Vickie78

Oh ok, you can tell I haven't travelled international since coming to Australia LOL. Also I thought I read kids couldn't use the smart gates

Called APO again, they just said Dad needs to sign application as well. I asked do I need a letter of consent as website says 'Written consent' she said no, signing is giving consent. Why can't they make their website consistent with advice on phone? Would save a lot of damn headaches. HMPO did require a letter, which was accepted and they have kept for their records so that's fine. Also I don't understand why Australia requires you to leave on Aussie passport when everywhere else states you must leave and return on the same passport, so people only going one way and not returning, would have their passport stamped on exit no? So if i get the kids Aussie passports, they leave on those and mine British as I'm only PR , mine will have a stamp all good, but theirs will be in Aus passport, and when we get to UK won't the UK be like umm where is your exit stamp on the kids British passports? *Confuzzled*

Just realised I can't edit my OP. Doh! So the seed of doubt has been firmly planted and I will be applying for Australian Passports for the kids... Curse my goody two shoes brain. I may as well flush $300 down the loo though as they will literally never be used again... blah

Interesting, Just read this *Deleted* Incorrect

Oh I know, just one of those what if moments. I opened an HSBC Global so will be using that in the interim until a UK bank account is ready to go. No fees etc.

Don't need all that, already checked. A letter is fine (It was also accepted by HMPO which I asked as well before applying, and they actually kept that for their records and didn;t send it back with all other original docs) Aussie Passports require a letter also If both Parents agree/no court orders. If there were Court Orders then I'd have to go to Court to get them to allow me. If they want to call him when we leave, so be it, it's all legit, we both split amicably and I have the kids 100% of the time.

Sorry must have misread your post. I still say go, you won a USA PR, use it!

Ugh

Did you get the third degree when you left in 2017? (Did you have Aussie passports then too?)

LOL. If they are anything like the show Border Security here in Aus, I'll be well prepared, hell even the bloke on the Phone was a grumpy git. Passport office lady was nice though.

Oh derp, why didn't I think of that.. LOL Thank you

My understanding is that yes if your destination is Australia, which makes sense as Airline can only take people to a country they have a visa or citizenship for, if not the risk a fine. That's why I asked as we are going one way, we are British Citizens, going to the UK on a one way plane ticket to the UK. Seems bonkers to me, that my kids who are only Aussie by birth, would need to buy a passport just to leave Australia. Both the Passport Office and Immigration did say it should be ok too, so it can't be that strict.. immi just mentioned that probably get questioned. Didn't actually say no you cannot leave, as said no court orders, plus I have the letter from their dad allowing me to to take them etc.

Money, I woke up last night thinking shit what if cards don't work when we get there (Will be telling the bank of course) Surely I should take some cash with me? Just in case. How much can you take into the UK without raising eyebrows?

We have Hard waste collection coming up soon, so a lot of the non sellable tat (broken/last leg stuff ) will be thrown out. But good to know people will perhaps buy the rest via a Garage Sale, we too don't have a lot of "stuff". I hate clutter. But yes mainly Kitchen stuff will be left and some other bits. $800 is pretty bloody impressive I must say, well done! I think our beds and one TV (Kids won't survive if I got rid of both (the other being a small one in my bedroom) too soon) will just have to go to the tip. I'll hire a van and chuck it in I guess, I was going to get a skip, but nowhere to put one here really.

OMG YES! The when to get rid of beds/car etc is making me stress too. I would go tomorrow If I could, but yeah. Aiming for mid Jan ideally, around the time my lease runs out.

Wowsers an hour before? That must have been stressful. I will certainly take your tips on board, and explicitly stating moving overseas, no time wasters etc (I'm sure there will be some though). Thank you ETA: What sort of things were left for the Garage sale, smaller bits and bobs?

Plenty of Aussies here too As for your predicament, Go to the U.S.A, What do you have to lose? Don't like it, come back to Australia? or go somewhere else? Having a job to go to makes it a little less stressful! I wasted a long time here in Australia and off back to the UK Early 2020. I finally realised that life is too short, that I need to my mental health first, and my kids and what's the point being stuck somewhere you're never going to be happy in?

When are you off? I love that quote, I shall write it out and stick it on my Fridge! Yes sorting out stuff and things is the long hard part. If I could just yell MOVING OVERSEAS COME AND GET IT It would be much easier? LOL!

Mid-Late Jan is the plan. As much as We'd love to go before Xmas, I Think I Would certainly go insane trying to do all that in a month ish eeek. 2/3 Months is short enough to rush around haha. We'll just look forward to the following Xmas at home

I just thought I would I start an online Diary of my steps to going Home/Getting there (Good for me to keep track, and perhaps useful info/timeline for others once more is added) - Just a tad excited, anxious and excited. August - Dummy quote for Movecube done. 19th September went to Aus Post to get Photos done, got home realised Photos were not in fact within UK guidelines all of them (stupid me for not checking, but they harp on about being professional pp photo takers) - Ugh! 20th September went back to Aus Post got Photos re-done lady claimed I didn't say UK passport day before (I damn well did) , they printed larger ones (correct) and small ones(wrong that's for Aussie passports) Again snapped my head off, as i mentioned. My eldest sons photo again had shadow on his face (could not see his eyes properly) , checked before leaving this time! Had to do yet another one... Lady was quite rude, "You Brits make everything difficult" *jaw on floor* Umm wow, I don't make the Passport rules lady! (Said in my head) 27th September 2019. HMPO Received our docs for first time passports. 14th October 2019 Passports Approved/Printed - YIPPEE! That was fast! 17th October 2019 Called Aussie passport line and Immigration both said kids SHOULD be able to leave on British Passports - But we may be pulled over for questions, main concern seemed to be Court Orders of which, we have NONE. (No bother have all the docs we need proving I'm their Mother, who they are and that we have their Dads permission ) Clear as mud though, I found it odd especially the Immigration hotline. I'm going to assume because they did in fact not state YOU MUST have one or else, then a few questions isn't going to bother me and the must have is more so for entering Australia(well duh). 19th October - Opened HSBC Global card online. 20th October 2019 List made of all our stuff, sorted into Throw, Take, Sell or give away 22nd October Original Documents (minus one, need to contact HMPO and see what happened to it ) + Passports all delivered, the main things are back (Birth Certs/PP's) though. PHEW! Passports Signed and locked away! HSBC text message stating card on the way. To Do ~ In no particular order Sell/giveaway/throw stuff, Sell car. Link my New Passport to VEVO so Aussie Border force don't think we (Mum and I) arrived by teleport back in the 90's and magically stayed here for 26 years upon leaving Australia, However Mum also still has her old PP with the PR Visa Sticker in it, so meh. Do ToR application Book Movecube Clean stuff/Pack Finalise Bills, Kids School , Notify ATO etc and so on Get phone unlocked so can use in U.K or Take my old phone and not bother, haven't decided yet, might just get a UK SIM online and do it that way. Decisions/Decisions. Notify Real Estate/Hand in keys/Sort out Bond Book Accommodation UK until we can secure a Rental. Buy Plane Tickets Pack luggage, GO HOME!

Excellent. Thank you so much I shall have to look at cube vs weight, I must have done something wrong.

I didn't want to Hijack anyone else's thread to avoid confusion. I know what size I need as did the quote online etc. I have seen people say if they have space left over they just chuck extra stuff in? Does that make the price go up from the quote? Quote says everything needs to be in boxes, no more than 30kg per box? But people seem to stuff things into any gaps, eg: Umbrella, Clothes hangers that sort of thing? Boxes? Can you use your own (I have heaps of packing boxes in the Garage that are sturdy) or do I have to use theirs? I'm taking two x Mountain bikes do they just go in, or do they need a box? I assume they will also have to be thoroughly clean too? Do I take the pedals off, or just leave intact? Any other tips/tricks/advice would be appreciated Thank you

That's what I thought regarding coming back, but it is highly unlikely they will. I'm not going into full personal details here, but they seriously don't have a bond/good relationship with their dad so I wouldn't foresee them wanting to come to Australia, definitely not to see him, a Holiday perhaps who knows, but for the time being spending another $400+ dollars just to get 2 x kids passports just to leave seems ridiculous to me, when I have just forked out over $600 for 3 British passports for a one way trip.

Thanks Bit early still for a drink. DOH!

Our British Passports are arriving this week! Hooray! But... Considering we are moving to the UK permanently (me going back/kids because British by descent and I have then 100% of the time/dad agrees to us going) do I need to get the kids their extremely expensive Australian Passports just to leave ? Or will our British ones suffice? Given it's one way. Now I have called both the Australian Passport Office (after reading confusing stuff online) who said "It should (should? Should they not know the actual answer?) be ok to LEAVE Australia on British Passports, as long as no Court Orders etc blah re: kids (there is not, I do have a Letter signed by their Father stating A) He was aware I applied for BPP and B Allowing me to take kids to UK permanently) but to call Immigration and check, she then rambled number and hung up. I did call Immigration, explained scenario (I'm PR, Dad is citizen by birth, they are citizens by birth) again all I got was SHOULD be ok to LEAVE on foreign passport but MAY be asked Questions and of course can't return without RRV (I said at least 10 x not coming back) he was quite a grumpy chap, and APP for them (again said not coming back) .. I'm befuddled how 2 x Government departments can not give me an actual answer.. (Even the websites switch between must and should.. ugh) Given we will have British Passports/Letter from Dad/Birth Certificates and ONE WAY Plane tickets etc am I overthinking it? (Probably, a bad habit of mine). Checked with Airline too, they just require British PP as one way tickets for travel docs (but will have all other stuff on me just in case). Yes I know there is a slim (relationship not great with their dad/no family here) possibility my kids will want to come to Aus when they are adults (definitely not in the next 5 yrs how long a PP would be valid at their age), but they can just apply then. I however am definitely NOT coming back, nor is my Mother (also travelling with us) . Oh and my other scratch head moment is because I came here in 1993 on Mums passport(no kids ones then), PR Visa with my name on it on her old Passport the sticker (still have that passport, she has new PP) do we need to add both our new PP numbers to this thing called VEVO? I assume I need proof of being allowed to stay in Aus all this time, or that will be the questions when I attempt to leave I imagine? Which won't be linked to my brand new PP currently as this is my first British PP since moving here. I think I need a drink >.< lol Ty