Pastmybest

Thanks. You can open a NAB joint account from the UK, but they require both acccount holders to be present for the ID check and card collection. Won't work for us as my wife will arrive a couple of weeks before I do, so for that reason I've just opened a single account with NAB in her name, which I'm assuming we can convert to a joint account after I arrive.

Thanks. I've been with Nationwide for about 15 years, we have everthing with them. It seems that you can simply change the address to an Australian one and keep using the accounts. I hear some people around here used family or friends' UK addresses, but I don't think we need to do that. So we should be able to carry on using our UK credit cards for anything online as usual, as the address on the card will be the same as our residential address in Oz. Once we have a comparable banking setup in Australia the plan is to progressively close all the UK savings and credit card accounts and only keep one joint current account open.

Sorry again, Westpac migrant joint account only if already in Australia. Single migrant account only option if you apply from overseas. If there are no alternatives to single accounts I may actually not bother and simply open a joint account once we're there.

Sorry I just realised you can open a joint migrant account with Westpac.

Does anybody know if any of the Australian bank accounts that can be opened from the UK can be a joint account? I was looking at Westpac's migrant type account, but apparently is individual only. Cheers.

I'd expect both the euro and particularly the pound to lose some of their value for a while.

Can you keep a regular UK account with an Australian address on it? Or do you just use a family or friend's address for any notification that is not paperless? I thought regular accounts were just for UK residents, so they can only have a UK address on them? I understood you had the "overseas" type "UK" accounts in GBP for foreign addresses? All my banking is with Nationwide btw. I'm all ears!

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll just take it then.

Hello, I'm just trying to decide whether to take the tumble dryer or not. It's essential in the UK, but I know it's useless in warm places that I've been to like Sourthern Spain. We're moving to Bunbury, where we've been a couple of times before, and I remember hanging heavy cotton stuff, including towels, at night, in an open garage area... and it was completely dry in the morning! But maybe that's the case in the drier season but you could use a dryer in the wet season? (as it definitely rains more there than in Southern Spain during the more humid months). Thoughts?

Hi, I thought I had already posted the reply from the manufacturer but I can't see it here now so posting it "again"(?). They replied: "The finish is untreated, the product has been kiln dried to kill all species of bugs. It is just a natural timber. However you will need to seek clarification with the country, We only use FSC certified timber. " So it was originally treated for bugs, but not sure this counts as "treated" for Australian authorities as bugs could have got in it after that if there were any wood borer bugs in my house. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I've sent an email to the manufacturer to check this, thanks! It doesn't feel "treated" to me, but it may well be. I'll update this thread when I find out.

Hi, I'm moving to WA from the UK in February on a 457. I understand that it is compulsory to get a WA driving licence only in the 3 months after becoming a PR, so on a 457 I don't HAVE TO get a WA licence. However, I'd still WANT TO get one for practical ID reasons if at all possible. The question is, CAN I apply for a WA driving licence while on a 457? Or is this only both possible and compulsory after becoming PR? I've read older threads and the official website but I haven't found an answer to this. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm moving to Oz in February and I'm trying to decide what to do with a piece of furniture. It's a new (only 2 months old) triple bunk bed made of solid pine wood. I think it's untreated so, in principle, I can't take it. Is it an option to treat it myself before shipping it? or should I just make it easy for myself and get rid of it? Also, if I risked taking it untreated (but declared) and they inspected it and was ok, what happens? Thanks!

Thank you Iron Chef! ?

Hi guys, first post. Moving to Bunbury, WA, in January. Hi Iron Chef. The first question, can we still import a car on a 457 at all? It used to be possible and I think a 457 allows you to apply for PR at some point but we won't be PR when we arrive. Details below. Thank you!!! - year of manufacture: 2011 - make, model & variant: Vauxhall Zafira 1.7 CDTi Diesel Elite - body type (coupe, convertible, etc): People carrier - engine size & fuel type: 1.7 Diesel - transmission: Manual - drive type (4WD, front wheel drive, etc): Front - mileage: 30,000 miles - any special features, options or modification: leather seats as standard - does it have aircon: Yes - realistic current UK market value: £5,000 - Australian RedBook value No exact match possible. No 2011 Vauxhall Zafiras in Oz. Sold as Holden Zafira up to about 2005, then as Opel Zafira from 2012. Private Price Guide for a 2012 2.0L diesel is 12,000-14,000 AUD (bigger engine, 1 year newer, restyled model) - Australian market value There's a 2013 2.0 diesel with 24,000 miles at 19,400AUD (bigger engine, two years newer, restyled model) - which Australian state/city Bunbury WA