lisawhite123

We have been here 8 months and we have good days and bad days. I definitely feel like if I gave up now it would be too soon. I have young children so it’s not too much of an issue with them. Have you made any friends yet? Joined any groups? Have the kids made friends? I think that would take time but also crucial to settling somewhere new I think. We don’t have any friends yet but that’s something we are going to work on now we are settled mor win jobs etc... good luck either way!

When did you buy?

Ok thanks. Looks like we will have to wait then. [emoji853]

Yes it does have foreign investor stamp duty But I was wondering if it was just relevant to investors buying to let or did it include properties we bought to live in...

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone had any experience or knows as the internet can throw up a whole host of answers! We have been in Queensland for 6 months and are thinking about buying a house to live in before we get PR. I’m aware we would have to apply to the FIRB for approval which carries a fee but I’ve been reading about foreign investor stamp duty tax and wonder if it would apply to us? Or is that for foreign investors that don’t have any visa’s? Any help appreciated. Thanks

Hi jack91. You live on the Sunshine Coast, where abouts? For how long? Any advice for newbies, we arrive on Monday, ?

Gosh yes we are just a week behind you. Did you send your house hold stuff over? We have been sitting on deck chairs and sleeping on air bed for a few weeks now. Can’t wait to sit on my sofa again. Haha. Yeh we’ve been to caloundra and the area a few times with having family there. It’s also changed a lot over the years, lots more going on now. I never really hear a bad word about the area or surrounding areas so I’m sure you will like it. We are just trying to secure my husband a job I’m going back to work when my little girl starts school in jan. we are from Manchester region so caloundra will be a welcome shock to the system. Where are you guys from? You will have to let me know how u get on with schools. My brother has heard a lot of good things about unity college which is a private school but only costs around $3000 per annum. Nothing like the private school costs over here. Good luck. [emoji4]

Ps good luck with the move.!

Hey there. We fly out to caloundra to start our new life there in 2 weeks! Me my husband and 2 small children 4 and 7 month old. Have you been to the area before? Caloundra is lovely and nice beaches and the surrounding towns depends what you are looking for. We do have my brothers there to stay at for a couple of weeks while we find a rental property then I’m hoping our container will turn up not long after that. How old are your little ones?

Hopefully by August/ sept. I’ve got a 5 year old too that I want to settle in before starting school In jan. exciting times! Now to write a list of things to do... wow .... where to start...[emoji848]

Good thank you. 5 months old now. It’s gone so quick!

Gosh after only writing this last night we have our visa granted!!

Fantastic news woody2709. Hope you have been celebrating ?? !! My visa app was logged a couple of weeks after you so I live in hope to hear something soon!

I’m sure you will hear a response soon but yes it was frustrating waiting for vetassess tech interview. It was a state nomination we applied for.

I can’t remember if we ended with 60 or 65 points. We ended up using an MA for the EOI and visa app as I was just about to have a baby and we needed help! EOI was for Queensland as we have family there. Took about a week to get a state nomination which was early jan 18. The vet assess process was the longest took about 3 months from start to finish. So visa app was end of jan. MA was fantastic help for us under the circumstances and also good to answer any questions if your app isn’t straight forward. Good luck.

Awh fantastic. If I’m lucky then maybe not too long. Fingers crossed. Congrats on your visa. Which part are you moving to? Have you started packing up?

Was that recently?

So you are waiting as well. I’m so impatient. Haha. Thanks

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone has an idea on 489 visas being granted and time lines? Any successful applicants recently? Any certain level of points required? We logged visa app end of jan. husband is a mechanic and we have 60 points. Thanks

Hi Richard. We have already done the skills assessment and my husband is back being a mechanic. But as he was out of the profession for 2 years and 2 months it forms part of the last 10 years..

I hope someone can help me. My husband has worked in the motor trade for over 20 years as a motor mechanic. To gain the 15 points required for the skilled visa it is required you have 8 out of the last 10 years in said profession. He had a break from motor trade for 2 years and 2 months so it looks like we can’t get the 15 points due to the extra 2 months. Is this a huge sticking point? Does anyone know how we can get around this? We are at the EOI stage, I’d hate to think our dreams come to an end over the 2 months...(we have maxed out points in other areas) thanks for any help.

Hi. I wonder if anyone can help. My husband currently has 55 points and he is a motor mechanic. His profession is on the list for NSW eligible for state nomination which would gain us another 5 points for 190 visa He is also on the list for Queensland (which we would prefer to be due to family) for a 489 visa and would gain 10 points for regional visa which we are ok with however this is a provisional temp visa. My question is as we are torn between visa types is it possible to submit 2* EOI for the different visas? And see which comes back first? We are worried about time lines as he turns 42 in March and if we go for a 489 we need 2 years under belt before applying for PR. Also which invitation is likely to come back first if any? (We have done skills assessment and English and all is passed with correct scores etc) Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks

That’s great thanks for the information Ozzie I will have a look through those. As I suspected she is due to attend prep school in jan 19

Hey wonder if anyone can help. We are potentially coming out to oz in the new year on a 457 visa. My husband will be working with myself looking after a newborn (due Dec) and a 4 year old. I won’t be working initially and we as far as I know won’t get any financial help for childcare. What are the cheaper kindergarten’s all about? Are they like gold dust? I’m after finding some childcare for a couple of days a week to keep my 4 yr old in the routine she is in here before she would be due to go to school jan 19. I believe it’s good for her but while I’m not working we just can’t afford day care fees... any knowledge on this greatly appreciated. Thanks