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4 minutes ago, paulhand said:

 

This shouldn't be an issue, based on what you have posted.

That should cover things. 

It may be worthwhile having a consultation with an RMA so that you understand all the permutations and what you would need to do to make the best possible application.

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?

8 hours ago, paulhand said:

No, you can’t request a grant date. If you are granted the visa it will have a 1 year expiry. Based on what you have previously posted, can you demonstrate that you have substantial ties to Australia, of benefit to Australia, and compelling reasons for your absence?

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..?

4 hours ago, Marisawright said:

If you’re thinking of returning then it’s time to decide NOW.  Move home within the next year or two and they’ll adapt ( though they’ll probably moan about it). Wait any longer and they’ll be heading for the HSC and you’ll be too worried about disrupting their chances at doing well in their exams.  Wait till after their HSC and you’ll have to pay international fees for them to go to uni on the UK. Wait till after uni and they’ll have boyfriends or girlfriends and won’t want to return with you.

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

17 minutes ago, MARYROSE02 said:

Once you have your Aussie citizenship you can come and go as you please. My experience of going back to the UK to "live" (as opposed to on holiday) is that it was like emigrating all over again. And then after twelve years back in England, I emigrated for a third time when I returned to Australia.

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??

2 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

OK, then I'd definitely go south, not west.  You're not going to get to the beach before or after work from Pennant Hills, it's a 45 minute drive!    Whereas from Oatley or Gymea, you could be at a beach in 20 minutes. 

As Capn Roberto says, you could also go North - but the commute from the Northern Beaches to SOP is a real headache, so I wouldn't go much further than the other end of Concord Bridge.

In practice, you will never go into the CBD for shopping.  Everyone shops at the vast Westfield shopping malls which are scattered across Sydney.   For instance if you live in Oatley or Gymea, you'll go to Miranda or Hurstville.   

 

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.

6 minutes ago, Captain Roberto said:

also - regarding dogs. From our experience, being 'further out' doesn't necessarily equate to being dog friendly. In my experience the opposite is true.

 

Some places are just more dog friendly as they have plenty of places to take dogs and they are more tolerant of dogs. We did initially live in the upper north shore, which is a kinda 'upmarket'-but-tedious part of Sydney, and they really hated dogs there. There was hardly anywhere to take ours. there might be loads of national parks etc, but you can't take the dog there! so, what's really needed is a place with 'user friendly' infrastructure.

 

I know people who live in more 'urban' areas who say there are loads of good places to take dogs. It's pretty hard to discern what's what from asking people on the internet and googling unfortunately. You only really know what suits you when you try and find out for yourself.

 

I'd focus on finding a nice place to live once you get over here. We ended up on the northern beaches, which is very dog friendly and pretty nice all 'round, but it's a bit of a trek to SOP from there.

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.

13 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

I wouldn't suggest a flat for the long term, but you will need to book an AirBnB for about a month when you first arrive, and being close to your work would be a good idea.   Many AirBnB flats accept dogs.

What do you think you'll get further out, that you won't get if you're central?  That would help me suggest what suburbs would offer what you're looking for.   

If you're looking for green and leafy/village atmosphere then I'd suggest looking South - Oatley is my favourite but if the budget forces you further out, look at Gymea or Kirrawee.   You'd have to drive to work but once you know how to get across town, it's not a big deal and it's not on the main commuting routes so it's not as busy.

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.

5 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I do understand it, experienced it in reverse

So where are you now.....?

4 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I must say, I am a bit scared reading your post.  Homesickness is not a logical thing.  It's not about missing family or friends, necessarily.  Some people have a deeply-held connection to their homeland - one which they're not even aware of until they try to live somewhere else, and then it takes them by surprise.  And there's not a thing you can do to make it go away, except to go home.

The scarey thing is that once you do get safely on home soil again, it all starts to feel like a bad dream and you think, "why was I so stupid, we had a great life, I was just being an idiot, I know better now".  But if you are one of those people, you won't be able to stop it, it's built into you - the "I don't belong" feeling will return as soon as you get back to Oz.

I have no idea whether that applies to you.  Only you can say.  But it's something to think about.

I am also still worried about the idea of moving to Sydney, unless you think of it as a short-term job just to get you back to Oz, then he can look for a transfer.  We've had several people on these forums (including me) who have left Sydney because they realise they'll be renting forever - house prices are so far out of reach.   I've seen several newspaper articles saying people are moving to Brisbane and Melbourne in droves for the same reason.   You may be able to find reasonably-priced rentals online, but in reality you'll find that real estate agents doctor the photos so what you see isn't what you get, and competition is very stiff (with price auctions) for anything decent.  I know a recce trip is expensive and I wouldn't suggest it for any other city, but I would be visiting first and sussing out the real estate market before I made a final decision for Sydney.

 

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!

10 hours ago, Ballaratburd said:

Alas the decision has been taken out of my hands. Unlike Australia the UK had rules regarding residency before you can apply for the police. Three years for police Scotland and Five years for MOD police. My husband couldn’t get a job back in Scotland even if we did decide to return. To be honest finding this out today has actually made me feel relieved. I wonder if so many of my feelings were because of the recent upheavals in life (new baby, new house, new town) as opposed to actually wanting to move back to Scotland. 

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...  

5 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Hornsby is generally nice but there are some rough areas which is where the cheaper houses may be. 

Homely.com.au has a suburb review section which is is useful 

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. 

13 minutes ago, Quoll said:

Just checking- will you be on PR visa or temporary? If the latter, then don’t forget to budget at least $10k pa for the kids’ education and also be aware that temporary visa holders don’t necessarily get offered places within the school catchment even if you can find somewhere you’d like to live in at a rent you can afford if the classes are oversubscribed. If you’re pr then that doesn’t apply but the schools do reflect the suburbs and the suburbs that may be affordable aren’t necessarily the ones you’d like to live in or send your kids to school in unfortunately.

Kids and husband are Aussie citizens and I am PR

4 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

I would be pessimistic of being in a good catchment area for that rent.

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...

30 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

What’s your definition of affordable

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!