Ausvisitor

It will be much simpler to just re-apply for a UK driving licence using your mates (or a family members) address.

They are currently churning them out in about 3 weeks from application (having almost caught up from their horrendous COVID backlog)

3 hours ago, Lavers said:

Hiya

I did it without using an agent, Me,Wife and 2 kids at the time.

It's upto you I suppose which way you do it, if your case is pretty straight forward then you shouldn't have any issues.

What I did do first though was pay an agent to look over my case, I think $100 at the time just to confirm what I believed I already knew.

Again it's upto you but I didn't find the process hard judt time consuming, but I managed to do alot at work.

I'd agree with Lavers, for the majority of cases the process isn't hard, it's just arduous and a lot of work.

I could have done ours myself, but the cost was far less than what I could make just by working those hours I would have spent doing the visa paperwork, so I outsourced the visa to an agent and went to work instead.

If you've got health issues, criminal record etc type complications then in those circumstances I'd suggest you really do need an agent, for the others it really comes down to how confident you feel and how much time you have (and of course if you are happy not having the security that if it changes halfway through your agent will know and adjust accordingly)

I engaged an agent because I worked out that the amount of work they would save me meant it was more than worth it. Whether that's the case for everyone depends on how much you value (or can sell) those hours you save not doing the paperwork.

1 hour ago, AucklandBill said:

It's true and I have absolutely no idea as to why they have not excluded those who have already applied for an 887 visa (decision pending) from this bulk update.

My 489 has been extended for another 3 years, despite submission of an 887 late 2020.

I do not want this extension, nor will anyone remove this.

My bridging visa, just about to be activated (as granted at 887 submission time), has no restrictions/conditions, but the 3 year extension contains all the restrictions of the previous visa, which of course has been honoured in full.

Who is in a position to resolve? - The dept won't even speak about my case, only in general terms and all they would reiterate is to review the website, that explains the extension.


 

That's really annoying for you. On the surface it seems like a really good thing the department has done, but in catching people like you in the net as well it has caused isolated issues (which of course are serious to those it affects).

Hopefully common sense will eventually result in a quiet reversal of some of these unwanted consequences

5 minutes ago, calNgary said:

Just a reminder on the topic of the thread due to us receiving a few reports about it being off track. 

 Thanks

   Cal x

Bit confused as to why my response that was perfectly polite was removed but the passive aggressive complaints have been kept! 

Are we showing favourites??

1 hour ago, can1983 said:

There have been numerous companies fold because the stuff they made was so good and lasted so long that they ran out of customers. In my industry it was kempf and remmers who made precise instruments for testing ships and propellers. The stuff lasted 50 plus years and once everyone had one......

Think iphone, my iphone 3 lasted 8 years - it was too good

Unlike the new iPhones which barely last long enough to be upgraded for the new version 12 months later

48 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Yes, but not the union's fault.

I find in life if an industry is unionised most things that go wrong are their fault, I also subscribe to the view that unions (whilst originally setup with good intentions), nowadays only exist to make deeply unhappy men (usually) feel important because they can inflict misery on others.

12 hours ago, Bulya said:

It wasn’t a strike.  You’re usually on top of things so this is a surprising comment.  

The boards in the city certainly said it was a strike as did the "broadcast" from Sydney Transport

13 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

I have seen several other people give their costs and I would say that's pretty representative. 

Plus you have to add on, either shipping your belongings or buying new furniture for your new home.

Yes, haven't done that yet as we came just with suitcases and still looking for the house

One thing to bear in mind (that we were unaware of until working up this morning). Sydney transport seems to be as good at last minute walkouts as transport for London.

As a result the roads are pandemonium today, I've just watched (from out balcony) a car take 20 minutes to do half a mile on the approach to the harbour bridge. 

So longer commutes bring their own fun and games.

So looking at housing now in Sydney, as you have two kids you will be looking at a three bed.

In Manly (which granted is a posh spot) you would be looking at $2+m for a passable three bed semi-detached. Or $1,400 per week in rent.

Manly is still at least 30 minutes from Sydney CBD so you will have a commute to "mid-level professional" work.

There are cheaper coastal areas but these would involve much longer commutes.

Sydney is a shocking high price location, we are looking to buy/rent right now.

I can't imagine they would have much luck in an appeal. If they did could you imagine the outcry from all the people in the "queue" who also would have been given their opportunity to apply if they had also overclaimed their points and just expected to be able to say "Oh, sorry!" when caught out.

I appreciate it could be a simple error (as you suggest) but you are encouraged to check and double check your application and warned many times in the process that if you over claim you will be denied a visa

9 hours ago, Adam89harris said:

Hi

Married couple 2 children under 5 looking to emigrate to Australia desired destination are Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Myself has degree in child and youth studies currently working youth charity based around employability. My partner is in the telecoms industry has various higher national certificate. Wondering if anyone could help with point us in the right direction for the best visa to apply for.

Also, is it worth doing the application by yourself or paying an emigration officer to do it. 

 

Many thanks

Adam and Elaine 

 

You can't pay an emigration/immigration officer to do it, they are the people who decide whether to offer you a visa or not. You can pay a MARA agent to help you out though.

Which visa will depend on a huge number of factors but mainly

1) is this a short term adventure or perm?

2) does your quals/experience match what AUS wants for your career

3) is your role on the list of wanted jobs, if not unless you have an AUS close relative you won't be getting in (child and youth social work generally is though, but your partner may struggle in communications without a degree)

Best to have a quick chat with an agent (possibly free or low cost, but as the whole cost for doing this runs to tens of thousands, a hundred quid for a thirty minute conversation is nothing) they can give you a clear view as to whether you stand a chance. A good agent doesn't want to waste their time applying when you won't get in. 

6 hours ago, Adam89harris said:

Hi

Just looking to see if anyone could share there totally cost from application to foot in the ground over there? 

 

Agent fees, vetassess, visa, IELTs, medical and police checks (3 adults - 2 adults and one just 18 yrv old) was £9,800 ( we had a lot of police checks as we have lived in many places)

Sale of house £6,000 to estate agent

4 weeks accomodation in AUS £2,500

Living whilst waiting to start work (4 weeks) £2,000

Flights (premium economy) £7,500

So all in 

£26,000 to get from application to finishing first month in Australia...

I've still got 5 weeks to go then on price comparing if it stops at 6 weeks after arrival!

This BYO concept is new to me, back in the UK it's really rare, but here it seems pretty common

2 hours ago, BeachBabe2022 said:

Aldi has some good wines if you select carefully, but also had some very headache inducing ones from there. I normally spend around $35 - $50 a bottle, because I like older reserve wines, which they don't sell in Aldi. Not being a wine snob, its just the cheaper younger wines give me migraines.

That's £20 a bottle, I get upset when I pay that in a restaurant, not paying that for a glass at home!

50 minutes ago, wrussell said:

If you use a reputable travel agent you get what you pay for. 

If you book online you pay for what you get. Try getting a refund!

Having seen how the UK agents behaved during the pandemic (some taking 12+ months to refund despite airlines having refunded them in many cases) I won't use them ever again.

Getting a refund on a DIY air booking is easy, book with AMEX, if the flight is cancelled or dramatically changed in anyway and the airline refuses to refund, call AMEX they issue a returned credit in 48 hours, they then chase the airline - only if it turns out that you were not entitled to the refund do the ask for the money back

2 hours ago, DukeNinja said:

Not quite. A significant number of financial institutions will not consider you due to tax residency status.

Maybe that's true, we have been told we won't have any issues but we would do it through a company anyway and that would be tax resident in the UK even though the owners of the company aren't

10 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I thought that was pretty much impossible, unless you're willing to get a mortgage with one of those specialist expat companies, who charge very high interest rates?

That is one option 

If you have enough assets left in the UK and can prove rental income and put down 40%+ almost any bank would accept you - but you'd have to go through their broker/referral arm and not the general public retail system (similar rates of interest though)

On 04/02/2022 at 11:53, Ben12345 said:

Hi guys, 

Hoping someone can help. 

Is it possible for me to get a buy to let mortgage in the UK while i live in Australia?

I want to buy a property for my retired mother to live in and wondered if anyone has ever bought property before and what the max LTV is etc? What proof of earnings they look at from Oz?

Thanks for your help. 

Buy to Let always comes with the stipulation that you can't have family living in it while the mortgage is in place. So you would need a standard UK mortgage (which will also be cheaper in repayments anyway so not sure why you would have chosen buy to let anyway)

In answer to your question though, yes you can get a B2L mortgage for a UK property despite living in AUS (although not all provides will over it), however as stated above a B2L is not appropriate in your circumstances (family living in property)

Picked up a bottle of ALDI preciois earth sauvignon blanc tonight, expected it to be a bit rough but it was actually really quite good as a drinking wine (rather than a posing wine)

All the better for it's 2.99 price tag (or 1.58 GBP)

9 hours ago, Chris Pearson said:

My agent said the two incidents aren't an issue and she'd let me know when she hears back from them. My application was lodged 11th January so they assessed it pretty quickly just wondering hiw long I can expect to wait to hear back 

Paul won't be able to comment much on this as all agents have a "gentleman's agreement" not to muddy the waters in each others cases.

Your agent has a "game plan" to get you a grant based on loads of info you have told them, ignoring that and going of info on a forum is not going to help 

3 hours ago, saucer67 said:

Hi just trying to understand the rules around testing and isolation. Im fully vaccinated and wanting to book flights to Brisbane. However many go through Sydney as a layover for example one is a 17 hour layover in Sydney then I would travel to Brisbane. I'm wondering do I need to do a PCR in Sydney in order to fly to Brisbane or only need to get a PCR in Brisbane. I'm confused. 

Also the PCR test needed before flying where can I get a test 3 days before flying, I live in England?

So if you leave the airport you then are working under domestic rules, and so you'd need to Google what the transit rules are in place between Sydney and Brisbane. You'd also need to comply with Sydney Lateral Flow Test requirement in order to be able to get back to the airport.

If you never left the airport airside (which would be dull and probably not allowed) you would not need a new test as you haven't left the "sterile zone"

Word of warning - bring your own lateral tests, they are very expensive here (14 dollars each) and the UK ones are the same so get a pack of NHS tests in your luggage

1 hour ago, wrussell said:

Your travel agent should be able to advise you.

 

 

 

This isn't 1999, almost no-one uses a travel agent anymore.

Same as any other career.

The main sticking point is whether your career is on the list of jobs Australia is looking to bring people in to fill.

It's quite hard to look up which careers are being accepted by AUS (since a really good site anzscosearch stared charging), but a quick Google seems to suggest the usual visas 189/190/491 aren't an option so unless you have an AUS degree you might struggle.

Best to have a quick consultation with a migration agent on this rather than spend ages trying to hunt down the answer, they will just know it..