Sunseeker20

On 19/09/2020 at 12:38, Aussiebird said:

So pleased to say at the very last minute yesterday UK time our house finally completed!! So, so happy now we can start looking for our first home to buy once we are out of quarantine!!!

Hi Aussiebird so glad you have managed to make it to Oz and great news that the house has sold.  Quarantine starts slow but it speeds up when you realise how much planning there is to do for freedom day!  We ended up in Sydney after our flights to Melbourne were cancelled at the last minute (after we’d checked in!!!) and did quarantine there before travelling interstate to Tas where we had to self isolate for another fortnight.  At least you’ve only got to do it once!

Put your feet up and binge on Netflix.  You deserve it xxxx

16 hours ago, Aussiebird said:

Lucky you!! 

Did you sell your home and move into a rental?  Kind of wish we had done that, but too late now.  Just waiting to sell then we can look at flights and book shipping container. 

Best of luck for your future. 

Yes with hindsight we were so lucky.  We sold to the first person who viewed our house but they were in a hurry and wanted to move in straight away.  It was a pain at the time to have to find a rental for a few months but I’m so glad it happened as I don’t think we’d be able to sell now without slashing the price.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you too.  
best wishes x

We are on the last few days’ countdown now; depart London on Thursday, arrive Melbourne on Friday.

I should feel excited but it’s stressful!  We are 3 citizens plus a 309/100 visa holder.  I think we’ve got our plans sorted but the goalposts keep moving and the rules are confusing.  However no going back now as we will be homeless once we’ve returned the keys to our rental.

fingers crossed x

On 02/06/2020 at 07:21, Marisawright said:

@Sunseeker20, I thought you said you were only taking a property for a month or two?   Why would you need an application to a landlord for that length of time?   I'd have thought you'd be taking an AirBnB or holiday let for that length of time.   Very few landlords would offer you a lease that short otherwise, and I'd be a bit suspicious of the ones that would, frankly.

The property thing is more complex than we thought due to timings and the need for furnished vs unfurnished.  We need to live in the catchment area for the schools pretty soon after arrival (I’m fed up having the kids at home!!).  I Tried Airbnb but bookings not being accepted and “Proper” landlords want at least a 6 month contract.  The apply-before-you-view thing it turns out is because of Covid and it’s the same for all the agents in the city we’ve approached: so not a scam.  
Thankfully I already have a job contract and when I explained my predicament and asked for help the new boss has been really generous.  So I have  “applied” for a couple of suitable properties and the manager will view them on our behalf.  I know the area, I just haven’t been inside the houses.  As a back-up option the boss has offered us their second home (not in school catchment though) fully furnished and for free until we get sorted.  
We should be able to avoid a second quarantine if we can show we have a residential address - residents can self isolate instead, which is a prospect we much prefer.  A lease contract would qualify, I’m not sure how it would work if we were just staying in someone’s else’s holiday home.

Just so pleased to be nearly on our way.  Only 4 weeks to go

On 02/06/2020 at 19:24, AliQ said:

Flights and travel insurance now booked. We fly first week of August. Looking forward to returning home

I hope you don’t mind me asking but who did you get travel insurance with?  We can’t find any. 

OMG there are 4 of us and we’ve got to quarantine twice.  No way we can find an extra $20000 that’s insane!  Is this a likely scenario?? That will literally end our dreams.

Not having a good day.  Our removals firm turned up With lorry this morning while I was at work....a month early!!  I nearly had a heart attack that I’d mucked up the booking but it was their error.  Doesn’t really give me much faith....

Also today have been sent an application form for a rental property we thought suitable.  The agent wants us to send a complete application including a declaration that we will lease it if the landlord accepts us BEFORE they will arrange a (online) viewing!!!  WTF is that normal?

<<<stress>>>

6 minutes ago, AliQ said:

I'm sorry you took my reply the wrong way, I did not indicate in any way that you are an idiot. Just passing on my experience from two moves across the world, that's all.

Oh no I’m sorry.  I don’t think for a minute that you an insinuating I am an idiot!  I’m all ears to as much advice as possible it’s just that if I don’t follow it it’s because I’ve made a careful and reasoned decision....not because I am foolishly ignoring it.

please keep your input coming
 

Have you been able to get any further with your plans yet?

1 minute ago, AliQ said:

If you are taking a furnished "holiday"  rental for just two months then that's ok.

I was under the impression that you were taking a proper rental home unseen, on a contract, of which they are usually on a minimum term of six months.

That’s not the plan but I would do this if I have to.  We need somewhere to live and it’s got to be in the catchment areas of the schools we want - actually a very small geographical area.  I do have the offer from a work colleague of them doing a viewing on our behalf if needed.

Our plans are all so very far from ideal.  I’m not an idiot and I can see the risks.  However we are making compromises to achieve our end goal.

Im always listening for helpful advice though!

44 minutes ago, AliQ said:

Hi Sunseeker, are you planning to secure a rental before viewing it then ?

If so, please don't. We got stung doing that (our position at the time led us to take a property unseen) it was a very very unpleasant experience and one I'd never ever repeat.

Yes we have got to - no other way.  However it will only be temporary for around 2 months - once our stuff arrives we will need somewhere unfurnished.  I don’t see this as a great different to booking a holiday rental.  I know the area we are moving to.

If you don’t mind me asking what went wrong for you?

11 hours ago, Toots said:

Hopefully the Covid-19 restrictions will have eased a bit by the time you arrive.  At the moment you would have to do 2 weeks quarantine in an hotel bedroom when you arrive on the mainland and there are severe restrictions who can come to Tasmania and the ones who do arrive have to quarantine again.

Yes we’ve already twigged the double dose of quarantine . However the tasgov website says they will permit self-isolation for 2 weeks instead of quarantine for those travelling with kids.  (Obviously this is all after we’ve already done 2w quarantine in Melbourne).  My new employer is also going to help me apply for an exemption as an essential worker - but that would only apply to me not the family as well.  They’ve also agreed that once I’ve sorted a rental they will get the keys for me and fill the kitchen with supplies before we arrive.  

5 hours ago, Lavers said:

Are you flying out of Manchester?

I am just waiting for my eldest new passport to arrive, then I will be booking.

Looking at 24th June but noticed that flights are dropping for the early July.

Hopefully more countries open there borders in the next few weeks and they drop even more .

You do worry about it being safe to fly at the minute and it isnt ideal, but the thing is when will it be back to "normal" again? It could be 6 months or 2 years no one knows.

Other than covid now is the right time for us to move as a family so we just need to hope for the best.

If we leave it until next year my eldest would be starting high school so she may not want to leave her friends then. This way she will have a year and a bit of primary in Austrslia, then move to high school with her new friends.

We are flying out of Heathrow then via Doha to Melbourne.  With Qatar.  We haven’t booked on onwards flights to Tas yet.  Couldn’t book a complete journey as we have to quarantine in melbourne.  If we book those flights now we’ll only have to pay to change them if Qatar reschedule on us again.  

Another problem - we have no travel insurance.  Couldn’t get any even excluding covid.  
 

Your kids are only slightly younger than mine; finishing years 6 and 8 here.  The older one will be straight into high school but before she has to choose options.  My younger one will have a few more months of primary school so maybe catch up what she has missed here.  She’s quite chuffed that she won’t miss out on end of primary school celebrations after all!  Still having a nightmare trying to get school refunds for cancelled trips.

Its funny I hadn’t really considered the safety aspect of flying.  I’m a key worker so the most dangerous thing I do is go to work!  UK is probably more contaminated than anywhere else the Qatar planes have been and luckily we are a generally healthy bunch.

On 19/05/2020 at 06:01, Lavers said:

Movecube booked for next Friday  and flights are starting to come down in price 

Welcome to the crazy world of moving during a pandemic!  I’m desperate to get back to Oz now, I want the kids properly at school and some sort of a normal life again!

Can anyone thinking about criticising us take a moment to consider how much planning goes into migrating.  We started our plans in February...last year.  Still tied into jobs until the end of June otherwise I’d be off tomorrow.  We also sold our house just before lockdown so currently “camping” in a tiny rental.  Most of our belongings are in storage.  I’m hoping our quarantine hotel might be bigger than this house .  
 

We’ve booked flights and removals, both at seriously inflated costs; but have also noticed that rentals are dropping in price.  Maybe if house prices also drop in the next 6-12 months we might recoup our losses.  
 

Good luck with it!

On 16/05/2020 at 00:42, Toots said:

Yes the ferry is still running but transporting goods only for the time being.

Helpful to know thanks.  We want to fly but had the ferry in mind as a back up plan.  Thought we’d buy a car once we arrived in Tassie but eventually we will need a second one so I’ll keep your advice in mind.

9 hours ago, Reboz said:

Might be worth double checking- our migration agent sent the link to the form to us- I am Australian and both kids have Australian passports also. Husband has 309/100 but we’ve been told we have to complete form to enter Australia. 

 

have attached link to the form-

 

https://www.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-04/border-closures-160420.pdf

Thanks for the info.  I’ll have more of a look on the Tas gov website.

On 10/05/2020 at 16:14, Kayse said:

You have mentioned you booked removals could i ask which company with? We’re flying out from Manchester to melb on may 27 But still looking for a company to ship our furniture

We are using GMS.  
I’ve got to ring them later to see if I can change the date by a day.  Our flights (Qatar) have been cancelled  but we’ve been rebooked on July 2nd.
 

I’ve seen several people mention “permission to fly”.  We have flights booked with Qatar on 1st July.  Myself and the 2 kids have Oz passports, Hubble has got his 309/100.  We thought we were ok to go as citizens/ permanent resident.  Have we missed something? 

So we have taken the plunge and booked flights on 1st July, also our removals booked the day before.  
Ive still got my car to sell but worse case scenario I can leave it with a relative to sell for me at a later date.

We have only booked travel as far as Melbourne as we know we have to quarantine there for 14d.  Not yet sorted onward travel to Tas as I can’t get my head around the red tape.  We may have to re quarantine but the rules say if you are travelling with kids you can self isolate instead.  To add to confusion I think I may qualify as an essential worker thanks to my job....but it’s all a bit vague and even if I am it doesn’t say what rules then apply to the family.

Life in UK is pretty much wound up now and I have a new job waiting for me to start 1st August so we figured we would take the plunge.  

Due to move in July...the idea was to let the kids finish their school year.  I have a job in Oz to start 1st Aug.  Sold our U.K. home and currently in rental.  Partner resigned and will likely be on furlough for rest of notice period until end of June.  I’m a key worker so still working.  2 removal firms we got quote from now closed, the third has upped their quote by nearly £1000!!  We need to book flights that tie in with removals.  As it currently stands will have to do 2w quarantine on arrival in Melbourne then another 2w in Hobart (we are migrating to tas).  Currently thinking we will need to leave end of June to make my job start deadline but it’s really scary with 2 kids as well not knowing what the situation will be when we get there.  If they relax quarantine where do we stay if hotels all closed?  Airbnb’s shut so can only get a proper rental so how do we managed in an unfurnished apartment for weeks until our stuff arrives if shops are shut??

no point staying in U.K. now house sold and jobs resigned.......

Our visa has come!!!!

Not only that but we accepted an offer on our house today as well!!!!

Cant believe it’s all happening at once now.  Thank you to everyone for sharing their timelines as it’s made a huge huge impact on my sanity over the last few months.

Good luck to everyone still waiting.

HI everyone

Straw poll if I may.....

So we still have no visa news but based on the recent March grants we are desperately hoping ours will come in the next few weeks (we applied 1st April).  I am flying out to Oz at the weekend (on my own) for 2 weeks to visit family and attend job interview (already been offered the job but I won't accept it until I've been to visit).  Also planning on visiting schools, real estate agents etc etc

I went into our local estate agents last week to enquire about getting our house on the market when I got back.  Agent said they had someone in mind who would be interested in buying it and at first I thought "oh here's the sales pitch" but I agreed to one viewing before I went.  Viewing went well and the buyer has just put in an offer that's reasonable BUT wants/needs to move in within the next 6-8 weeks.  ARRGGHH!  

We knew we were likely to end up in a rental anyway in the short term so that's not the issue (although it'll be an expense and a faff to move twice)  I'm just paranoid that if the visa gets rejected we'll be left homeless!  There's no reason it would; we've been married 16 years got 2 kids and passed our police checks and medical...i'm just not the gambling type and this makes me feel nervous.

So my question to all you folks in the same queue as us is what would you do?

Thanks for your input.

3 hours ago, agmc said:

We got our visa grant today for both 309 & 100!

We’ve been together for four years and married for one year - no children. Timeline as follows:

Applied from London in May 17 2019.

RFI for applicant’s police certificates & medicals in May 21 2019.

Second RFI for sponsor’s police certificates in December 5 2019.

Visa grant emails for 309 & 100 in January 15 2020.  1st entry by 15 January 2021.

Thanks for all the information here, and good luck to everyone that is still waiting for their golden email!

Hi agmc

Congratulations I'm really pleased for you.  

Could I just double check when you applied.  You've said May - and that you got an RFI only a few days later?  Did you mean March?  Only wondering as they seem to have skipped April applicants!!!

Feeling blue today.  New year started, job come to an end and getting ready to put house on market but....still no visa.  Doesn’t look like there have been any grants for weeks now - ?

Anyway in an attempt to retain my sense of humour I thought I’d share a photo of the lovely mug I got given for Christmas.

Happy New Year everyone.  Wishing us all speedy visa and safe travels

8 hours ago, mppc said:

Sitting here in tears tying this, another request for more information. I actually am a breaking point here

Sorry you are having a hard time.  Fingers crossed its good news as an early Christmas present for you.  I really appreciate your spreadsheet - it's so helpful and it seems so unfair to see your name in amongst a sea of green.  Stay strong.

On 16/11/2019 at 12:09, Scoop said:

Very similar to you. Been in the UK for a long time, I have dual, as do my 2 kids. Applied in April, and we are planning to move to Tassie! Haven't heard a single thing since we applied

Excited to see some grants coming through. 

Hi Scoop

Nice to “meet” you!  We do seem to have a lot of similarities.  How far have you got with your plans?  I’ve been researching real estate, schools, jobs.....

We are hoping to get our visa in next couple of months to kick start the moving process.  Ideally sell the house in the spring market, ditch jobs and make our move at the end of the (UK) school year.

It is great to see movement on the waits.  We got in before the sponsor thing changed although I don’t know if that will make any difference or not.

Fingers crossed x