Amber Snowball

Hi, not sure if you mean moving to Qld once your 2 years is up or before but this was posted by a respected agent a couple of years ago. It seems the states are getting a bit miffed with people applying with no intention of living in that state. This isn’t a comment on you as I don’t know what your plans are but just flagging it.

Contact @paulhand who replied above. He will probably charge a small fee for a consultation but will give you an honest appraisal of your options. You can then decide to employ him to do all, some or none of your application. Like I said there are a number of visas and Paul will know the ins and outs of them all. The points recently for 189 have been very high, so 80 is unlikely to get an invite but doesn’t hurt to have the eoi in for now. Good luck

Sounds right to me, in my completely unprofessional opinion! What occupation are you applying under? What points do you have? Others might have better advice with some more details. Unfortunately the states do change their requirements but there are a number of visas and it might be someone can suggest other pathways. Otherwise a bit of a chat with one of the registered migration agents on here might be a good idea depending on your 189 points and if you stand a chance of being invited or would be better applying for a different visa. People will be along soon to comment I’m sure! Good luck!

@Diana Webster @Alan Collettis an agent on the forum who provides lots of support around parent visas. You don’t need an agent where you are as it’s all done via email etc now so you won’t meet an agent in person wherever they are. His company is Go Matilda or search for him on here and flick him a message. Good luck!

I think you need to do 3 posts and then you can message direct. Reply to me on here, that will be your 3rd post and then try to message. I’m not sure capt r will be handing his number out willy nilly.

Hi, my limited understanding is that points are less important for a 190, rather they like you to meet all their other requirements, so depending upon the individual state requirements you have as good a chance as anyone. Sorry I never had to do an English test so no clue on that. Others with recent, relevant experience of the 190 will be along I’m sure. Good luck and merry Christmas!

Yes moneycorp sent me an email to say they no longer operate in Australia some time ago. They would have got their money from the rate of exchange they gave you. I have used Wise, who did charge a fee but offered a better rate which worked out better.

Hi, I use parcelhero. They provide comparisons between companies and you can book to be collected from home. I think the post office does a home collection for parcels as well now. All these are booked online I think so they would need to be IT literate! If you use parcelhero, take pictures of the box with its labels on showing the measurements as I had a dispute with ups about a parcel/cost.

I think you are right. All this talk of Christmas is probably symptomatic of the wider picture. If you like where you are the other 364 days of the year then you accept or put up with a “different “ Christmas. If you don’t like where you are it becomes another focal point of your discontent. I just accepted Christmas was weird to me in Australia. If you have small children it’s pretty much the same for them. It wasn’t a reason I moved but a cold Christmas with dark evenings and twinkly lights was a bonus once I got here. Merry Christmas to you all wherever you are.

Maybe employ Paul who helped you above? He’s a registered migration agent.

Ah lovely, I have thought I’d like to do some of the light displays, must be more organised next year! Yes I am well thanks, as much as a struggle the nhs is to work in, I am pretty happy and settled.

Oh, I opted out of serps when I started in the nhs and when this current change to pensions came in my opted out years were reinstated because the higher rate pension no longer exists. I’m younger than you but that shouldn’t make any difference. So are they saying you only have 29 years? Nothing over 35 years makes any difference. Hope you get something sorted. Maybe pursue those missing opted out years rather than the Australian years as they should be easier for hmrc to rectify.

“Westly the magnificent “. I’m laughing so hard right now. And referring to yourself in the 3rd person! on a more serious note @bearnova64 definitely speak to westly and get a proper assessment and strategy. He’s been on the forum helping people for a long time. Good luck!

☝you speak for many of us. I don’t even bother engaging now. Does my head in. I was posting a supportive message for someone else not looking for a debate on a decision I made years ago. How are you doing now? You are up in the NW as well I think aren’t you?

I can sympathise, I have sometimes thought maybe I shouldn’t have chosen Australia but not sure it would have been any different tbh. Canadians and Americans are very different cultures again and relative proximity doesn’t mean they are any more similar to the UK than continental europe. The weather and landscape might be more similar but probably not much else, so I wouldn’t beat yourself up about a decision made in good faith, with the information at hand at the time and many years ago. I have moved to a different part of the uk and I think this is about as good as I can hope for. I miss some aspects of australia but not much. It was a good adventure for 10 years and served me well, last 3 years were more unsettled, but anyway. All we can do is make the best of what we have. I wish you peace and happiness.

I think if he’s well enough to fly I would take him. Unless you are likely to be returning to the uk quite soon, in which case maybe a friend could baby sit him. I moved my 8yo diabetic cat back in 2018 to the uk, so no quarantine. He was ropey but he’s diabetic so not unexpected. Recovered in a couple of days. I wouldn’t move him again that’s for sure, but he isn’t in perfect health. They only do a week or so in quarantine now so not long. It was 4 weeks in quarantine when I moved my dog to Australia years ago. It’s a different quarantine station now but at the time in Spotswood I thought the animals were well cared for, it was clean etc. The cats were in a quieter area away from the dogs. All said it’s a quarantine centre not a home from home pet hotel, but only for a short period of time and once back with you they bounce back. I had a cat pen on my verandah in Australia so he could go outside but not roam, lots of climbing and scratching things, he was fine. I worked with someone that moved their dog to Australia, couldn’t find work so returned to the uk, realised why they had left so back to Australia in the space of a year! Dog spent most of that year either on a plane or in quarantine. Dog was fine. Not that I think that is anyway to carry on but it shows I think that we worry more than they do! Good luck.

I think it can be presumed that as it is a public forum immigration can see it and it has been mentioned here before that they do look at forums such as these. Honestly give Paul who posted above a ring, pay a small consultation fee and get it right. good luck, I didn’t realise the travel part of the visa expired either, so you aren’t alone. Just dumb luck I didn’t travel and get stuck.

Ah thanks Raul. I’m not mad then.

Yes, absolutely agree. Just thought there used to be an adult dependents clause, obviously it had very strict rules and required lots of evidence. I might have been confusing it with something else.

Have they stopped allowing adult dependents now? Or are the rules around that very narrow? When I migrated in 2005 I thought there was an option to include an evidenced dependent parent to an application. Maybe I dreamt it….

Have a chat with paul who has posted above. He is a long term and respected member of the forum and a registered migration agent. Think he is in the uk as well. What’s not to love?! His website is linked in his signature. Good luck with your migration.

Fab. Obviously a shockingly sad thing for a family somewhere but not yours.

he’s a popular chap! Paul will see you right. Might be a small fee but worth it for realistic strategy and advice.

Paul is himself a reputable agent. See his signature for his website to contact him. Good luck.

Oh thanks for the details! I didn’t know enough about Paul to rule him out! Phew. Hopefully this means all is well.