Jon the Hat

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

 

@Quoll, maybe you know -- isn't it possible to access a counsellor in the UK under the NHS?  £250 sounds like a ridiculous amount for one consultation.

It is of course, but not very quickly.  It was usually a couple of months at least prior to Covid, no doubt longer now.  Initial consultations are usually more, I suspect more like 150 per session after that.

2 hours ago, laf said:

Hi

We've started the move with PSS. We've declined the wooden boxes for our TVs. The inventory states "antique wrap" next to them. Does anyone know what this is. I'm planning on purchasing TV removal boxes from eBay but do you think they're providing some kind of protection?  They're closed till Tuesday otherwise I'd have phoned them.

I think you are better to let PSS wrap them, they will record them as wrapped by you on the inventory otherwise and your insurance will likely not cover them.

I found for example loans .com . au wanted to see 6 months income before they would lend, however you might find dealer direct finance will lend on the basis of a contract.  You will pay for it though, be prepared for secured car finance at rates much higher than the UK.  More like 10% interest is common.  I'm sure there are better deals out there, but they want better credit records than a new migrant will have.

Also note that while historically credit scoring was not a big thing in Australia, it is much like the UK now.

14 hours ago, Ollie2212 said:

So after doing a bit of research, the good news regarding my partners UK visa, is that firstly, it still has almost 2 years remaining. Secondly it’s an Ancestry visa which can be extended and reapplied for as many times as she’d like

 

 

That is good news!  in that case go for it and enjoy Australia!

7 minutes ago, Ollie2212 said:

So does it not make sense to initially go for a one year holiday visa to see if I like it as opposed to spending $8000 on somewhere I may chose to leave after 6 months?
 

If anyone can give answers on my initial questions regarding funds/guranteed/upfront payments needed to secure rent, as well as my question about the essential work on a WHV it would be greatly appreciated

Thanks guys 

In my recent experience you can either provide proof of funds or employment. They will however also want to know your visa status, and given the current competitive rental market you might be at a disadvantage not having a longer term visa.  It is generally advised not to sign anything on a rental until you have actually seen it - agents famously use old and manipulated photos to make things look better than they are.  Also a decent agent would not let you a decent property without meeting you so you can almost guarantee it is a bad idea unless you are paying a fortune though a relocation agent etc.  Find yourself an air bnb for a few weeks and look around.  Hospitality if crying out for workers at the moment.

One more note - if your partner is close to getting UK citizenship it is worth sticking it out for a year or two to get it - as partner visa in the UK is harder to get including you proving you earn enough to provide for her.

On 11/08/2022 at 07:52, laf said:

Yes who knows we might buy the almost identical vehicle.

Just bear in mind the lead times are huge at the moment, so don't expect to be able to get a new one quickly.

On 08/08/2022 at 18:08, LindaH27 said:

Exactly ! People who apply offshore for contributory visas have to wait offshore for their grants but more and more people are using a visitor visa then getting a bridging visa so effectively  “living” in Australia as soon as they land. The increasing cost to the Australian taxpayer with reciprocal care is not sustainable and govt  have already mentioned there are too many people on bridging visas already. 

I suppose the alternative given the current timelines is to effectively stop new applications.  With a huge number of people in Australia born overseas, this may not be a vote winner.

5 hours ago, Toots said:

Confusing wording in the whole report.  I thought he meant that he would wait in Scotland for his Australian visa to be approved.  Not very clear at all is it?

Yes I read it that way too, they can apply for a visa to come back, but only if they leave, and they have no home of jobs in Scotland while they do so.

10 Months in and I can't say there is much I miss food wise, with the exception of the Waitrose / M&S ready meals, and that is just convenience  . 

I have developed a taste for Australian middle bacon.  We buy English Sausage company sausages most of the time, not really into beef sausages.

If it were me I would be heading to my local pub for an afternoon of food, beer and family, which is exactly what we did.

I would think around Mandurah is a good shout, you still have the option of the train into the City if you want some entertainment, culture etc. but have the beach / cafe / golf lifestyle and some decent entertainment and eateries on your doorstep as well.

On 03/07/2022 at 10:04, Ausvisitor said:

You would have, but without the filing it generally takes about 3 years for them to work through the backlog.

Nowadays it's much quicker and they are working through backlogs from the last decade or so, many people are getting cheques for past overpayments sent back to them.

That said I am looking forward to hitting submit on my final UK tax return and my first AUS one in the next few weeks.

The UK owes me £5,700 in overpaid tax for last year and the AUD authorities about $13,500 for 21/22 tax year.

Kerching ! ! !

Nice isn't it  I have to say both the UK and AU tax paid me in about a week once I submitted.  

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

Surely you're not suggesting tax fraud.  You can't claim a tax deduction if you lease your investment property to a member of your family.  

Of course he isn't suggesting tax fraud.  He is suggesting getting some tax advice to ensure they don't pay unnecessary tax. There is a huge difference.

28 minutes ago, Parley said:

My kids born in Australia are British Citizens by Descent. They have never been registered as such but that doesn't stop the fact they are citizens.

One day they may apply for British Passports and provide the supporting documentation to prove their eligibility.

But you are right at an airport you need a passport as proof of your citizenship. But it is wrong to say you aren't a citizen until you are registered. That is not what the law says.

Australia is different by the way. Australia does not automatically give Citizenship by Descent - it has to be applied for.

That might be what is in my head, as ours were born in the UK and had to apply for their Australia citizenship.

17 hours ago, Parley said:

This is not actually true. British Citizenship is conferred automatically at birth.

Theoretically yes, but in practical terms I think that is an entitlement not a fact until tested, either by registration or application of some kind?  How would they know you exist if your birth was registered in Australia.

Until you apply for his citizenship by descent he is not technically British so no problem.

It takes time to pull it all together, but none of it is hard per se.  It helps to understand the groupings of evidence before you start which you don't see until you start the application proper - filling in the forms in your immi account and making payment.  It then opens up the documentation section which contains the below categories.  You have limited uploads so it is recommended to group things into pdfs - eg household bills, photos together. joint travel evidence.

Nature of couple's household

Citizenship

Photo

Financial Aspects of the relationship

Social Aspects of the relationship

Birth or Age

Medical examination, evidence of intention to undergo

Photo - passport

Form 888 Stat decs from supporting witness

Address - residential

Character

Nature of the couples mutual commitment to each other

Couple are living together

Character Assessment, evidence of intention to obtain

Form 80

National Identity document other than passport (eg UK driving license)

Marriage certificate etc

Other

Hope this helps!

3 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

Move to where exactly? I suppose a daft response would be lets all drop everything else and jump on the meth bandwagon and make, consume and sell to one another?  A real Iceland. You are probably on to something there, well a lot of Perth thinks so. 

Pretty much any other street in a nice suburb?  I suggest you are quite unlucky to be impacted by this.  I have met no one else in my 9 months in Perth who has even mentioned the problem, let along said they are personally impacted in a nice suburb.

15 minutes ago, Blue Flu said:

It is close to impossible to check out neighbours houses, in the rich suburbs,  with out at least a few clues what to look for. These people tend to be professionals, as by me, keeping immaculate houses from the outside. A few hints would be little life, blinds usually drawn, children's play things, like trikes, trampolines, prams and toys outside giving a hint of family respectability. A few others things as well, which won't give away. 

It is only users , more in poorer suburbs that a night viewing more display going's on. 

Maybe a daft question but if they keep immaculate houses from the outside and it is not obvious what is the problem?  And it that bad why not move?

My impression of City beach is that it is more limited than the other suburbs you mentioned in terms of character and things to do.  I believe the southern cluster of houses (South City Beach) is seen as a bit more exclusive.

When looking at the skills list be sure to expand your search a little - sometimes jobs are not called the same thing.  E.g. I cannot see Dental Nurse, but Dental Technician and Dental Hygienist are both there.  Maybe search for dental.

7 hours ago, Marisawright said:

One of you must have an occupation that's on the one of the Skilled Lists.  Then the other partner just gets included on that application.

If you can't find either of your occupations on the lists, then it's impossible to migrate, unless you retrain in another occupation.  Be aware that you need to retrain AND then get a few years'  experience in that occupation before you can even apply -- and by that time, several years in the future, you might find they've taken that occupation off the list, too!  The lists are constantly getting shorter, not longer, every year. 

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try. It just means you should choose an occupation you'll be happy to do in the UK, too, so you'll benefit whatever happens.

I do wonder if this will be the case in the next few years given the high number of job vacancies and the resulting wage inflation.

On 05/07/2022 at 21:52, bug family said:

Ten long years ago I made a promise to myself and my country that I would have an adventure down under, but that I would return home one day ......that time is now upon me and I am now leaving this great southern land to return home to work as a paramedic for north west ambulance service around Manchester

It has been an amazing ten years I have worked with and met so many amazing people, I have seen and done things I could never have dreamt of, it was so very hard to say good bye.

Just waiting for my plane at Perth airport

 

Wish me luck on my next adventure

I'm coming home xxx

All the best to you!  I am sure the ambulance service is lucky to have you.

Do you like humidity?  Its nice and dry heat in Perth, but I understand very Humid in QLD.

On 04/07/2022 at 08:09, Marisawright said:

It won't be the same for all companies.  However if you don't want to pack them in a wooden box OR their original packaging, leave them behind. They're only going to arrive broken otherwise.

Ours were fine, just well packed by the professionals I guess.

9 hours ago, Nemesis said:

If its only switched on occasionally though, then its cheap enough. I've still got my UK phone from 2o odd years ago. Top it up online every so often, but only switch it on when I need to pick up text messages from my bank in the UK, or to access the UK Govt site re National Insurance and stuff - they will only send the authorisation text to a UK phone. I stick it onto wifi every so often to update apps etc, and obviously its a godsend when I travel back home.

I'm with EE but will be changing later this year when back in the UK as their plans aren't really suitable any more. Three are supposed to be good, also vodafone. 

 

I have Gov.uk sending authorisation texts to my Australian phone - try it again.