Blue Manna

4 hours ago, welljock said:

Not necessarily, dependent on age, my son was 7 before he got his first passport and I was 18, despite many trips abroad for both of us.

It was normal for children to be included on a parent's passport, that changed around 2000 requiring children to get their own (if they weren't already included on the parent one). Some countries (USA for one) did require a separate passport, which was why I had to get one for my son, his younger sister actually had her own passport before him. 

The OP is 21.

I used to be on my parents passport, but I think that ended many years ago.

2 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I guess if you're offering them all that, you'd have to wonder why they're so reluctant.   

The siblings never had a lot of money and don't really holiday anywhere. But I thought their kids would have taken the opportunity when they were younger. It's not uncommon for kids to do gap years in Australia, and my mum would have been a convenient base. But no. They didn't even tour Europe. Maybe they're just unadventurous people.

2 hours ago, Quoll said:

Why would you expect someone to give up their whole holiday and, at great expense, fly to the other side of the world? It’s financially beyond many, physically beyond many and temporally beyond many. I don’t see why anyone would be expected to fly half way round the world unless they really want to. You could get half a dozen at home or European holidays for the price of one Aussie trip. 

When you get free accommodation, car hire and meals provided? I would have thought it was pretty close actually.

3 hours ago, Quoll said:

When we arrived it was in the days of  aerogrammes and £1 a minute phone calls so it was very much a case of out of sight, out of mind. I've pretty much continued that - maybe an email every 6 months nowadays but that hasn't changed the fact that when we meet it's like there hasn't been years since we last chatted, we just slot tight back into the same chat. I occasionally text exchange with my son but we can go weeks/months with nothing and I do try and  ft call my grandson every Sunday but 9 times out of 10 he is busy doing something important like playing on his Switch or watching cartoons.  I don't expect to live in anyone's pocket. I email if I have something to say, facetime if it's important and get on with my life as they get on with theirs. Doesn't stop the love or friendship though - I certainly don't expect their lives to revolve around me when I visit, just because I've made the effort to be there. The fact that they are all very welcoming is certainly a bonus but just shows how strong friendships can be - if they weren't welcoming or accommodating, no skin off my nose. 

None of my mum's siblings or their kids have visited her in the 55 years since she's lived in Australia. I find it hard to believe as they would have had a really cheap holiday that would have been far superior to anything they have ever had. They would only have needed to pay for the flights. It's a long flight I know, but even so. 

11 hours ago, Nemesis said:

When I came home last year part of the process of renting a flat was proving that I had the right to live here - either a Brit passport or a visa showing I was here legally. The agents said they have to do a lot more work if its a tourist visa (eg here in an Aus passport with only 6 months entry) as they cannot legally rent for longer than the entry permission allows.) I forget the name of it, but there was an audible sigh of relief at seeing the Brit passport instead f an Aussie one when they new where I was coming from. It also made it easier going for jobs as they could see instantly that I had permission to work  and they did not have to do any further checks. 

I guess it depends on what your prioirities are coming back. Getting a GP is of no interest to me, and I already had a bank account. Thats why in the last post I said we would have to agree to differ. 

 

Edited to add - being curious I looked it up 

https://homelet.co.uk/tenants/blog/why-is-my-landlord-asking-for-my-passport

Without residency you won't get access to the NHS, plus there are many other things that residency gives you. You won't get residency without right to abode. Hence that is why residency is stronger. But of course having both residency and a British passport is even better.

2 hours ago, bluequay said:

I find it's the opposite! whenever we go to visit my wife's family everybody goes out of their way to make time to see us, and we do the same when they come to visit us.

I tend to agree. If we didn't visit I don't think my siblings would see each other. We see them all and we bring them together.

36 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

It does count for a lot if trying to get a British passport though! The OP doesn't need to apply for citizenship (as they think they do), they are already a British citizen. 

Residency is much more important.

13 hours ago, Barry Harper said:

I was three years old when I went to Australia with mum and dad however I am now 21 and just returned with mum and family back to United Kingdom. I am living with my grandparents and now I find it hard to get passport. NHS number register for a doctor and leave my driving license as it is Australian passport authorities now saying because I am 21. My birth certificate doesn’t mean nothing so I know am I to register as a British citizen? I was born in this country. My mum and dad were born in this country. My grandparents are born in this country and yet I am up all the trouble , to access my Australian bank account as I cannot open a bank account in the UK 

Being a UK citizen doesn't count for much. You have to be resident and prove you are resident. Do that and most things will be easy. Agree it would have been easier if you obtained your UK passport in Australia and entered on it. You are effectively a tourist.

4 hours ago, Toots said:

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that A Levels and T Levels are being scrapped and will be integrated into a new baccalaureate style. 

Has labour said they will follow through, as I doubt the Tories will be in long enough to carry this out?

4 hours ago, kmrg said:

For anyone following this thread. We have arranged Sterling Insurance cover for driving a family member's car on an Australian licence for 4 weeks. The cost is 320GBP, which is significantly less than the car hire prices.

What's the excess if you don't mind me asking?

There's a Disney in Hong Kong.

5 hours ago, Sandgroper said:

No sorry I'm calling BS British people do not move to be in a community of British people that simple is not true.

Some do. It's not exactly Southall or Bradford, but you do get areas on the northern coast where you do get a higher density of poms 

On 08/04/2024 at 13:34, Shaxy said:

Hey! My partner and I recently graduated as engineers and were planning to apply for the 476 visa, but unfortunately, it got canceled. Currently, we've enrolled in a master's program and are looking for jobs in our field (ICT), while also exploring any viable visa options for us. From what we've found, we could apply for a nomination by the Australian government, but first, we need to go through an expensive process to confirm our qualifications and a costly language test. Is there a better and more reliable option?

Seriously, if Australia don't want you with engineering degrees, you don't want Australia. Australia is screaming for engineers! Migration guys, how do these guys get to Australia?

5 hours ago, rammygirl said:

Last time we left Aus as dual citizens I tried to check in with my Uk passport as we were going to Vietnam and didn’t need a visa with a Uk passport. 
The check in desk were confused. 
Turns out they need to know you can return to Aus so need to see a visa or Aus passport. Never happened before. 
Airline checkin is different I to passport control. 
I was told to use Uk Passport entering and leaving migration control at Vietnam airport but to show both passports to airline checkin. 
 

I messed up and did an online check in to leave Australia on my UK passport and it didn't go through and got quite complicated. They have those horrible auto checking things in Perth airport and they wouldn't let me through, even when I used the Australian one. Too ages to get a person to help.

9 hours ago, Bulya said:

Just don’t see the fly problem since the dung beetles were introduced.   

You obviously weren't in WA last summer then. The damned things could have carried us away.

4 hours ago, Lots of questions said:

Hello,

We are hoping to move after the UK summer, so we are in the process of going through all of our belongings to work out what to take, scrap, sell etc.

I've hit the winter clothing box and I'm a bit stumped. I know it gets quite cold in winter in Adelaide, but is it worth taking thermals, water proof suits for the kids, waterproof over trousers, thick winter coats etc or would we get away with thinner winter coats and wellies? We are planning on taking the least possible and not having a container or anything!

Thanks

I'm not familiar with Adelaide weather. But I know on the west coast I've seen it rain so hard I've had to stop the car as visibility was zero.

How old are the kids? Ours used to grow out of that stuff so fast anyway. 

Thermals I'd probably give a miss. Layers would be more useful than thick winter coats. 

8 hours ago, Marisawright said:

Judging by the recent rise in people posting here, saying they're desperate to get out of the UK, you'll find things are not what they were.  However, I'm sure you also realise that's not the point.  

Some people are nomads. Anywhere they choose to live can be 'home'.  It's not a rational thing, it's just the way they're made.  And it never really changes.

Other people are deeply attached to their homeland.  It's not a rational, logical thing, it's just the way they're made.  And it never really changes.

If you're that second kind of person, Australia could be a paradise and your homeland an absolute dump, and you'll still be happier in your homeland.  

I once read something about a migrant bringing Union jack doormats and the like, and they were adamant they were going to retain their Britishness despite moving to Australia. I always wonder how they got on.

3 hours ago, Toots said:

The winters in Sydney never bothered me at all.  Sure you got cold days but the whole time I lived there I never needed an overcoat.  I used to wait at the train station going to work and I'd be surrounded by other females dressed in thick winter coats, boots, scarves and gloves.  I honestly never felt it cold enough.  I used to look forward to staying with friends in Blackheath (Blue Montains) during winter for a dose of real wintery weather.  Loved it!  

It also helps if you ensure your house is well insulated.  Most of the houses are not built to a decent standard.  Never could understand why they aren't.

Same 

I've often thought I could get dressed in the dark and still be the best dressed person on the street in most Australian cities.

The only thing I would say is that if they wanted to hit you with a glass bottle they would have. Australians tend to be quiet sporty. Still, I would think this is unacceptable.

Did you find those app things on the tables in pubs and restaurants that you can scan on your phone and then just order from the website? I found them excellent and much easier than going up to the bar. That was WA, but I would have thought east coast would have them?

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

"Dual" just means you've got two separate citizenships which have nothing to do with each other.  

The passport is British so the Australians can't touch it.  And the fact that you've chosen to be an Aussie citizen is irrelevant to the Brits.

In fact, it's worth noting that when your UK passport runs out, you don't have to renew that if you don't want to.  If you go on holiday to the UK, you'll be able to enter on your Aussie passport as a tourist and no one will be any the wiser.  Not strictly what you should do but it works.

Tbh I've never understood why Australia insists on it. I've always wondered whether other countries are more like the UK, or more like Australia.

7 minutes ago, Nemesis said:

It can be done, but it takes time, turning up with British passport, citizenship certificate and plenty of time can achieve it, as the check in staff then check with Aus Immigration as to your status. But it takes up everyone's time and makes you very unpopular not just at check in, but t all transit stops and when coming through Immigration to enter Australia. 

I know they did that during COVID. Good to know it still works.

2 minutes ago, BendigoBoy said:

No offence, but giving away citizenship at whim like that is a bit of a smack in the mouth to those who have done their time as individuals to earn it, and it would likely still open the door to a fair bit of abuse by a good old number of those who want to make a profit. Plenty of countries where you can slip notes to officials for marriage docos.

25 years married to me mate? She deserves a bloody Victoria cross, order of Australia, and an MBE. 

2 hours ago, rtritudr said:

I'm more than happy to be faffed around if it means that I can save AUD500 which is the cost of an overseas Australian passport application.  My foreign passport only cost me AUD72.

I would be surprised if they let you on the plane to Australia without an Australian passport.

On 13/03/2024 at 05:14, can1983 said:

I'm confused why would you not apply for a partner visa? I can't see why you wouldn't get pr straight away given time together and children. Leaving the country every 3 months isn't free either and you can't work to pay for the visa so overall surely its financially better to pay for the visa

Once you have pr you can work, get health care etc.

If you leave say 6 months after getting pr you can keep coming back for a few weeks a year as you please.

You can get a RRV if you need to should your travel facility expire. Holidays would meet the 1 day every five years requirement and you would always have significant ties to Australia having two citizens as children.

By not getting pr now you are only going to create the possibility you wont get a visa in the future should your relationship breakdown etc.

We'll probably have to go down that route eventually. It's a shame the government won't acknowledge our 25 years together, concede you get less for murder and just give my wife citizenship without going through all the hoops and halabaloo of applying for a visa. But I guess they have to give the foreign office staff something to keep them busy or they start plotting revolutions in far off lands or some such thing.