schedule. Get all your paperwork organised and in order. It is all about organisation and preparation.

Sorry, just re read your first post, malteser.

 

A few months in brissie.

 

The decision becomes harder.

 

Have you got a coin?

Unfortunately no coin and if I did, it probably wouldn't help - I would probably second guess that too lol.

Wasn't my intention to worry you and fwiw I think it unlikely that in your situation a future visa would be a problem. Australia have taken the route of cranking up the cost of the actual visa rather than imposing financial restrictions (as the UK is doing).

 

Btw you can migrate and have 25 years Super AND pay your NI stamp (need 35 years for the full pension, not 30) if you wanted to.

 

There are quite a few ping-pongers on this site but reading your post I am not seeing anything that says you should really do this now. You say you see yourself in Brisbane 10 years from now but why not 15 or 20 years from now for instance. You seem to be just beating yourself up over a decision which really does not HAVE to be made now.

'Bye Grey Sky' - you have actually really helped me with your responses. I think that I am just over-panicking.

I think my partner would prefer to be here for another 8-10 years and then want to go back. I just don't want to stay here and by doing that scuppering my chances of moving back to Oz.

One of the major issues would be getting an RRV. To be honest if the travel part of the visa has already expired then, even if you applied now, there is no guarantee as you technically don't meet the criteria. However, they are normally fairly lenient with RRV's and I would expect you to be granted one. But, I think it may be unlikely in 10 years time - the technical criteria would mean you showing significant ties to Australia and a compelling reason for not living there.

 

The other thing I would urge is some good financial planning via a professional. For example, you mention getting your UK pension. But, are you aware that the UK pension is frozen the moment you start drawing it while abroad. At the same time, you are not going to have time to pay a lot into a Australian Super account.

Wouldn't one of my significant ties be that my partner is Australian and if they move to Oz, I would go too?

This is one of my issues re pension. I'm trying to weigh up whether it is better to move over to Oz now so I have 20 odd years to put into a superannuation.

Thanks for all your responses.

Outdoors living - I used to run in the UK but I hated running in the cold and rain. I didn't have the 'get up and go' to do it most of the year. In the summer, (on the odd warm days) I was fine. I know that running in Brisbane in the summer will probably not happen as I'll be too hot lol but the rest of the year will be more suitable to me.

RRV Visa - Is it likely that they will be making it harder for people to return on an RRV/Spouse Visa?

This is my issue too - we definitely want to be in Oz in 10 years time. The dilemma is whether we go back now so I can get my citizenship and stick at it or stay here for the time-being. 'Gbye Grey Sky' has me worried that I won't be able to get a visa in future.

Job - This is worrying to think that I will struggle to get a job at 50! I'm not bothered about staying in my current job area - my skills are transferrable but now I'm worried about getting a job.

I found we have a bigger friend basis in Brisbane, plus two of my oldest friends have just moved there too. Whereas here, we don't meet up with our friends that often due to location and them being busy with their children etc.

There are good and bad points about both places - it is trying to work out what we want now.

Thanks for all your helpful posts x

You have an acute case of "curse of the expat". Once you have lived in two places, you can spend your days constantly comparing one to the other and wondering what if. I am the same. It is hard for those of us that were happy in both locations, it is somehow easier for those that hated life in once location, if they can move to where they want to be that is. Obviously some get trapped but that is another thread.

 

We are similar ages to yourselves, a touch older but not much, currently 46 and 42. We returned to UK last year having rationalised our reasons for doing so. We are about to take a holiday to Australia and a few weeks ago I announced we should be looking for jobs in Australia in order to move back. Curse of the expat strikes again.

 

I cannot recommend any course of action for you because it it personal choice, but we have decided that we should see out our working lives here in the UK. But work towards acquiring a second home in Australia over the next ten years. Another move at this stage is once more silly money on moving two adults, a dog and two cats, for a life where we will only once again be pondering whether we would have been better off in UK and comparing two lives that are by and large equivalent. We are going to force ourselves to stop thinking about the options and concentrate on making the choice we have made work.

 

You actually sound less Australia inclined than I am, I am tempted to say stay put and think about Aus for retirement.

Thanks Bungo! It is bloody hard and I envy all those people who hate either UK or Oz and can happily settle in their chosen country.

Thankfully we don't have children as that is more expense plus having to think of education.

In some ways it would be easier to stay in the UK, buy another house and be mortgage free in 10 years and then think about going back to Oz. Then I think about the 10 years of lifestyle I'm cheating myself out of in Oz lol.

I was on an RRV so hopefully I will be able to get another one in 10 years time. I would still have personal ties as my partner is an Australian citizen and we will have been together for 26 years by then. Again, I'm worried in case I wouldn't be able to get another one and should I go now - it never ends.

Hi all,

I am an avid reader of this site but have never posted before. However, I'm in a dilemma and need some proper advice!

I lived in Brisbane for a few months and didn't settle. Nor did my partner who is Australian but has lived for many years in London/Surrey. I think both of us were in shock and never really gave it a good go. We were out of our comfort zone and just wanted our old lives back (even though we left UK for a better outdoors lifestyle).

We both were shocked at how quiet it was (probably because there are less people compared to overpopulated London/Surrey.

We do have a good group of friends in Brisbane and two of my oldest friends have just moved and we probably a better social life than here in UK.

Over a few months I grew to like Brisbane and enjoy the laid back way of life although I hadn't worked there. My partner however still wanted to return to UK.

Another point is that my mother isn't very well and her health isn't going to get better, only worse. It looks like she won't be around for many years.

We are currently in the UK, my partner is work and I have a job interview tomorrow.

However, we are both unsure on whether we should stay here or go back! Since being back, my partner can see aspects of UK life in a different light and can see the benefits of Aussie life, however she can't make a decision one way or the other. She wants to stay here and she wants to go back.

I obviously have the pull of my family here but also this is my home and what I'm used to.......meaning back in my comfort zone.

However, starting a new job feels me with dread (both here and in Oz) and although I'm good at what I do, I struggle with nerves.

We both eventually want to return to Oz though and don't want to retire in the UK.

We aren't sure if we should stay for a year or two or go back after 10 years when I'm 50 and my partner is 56.

Obviously going back and forth isn't great on finances and I just want my life back and get a house and fill it with my furniture which is still in storage.

I'm worried about whether I would get a job at 50 in Brisbane.

Also, is it better to complete my 30 years stamp here or go to Aus and have at least 25 years superannuation?

I'm worried about if we go into a recession here and also if Oz goes into a recession.

Or do we just make the move (again) and stick with it?

I'm not sleeping and feel stressed all the time and we just keep having the same 'discussion/conversation' but not getting any resolution. My brain is frazzled and now I'm rambling.

If anyone can offer advice, that would be great.

We lived in Hendra and there were so many toads in the evening. We had two dogs and were so worried as they are poisonous to dogs.

Are all the suburbs in Brisbane overrun with toads? Is there anything you can do to deter them etc?

Thanks

Hi all,

Thanks for all your responses.

Firstly, we did return to the UK. I wanted to stay in Australia by the end but my partner had been offered a job until end of July. I think we were both in panic mode but being back my partner has seen UK in a different light. We have always liked Sydney so are just discussing about the possibility of moving there. Job prospects are better for me in Sydney than in Brisbane anyway.

Secondly, our dogs are our importance so I would always check with vets plus the pet carriers (Airpets) first.

Thirdly, we paid the rent in the end. I felt too guilty (although there was a health & safety issue with the front door which the agents 'brushed under the carpet').

Fourthly, my partner is Australian and did her original teaching degree in Oz but has taught in UK for the past 18 years. She is currently deputy head of special needs so would be looking for something similar or head of year. She also taught in Brisbane this year.

Fifthly (?), we would want restaurant/cafes/pub etc in any suburb we were living as that is where we would hope to mainly socialise. We would not be going into Sydney every time we were going out.

Thanks for all your responses and I hope I cleared up some of the queries.

Definitely Bulimba

My partner (Australian) and I (British) are thinking of moving to Sydney. My partner is a teacher, so can work all over Sydney and I am in broadcasting so I will probably work in the CBD.

We don't want to be right in the city but we want to be able to access the Sydney centre easily (train/bus) for nights out. We are looking for an area that has a selection of bars/restaurants/cafes plus parks for our two dogs.

We will look to rent first but also plan to buy eventually (and don't want to live in a shoebox but also not a mansion lol).

Any area suggestions??

I applied for a de-facto visa as I am in a same sex relationship (my partner is Australian) a few years back.

We didn't use a migration agent - didn't feel the need to and it saved us money. It was all very straightforward.

You have to make sure you have a lot of evidence to prove you are in a relationship.

We used photos/letters/cards/travel documents and tickets etc. If you have joint bills then that would help (we didn't though). Our friends and family also had to do statutory declarations as well.

We didn't have the option of being able to enter into a civil partnership or marriage then so I guess this is a extra bonus for you.

Good luck

Is Brisbane (or Australia as a whole) likely to go through a recession anytime soon? I keep hearing conflicting talk.

Anyone have any idea?