movingback

Yes it is, very very grim. Thats why everyone else should stay in the sunny south east. Keeps our houses affordable! :smile:

I'm not moving to the southeast - I'm from northern England and heading back there. Surprisingly, I can actually make more money there than in Sydney doing the same job. So for my specific circumstances it makes financial sense. And I also want to go back as well!

Agreed, ever since I arrived almost 5 yrs ago anyway. At first it used to worry me - I'd look at houses (and then apartments..) in Sydney and think how am I ever going to afford to buy anything. Now I just look on bemused. I've added the words 'property porn' to my vocabulary. The valuations do not make any logical sense to me and are a big part of why I'm going home!

So whats your overall impression of Australia Quokka2005? You waited so long to get here and now you've been here a while - has it lived up to expectations?

I disagree. I bought a car there a few years ago and take the train out twice - once to view, and once to pick up. Walked about a mile from the station. Its fine. Suburban. Aside from having to cross a few busy roads I didn't feel anymore unsafe than anywhere else I've walked in Sydney.

The ceremony was good. All over in about an hour and then free champagne and Aussie snacks. Feeling a bit anti-climatic. Going out tonight to celebrate so should put me back in the mood!

Woot woot my ceremony is tomorrow! Then just need to get the passport organised and I'll be done with visas, passports and immi paperwork for a long time I hope! Almost there

Mine came through email. I didn't get anything through the post and it specifically said in the email that this was the only contact/invite I would receive. This is in Sydney, it may vary by council.

Agreed, you have my sympathies. I could not live in Darwin during the summer, it would do my nut in. Even Sydney is too humid at times for me. You sound like a right laugh and very British - in a good way! What part of the UK are you from? Best of luck working through your decisions.

I think thats a very wise next step. You sound like you've got your head screwed on properly. I think at the 6 month mark people can be pretty sure if they like it here or now. The kids thing is tough - time is indeed ticking, but if you have to go home and he is dithering, in my experience more often than not this seems they don't really want to go back at all but are afraid to come out and say it. At 34 you still have time to meet someone new and pop out a couple of kids IF you get your skates on. And, of course, if this is truly what you want. But first step is a good counsellor quick smart to hash it all out!!

How long have you been here Sorca? Are you newly arrived or have you been here months/years? You have a tough decision to make; I don't envy you at all

I find fruit and veg better in Australia than in the UK - at least at coles/woolies compared to telco/sainsburys. Its more expensive in Oz, but the quality is definitely superior. This is in Sydney.

No I'll just do a regular passport application. I still have some jobs to do at work and organising to do. So long as I'm back for summer I'll be happy Good luck getting a ceremony!

Wow twice the salary for doing the same job?! I'd jump at that. Transfer your 457 and try to get PR earlier than 2 yrs if you can get skills assessment.

Date applied - 17/10/2015 City/Council area - Sydney City Council Online / Paper - Online Date received the acknowledgement email - 18/10/2015 Date of the Citizenship Test - 5/11/2015 Date of ceremony - 19/2/2016 Type of ceremony (Urgent/Normal) - Normal Just got the ceremony date yesterday - almost there!!

A 175 visa is a permanent visa. Therefore you cannot claim superannuation back until you reach retirement age But you definitely should lodge a tax return.

Where do you live Rob? I think often the country towns are quicker than if you're applying from a metropolitan area. I'm in Sydney and was told about 4 months after my test - so about 5 months from applying to ceremony. This timeline would be common, with some longer and a few (I think a poster from Pt Macquarie got it all done in 6 wks?) shorter.

I got mine while in Australia on my UK license. I had a car registered in my name and my UK license was linked to the registration. Speed camera fine = points in my name. Would not show up on the UK license but certainly do in Australia when applying for an Aussie license.

I got a speeding ticket on my UK license. When I applied for my NSW license 1 year later, the points were transferred over to it This was in 2013.

I don't think they've increased dramatically recently. Maybe she thinks they have as she has been living overseas - and in most countries groceries are cheaper than in Australia. She's just forgotten about how expensive things here actually are!

I think its a huge risk in Sydney. You're going to struggle for 30-40 yrs to pay a mortgage on a very mediocre home and for what? You'll pay over a million in interest just to own a dog box tens of kms from the CBD. Yes, it may increase in value, but in my opinion it could just as easily drop in value. The past does not predict the future especially in todays crazy credit driven world. I'm in Sydney and I'm moving back home, to a cheaper, quieter (northern) city. I'll buy a lovely house for 200,000 pounds and spend the rest of my money on travel, going out, friends, family. Just my ppinion

I think with your jobs, criteria and budget I'd move out of Sydney. Its just too expensive to live somewhere that is semi-nice on your budget. It sounds crazy but $1 million won't get you much of a house anywhere close to the city. If you can get work in Brisbane/Gold Coast I'd strongly recommend moving up that way as houses are MUCH cheaper. Alternatively, the central coast or Wollongong - your wife can likely find work close to home but you would have to put up with a long (1.5 hr) commute.

I'm a bit later than you through Sydney council - test was in late October, approved very early November and nothing yet. Hoping for February ceremony as well...

I thought all 457 visas were valid for 4 years?

Closer to the equator means the sun is more 'directly' overhead during the day and doesn't set as far down on the horizon as in higher latitudes. So less affected by the curvature of the earth. Hence the decreasing length of dawn/dusk the closer you get to the equator.