Juditta

Thank you for your helpful replies....definitely think using a money transfer company is the best way to go, rather than my bank.

I need to transfer money from my bank in the UK to a bank in Australia, can anyone tell me if it saves money if I use a money transfer company, or is it simpler and same charges if I send it direct from my bank to the bank in Australia please? Never done it before so bit confused?!

Hello again Saimozzer…….I know its a big move for you and your cats, all the way to Australia, but I was like that before we set off for Queensland from the UK, I worried about our cats, about where we might live, etc., etc., We have moved into a village about two hours drive inland from Brisbane, and I think half the houses along the road we live in have one or several cats, which pleasantly surprised me. Our two cats have settled in wonderfully, they love the idea of being able to go underneath the house, as most houses here are on stumps, so my cats think its a great area to dig around in, they don't go far from the house, and are really relaxed about the whole thing. We are pleasantly surprised at how easily they adapted to such a big change, and such a long journey. They love the cat food out here too. We brought our two out in a double cage, with a wire dividing bit, so they could see each other, which I thought would be reassuring for them both. You obviously love your cats, so try to bring them. It is a huge and stressful move, but you will only do it once!!! and it will be worth it. (SORRY somehow managed to post this twice)

Sorry took a while to reply. We didn't find it difficult at all to rent an unfurnished property, even though we were bringing two cats over to live in the rented place, I think we would have had a choice if we had wanted to look around more. We didn't pay any extra rent, or bond, etc., so the cats didn't limit us at all. Cats do sleep most of the day, which is a good point to make, especially when they are first settling in, and we bought a scratching post for ours just in case they needed to scratch.....but so far they both have been very good, apart from puking up once on the kitchen floor which is tiled anyway. I think as more people are deciding to bring their pets with them, some rentals will perhaps have to become pet friendly. However, if our two cats did damage anything, we would, of course, be responsible for replacing or repairing what ever it was. Like you mention, our pets are part of our family, and would be such a hard decision to leave them behind. Good luck to you, I am sure you will find a pet friendly rental.

We brought our two cats over from the UK, I could not have left them behind, but it is a big expensive thing to do. Our two cats were in quarantine for 10 days, and we collected them from the Brisbane pet collection place just over a week ago, and they are both fine, both 10 years old, and settling in well. We were lucky to find a rental who would take pets, but most cats sleep all day anyhow, so its not like they are hugely active or destructive. So for us it was worth it to bring our cats, they are happy here, took a few days to settle in, and we would have missed them so much if we had not brought them.

I picked my two cats up from quarantine a week and a half ago, and they didn't smell at all, looked very clean. No worries...I was pleased with how well they both looked.

Thank you all very much for your replies.....I am in Queensland now, and like you all say, my Yahoo.co.uk is fine here....

Going to Australia very soon, Queensland.....will I still be able to pick up my Yahoo emails when I am there ? As will be on a different internet provider, and the thought suddenly occurred to me that it might be different. silly question maybe....but need confirmation....last minute panic probably ... thanks

Thanks very much Marisa, yes, always intended to use a migration agent, so have responded to Paul Hand. Definitely need to do it right, so expert help will be brilliant.

Thank you for your quick reply, I have filled in your company online form.

I am an English pensioner, I met a very nice Australian man, also a pensioner, more than two years ago, we have spent a lot of time together since then, and now plan for me to move to Australia with him quite soon, as finally got a buyer for my house. I am becoming confused re which visa I will need to arrive in Australia, as our plan is for me to eventually apply for a Partner visa, but in between get a Bridging visa whilst we go through the processes.....my partner thinks all I will need is an ETA type of visa, which will give us time to apply (through an Agency) for my Bridging visa....but I have read that that is not possible to do with this an ETA visa, and that I would have to go offshore to re-apply for a different visa. So please can someone help with advice, as getting confused about it all. We also plan to get married in Australia. I will be very grateful for advice, thanks.

Thanks for that Bob.....all useful information for me....my cats are my main concern....

My two cats will be in quarantine in Melbourne, and I am wondering if anyone can give me advice please, on how to get them from Melbourne to the Brisbane area once their period of quarantine is over....is there a company who picks pets up and delivers them to where we will be (Warwick region).

Thank you very much for your replies

Oh! ok then, if I knew how to delete my post I would in that case

Will be taking my two cats to Australia as soon as my house is sold.....there is a pet transporter quite close to where we are in the UK called Jets4Pets, and I am wondering if anyone has used this company, and how good are they. I have been in touch with them and they seem ok to me, but my cats are precious, so taking as much care as I can to choose the right pet transporting company. Thanks.

I wonder if anyone can help please, because really need some information here. It all seems to be very confusing (or maybe thats just me ...confused!) I am a British pensioner, living in the UK, I have met a lovely Australian man, a pensioner as I am, he would like me to marry him and move to live with him in Australia. At first I thought it would be simple and straightforward, but now I look at all the forms, and all the necessary things one has to do, it all looks like a very complicated and slow process, (also expensive) without any guarantees of success. I would be so grateful if anyone could give me some advice and some more knowledge on this process. Thanks