GB537

Hi Scott! I’d be keen to meet up. I’m in Christie’s Beach now - maybe let me know next time you’re down here paddle boarding or we can find somewhere halfway :)

I'm single. Drink wise, I'm generally into spirits, and anywhere with music is a plus for me, but I'm also happy just to try out anything different and just see what's about

Ok, great. I'm in Seaford Meadows, happy to meet anywhere really. Do you know any decent places to go? I arrived literally just as everywhere started to be closed down so I have no idea what the bars/pubs/restaurants are like!

Of course! The more the merrier! Where are you based?

@Jody @TheReads @Jsmull87 So, finally managed to find this post again! I'm now in living in Adelaide, Seaford Meadows. With the pubs and other entertainment venues starting to open up again, I thought it would be a good time to resurrect this post. If any of you are keen to still meet, PM me (or group chat maybe, if that's possible here?) and we can arrange a time and a place! Hope you're all doing well.

Have you tried Seven Seas? They're handling the shipping of my move cube and apparently they've been uneffected by COVID. The service so far has been really good and efficient. In regards to where you're staying, have you checked Facebook? There's groups on there for people seeking rentals and tenants, both short and long term, a lot of those are furnished. Also, I'm not sure about Tasmania, but most of the shops are still open here in SA, so hopefully you'd be able to pick up any essentials if you needed to buy anything in the meantime.

I came out on holiday to set everything up at the start of March, and was meant to make the final move this week (was actually meant to be landing in Adelaide today!). When I saw how the virus spread while I was over here on my holiday and found out that Australia were closing the borders to everybody except citizens and PRs, I decided to stay in Australia and effectively bring the move forward. I'm on a 489 visa, so I was worried that if I returned to the UK I wouldn't be able to get back into Australia for who knows how long, and that would then eat into my living and working time to be eligible to apply for PR before my visa expires. Possibly a bit of a reckless decision, given that I was giving up an okay job to become unemployed in a time when there is now mass unemployment, but I wasn't prepared to let my Aussie dream slip through my fingers at the 11th hour, and it appears to be paying off so far - Yesterday I was offered a full time post starting in a few weeks' time, on a better salary than I was on back in the UK, for less responsibility and with a lot more additional benefits. I think the job situation depends on what field you are in - I'm here as a community worker and have had 4 interviews in the last 3 weeks and new posts coming up each day, so there is still jobs out there in certain fields that will still need staffing throughout this pandemic. I think some places (such as the supermarkets) are giving a priority to Australians who have lost their jobs in hospitality/retail/travel industries, though.

My mum is in the same position - on an e-visitor 651 - valid for 12 months but has the condition that she can only stay a max of 3 months per stay. Let me assure you it is not easy to get a flight out of here right now. We were both due to return to the UK on Friday (I'm on a 489 so have since decided to stay and unintentionally move here early so I don't have problems returning). The original flight was cancelled, not had any contact from the travel agent, and the airline is just telling us to talk to the travel agent. Airlines have pretty much shut down service to Adelaide so cannot get a flight abck from here. There is an option to go to Melbourne or Sydney for an international flight from there, but many of the flights are extremely expensive (think $10 - $14k for a single one way ticket!). Some cheaper in a few weeks' time yet if we book that, it's likely those will cancel again and we will be even worse off waiting for airlines to refund... Also concerned that airlines like Singapore were still advertising tickets when they've banned transit passengers... same as Etihad with Abu Dhabi... so my mum (who's a nervous flyer anyway) is concerned that she could end up stranded in the transit country. We went to the airport yesterday to try to get some advice about the flights - we were advised its best to hold on here because of the dicey situation with the transit lockdowns. Been on the phone to Border Force and Immigration - they won't waive the 3 month stay condition, so it may be the case of applying onshore for a 12 month visitor visa or try to get some assistance with the flight situation. Been in touch with the local MP for an update on what is happening to help people held here to get home, they're currently working on finding a workable solution.

Hi, I'm due to move to Australia soon on a 489 visa. My migration agent said that I can work in any employment. As long as I live in the specified regional area for 2 years and work in ANY full time job for 1 year I can then apply for permanent residency.

How did the moves go, @Jody & @TheReads? I hope you're all settling in okay! @Jsmull87 I'm still here! I won't be over until March (3 week hols, then the big move in Mid April). It's a bit early but I can look at meet up places, if everyone lets me know their suburb, I can try find somewhere convenient. Unless you'd prefer the city? How are you finding living over there?

Yes, hopefully you should have your grant soon. The waiting is so stressful, isn't it?! Would you be interested in meeting up somewhere in the middle? Is anywhere like Oxford/Cambridge/Northampton etc easy to get to? Happy to travel out.

I had my 489 granted in November, my entry date is 12 months from the visa grant date. Not sure if it would be different for different visa types?

Wow, so close! Good luck with the moves, both of you, hope it goes smoothly! What part(s) of Adelaide are you both going to?

Hi guys! I wasn’t quite sure where to post this... I was wondering if anybody here is due to move to SA in the new year? Im heading out on a 489 visa, first for a 3 week holiday in March, then moving properly in mid April. Looking to settle in Seaford, south of Adelaide. I was wondering if anybody else due to move over there would like to meet up in the UK before going? Maybe get to know people in advance so it doesn’t feel quite so lonely once we get there? My sister did something similar before she emigrated and is still good friends with a bunch of other expats 15 years later! Anyway, let me know if anyone is game and I’ll try to organise something!

I don't know about any changes. It was a direct grant, and that was on the paperwork. My agent was also expecting it to be the date of the police check.