Tulip1

I would imagine so, certainly can in the UK. It's a basic necessity, everyone needs one.

I cannot speak from personal experience but I have been told by many that the schooling in Oz is not second to none and that overall, the UK schooling is better. It may be of course you are thinking about private schools which are very good I believe. Not sure what the percentage is for children going to private school in Australia compared to the UK but I believe it is somewhere around the same percentage that attend private school in the UK that are in state schools in Oz (certainly from senior school upwards). If most attend private schools there then there is a reason for that, the state ones in general are not great.

I used to love that programme. Never got any of the answers though!

Why don't you just get divorced?

It says she moved to Perth in 2009 but unless I've misunderstood she didn't move there, she went to visit her children. She then remained there but that's not the same as she moved there. As for the part that she is worried about arriving at the UK airport with no one to pick her up and no where to go. Surely one of the children would at lest accompany her on the flight and stay a few weeks until she is settled. I can't imagine them dropping her off at Perth airport and that's the end of it???? It is a shame she can't stay but rules are rules. It sounds from the post that the lady has no financial means (they say her house is gone etc). Sad as it sounds, they therefore cannot expect a country that she isn't a citizen of to foot the bill of medical expenses that sound high.

Lots of people are declined and lots face headache over it. Sad as it is if they say ok to you they have to say ok to everyone and that's just not possible. Lots of people at that age have no one left in the UK, that surely cannot be a reason to wave the law and rules. I totally understand your worries though. I guess unless they change their mind you have two options, go with her or send her alone, either option horrible. In terms of her being homeless without anything, that wouldn't happen. The UK is a world class country and they don't have people like your grandma homeless. If it doesn't get overturned then contact age concern/help the aged and others like it. She wouldn't sleep on the streets hungry and penniless, that you can take comfort in. Best of luck.

That's a good reply Quoll. I am in no way saying people shouldn't emigrate, quite the opposite. You do only have one life and it is your life, not your mums life. However, what Quoll says is quite true. You may get the odd visitors but it is unlikely to be often unless they are all retired and rich. Also, many say they will return to the UK to visit family often and it rarely turns out as often as planned. For good reason too, there is so much to see and explore in your new life why would you spend most of your annual holiday and money coming back every year. As for the selfish bit, I too believe there has to be an element of that in the decision. For the most part, you are leaving people in a very sad position, often devastated. I guess it can hardly be called being kind and caring instead. But..... as a mum of two grown up children in Australia I say this... our children are only ever on loan to us and they are not possessions. They are people that we nurture into adults that can and should make their own decisions in life. I have never, nor would I ever, try to make them feel guilty. In contrast, I wouldn't change the way things are. My children have grown into lovely, independent adults and have a wonderful life. They haven't gone because they don't love me, they very much do and put so much effort into keeping our relationship alive. They have gone because they found a better life for themselves and who am I to try to stop that. I miss them, my hearts aches for when the time comes I have grandchildren that I will see once a year but still I wouldn't change a thing. My children's happiness will always come a million miles ahead of mine. I am happy because they are happy. I am sure your mum doesn't mean to make you feel bad, she is just hurting. That shouldn't stop you for-filling your dream. I think it is just important to make more of an effort when you are that far away. There isn't many days I don't get a viber message or email from my kids and we speak every weekend. I assume you can get visas? not easy these days and having your family there will not make any difference. Very best of luck.

She would be going on a parent visa too. I believe it's about $50 per applicant. It's nothing to do with how far from retirement you are (I wish it was)

Having the sister, brother in law and Nephew there won't have any relevance in getting a visa

As has been mentioned do you have other children and does your wife have children. You will need to pass the balance of family test which means you will need to have at least 50% of your children PR in Oz. This includes step children so your wife's children if she has any will be included in the numbers

Sounds like you both have third party authority on each others accounts. That means the accounts are in no way 'joined'. They are solely in your individual names but you have given authority to the bank that a third party can access the accounts. There are a few restrictions for the third party (for example, they cannot request any lending etc) but in general they can act is if they are themselves the account holder.

Have to agree with a few others on here. It will sound a bit dodgy. Not saying it is but it sounds it. Within a matter of weeks of visa cancellation, you are head over heels in love. Also, what to me sounds even worse is again within weeks of moving in with someone you are now already on the lease and have joint bank accounts. I cannot see why anyone would rush out and sort all that out within a few weeks of knowing each other unless it was to make a point. I am no migrate agent but I would think this all looks 'desperate'. I totally understand your desperate need to stay though as it sounds like it has become home to you and wish you luck.

I don't think there is anything you can do other than return to the UK and spend years training in something that will give you a visa in your own right. I know someone who was in a similar situation and everything that could be done was done, a migrant agent left no stone unturned but the result was the person concerned couldn't stay. Sorry, not what you want to hear but it's how it is.

Will he still be in college when you apply?

I know someone who has been through something similar. Over 18's are not seen as dependants unless they are at uni. Even if they have never had a job, they are not dependant as they can get a job or benefits. The person in question has spent a lot of time trying to get a visa, including using an agent. Visa was rejected. If you or anyone does manage it, I would be keen to know how. Sorry it is probably not what you want to hear.

All sounds very positive Rachel, good to hear. Something that crossed my mind over this and I am sure it has yours is - You have said before you would love to move to Oz but cannot as you don't have a visa. I know it's 7 years or so off but if your son should stay out there, once he is a working adult you can get a parent visa (albeit) an expensive one. Maybe one day you will be out there too xxx

I think most people would quite understandably think that if they are emigrating and have travel insurance with their UK bank account they could use that to 'start them off'. The bank will indeed give a letter confirming the insurance policy is in place and that may well be enough to pass the visa conditions as the letter wont state as long as this person isn't emigrating. I have just taken this from a bank travel insurance policy on line. "There is absolutely no cover offered by the policy whatsoever for trips which are longer than 31 days per trip or the duration shown on your schedule. This would include not insuring you for any part of a trip which is longer than 31 days in duration or the duration shown on your schedule" It is an often unknown condition of travel insurance, I would suggest everyone check as there would be nothing worse than the start of a 'new life' going horribly wrong.

Most travel insurances, certainly the ones attached to bank accounts state your journey must start and end in the UK. They are usually only for a period of 31 days for each trip (insurance attached to your bank account). Yours may be different of course but people have been caught out on this. If you are going to be there longer than 31 days your travel insurance will be invalid from the beginning. It doesn't become invalid after 31 days, it is invalid immediately as your trip doesn't start and end in the UK within 31 days.