agm

Never even knew they existed! Thanks for the heads up! I will look them up now. I am currently getting quotes from Pickfords & AngloPacific. Pickford seems expensive, AP wants to weigh up my belongings with a visit from one of their 'sales managers' which already is feeling like a bit of a faff. PS: Thanks!

Oh, okay. What's the issue with getting the shipping company's insurance? Why Letton Percival in particular?

Hi everyone I'm at the stage where I need to start comparing shipping companies to transport all our stuff (no furniture) from the UK to Sydney. I have just had one quote - which I think is way, way too high (and surmounts the value of the items being taken anyway). What are your experiences? Any company recommendations or things we should bear in mind? Thanks in advance for your help. agm

Oh Okay, thanks again!

Thanks for this information everyone, I'd like to be honest as I worry about these things. This forum is very good - especially about other tenants dobbing you in: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1571272 Still not sure what we should do.

Hi everyone Will my Sony Bravia TV work in Oz? I will obviously not be using the built in freeview tuner as this clearly won't work but intend to use the hdmi or scart socket to plug in an Oz tv box of some description. Will doing this work - or do I have to sell my TVs as well as all of my DAB radios? Thanks Aaron

Thanks for the other side of the coin. As a one time landlord myself (of a tenant who sneaked in a dog which then ripped up my carpet), as well as a to-be landlord again (renting my house out for a year while I give Oz a try) I see both sides. I'm more than happy to be upfront about having a cat in the property and to pay a little extra for it. I am a little worried about being so open if there is a chance of being blacklisted - and let's face it, the market for rental properties is already super competitive in Sydney. An issue is that listings are not always clear and that agents do not respond to requests for clarification by potential tenants who are willing to be honest - hence my post about it today asking for advice. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks for the reassurance Marisawright - she is an indoor cat as is chilled / as good as gold. Is it a case of just renting and keeping quiet about it (and hiding the cat when there are property inspections or viewings)? I've read elsewhere that newer houses are more likely to be anti-cat because the decor is new etc. I am considering telephoning a few rental agencies tonight in Surry Hills (the start of the Oz working day) tonight to ask them their opinions on what we should do.

Hi everyone. I will shortly be moving to Sydney but will fly out initially to get a rental property in the Surry Hills area sorted. My question is, does anyone on here have any experience of renting in Sydney and being able to have pets in the property too? I know the law changed recently moving the default tenancy position to allow animals. However, when searching for property on realestate.com.au, selecting the 'allow pets' filter brings up no properties available. I have tried emailing several agents to ask about the availability of this kind of property but do not get a response. I will be spending a lot of money to get my cat from the UK to Australia as it is. Any advice will be really appreciated. What do we do? Thanks Aaron

Thanks. The real hard work starts now

Okay, thanks for the advice. NAB comes up frequently on searches - we'd be in Sydney - so am I wrong to assume that most banks will have a big presence there?

Hi everyone. Having received my visa now I am looking into which bank to open an account with and would be interested to hear people's experiences. Which bank is easiest, most reliable, has the least charges etc. It's an account I'd just use for living / working in Oz only at this stage - ie: domestic usage. thanks for any advice you have to offer

At least we can start planning life things now. Life has been on hold too long!

Visa granted this morning! Started 9th July 2015, granted 29 January 2016. That was a bit of a marathon!

I am - 13 years experience as a teacher plus I sat IELTS to get to 75 points - my application would have been quite straightforward had my partner not been added half way through the process. I imagine my w/exp was verified way, way back last year before they moved me onto the next stage.

Your timeline sounds similar to mine. I've got 75 points anyway so wasn't claiming any points from him. He's on my application now - which is probably the reason why the whole process has slowed right down. I started in July - and I seem to get a different case officer name at the end of every email I receive. Good luck with it all.

Sure, it was down to the fact that although he had 8 years of skilled employment in his chosen occupation, and because he was working as a 'trainee' officially, the assessing body VETASSESS deemed him as having 'no experience' as he was not qualified. His work experience only begins to 'count' when he gets his certificate qualifying him as an accountant. Perhaps this was an obvious oversight on our part but didn't spot it at the time.

I think from January too from what you're saying, 97 days to verify a police check certificate and a medical seems extreme to me. Dammit! It has all taken 7 months so far. Thanks for your help.

Thanks so much for this... So if my partner's documents (birth cert, police check, medical) were uploaded/added in October 15 and they email in January 15 confirming that he's been successfully added, would the 3 months start from October or January?

Cheers CaptainC - that's what I had read. Does the 3 months restart from their very last email regardless of how much time they spent assessing my solo visa? I ask because I had 1 1/2 months where they were assessing my 'sole' visa application before my partner was added as a defacto and slowed everything right down. I was hoping this might mean that there would only be about 1 1/12 months of the 3 months processing time left.

Hi everyone. My Visa 189 application has been going on since July 2015. My partner was added as a defacto in September when his own visa app was rejected. He has completed the police check and medical and given all documents requested. We then received an email on 21st Jan 2016 saying he'd been accepted and added to my visa successfully. It took them 97 days (over the Xmas period) to move from requesting his medical and police check to accepting him on my visa. As a 189 application I know I am 4th down the priority list out of 5 but obviously this gives no actual timescales. My question is, roughly how long will it take from here in your experience? Any advice or hope really appreciated

Hi everyone. Great to find this thread. I'm wondering if those of you who have landed in Oz could give me some advice on the current picture for secondary teachers in Sydney. My partner has secured a very good job in Sydney which pretty much means I need to secure my teaching post in this area too. Am I right in thinking that jobs in Sydney for Sec English teachers are notoriously hard to get? Also, how far would my experience get me (14 years in UK state schools inc Second in Charge English, Head of English, Lead Teacher, Advanced Skills Teacher status and Lead Practitioner posts) in the competitive market? I am at the very last stage of the visa process for a Skilled Independent 189 - all medical and police checks submitted months ago. I hope the visa is imminent.

Hi Selina They have had the document since the start of March and before now had contacted me about two extra replacement docs they required. I thought that was it. I got those sent out. They then request a further document a further six weeks in. I didn't get the statement from my university certified as it was original - this is the only thing I can think of which ha is wrong as the info they are after is on it - yet they want another. Have emailed them to clarify but they'll take a week to respond. Grr!

Hi everyone I am part-way through the aitsl process for secondary teacher and my application is with them. However, they have emailed to request a document I have already sent them - it was an original from my university on headed paper, personally signed and stamped. I was in the position to be able to send an original as I had two copies anyway. The exact info they ask for in the email is contained on the document they have Can anyone clarify whether they accept originals too? I have scoured their site and all it states is that certified and originals are not returned - implying they do accept originals? Confused. Please help.