CJT

On 04/09/2019 at 11:48, Franklin05 said:

Husband and I moved out to OZ 10 years ago, in that time we've moved to 4 states looking for work, got a dog and had two kids and finally after securing permanent work built and bought a house, with the view to returning to the UK in about 3 to 5 years time (missing culture and family - who are now getting on and in need of extra support).

Husband has had a few difficulties with work, new management, change in direction of the organisation and he along with another staff member have become the fall guys and management are looking to remove them and I guess start afresh, not necessarily an easy process and HR and unions are involved. Husband has been essentially been given 2 months, until precisely what they wont clarify but from the way things are at the moment we're expecting him to be leaving the organisation one way or another. 

So the move to the UK we had planned in a few years will now be in the next few months. It's a lot to take in, remaining or moving (yet again) in Australia is not really a possibility due to costs (our last interstate move cost about $10,000 for furniture removal, vehicle transport costs and our flights), securing work and that fact that we have already done that more times than I care to remember, practically it makes sense to return to the UK sooner. Mine and my daughters UK passports are expired, we haven't even gotten around to getting our sons. We are located remotely, there are limited jobs, and a down turn in the property market so we can't sell and will have to rent the house out. We have very little money, most of that went into the house and my parents will be supporting us finically to return and to get set up there.

I feel so overwhelmed, especially with all the uncertainty going on with Brexit and the austerity measures, our daughter requires a specific medication, and several therapies and occasional in class support - we had been hoping to get most of these these therapies out of the way before returning and I am so worried about the affect this will have on her. I know once resident we will be entitled to NHS and school etc, but with therapy under way here there will be a gap in services and starting out on waiting lists again and a system I've not used in a decade. 

What do we need to consider in the move back? 

If you are planning on selling the property at a later date be carefull of the Capital Gains changes for non residents which come into effect From July 2020.  Suggest you get some advice on implications of this.

1 hour ago, Vickie78 said:

Not running away from anything, except a longing to be home  

Good luck with the move, people only pointing out pension thing as we would hate for you to have an oh sh!t moment in the future.  As long as you know where you stand then all good.  FYI I felt the same way as you and moved back to the UK in 2016 - the thought of getting old out in Australia filled me with complete dread. Fitted straight back in and loving being back.

32 minutes ago, Vickie78 said:

 

Mums not retired yet, she's not that old. I have also mentioned plans to work I have no intention of going home to claim benefits(Wouldn't be able to anyway I'd assume there is  few years you have to wait like Aus) . I do have savings, and the funds for the move and mum does too. 

I was just reading on the NI information that as long as I work for at least 10 years then the state pension is a thing. I'm only 41, PLENTY of working years left in me yet and definitely more than 10, I'm pretty sure mum still has her Prudential pension or whatever you call it, bit like aussie super? that she had before we moved here as well.  My kids are old enough now to look after themselves so that's not an issue anymore. Mum worked from the age of 16 in the U.K all the way to 30 or however old she was when we left.  So my plan basically is move, get a job, get the kids into school, work my arse off save more, and yeah all will be ok.  

Also I'm debt free and not a sucker for cash day loans  

Your entitlement to the UK pension will be based on years of NI contributions - the maximum you can get is 36 years which would give you the full state pension.   If you get 25 years of contributions then you will get 25/36 or 70% of around £150pw.  This would be the maximum UK state pension you can get.  Your mum should be able to purchase some years to fill gaps - and she might be able to do this at a reduced rate as she was overseas.  If she can get the state pension from Aus BEFORE she leaves she will be able to get that paid to her when she lives in the UK.

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

It is overwhelming, isn't it?    You'll get there, just take it one thing at a time.   Some answers:

Please don't even try to secure a rental before you get there.  You (or a trusted friend) HAVE to see the place, as adverts can be very very very misleading.   Book an Airbnb or a holiday home for three or four weeks instead.  When you find a long-term rental, you'll be asked to pay six months rent upfront.   If you're currently renting in Australia, get a written reference from your landlord to take with you.

New school year starts in September.

Money - DO NOT close your Australian bank accounts, because it does take time to get your British bank accounts fully set up ( you can open an account on the day you arrive, but it was about three weeks before I could get any money out, and my husband's took six weeks). 

The easiest option is to change banks in Australia now (it's not as hard as you think).   Move to ING Bank and get yourself an ING Everyday account with a debit card. Their exchange rates are pretty good and there are no fees to withdraw money from  ATM's or pay for goods while you're overseas, so you can use it just like you would at home.   That way there's no drama if the UK bank process takes time.

If you have a large amount of money to transfer, consider using Moneycorp or Transferwise - you transfer the money to their account and it then sits there safely until you can transfer it to your UK account.

You'll get a NI number when you get there.   Once you've got it, you can claim any work experience in Australia up till 2001 towards your balance. In your case that won't be many years but every little helps!  You could also enquire about back-paying missing years, but do check whether it's going to be worth it.

I'd suggest rethinking the shipping.  Look into getting a Movecube - the small one works out cheaper than sending a few boxes, and the larger ones hold a lot.   Maybe your furniture is too old to take, but it's well worth taking ALL the small stuff.   Do a trial shop on UK websites like Dunelm.com for all your pots, pans, crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, bowls, Tupperware, bedlinen, towels, doonas, pillows, etc and see what it comes to!   We've all accumulated that stuff slowly so we don't realise how much it costs - I know I was shocked.  And it's not just the cost, it's the time it takes to shop for it all, at a time when you've just arrived in a new country and you already have a thousand other things to do.

 

You cannot get your NI history credited for years prior to 2001 if you did not have a NI number when you left.  It will start from when you actually get your NI number - you also will not be able to purchase years for the same reason.  Make sure you know how you will be able to fund your retirement.

7 hours ago, Sandgroper said:

Totally understandable in the pre-internet days, but anyone has access to a whole host of resources to research any move these days so there really can't be blame any where than with the individual.

I think you hit the nail on the head with 'The trouble is, when you're looking forward to something, you hear what you want to hear.' folk to often do this for instance why anyone can use the heat as an excuse for not liking Queensland for instance is beyond me................why would someone who perhaps prefers a cooler climate like the UK move to Brisbane say, then come on a migration forum and complain about the bloody heat!

People and circumstances change in particular their health.  What might seem like Utopia to someone at 20 might seem like hell on earth when they are 50/60/70.  And that applies to both hot and cold climates.

On 02/20/2018 at 17:25, VERYSTORMY said:

My only comment would be to fully understand the implication and what it means. Take things into account of that while friends and family may say they will come to visit, the reality is often very different. Also consider implications of if you decide you want to come home. Yes, you can just jump on a plane, but the cost implications are massive. We moved to Oz in 2008 and returned home in 2016. We were in a position that our mortgage would have long ago have been paid off, but now are having to save for a deposit. Moving to Oz is incredibly expensive and if you find yourselves being one of the many that return, more so!

Also, make sure you have the conversation in advance of what you will do if you find one wants to return and one doesn't. We see marriages die off where this happens

I'll agree with this and also add that it infuriates me with programs like Wanted Down Under.  If you move over there and there is a problem with the marriage you cannot go back to the UK with the children Unless your husband agrees to let you take them and visa versa.  I know people who effectively got stuck somewhere they did not want to be because of this and it is extremely unpleasant situation to get into.

Just picked up on this thread and wondered if anyone else has renewed passports in a similar situation.  My wife and I were both permanent residents (living in Australia) when our two children were born in Australia in 2000/2001.  They obviously have Australian birth certificates.  We became Aus citizens in 2003, but decided to move back to UK in 2016.  Our sons are looking at doing a trip back to Aus to visit friends so I was just looking at renewing their passports.  Going round in circles looking at the forms, but it states you have to prove your Australian Citizenship when your children were born - we weren't citizens then but Permanent Residents. Any clarification anyone could give would be hugely appreciated as my brain is now officially fried !!!!

15 hours ago, Johnny Kash said:

Thanks, I did have a quick look at this but didnt think it was feasible on lower balances (under the $100k mark)

You can't have a SMSF if you are a non resident as it will be non complying.

48 minutes ago, VERYSTORMY said:

The first thing is don't panic, wobbles are normal. You also have a long time to make the move and I would recommend you use it. Take your time to save as much as possible so that you aren't just relying on the house sale. Don't forget you might want to buy a house there and will need a deposit. Also, you need to budget for the time it takes to find work. You ideally need enough money to live on - rent, bills, food and day to day living for at least three months and ideally six months while you find work. 

I will though pick up on the "fantastic life" and "dream". Be careful you are not over estimating life in Oz. It is just another first world country. You will still have to do all the daily stuff you do now - clean the toilet, do the shopping, go to work. 

I will agree with VERYSTORMY here. Saying that your son will have a 'fantastic life' - that is not going to happen by just moving somwhere.  He could have a fantastic life in any first world country. While he is young a fantastic life will be to have a loving attentive family who spend time and do things with him and keep him safe.

I would also add that if you want to live by the sea it will be expensive and prohibitively so in somewhere like Sydney unless you are seriously cashed up. 

Good luck with your future plans - whatever you decide to do.

I'd rather have four seasons thanks.  I can get out way more in the UK than I could in Australia and my skin won't turn to leather and be covered in cancers when I'm older.  As lots have also said I found I was way colder in Australia during the winter - our house got down to 13 degrees and it was insulated.  If the kids have such active outdoors lifestyles in Australia why is childhood obesity such a major problem over there ?

We came back to UK with two sons, one 15 and one 16.  Timing from a schooling perspective would be considered awefull especially for our eldest, but he was not doing particularly well in Australia at school and what he would have then gone on to do I have no idea.  Our youngest dropped back into year 10 and will be doing GCSEs this year, also did work experience with employer who is keen for him to apply for an apprenticeship with them.  Eldest did resit of GCSEs in first year at college plus BTEC in sports, this year he will complete that plus is doing 1st year in another two subjects at college.  So by the end of next year he will have the equivalent of 4 A Levels and could go on to Uni if he wanted.  From our experience I would have thought with the ages of your children they should have no problem fitting in educationally.

How do I put this tactfully ?.  I suppose it depends what you are used to.  But personally I would not consider that area.

Please make sure this is something you all want to do, as your post had the feeling of someone who is not keen on making the move.  Especially as you have children, the implications of him loving it in Australia and you not settling are horrendous - particularly if your family are in the UK.

That is a bit harsh having your pets shot ?

On 04/28/2017 at 4:10 AM, paulswin said:

Just curious do we need to get a pet passport as when you go into gov sight it says countries the uk accepts pet passports from and Australia isn't on there!  I know I have to get a rabies injection but is that pretty much it?  Does that mean we can go anywhere up to a year after having her shot?

Hey all, so my husband and I have decided to return home to Scotland after 5 years here in Oz. We will be moving back with 3 little ones so want to make sure we do things the right way to make it as easy as possible for them. We have a brand new house that we have just built that we need to sell, plus 2 cars. Does anyone know of a checklist or something similar we could follow to make sure we have considered everything??? As you all know uts a minefield of info and im just so confused! Also does anyone have experience with OSS shipping? Thanks fellow pommies x

 

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We had lots of our furniture damaged by that shipping company so I would not use them again.

We've been talking about moving back to the UK for a few years now and have decided to do it next year. It's the same old expat story, I'm very homesick, have no feeling of belonging here and sick of the xenophobic shite coming out of Australian politicians' mouths.

I desperately miss being with my family in the UK even though we usually end up arguing when we're together! As each year passes I struggle with the fact I'm so far from my Dad and siblings, my Dad's 79, my brother and sister and me are in our 50's. It's hard seeing them having aged a bit more each time I go back for a visit. Not to mention my kids are missing out on spending time with their cousins, who are now in their early 20's. There are many other reasons why I want to go back but of course family is the primary reason.

I have been fortunate that my old firm have been keeping a job open for me in the hope I would return but they said recently, they can't hold it open much longer. I've only got until June next year to come over, otherwise the door shuts. It's a good job, doing what I do now, in a sought after specialized field and the pay's not bad, close to 40,000 pounds with overtime. This is my last chance to get back home knowing I've got a job when I get there, which is important as my wife needs a Spouse Visa. I feel we have to go, I can't miss this opportunity. Plus, the recent bounce in the Aussie dollar against the pound thanks to the Brexit vote has made it possible to get quite a bit more for our money than compared to last year. Who knows how long it will last, so I feel this is the time to take advantage. So, the house is on the market, we had an offer fairly quickly which we accepted though it wasn't quite as much as we had hoped. We're waiting for it to go unconditional, so it could still fall over. But once sold, the plan is to move into a rental for 6 months get rid of the stuff we don't need, then I go over to start work and find a place over there. A couple of months later the wife and kids come. Sounds straight forward enough...

 

The problem is I am seriously stressing out that it is going to be a massive mistake. In my heart it's the right decision to go but when I think about it too much I come up with so many reasons not to go I just don't know what to do:

 

Reason no.1 - We won't have as much money as we would have liked to buy a decent house remotely close to where I'll be working. I'm hoping we'll end up with up to 150,000 pounds as a deposit (if the exchange rate stays where it is).

 

2. Our 19 yo daughter loves it here but is willing to come back with us because she loves her Parents more and couldn't bear being away from us. I am so worried she'll absolutely hate it living there and will come to resent me for making her come back. Of course, she could always go back to Oz eventually but then my wife will resent me, I'm in a no win situation!

 

3. Our son is in year 10, but will be 16 when we return, so not sure if he would be able to go to 6th form college without us paying international fees (have to be resident in the UK for 3 years). I'm worried sick he won't be able to do any further education over there and end up in some dead end job for the rest of his life - because of me.

 

4. We have a good life here. We have (until its sold) a lovely large home lots of space in a good area. I have a well paid job and my wife has a job she loves and only needs to work 3 days a week. I have an easy drive to work against the rush hour traffic, zero stress when I'm there. Once in the UK it's likely my wife will be on a zero hours contract, working 5 days a week for crap money and I'll be stuck in a bedsit 5 days a week as the drive to work is too far because we can't live closer and my work in London will be stressville.

 

Is it enough to risk the happiness of my wife and kids and our quality of life for my selfish reasons of wanting to be back in the land of my birth because I'm homesick and want to spend the time remaining with my Dad and siblings?

 

I'm the first one to admit I am a worrier, and tend to think of the worst case scenario happening. I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts, especially from those who have gone home with teenage kids.

 

Thanks.

Sounds like a similar situation to mine. Our boys are 15 & 16. The eldest went into college (no fees for this if they are UK citizens, uni has a 3 year residency requirement). The youngest had to drop into year 10 to do GCSE and has settled in well. Your children can always go anywhere they want to and that would be their choice, as long as they are happy that is the main thing. I lived in Australia for 23 years but the pull to come back to the UK became to great. Ultimately no amount of money can buy you time back, so you need to decide if material things outweigh the remaining time with family. Hope it all works out for you.

Don't look at it as taking the grandchildren away for nothing, look at it that you have had an adventure as a family and your children have lived in another country which is a great experience for them to have had.

 

I've been here 4 years and I although I love Australia and the wildlife and the fantastic scenery I know that we will be making the move back to the UK in the not too distant future. At this particular time in my life I know the UK suits me best but I also know that later in life I may return.

 

All the best on telling your parents, I am sure they will be thrilled.

If your parents aren't completely thrilled to have you back then I would suggest that either: a) They don’t like you or b) you need to get new parents.

Hi There

 

I haven't heard of this company but we are also looking around for companies (I have set up some questions under Pets forum- so if you wanted to review the responses I got). We have 2 cats - and also moving from Perth to England; so would be interested to hear. Haven't asked my vet yet - I live in Port Kennedy; different vets probably have different opinions. When are you looking at transporting? - it's the most difficult part of this process for me as I am worried.

 

Will be following your post, thank you.

We flew our cat back recently from Brisbane to Heathrow using Jet pets. They were the best priced for the companies I contacted and I could not fault their service.

FAB! My husband works in Construction and as he gets older the outdoor working in the winters are becoming harder for him.

 

So lovely to read your thread thank you xx

Don't forget the other extreme though. The winters will be nice but working outdoors in Summer in 35+ degrees and high humidity can also be challenging.

Thanks for the comments/suggestions. I will get on to someone first thing on Monday morning.

We have up until recently been planning to head back to the UK and had originally thought that it would be kinder to re-home our cat in Australia rather than taking her with us due to the upheaval. This has been immensely stressful time for us all :arghh:due to the fact that we were selling our house in Australia with the intention of getting settled prior to the start of the school year in September. Our house sale has fallen through on a number of occasions and we had resigned ourselves to staying in Aus for the next few years, but we have now had an offer on our house which we are prepared to accept. The problem is that our timeframes are now really short for getting back and my wife and boys would now desperately like to take the cat with us (I think the realisation of leaving her behind is now sinking in).

What is the shortest timeframe for getting everything done that is required - she has not had any Vaccinations etc. I feel that we probably could not get it done as we would be looking to leave in 3-4 weeks.

Has anyone got any experience of doing this sort of thing hastily, and any recommendations for companies would be really appreciated. We are in the Brisbane area.

Hi All,

 

We are flying Etihad in August with a 6 and 11 year old. Manchester - Abu Dabi -Brisbane

 

Could anyone tell me if blankets are provided for everyone, or is it a first come first served?

 

Dont want to lug around 2 blankets in our hand luggage, if kids are definitely going to get one anyway.

 

Many thanks.....Adele x

Blankets are provided for everyone and they have spares so I wouldn't worry.

Well that's it, Morgan Stanley are moving 2000 staff to Frankfurt or Dublin, how good does that feel for the leavers, FFS.

As Victor used to say"I don't believe iiiiittttttttttttttt"!!!!!!

You might want to take another look at that story..

Canada is already queuing up to make a free trade agreement with the UK.