SummerHQ

Hello I've recently had my Student Visa Granted ready for my course start in January, however I am now having to arrive in Australia 2 weeks earlier than my course starts, so I am having my OSHC dates changed because I obviously need to be covered from entry. I just wondered what I need to do as per my visa? Do I need to inform immigration and if so how? Do they amend my visa? Or is this not something that needs changing, as long as you have it on entry? I don't know how strict a thing this is. Hope you can help. Thanks

Thanks, that's really helpful to know! I'll have to ask them what they use. Cheers!

Yeah I asked Moneycorp this and because it's still classed as an international payment or something, ANZ can still charge, so it doesn't remove the fee. It's just removes the fee from the UK end of things. Just trying to find out if anyone who has an ANZ account has any experience with it and might know what it cost them.

Hello I hope someone can help answer my question as I'm finding it hard to find the answer from ANZ. Does anyone know if they were charged a fee for a international money transfer into their ANZ account from their UK account? Thank you everyone!

Hello If you're from the UK you can get an easy-peasy 3 month tourist Visa, free of charge. No fee. Yes really. Quick and simples. It's called an eVisitor. Enjoy Australia!!! https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/651-

Hi, you don't need a Medicare card for a WHV. Basic healthcare is reciprocal as you're from the UK as you're essentially still 'on holiday'- But you WILL need good travel insurance (I got a year travel insurance through Insure and Go). I did my WHV 5 years ago - times were different, but it took me about 2 months to find work - so make sure you've got enough cash to get you through 2 or 3 months. Setting up a bank account is easy - I went with ANZ and the service was swift and easy. You'll also need a Tax File number (basically like a national insurance number here in the UK) so you can work. Just google Tax File Number. Once you're earning the Aussie dollar things will be easier and as you have hospitality experience picking up bar and waiting work would be beneficial, but if you're a hard worker they'll hire you. They often do a 'trial' with you for an hour, to see what you're like. Let me know if you have any more questions - I've been and done it and it was amazing, enjoy!

For electrician work you will definitely need qualifications. haha, unfortunately marrying a Sheila won't solve your problems either... Defecto visas take a good 12 months of living and sharing bills together before you apply, then a few years for the visa to 'nature' before you can do any work, and partner visas take centuries to go through too so it's not that simple either. I think your best bet at the moment is getting in touch with fire fighter recruitment. I know it's not the same trade but I know an ambulance paramedic who go in that way and he had many years experience in the uk.

I disagree, I think 15 years experience would be very valuable to anyone. It's on the list as an in demand 'available' occupation, so there's clearly a need. If there wasn't it definitely wouldn't even be on the list. Volunteer firefighters don't want full time roles often. I used to work for the fire service in the UK and our retained firefighters were retained for very good reasons. I wouldn't say that they applied for full time roles. They usually like being retained/volunteer as they are retired or have other jobs. It may be schedule 2, but that doesn't stop you from reaching out to them ... Everything is always worth a shot, you never know where it might lead! It's only by not trying that you fail. Go for it!!

No worries, It's right at the end of the list - It says 'available' so I reckon you could go for Skill Select and you could potentially be invited by Western Australia to apply. I am sure they would be all too willing to have a Fire Fighter with 15 years experience!! If I was in your position I'd be putting in that expression of interest tonight!! You might want to speak to a Migration Agent to get their advice, some people find a migration agent takes the hassle out of the tricky process, but other's prefer to navigate it on their own and save some money. You'd be looking at upwards of £1000 for migration agent fees on top of the Visa fees. How old are you? Under 45 is easier than over 45.

Hi Robbie Fire Fighter is on the SOL in Western Australia at the moment - http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/services/skilled-migration-wa/occupations-in-demand So if I were you I'd be going for it through that! How long have you worked in the Fire Service in the UK? Looks like that might be your route!

Loved reading this - it's fantastic to hear you've now settled in, and in Darwin too... gosh any Pom moving to Darwin needs a medal for the humidity alone! If you can do Darwin I think you could do anywhere in Aus easily You sound so relaxed and happy despite the set backs Keep going! Don't come back to the UK, honestly it's all Brexit rubbish here at the moment, you're not missing anything! And the pound has gone welly up against the dollar over last few months. So you truly are better off in Australia at the moment.

Hello Quick and easy question hopefully - how long before your course start date can you apply for your Student Visa? I've heard 90 days and also 124 days - which is correct? My course would start on 30th January. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of if you take anti-depressants what this impact has on your medical being approved? I have a social anxiety (panic attacks, the result of a past trauma) that is helped tremendously by a low dose of anti-depressants, Thank you for your advice,

Hi have you looked at AirBnB? http://www.airbnb.com - I've used many times around the world and it's been great. But as everyone says, expect to pay peak prices, with Christmas and School Holidays everything gets booked up (it's like August time in the UK WITH Christmas on top! crazy) So book sooner rather than later. Airbnb may also get you a nice house as owners go away over the christmas period too and want to make some money off their places

Thank you SO much for writing this! I'd wanted to say the exact same thing to those negative speculations on here! Like you, this is very similar to my situation, and your reasons for going into this are the same as mine. :hug: I wish people wouldn't speculate without knowing the WHOLE story. I wish you all the very best and keep in touch x.

Hi there thanks for your message! That's so great to hear you've already done your student visa and are doing another! I know Joondaluo well I hope you enjoy your course! thanks for sharing your experience. I will send you a DM and we can chat some more!

Ah yeah, going out that time of year will be great - you'll hop straight into Summer!! Oh and Melbourne is awesome!! You'll love it - have you been before? My old boss just moved to Melbs with her family, she'd never been to Aus before, and just went on her husbands word for it - and she equally loves it, the whole family have settled in so well. I used to talk about Australia all the time when she was my boss and now she tells me she understands everything I used to tell her Ah yes, sorry totally forgot about the 90 day thing. That's awesome, sorry for being dumb, but what is OSHE? CoE is the offer letter from the education instition but wasn't sure what OSHE stood for? :wacko: Yeah the GTE statement scares me a bit....

Thanks Blossom!! Yes, that's what I'm not thinking, from what I can gather, it's quite straightforward to do yourself. Thanks for your advice!

Oh that's awesome! I want to go to Perth. I love it there, I have family there (not close enough to sponsor!) I spent a year WHV there 5 years ago and have always wanted the opportunity to go back, but I don't tick the box for the SOL occupation list (Marketing) Have you been granted your visa yet? I'd like to do Business or Marketing, but can't decide which course at the moment. I'm scared of the visa application... lol... don't know why, so it would be great to hear what they required from you and if it was easy and straightforward? Where will you be studying? 31st December will come around so fast! (plus flights are cheaper on that day!!)

Hi Vixenator! That's awesome - they are my timescales too. What are you looking to study and what are you plans? It would be great to keep in touch! Genuine Temporary Resident means that we've reason to go back home and funds to do so. Have you got your offer from your college yet? Where are you looking to go? Sorry for all the questions, but it's just so nice to meet someone in the same boat!!

Mandurah is nice - it's heavily populated by Brits. On my recent visits there, all the accents I heard were our own! Lots of retirees. If you want a decent job then you'd need to commute to Perth. which is easy now that the train is connected, which could also drive up prices a little. You'd be nearer to Margaret River, Busstleton, etc which is a lovely area, for weekend trips! To be honest, prices in Perth are going down a bit at the moment due to the economy slowing - and there are a lot of bargains to be had... Look at inner city suburb areas such as North Perth where prices have taken a tumble. Plus you'd be much closer to all the action.

Hi Kat Chef is on the SOL again at the moment as long as experience is in a professional kitchen. But there's no guarantee that by the time you have your baby wand want to go out there that it will still be on it. Chef is one that comes and goes quite regularly. What type of partner are you both to each other? Are you married? How long have you been together? If you're both from the UK, and have been together a long time, I would recommend you get married. Much easier (and cheaper) than obtaining a defactor/partner visa. If your partner gets the sponsorship for being a chef, he can take family members with him on this visa. Cheers

Hi Phil First of all I just wanted to say - wow - what an amazing opportunity, grab it with both hands!! Second of all, not sure if you know but on WHV you can only work for an employer for up to 6 months. So if your employment with the research partner goes over 6 months, then that's going to need some explaining. Tax wise, what you're earning and paying tax on in UK is fine. But if you're earning in Aus you will need to establish whether you come under the 'temporary resident' for tax purposes class. I think you probably will, but there's a page on it on the Australia ATO website that will confirm. I can't remember the full ins and outs, but well worth Googling and having a read. What you need to establish is whether the Melbourne company is paying 'you' direct. Or if the Melbourne company is paying your UK office, and then they're paying you. If you get my gist.

Hi there I'm looking to hear experience from anyone who has applied for a Student Visa from the UK? Is this pretty straight forward or do I need a migration agent? I've had a quote from a migration agent for £750 but this seems a lot when the visa is about £280 ? I'm a mature student (36 years old, single, no dependants) Many thanks

Hi there Congrats on your WHV - you'll have a great time! I did mine 5 years ago. Same as you, being from the UK you generally get it automatically. I didn't have to show anything. But then I did have a return ticket. You may get pulled over at Border for not having a return ticket - in which case you may have to explain your circumstances and take proof of your funds to buy a return ticket. Basically they don't want people hanging around without a visa, after the WHV is up! It IS however EXTREMELY wise to take enough funds with you for a) a return ticket b) living expenses for when you first get there (it's MUCH more expensive than you ever imagine) and also it can take time to find work as a lot of businesses won't hire temp-workers (as they know they'll loose them) It took me about 2 months to find work realistically... So be prepared to be paying your British Pounds for a few months if necessary. Yep you'll need to take travel insurance with you - as said previously, Australia does have basic medical reciprocal arrangements, but that won't cover you for serious accidents, lost baggage, stolen goods etc etc. I took out a 1 year travel policy with Insure and Go. Because at the end of the day it IS a working 'Holiday' visa, so you will be holidaying as well.. and maybe doing some trips here and there, and it would be super wise to be covered But most of all - enjoy it! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity! You'll have a ball! Happy to help with any other questions you have!