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My partner and I are wanting to migrate from England to Oz. Doing my research I think the best visa option for us 190 state sponsor as my partner is a mechanic and could get 70 points. HOWEVER I have been in contact with different migrant agents, 1 wants us to apply for two visas at the same time which I have since been told should not be done, 1 said there is no point starting because of the pandemic, the other said to start the ball rolling after 6th October when the updated state skills list will be known, 1 is a lot more expensive than the others in terms of fees and the other is eager to help but I have read bad reviews. Feeling a little overwhelmed and would appreciate any help in finding a migrant agent. thank you

Hi there, just awaiting my spousal visa which should be coming through soon.. I’m after some advice on shipping my bikes over/ cost and if it’s worth it. I have Ktm 300exc ( not road registered) and a little Honda xr 50 which was mine when I was a kid and holds a lot of sentimental value and would like to see my boys use it! any advice on how to go about the process and potential cost import duty’s etc.. will be appreciated (shipping from Uk to Perth) and going in our 40ft high cube container with pickfords) thanks Matt

At very early stages of getting all qualifications together for skills assessment with AITSL for teacher and partner electrician people who have been in a similar position how long was the process in total from skills assessment to the final piece of the jigsaw? Also costs would be handy many thanks

Congratulations on preparing for the costs that lie ahead. Buying a house is exciting. And daunting. And expensive. In fact, for most it will be the single largest purchase of your entire life. If you’re lucky, you may even buy more than once! But let’s not get carried away. Over the next few days I will be posting about a different cost each day, so follow this post to be updated. -- Let's start with the immediate costs. Like a band aid, these will hurt at first. Building and pest inspection $400 - $500 (estimate only) Now, if you are from the UK, I have heard this referred to colloquially as a ‘survey’. It is important to note the differences between a survey and a building and pest inspection. Surveying or in particular “cadastral” (boundary) surveying focuses on the land itself – it’s legal ownership and exact location of associated boundaries. Building inspections focus on the structural soundness of the building. Pest inspections investigate the current or potential impact of any pests such as termites (white ants) on the property. These inspections are normally undertaken prior to making an offer or during the cooling off period after you have signed a contract. As cooling off periods can be as short as 48 hours, inspectors are used to having pretty short notice to do this, but you will have enough going on at that point, so find one you like and check their availability earlier. Once complete, you are given a report on the findings, including estimates of how much it would cost to fix anything. These serve a dual purpose of knowing what you are buying and, if there is something wrong, what it may cost to fix it. You can then use any downsides or estimated costs as leverage when negotiating the final purchase price (e.g. the vendor can fix the retaining wall prior to settlement, or you can reduce your offer by the $5,000 it will cost you to fix it yourself). It is highly recommended that you undertake building and pest inspections to make sure you are not up for any nasty surprises. This is especially the case if you are buying under auction conditions, as cooling off periods do not apply. If you don’t get the house then yes you’ve lost a few hundred, but if you win the bid and find termites too bad, so sad. You have purchased it as it is, warts and all - so buyer beware!

Morning all, We've just received quotes in for a 40ft container shipment of household goods from Melb to UK (southampton). Eye-watering... If you've done the move back to the UK from Melbourne, I'd really appreciate if you could let me know some ballpark figures of what it cost you. Many thanks in advance, R

https://www.border.gov.au/ReportsandPublications/Documents/budget/visa-price-increase-fact-sheet-2017-18.pdf Details of the increased Visa Application Charges from 1 July 2017 are here. Best regards.

Afternoon, I am an Australian Citizen with 2 children under 2 and a husband who is currently a fireman. I work as a makeup artist. We obviously have no visa worries but I have LOTS of questions! We are planning on moving to Sydney & initially renting. Is there a website/source anyone knows about that gives you a checklist/moving info? So far Things on my list are- How to organise medicare card How to get Tax file number I have a bank account in Aus but how do I get my husband one? What do we need to have to rent (bank accounts/proof of employment/one million dollars?!) Is there a benefits system I can apply to? (I am due to give birth to my 2nd in November and we are planning on moving in February 2016 so I will probably be unable to work for a few months initially while the baby is so young) As we understand it the NSW Fire Department do not recognise my husband LFB qualifications. Does anyone know of any industries that a fireman could be employed in?? We have savings to buffer us for a few months but if anyone has recently moved I would love to know your approx costs all up!! Any advice or links to appropriate advice would be massively appreciated! Thanks

Hi I'm looking for advice on dentists in Melbourne. I'm based in brunswick and I need a few fillings. I've been quoted $150 per filling. I'm on the working holiday visa. does anyone have any recommendations for a cheaper dentist or is that about average here? Very expensive compared to the UK

Hi guys, I made an Excel spreadsheet that I'd like to share with you. I would appreciate your comments on the costs that I estimated based on the information below however, my intentions are to share this so everybody can adjust it to their own situation. * I started this spreadsheet with one that was here, I can't find the link now. * This cost of living was estimated for a couple without children living in Melbourne with a PR visa. * We will arrive at Melbourne in March/2015 without jobs, I hope I can find something full-time and my wife anything part-time. I tried to estimate a low salary just to prepare for the worst, and hoping to get anything around month 8 after we arrive. * We are trying to live with moderation, specially while we are living only by our savings. * We hope to bring at least 30000 USD, but you can adjust this. With some luck we can arrive with 40K. * There are some subjects with an estimation of zero, like car registration and EA membership. Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/roypnnfwvjyz4eb/Expenses%20%28Shared%20PIO%29.xls?dl=0 I also attached it to this post. Enjoy! Screenshots: P.S.: There might be some Spanish words even tough we tried to translate everything into English. Expenses (Shared PIO).xls Expenses (Shared PIO).xls

Hi folks, I quit my 457 sponsored job. There was too much overtime at odd hours on weekends and public holidays, with the only compensation being time in lieu(at a rate of 1:1, no extra time provided for working Sundays/nights/public holidays). I also found out that my salary was not very competitive at all. They ignored these and other complaints and gave me all the unwanted tasks, no doubt thinking that they had me tied up in the contract and visa. I have since found a much better job with a new sponsor. Although I had signed a contract with the initial 457 sponsor declaring I would pay back any costs incurred by the company in recruiting me(pro-rata for 3 years) I also understand that I do not have to honour unlawful obligations. They want me pay back a bunch of expenses they incurred. They paid for one month's accommodation in a apartment and a flight over for myself(and not for my defacto partner!). I understand that an employer can not seek to get back any recruitment costs including costs paid in connection with finding and attracting an employee(from the Immi website). I would not have taken the position if I had had to pay for the these costs while also looking for somewhere to live. Any opinions on what my obligations are here? I would appreciate hearing from anyone who has had a similar situation and how it ended. I will also contact fair work this week and ask for their advice. Has anyone used them before? Also, can anyone recommend a lawyer/law firm who has experience with immigration contract law? Btw, have done a search but couldn't find relevant posts(and besides, the regulations seem to change every year). Many thanks for any advice

Hi All We have been here now for just under 3 weeks. I know a lot of you wonder about costs and so forth. Here are some of the unexpected costs we have had. Satnav $150, essential for finding our way around. Plus I spent $30 on a decent map book, fab for looking at localities when driving around. Printer $150 plus ink $150, must admit we bought a slightly better than basics printer, but found necessary for printing the numerous forms we have had and CVs for job interviews. Driving Licence. $110 each. this was not necessary, but we had bought a car from a friend in Sydney so made the transfer easier. This also made taking out a rental easier. Working with children registration $80, hubby wants to work in a college, to obtain the necessary paperwork we had to pay out this cost. Food Costs Our first shop came to about $300, but you have to remember you have to start from scratch again, so all the stuff you take for granted in your cupboards, oils, bin liners, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, bug spray, washing powder. Its unlikely back in the Uk I would have bought all of these at once, but were needed here. I did not buy too much food in that shop either, bread, milk, beans, cereal and some meat maybe. Since then we have spent about $130 each time, and added more essentials when we go, probably at the mo going every 5-6 days. If you are switched on you can get some good buys, the first time we shopped we got Heniz baked beans for 97c, so bought a few tins. Also meat and veg seem cheaper than in the Uk, and if you look out for the specials. Alcohol is a ridiculous price, I drink souther comfort, so glad I brought a bottle in my case, as $60 here. Also brought Pimms as again $50. Bring you allowance in your case, I am then asking people who (hopefully) visit to restock us! The wine we drank at home which was australian was £8 in the Uk is $17 here. Eating out In the first week, we must have spent a fortune on food and drinks, this was from being in the car all day driving around looking at houses, so budget more for food. An average medium coffee is $4.50, and bottled drinks are about $3 upwards. We kept bottles of water in the car which have been bought at the supermarket. Food costs for an average meal, e.g. pizza has come to $100 for the 4 of us, and a Mcdonalds was $35, so much more expensive than back in the UK. Subway was also coming in at $30+ for 4 of us. Now we are more in the habit we are planning better. Fuel Cheaper than in the UK at approx $1.50 per litre, and the supermarkets give you 4c off a litre as well. Clothes I have had to buy a few bits and pieces, as did not pack for this wet spell we are having. Clothes are more expensive and don't seem as good a quality. My mistake was not bringing a decent work suit for an interview, thinking I would get one here, big mistake, costs a fortune for a suit which feels cheaper than next, but probably cost double. Will now be ordering from Next as they deliver here for free if over $30 plus M & S also deliver for free. (not sure how returns work...) Other We have also had to buy stuff that will become necessary once we have our long term rental next week, while we wait for the container. This included Beds for the kids, plus bedding, kids needed new beds anyway. Bed for us, plus bedding, which we will use as a spare once ours arrives. Table and chairs, left ours behind. Sofa, again left behind. Iron and ironing board, didn't think to pack, left in my rented house. New school shoes and uniform. School has summer and winter uniform. Summer starting the 7 Sept. Pens, paper and other stationery bits, again more expensive than back home. Essential for kids homework and form filling! Will update this thread if people find it useful, once I become more aware of more costs. Cheers Nikki

Hi! I am an older lady going to Australia for six weeks next year. :cute: I have been using 2,25 grams of snuff every day for more than 20 years now. What happens if I declare 108 grams (net weight)? How much fines will I be forced to pay (Duty and GST and perhaps other taxes), when declaring this tiny amount tobacco/snuff? :skeptical: I am well aware of, that I have to pay for all of it and not just 58 grams. How many AUD would that be roughly? Would appreciate a little answer, so I at least have a little hint :smile:.

Hi there, I am beginning the process of visa application. I have been in contact with a few agencies to sort this for me... I'm in Brisbane atm on my 1st WHV. I have been quoted $10,000 for an rsms and $6000 for a 457 by no borders migration in Brisbane. I want to get the best quality of a migration expert, i'll need to work hard to find the funds though. Just wondering if anyone knows the best agency to go though and costs?

Hi All Its been a while since coming on here as 2 years ago just over I up sticks and moved to Perth, now after some time and a marriage breakdown I am looking at shipping myself and my 2 cats and dog back to Blighty. Wondered if anyone had any advice on shipping pets from Perth and what the general costs are ? I assume its going to be anywhere between $5/7k :arghh: God that's a frightening amount of money. Anyway also would love to know how people have settled back into life over there as I have been away from the UK for such a long time as before Perth I was living in Europe. Would love to hear what people think and any ideas to make the process smoother would certainly be very welcome. Hope to hear from you all soon.. enjoy the day guys wherever you are in the world :tongue:

Hi all, To cut a long story short, My wife and I are interested in a move to Perth, but I'm looking at other options in case WA decline my SS application. Is there much work for Business Analysts in Canberra? I notice the position is still open on the ACT SMP. Also, what kind of wages should I be looking at, and what would I need to support a family of 3 (my son is 3 years old) - we'd be renting, and needing at least one second hand car (assuming I can bike or get public transport to work. Finally, what's the turnaround time fro applying for SS and it being processed? Thanks for any help!

Hello everyone. I am just wondering if anyone would mind sharing the approx shipping they have paid or been quoted. (inc. insurance) The removal companies I have looked at won't come out to give quotations untill we are closer to our move date so just hoping to get a bit of an idea off those who have experience in this. We have considered not sending anything over at all and starting afresh over there but now thinking there are a few bits that we would like to keep. I expect we will only need a shared container. I have heard people mention on here 'half container' quotes. Has anybody had an even smaller share of a container? Hope to hear from you... XXX

Well , we recently landed in melbourne from South Africa . Hubby and I are on 457 work Visas , so we are getting NO rebate on Child Care . The cost are huge , so I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction of who and what we could do???? We are paying $700 a week for 2 children , thats my whole pay going into child care .is there a cheaper option??? Please Help Thanks Bri From Sunny glen Waverley Melbourne

Hi guys We are looking at appointing ASA as our agents to help with our 457 state sponsor visa. They have already been extremely helpful but one thing is concerning me and that is the cost - for them to process everything they have quoted approx £3,200. Could some of you who have done this with an agent, or are doing, please tell me if this sounds right or way too much!? :err: I would really appreciate any knowledge people have on the cost of everything, i know its not cheap but im jsut not sure if this is a good costing. Cheers guys

No doubt it is all over the forum, but thought I would post up the costs if anyone wasn't aware as I was a bit shocked by the costs. £285 for me & £285 for my wife plus Hep B & C tests at a further £35 each. I am not sure if this varies, but I might phone another place to check. Police standard service is £35 each. It is amazing how it is so easy to get into the UK, but very difficult and costly to get to Australia. Perhaps we adopted the same migration policy we wouldn't be in such a mess. :biggrin:

Hi I am moving to Sydney in the Autumn and just wondering if there is a mix of furnished and unfurnished rentals, as there is in London, or if Sydney has more of one than the other? We have some furniture so it will effect whether we ship it over or put it in storage in the UK. Also roughly how much would a one bedroomed apartment cost furnished or unfurnished in central sydney or the surrey hills area? Thanks in advance!

Apologies in advance but this is a wobble, panic, petrified, financial cost freak out! We are finally in Cat2 waiting for a case officer. Over the years i have had a rough idea (i thought) of costs once the visa arrives to get ourselves and possesions over to Oz and cover us for a few months till we get jobs established etc. Anyway i have finally sat down to work it all out as we have a date in mind that we want to go (obviously once we have the visa) and it has just completely freaked me out. Way more than i had figured. Now we have some money, not loads but also not going out with $500 and a dream. But i never thought we would be looking at £20k This is what i have worked out for us to get there and live for 4 months, all apx costs but pretty close to the real thing i think and converted at $1.6: Flights x 4 £2500 Container £4000 Hire Car 2 wks £500 Cheap car £2500 Furnished rental 4 wks £1500 Rental $400 wk first 3 months £3000 rental bond £1000 Bills/spends first 4 months £4000 School uniform £500 Ambo cover/utility set ups etc £500 So £20k gone, now once we have the visa we will start applying for jobs and hope to be working withing the first 6 weeks, but scary thought if not. I just needed to share this as it scares the hell out of me. Thanks Michelle

We've got our quotes here from John Mason, PSS and Anglo Pacific. In the very samll print they all provide a list of exclusions, which range from : Container Decontamination Local Duties Inspections Local Taxes Sums due to government departments Container detention fees Demurrage Quay Rent Cargo Dues Provision of hoist or lifting equipment Quarantine I know that we have to pay for the AQUIS inspection which was quoted at 250 AUD per 30 mins, but what about these other exclusions. Did anyone get hit with anything above and beyond what they were quoted ?

Hi there Anyone got any recent experience of air freight. We've asked DHL and Singapore Airlines so far and Singapre is cheaper at the moment but need to go back and understand exactly what you're paying for. Also have recent bad experience of DHL not delivering something in Oz so loathed to go there again. Any help gratefully received. We live relatively near Heathrow so could in theory take a box there but to be honest, we've so much else to do would rather it got picked up from home. Roughly how long does airfreight take? If we sent the box a week before us would that be too early? Can't believe we are still sending stuff after all the shippers took!! Thanks all! TNR

Hi eveybody. Been offered a job with an employer based in Sydney. Base salary is $92k. I'm trying to come up with a cost of living in Sydney so I can determine how far my money goes in the city. I need to be based near Barangaroo as this is where my employer is. In terms of living costs, how much will gas, electricity and water cost for a single person living in either apartment or house? Also, which areas should I avoid being based? I've heard Parramatta, Liverpool and Kings Cross should be avoided. Cheers

Hi, I was wondering what the average costs of using an agent for a 176 state sponsored (ACT) visa are? I have been quoated AUS$7,500 in three installments or AUS$7,000 in total. The agants cut is just shy of AUS$3,000. Is this reasonable? Thanks, Stuart