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Thank you. You’ve been very helpful. I know you can’t say for sure, but do you think there is a risk of being granted only 3 months RRV based on my situation? Also, is it easier to use a RMA based in UK? Or Australia? What is the approximate cost involved for using RMA?

Hi, thanks. I’m concerned I may only get a 3 month travel facility... If it’s 1yr then that’s fine as ties in. My husband and children are all citizens, my husband has a good job offer in the private defense sector. We were going to return sooner but my father suffered 2 heart attacks and has been very frail ever since. We wanted the children to spend time with him while they could. Now my eldest is 14, if we are going to move, we need to do it now before he starts GCSE work. I’m also concerned my RRV will be denied on the basis that I travelled to Australia in 2017 on a tourist visa...

Is it possible to request a start date when you lodge the application? Or do you just have to take pot luck that the timeline will tie in with dates?

I would double check with immigration as was under the impression that entering on a visitor visa would cancel the PR/RRV status?

Thank you. Does anyone know the current processing time from outside Australia?

Once a RRV has been granted, does the travel facility period run from the date it is granted or from date you enter Australia..?

We’re already in the UK. Returned 9yrs ago, after 3yrs in Australia. Now considering a move back to Aus...

Can I ask what made you return after 12yrs? We’re having thoughts of returning after 9yrs.... But the kids are 12 and 14 now so not as easy as when they were toddlers....

So when I look on google maps, the commuting time from Oatley is broadly similar to that of Beaumont Hills with Pennant Hills being shorter...?? And commuting by train just isn’t viable from the southern suburbs??

Thanks. Will look at those areas too. We previously lived in The Hunter Valley and spent some time on the Central Coast. So I guess that’s why we were naturally drawn to the northern suburbs - we’ve never even visited anywhere south of the CBD lol! All our friends live to the north in Central Coast and Newcastle/Hunter Valley.

Thanks. You’re right - very hard to gather information remotely. But it’s scary just winging it and hoping for the best lol! We’ve lived in Australia before, but only ever visited Sydney a couple of times. So our knowledge is very limited.

Thanks. Yes, exactly that - green, leafy village community atmosphere. But close enough to pop to the beach for an early morning/evening stroll or into the city for some shopping... But not so far out that we’d have to deal with snakes in the back yard... And no more than an hours commute to SOP... I know, I’m probably asking for the moon on a stick!

We’d rather not live that central and a flat is out of the question as we have a dog. I’m beginning to think that finding somewhere suitable to live that is within a reasonable commute is unlikely.

Can anyone recommend a nice suburb to live within reasonable commuting distance (1hr max) from Sydney Olympic Park? We’ve briefly looked at Beaumont Hills / Pennant Hill’s area - are these nice suburbs? Children are 11 and 13 - main interests are sports and creative arts... We’d like to live somewhere with good schools (secondary). Not necessarily on the coast but under 1hr away would be nice.

So where are you now.....?

You make lots of sense.... I share your concerns.... Which is why I’m cautious.... Maybe I just need a holiday lol!!! It’s not a seasonal thing as I feel the same whether it’s summer or winter here in UK. Curse of the expat... It’s an awful feeling and hard to understand unless you’ve experienced it!

It’s funny how sometimes a curve ball makes you look differently at life.... Before I read this comment, I was about to say that it is most likely hormones etc, and that if you moved back you would most likely be a ping pong Pom further down the line.... I speak from experience Good luck with everything!

I just couldn’t settle last time we were there and got desperately homesick when we first arrived and although that faded, home was always pulling me back - my husband would have stayed. I couldn’t have lived in Singleton forever but Melbourne is truly amazing! We’ve toyed with moving back to Australia for probably the last 4yrs, but I’m really cautious given my feelings last time.... Ideally, we’d like to be in Melbourne and my husband has had a few job offers - 2 in Melbourne and 1 in Canberra, but the overall deal/salary didn’t work for us. He’s now in talks with a company based in Sydney and it looks like the salary and package is going to add up this time. Question is... do we up sticks and start all over again?? Our kids were 3 and 1 last time - now they are 13 and 11 and very much have their own views and opinions! One is open to the idea, the other isn’t keen on the idea but he doesn’t like the idea of change in any aspect of his life! I don’t want to make the wrong decision for them....

I lived in Singleton. It’s an “ok” town in a beautiful area. I have no experience of the schools as my children were preschool age at that time. I believe they have upgraded the central town area somewhat since I was last there. The housing is nice - lots of new modern houses, particularly in Singleton Heights and definitely more for your money than you’d get in the cities. It can be quite a transient town as a large amount of the population is made up of mining or army - both of which move on often. Summer temperatures can get crazy!! Not unusual to be in the mid 40s. But winter temps rarely drop below the midteens - although you do get frosty mornings. Summers are long and winters are very short! I see you are a ping ponger having lived in Aus before...? Can I ask why you left and why you are moving back?? We too are currently contemplating a move back to Aus having been back in UK for 8yrs. We lived in Aus for 3yrs - Singleton for 1 and Melbourne for 2.... We now have the opportunity to move to Sydney...

I’ve been on Homely.com and I’ve checked out the school reviews/naplan tables and they all come up good for these suburbs/properties I’ve found

I’m looking for info on living in the above suburbs - or any surrounding suburbs anyone would recommend. My husband will be working the CBD so we are looking for a rental property with approx 1hr commute. We need a 3+ bed house with reasonable sized garden. With good schools and a nice area to bring up kids. Our children are 13 and 11 so we are primarily looking at secondary schools although, I believe my youngest would have to finish her last year of primary in Australia again (she’s currently yr 7 in UK) before starting secondary in 2020? She is August born so will be just turned 12 when we arrive in August. Our budget is approx $500 - $600/wk and I have found some reasonable properties in the above suburbs within this budget - but we have no knowledge of the area.

Kids and husband are Aussie citizens and I am PR

That’s why it’s difficult searching remotely. We’ve found nice houses with that bracket in suburbs such as Hornsby and Pennant Hills. But finding out what those areas are actually like to live in is tricky when you are not there. The schools look pretty decent going by Good Schools Guide...

A 3+ bed house in a nice area, good schools for between $500/$600 per week....? I’m well aware this isn’t achievable in many Sydney suburbs but we were hoping it would be feasible within a 1hr commute....

Also following this thread as we too are looking for a nice suburb to bring up a family (13yr old and 11yr old) within approx 1hr commute from Sydney CBD. Struggling to find somewhere affordable (min 3 beds with decent garden space) near good schools and nice area... Its hard doing it remotely as we’re still in the UK. But we need to work out if it’s actually a lifestyle we can afford before husband accepts the job offer... Catch 22!