The Smith Clan

Yes, definitely keep your UK account open - you will find it useful for all kinds of things. At one time, it was possible to maintain a British account forever, but nowadays some banks are taking a different view and may eventually send you a letter saying you must close it - however, you may as well keep it going as long as you can.

 

You don't need to pay every outstanding bill before you go.

Many thanks that helps

Hi I used visa bureau, started conversation in January and received our 189 visa in September. Cannot praise them enough especially sue tempany, always on the end of the phone or email to answer all my silly questions and guide us every step of the way. Good luck!

Thank you Good luck also

I used imi to oz (John) for whats it's worth. All fine.

Thank you, did you find it to be a personal service and available on the phone when you needed to talk?

I used visa bureau and was very happy with the service. My job was withdrawn from the sol a few days after I submitted my EOI. It was then withdrawn from the 190nsw list 2 weeks after I resubmitted my EOI. Anyway I now have my 489 visa grant and I am so glad that I used them rather than trying to do it all myself.

Thank you for your response glad to hear all worked out. Good luck with your move

We used Visa Bureau and received our 189 grant in around 9 months,cant recommend them highly enough.

Thank you I spoke with a Darren Chatt, not sure who you had.

Hi all just starting our research into moving to oz Victoria we hope but just wondering if anyone would know the pay scale for a telecommunications Engineer. I was trained in the army so do not have formal quals although I have worked in the field for 18 years here in the uk.

 

the fact that i trained in the military and although highly trained i didn't get a formal qualification from it is making me nervous about my chances

 

Any help or advice would be gratefully received thanks

Hi we are at the start too

Try livingin- Australia.com and google payscale Australia.

Best wishes

Maria

but do we need to pay all outstanding bills before we emigrate such as any loans credit cards. We will be renting our house and will receive an income in UK from this (am I right in thinking we can still keep uk account open?), to pay these.

Thanks in advance, we appreciate any advice.

We have used immigration2oz and have been very happy, just waiting for the final visa grant. They were recommended to us by a friend who is an electrical engineer and he couldn't speak more highly. I'm in IT and they have been very thorough and knowledgeable throughout the process. Sorry but I have no experience of Visa Bureau to compare against.

Thank you for your response, I spoke with John there and he said they were a small company and I like that maybe would be more personal.

Many thanks

Anyone use either they both sound ok? would love to hear some recommendations!

Would be much appreciated!

Have you actually had quotes direct from pet shippers? I'd get a price direct from them instead of scaring yourself from something you've read for someone elses dog.

 

FWIW, I don't think it will be £4,000 to ship such a small dog. Probably the ballpark price for them both.

 

But please, talk to some pet shippers and get a better idea before you start making other plans.

 

If it comes down to costs and not being able to ship all 3, I'd probably say rehome the cat and ship the dogs. But that is me.

Thanks for your response, we also have a rabbit but we have agreed we cant afford to take him and will be finding him a very loving home.

It's costing us all in including quarantine costs and UK vets around £4000 for two miniature dachshunds.

Yes this is what I was thinking it would cost for 2 dogs, who are you using please?

maria

I have just been quoted £4114.32 for a springer spaniel and a chihuahua that not including $130 per pet per night for quarantine. Also they will be flying from Heathrow to Melbourne so there will an extra charge on top of that to get them to Brisbane. Sadly we have decided to leave our cat at home with family

Can I ask who this is with?

Thanks for getting back to me

Saw a thread where p[rice quoted for a **** zu was £4000, we have a **** zu cavalier king Charles and a cat. Plus there are fees to pay in Oz for quarantine of $139 a day for 10 days for each pet!

If anyone else has moved there pet over and got a more reasonable price please let me know.

Not sure we can afford this on top of all the other costs involved.

Feeling heartbroken, in fact not sure I could go and leave them

Hi Ruth, we have just moved over. Will be living south Gold Coast, we have 3 kids aged 9,8 and 6. 2girls and a boy.

Maria my oldest one got an iPod touch from Santa and it has been so good to let her stay in touch with friends. They are all a bit apprehensive about starting school.

Send me a pm and hopefully catch up

Lynn x

Yes facetime is great to stay in touch and Skype.

We are looking at Brisbane at present, I am trying see what work is like for social workers there. Looks a lovely place to raise a family.

Would be lovely to keep in touch.

I look forward to it I will pm you and say in touch on here, I have a daughter of similar age she is 10 I think my daughter will find it the hardest to move due to friendships so be lovely to have some from UK too.

Maria x

Hi

 

we have been here for 7 years, currently living in Upper Coomera, I have been working in Brisbane and my kids go to school in Brisbane too, I have some Australian and New Zealand Friends, but it's been really had to meet local British people with the busy lifestyle we have traveling to Brisbane every day. We are settled now, but I really miss having British people around me ( just miss the the sense of humor and culture) would love to meet British families to meet up on weekends with kids to have days out, play dates for the kids or even just meeting for a coffee or a barbecue. I have a 9year old girl and a 3 year old boy. Anyone interested in catching up?

 

Ruth

We are in Uk looking to emigrate and have a young family too. I am coming out in March to look at if Oz is for us (for certain) before we apply for visas and hoping to catch up with expats before then to find how the move went and areas that are good for families, not sure how u decided. I am hoping to find work as a social worker. The most important thing is to make friends and settle in as quickly as we can, would be lovely to chat.

Not sure if this will depend on area of expertise, I work in adults.

He ordered a couple of text books which were shipped from Australia. He also made sure he was all over NDIS.

Can you advise on average wage in Oz for social workers?

I saw your other post where you were looking at Wyndham Vale. This is one of many outer Melbourne area that are still developing and therefore you won't get a proper view from any of the review sites. For example how do you rate a school from which no pupil has so far graduated because it has been open long enough? (Not sure if that still applies in Wyndham Vale but it does in some places) What use is a survey of public transport from 3 years ago when the railway station didn't open until the middle of last year? (Now that really is based on Wyndham Vale). Werribee itself is older but there are so many new developments going on that it's growing rapidly and that will change the character (for better or worse) from what any current review says about it.

yes ken we are trying to research areas as much as we can, WY being one of them, I have posted a thread asking for experiences of areas people have settled.

You can find info on suburbs in the main cities on www.cityhobo.com

thank you

www.aussiemove.com

www.myschool.edu.au

www.viacorp.com/perth-suburbs-compared.html (really useful tips on choosing a suburb even if you aren't heading to Perth)

www.bobinoz.com/migration-advice/how-to-choose-a-suburb-in-an-australian-city

Many thanks

Where are you looking? For a general look you could look at realestate.com.au and if you see something you like then look up the council and you will get all the information about the area.

thank you

Looking at wyndham vale and around werribee, it feels like a needle in a haystack. Some experience would be useful, of what families found or what didn't work.

Many thanks.

I have found homely.com.au and would like to access sites that can give reviews on areas to move to a bit like upmystreet in UK. Thanks in advance

I hope I'm ok to post this. Thought I'd start things off. I lodged my application on August 3rd and front loaded all documents including police certificate and Medical. Visa fee paid in full.

 

Good luck to everyone applying this month and may the time pass swiftly.

did u use an agent?