LynnW73 Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Afternoon all, I'm finally in a postion where I can get some cash away so that I can start the visa application process later on this year. I was wondering if someone could tell me what they would recommend the minumum amount of cash I would need to support myself on arrival. Not including visa costs. I have that set aside now. How much would those of you who have made the move already recommend I have in the bank? I'm going on my own and have no preconceived ideas of moving to Australia and right into a giant house with a massive garden and a pool. I realise that this will vary depending on which state I settle in and location there but just a ball park figure is good so I know what to aim for. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronsDad Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Try BobinOz's website. He explains things really well. I had had a good start with my wife being Australian but I still find myself on that site surfing for info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share Posted April 12, 2015 Great, thanks for the quick response. I'm also wondering whether to get help with the visa application but not keen on spending a couple of grand to get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronsDad Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 If you are ok with filling in forms then the online option is easy without the agent. I suppose the only thing an agent would have given us was a hand to hold throughout the application process. If you read all the guidance notes and follow that, you will do ok without one, provided as I said, you are ok with filling in forms. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronsDad Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 And, of course, this site is great for advice. I got it and I'm happy to give some in return. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks again for your advice. I went back to BobinOz's site after I posted that question and it seems the company I spoke with are actually giving quite a good deal for what they do. I also have a friend here in Glasgow who applied for a visa to NZ and did it all herself so I'll pick her brain as well and see if I have the patience to do it all properly myself from there. Glad I found this site. The only thing now is that I'm impatient to get started and start my new life since it's not longer just a pipe dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jac2011 Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I didn't use an agent and at this point, think what would an agent have actually helped with? I have found it far easier than I had ever thought. However, my case has been relatively straight forward and as a nurse there are lots of people to support me on here with my questions. If our situation, age or qualifications had been more complicated an agent would have been invaluable. I think it all depends on your career and how much 'up to date' support you can gain, bearing in mind the goal posts seem to change on an almost weekly basis. Don't rely on friends who have done a similar process a while back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gbye grey sky Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks again for your advice. I went back to BobinOz's site after I posted that question and it seems the company I spoke with are actually giving quite a good deal for what they do. I also have a friend here in Glasgow who applied for a visa to NZ and did it all herself so I'll pick her brain as well and see if I have the patience to do it all properly myself from there. Glad I found this site. The only thing now is that I'm impatient to get started and start my new life since it's not longer just a pipe dream. Just make sure that the agent you favour is MARA registered. There are many horror stories on PIO from those who have used unregistered agents and regretted it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach pig Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Afternoon all, I'm finally in a postion where I can get some cash away so that I can start the visa application process later on this year. I was wondering if someone could tell me what they would recommend the minumum amount of cash I would need to support myself on arrival. Not including visa costs. I have that set aside now. How much would those of you who have made the move already recommend I have in the bank? I'm going on my own and have no preconceived ideas of moving to Australia and right into a giant house with a massive garden and a pool. I realise that this will vary depending on which state I settle in and location there but just a ball park figure is good so I know what to aim for. Any advice would be great. Thanks, Lynn Also depends on what visa you can get with the qualifications you have. Which will determine how much money you need. What visa do you think you are applicable for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for your reply Jac. loads to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 I've had a visa assessment with 2 different MARA registered agents. The assessment said Skilled State nominated visa(subclass 190). I work in the oil and gas industry as a chemist. I'm just trying to work out how long it's going to take me to save the finances and I guess when would be best to begin the application process as I can obviously still be saving while that process is ongoing. I have enough now for the visa, but I wondered how much I would need should I move without work in place to make sure I have enough to support myself for a significant amount of time while job hunting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach pig Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Very stormy is your man or paul1977 they know whats going on in your respective industry. But as a guess I would come with a buffer of say $18,000 to cover 3 months living. I assume you will be going west due to your job particulars.this is my estimation.( that's assuming you are single and like the finer things in life). Look it will probably cost you over $6000 in rent for three months then their is a car,$5000 minimum, unless you want a banger which lasts a week.then food , socialising expenses,etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for that info I'll get in touch with those guys re the work situation. I've been working on the rigs for years and hoping to get something land based but still in the industry (no point wasting all the experience I have). I tried to estimate what I would need from various sites and got around £24G for 6 months (minus the car) so I guess I need to rethink my living expenses lol. It's all academic right now till I get the visa process started and see where I'm going but it will either be WA or Victoria from the assessment I got. Unless I bag a job elsewhere. Thanks for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jac2011 Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I think if you are a single person setting up initially you don't need to be spending $2000 a month on accommodation. My plan initially is to settle, explore the area and start paying out reasonable rents once we buy a house. I hate seeing money thrown down the drain on rent. We are a family of 5 albeit moving to a cheaper area (Townsville) and will be looking to pay around $2000 for a 4 bed house with pool. We worked out 8 weeks worth of food, 8 weeks worth of spending money, 8 weeks worth of travel expenses, utilities for 2 months etc, then again I have a job to go to on arrival and will start 2-4 weeks after landing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach pig Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 I think if you are a single person setting up initially you don't need to be spending $2000 a month on accommodation. My plan initially is to settle, explore the area and start paying out reasonable rents once we buy a house. I hate seeing money thrown down the drain on rent. We are a family of 5 albeit moving to a cheaper area (Townsville) and will be looking to pay around $2000 for a 4 bed house with pool. We worked out 8 weeks worth of food, 8 weeks worth of spending money, 8 weeks worth of travel expenses, utilities for 2 months etc, then again I have a job to go to on arrival and will start 2-4 weeks after landing. I hope it works for you I really do in Townsville.$ 2000 a month is bargain basement in western austrailia due to the mining boom, which also is slowing down!of course you can get cheaper.but as a professional I would not expect him or her to be back packing in a hostel with grape pickers.no offence to back packers but you know what I mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jac2011 Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Oh I know, I acknowledged Townsville as being cheaper. But there are house shares for professionals that would not cost $2000 even in Perth. I am not saying that long term they could not afford $2000 but whilst setting up I believe it is better to walk before you run especially without work lined up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScouseMan Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Like the people above said, depends on your lifestyle. I moved over by myself to Brisbane in 2012 on a 457 visa, within 2 days of arriving I found a room in a shared house at $220 a week (all bills included) and that was a cheap way to live until the job was sorted and I had a few pay cheques. My partner joined me later and we rented a 'really' nice 2 bed fully furnished apartment for $595 a week, so make short term sacrifices and then live more 'luxuriously' when your circumstances allow. Within a week of arriving I had a $10K credit card and car lots offering cheap(ish) credit on used cars so that is an option. I was surprised that without any credit history, and being a temporary resident, I could take out car loans within a week of arriving, plus interest rates are current at, or near, historic lows (I think, don't quote me on that!), so although you pay a premium for a loan it is not so bad at the moment. A car is nice, but not essential initially as major cities are well served with public transport and I went two months before saving the money for a car. Consider also the initial costs before you even apply for a 190 visa: skills assessment and points advice letter (Approx $1400), Notary for skills assessment docs (£60), IELTS (£139). You then have the 190 Visa costs, UK police check (£45), Medical (£370), shipping (approx. £400 for 7 big boxes) and cost of one way flight. if money is tight and your do not have complex medical issues, do the application yourself. It is not difficult and will save you a fair amount of money that you can then take with you to Aus, or use to move out that bit sooner. You need to check your profession but I assume as a chemist it will be VETASSES (I'm a physicist and it was for me), VETASSES have a 12 week processing time on applications and you cant apply for a 190 visa until you have a positive skills assessment. Consider the wait for the skills assessment in your plans. You also need IELTS before applying for the 190 visa, so consider the wait for that also. When I moved out on a 457 visa I had around $2000 in the bank, but walked straight into a paying job. If you don't have much money before your move network, network and network some more on LinkedIn etc. to get yourself known and tap any existing contacts you have in Australia, regardless of how spurious the link. Find UK expats in Aus on LinkedIn in your profession and reach out to them, they have travelled the same road as you and from my experience prepared to really help you out with industru contacts and introductions to hiring managers etc. and insider info about jobs not advertised. You can get a one month free trial on linkedIn and that lets you research potential contacts and send them inMails. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks so much to everyone for your advice. I have enough money in the bank now to start the application process so I think I might just bite the bullet and get on with it. Since it'll take a while to get everything in place and from what I remember you get a year to make the move, I can have enough saved to live fairly frugally till I have money coming in. I'm 41 and single so wouldn't need to have somewhere large to begin with but who wouldn't like a large house with a pool and garden right off I've been sending out some inMails to my contacts in Australia today and I know some people who have worked all over the world who may know someone. The oil and gas industry can sometimes be about who you know rather than what you know. I certainly have gotten a couple of jobs because I know someone within the company but I am also awesome so that helped lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niinstalls Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 We used an agent to just 'check over' our application, she was great, really thorough and gave great feedback. Cost less than $500 and gave us piece of mind! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynnW73 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 We used an agent to just 'check over' our application, she was great, really thorough and gave great feedback. Cost less than $500 and gave us piece of mind! Now that sounds a lot better than £2000. I've a lot to think about when I get home from work. Not able to spend as much time on this stuff as I'd like here but plenty of time when I get home. Thanks for that info. it never crossed my mind to get someone to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.