176 visa lodged March 2012

[toOZ2012]

Hi everyone :biggrin:

 

Just wondering how everyone is doing? Hope your all settled into oz life now. Its almost a year for us now (June 27) and I know some of you have been here for over a year :wink:

Thought it would be great to catch up with everyone and see how they are doing and what the 1st year has thrown at us all!!

 

Well our year has gone pretty well. Hubby is still in his job. Children are settled and doing really well at school . Our son has even been elected to be a guardian there and nominated to be the captain of the school (head boy) even has a girlfriend now!! not quite sure what's got into him to be honest :laugh: but we are so proud of him . They have both thrown themselves into ozzie life and have a great bunch of friends it was worth the move just to see them finally happy!!

 

We did have a death in the family 2 months ago now and we were unable to travel back home due to work commitments which we found hard to cope with, but I guess it goes with the territory :sad:

 

We are still in the same house we moved into when we arrived, our landlord is super. We have bought a plot of land now and are starting to build our home in August. We cant wait to finalyl have our OWN place, the first in 16yrs due to being in RAF housing in the UK and then renting here. I have made some super friends and feel so at home here.

So really starting to feel like we belong now.

So enough about us what been happening with you all xxx

 

Hey jasperyogi,

Good to hear from you. Nice that you are truly settling in. When I was young, always hated it when we had to move - new school and new friends. The only upside is new girls :cool: Good that your kids are doing well and have caught on with the aussie life.

 

New home, eh? I am looking to buy as well. Dream house has to wait, it'll be an old house for now.

 

Due to hectic work schedule I couldn't do that east-cost road trip. One day, one day ....

 

Did you get a chance to do some traveling? You should come by Perth sometime, you'll get to see a lot of nothing followed by no-thing and wait-for-it more nothing Nah, it's not that bad but I am seriously looking at moving to brissie, just have to find a decent job.

 

Keep in touch.

[leanie]

Hi everyone :biggrin:

 

Just wondering how everyone is doing? Hope your all settled into oz life now. Its almost a year for us now (June 27) and I know some of you have been here for over a year :wink:

Thought it would be great to catch up with everyone and see how they are doing and what the 1st year has thrown at us all!!

 

Well our year has gone pretty well. Hubby is still in his job. Children are settled and doing really well at school . Our son has even been elected to be a guardian there and nominated to be the captain of the school (head boy) even has a girlfriend now!! not quite sure what's got into him to be honest :laugh: but we are so proud of him . They have both thrown themselves into ozzie life and have a great bunch of friends it was worth the move just to see them finally happy!!

 

We did have a death in the family 2 months ago now and we were unable to travel back home due to work commitments which we found hard to cope with, but I guess it goes with the territory :sad:

 

We are still in the same house we moved into when we arrived, our landlord is super. We have bought a plot of land now and are starting to build our home in August. We cant wait to finalyl have our OWN place, the first in 16yrs due to being in RAF housing in the UK and then renting here. I have made some super friends and feel so at home here.

So really starting to feel like we belong now.

So enough about us what been happening with you all xxx

 

Hi Jasperyogi,

 

Almost a year eh! We both arrived on the same date funnily enough. Hard to believe a year has pretty much disappeared. We are doing pretty good. Still in the same rented house we've been in since Sept. Its alright but I'd love a house with better aircon for next summer! Had an ongoing encounter with an annoying aussie native - a moaning frog! I thought it was an owl to begin with but no its a frog, they dig themselves a little burrow and moan every night from 4pm-4am, every 5 seconds. Drove me nuts but after 3 weeks he seems to have stopped touch wood!

 

My eldest started pre-primary (age 5-6) this year and she seems to have settled in well, there was some boys giving some of the girls a hard time but it seems to have stopped thank goodness. My youngest turns 3 tomorrow, and our third daughter is due any day now. I'm not overly impressed with the aussie health system but just have to learn to live with it! Hubby's work is going good and he's currently on a fixed term contract. Contracts mean less money but for the first time in years he's working mon-fri 9-5 which is really nice.

 

I love the weather here and am keen to explore more and more, but need to stay close to home for the next week or two eh!

 

Great you've bought a plot of land and that you're building. A new house sounds lovely. We plan to buy when we move to QLD in around 18months. Thinking about heading to the top of WA at the end of the year/early next year if work allows. I'm sorry to hear you had a death in the family, its really hard being so far from your loved ones at times like that.

 

Tooz when are you thinking of moving to Brissie? Whats the urge to go there?

[Nishi]

Hello folks,Hope you all doing great in your lives. Just to share with you all that finally we have been granted pr visa. It's been a long long wait. Flying back to oz shores in a month's time.

[milliem]

Hello folks,Hope you all doing great in your lives. Just to share with you all that finally we have been granted pr visa. It's been a long long wait. Flying back to oz shores in a month's time.

 

Wow Nishi

 

So pleased for you. What a long wait you have had. Great news:biggrin:

 

Millie x

[leanie]

Hello folks,Hope you all doing great in your lives. Just to share with you all that finally we have been granted pr visa. It's been a long long wait. Flying back to oz shores in a month's time.

 

Nishi I am so happy to hear this - huge congratulations :biggrin: it took a long time but you got there in the end.

 

my baby is overdue everyone, hopefully i have some good news to share with you all soon.

[jasperyogi]

Hi everyone!!!

It's so lovely to hear from you all, and fantastic that your all settled and loving life the wrong way up :laugh:

Nishi we are Sooooo pleased for you, that's brilliant news.... Yahoo!!!!! Are you here yet??? :wink:

Leanie I am guessing the little one is here?? If so huge congratulations from us!!! :yes:

Tooz be sure to look us up if ever your down this way, always a beer in the fridge here :cool:

 

Keep smiling and enjoying life peeps, keep in touch ok :wubclub: xxx

Edited July 8, 2013 by jasperyogi

[leanie]

Hi everyone!!!

It's so lovely to hear from you all, and fantastic that your all settled and loving life the wrong way up :laugh:

Nishi we are Sooooo pleased for you, that's brilliant news.... Yahoo!!!!! Are you here yet??? :wink:

Leanie I am guessing the little one is here?? If so huge congratulations from us!!! :yes:

Tooz be sure to look us up if ever your down this way, always a beer in the fridge here :cool:

 

Keep smiling and enjoying life peeps, keep in touch ok :wubclub: xxx

 

Hi Jasperyogi,

 

Yes my gorgeous little girl did finally make her way into the world and is nearly 3 weeks old. She's healthy and a happy baby so we couldn't be happier, such a relief after the worries during pregnancy. Now I'm adjusting to being a mum of 3, I kind of had it sussed but now a fortnight of school holidays has just begun and its not easy going out with 3!

 

What a lovely pic of your dogs. I see you clipped your O.E.Sheepdog, does that help them with the warmth of summer? My golden retriever got pretty hot this summer but she cools down in the water, she loves to swim for the ball but during summer kind of gives up running for any length of time. I'm glad that swimming keeps her trim!

[leanie]

Hi everyone how are you all getting on? I went to hand in my baby's ppassport form at Australia post today but got turned away as I didn't have a visa label in my passport. They will not accept your visa grant letter or vevo. So now I must pay $70 for a visa label so baby can get the Aussie passport she is of course entitled to. Grumble... Had I known this I would've got the label months ago as we are going overseas for a holiday in less than 8 weeks! Has anyone else had any problems like this? I haven't with anything else, visa grant letter sufficient for entry into aus, for drivers license, Medicare etc. I hope you're all having a good week.

[jamescool]

Hello guys, how have you been. I am in need of big help. I moved to WA 4.5 months back and continuously looking for a job. Went to some interviews but couldn't get a job, but now I have been offered a job in darwin. But the thing is i m in 176(SS visa), what should i DO???? help me please

[toOZ2012]

Hello folks,Hope you all doing great in your lives. Just to share with you all that finally we have been granted pr visa. It's been a long long wait. Flying back to oz shores in a month's time.

 

That's awesome, Nishi. Congratulations!

[toOZ2012]

Hello guys, how have you been. I am in need of big help. I moved to WA 4.5 months back and continuously looking for a job. Went to some interviews but couldn't get a job, but now I have been offered a job in darwin. But the thing is i m in 176(SS visa), what should i DO???? help me please

 

Hope you took that and moved to Darwin. Pre-election was a hectic time and quite risky for a wait-and-see approach. Things are slowly turning around. Just add time to your "local experience" doesn't really mater where in OZ.

[toOZ2012]

How's everyone doing?

[leanie]

Hey tooz how are you getting on? Any interesting road trips for you yet? We just back from Malaysia, I miss the food already! Had a good time but having a young baby makes a holiday hard work! Had major problems getting home see my thread http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/migration-issues/196318-pr-evisa-didnt-show-up-return-flight-aus-has-happened-you.html#post1936332544 I have a real fear of flying so this on top was seriously stressful. My evisa showed up, as did hubby's, and one daughter as well as baby who is Aussie but my other daughters didn't. Had there not been free wifi at the airport we would have had no hope of getting our flight (

 

jamescool I would recommend contacting the wa immigration dept who originally granted you sponsorship to see if they will free you of your two year obligation. If you have proof etc I'm sure it will be no problem. Good luck.

[pradiprn]

heylo people!

 

I know its been a long time since I have been here. Works been keeping me busy and the missus has joined me here in Perth.

 

Leanie congratulations and good to see that things are well with you and the baby!

 

Congratulations Nishi on the PR!

 

Good to see you guys getting along.

 

I have been making progress as well. its been now more than a year and it has been a roller coaster! As far as developments go, I put down deposit on a piece of land in Butler up north. I was looking at Wellard initially but made a complete about turn and ended up North! I am going to build with new generation homes who came recommended. Building a 4X2. It is rather big but then with our plans to start a family soon I guess it makes sense to build with the future in mind.

 

How are you guys getting along?

[smithinoz]

Give us a call sometime Pradip - would be good to catch up again.

[pradiprn]

hey smithinoz. PM me your number..changed my phone and lost a few numbers

[pradiprn]

been sometime since I came here and I see everyone's lying low. Hope alls well.

[toOZ2012]

Hi peeps, what ya'll up to these days?

 

My life's pretty ordinary at the moment. Managed to do a bit of traveling in Australia and a work/pleasure trip to Japan. Been through a rough breakup and it's after effects. Really thought she was the one blah blah and some more blah. Work is a bit slow but stable. WA economy is getting a bit scary these days. Bought a house and rented it out. I am still doing my share of flat-sharing, trying to save up for a decent size deposit for my dream house. Got a nasty surprise from ATO related to some overseas income/CG. I didn't know that at the time but apparently I am liable to pay taxes(at ridiculous OZ rates) on worldwide income. Oh I got a new pet fish and named it swimmy.

 

What's happening with you guys?

[pradiprn]

Hi peeps, what ya'll up to these days?

 

My life's pretty ordinary at the moment. Managed to do a bit of traveling in Australia and a work/pleasure trip to Japan. Been through a rough breakup and it's after effects. Really thought she was the one blah blah and some more blah. Work is a bit slow but stable. WA economy is getting a bit scary these days. Bought a house and rented it out. I am still doing my share of flat-sharing, trying to save up for a decent size deposit for my dream house. Got a nasty surprise from ATO related to some overseas income/CG. I didn't know that at the time but apparently I am liable to pay taxes(at ridiculous OZ rates) on worldwide income. Oh I got a new pet fish and named it swimmy.

 

What's happening with you guys?

Hey ToOz

 

Good to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the breakup man. Hope your heart's on the mend now.

 

Did you get a good tax accountant to sort out the ATO issues on overseas income? Economy is bound to be scary but you in a better place than most people so count your lucky stars mate!

 

Am building a home in Butler - NOR. Construction is due to start this week and If all goes well by September the house should be ready to move in. My dream home would have been in South Perth. But wouldn't it be able to afford it in my lifetime!

[toOZ2012]

Good to hear from you, pradiprn. How's life treating you?

 

I am (sorta) over her now. Glad that I didn't rebound and end up with someone else that is totally wrong for me.

 

Yeah, I am in touch with an accountant/lawyer to see how to "avoid/minimize" such tax triggers in the future.

 

Nice that you are establishing base in Perth. Butler is a nice suburb and is rapidly growing. Me bought a 1950's dump in Rivervale. If my dream home is unattainable I'll demo the current house and build something on it. Time will tell. South perth is pretty cool unfortunately it's waaay out of my budget too.

 

Indeed, I got lucky this time around. A buddy of mine was made redundant a couple of months ago, he tried and tried to find something else. He finally gave up and moved to brissie. I have my eye on brissie for sometime now. Just waiting for the right opportunity to jump ship. My 2 year obligatory WA residence(176 sponsorship) will be up soon so I can move guilt free

 

How's everyone else doing? leanie, jasperyogi, Nishi .....

[leanie]

Hey everyone. Just reading the last few posts. Sorry to hear about your breakup Tooz.

 

We have left Perth, and now we are in Broome! Nice for hubby to have a permanent job with a few perks after all this time temping/short term contracts.

 

Not long til our 2 year obligation is up but we will probably stay here for quite a bit longer. Is anyone planning on moving interstate after 2year commitment is up?

[Killara]

Hey all,

Very nice to see some old friends from this forum back posting here again. Tooz, sorry also to hear about the breakup, but glad things are on the up for you now. Also agree with pradiprn about the economy.. though having left Ireland to come to Australia, it is perhaps to be expected that I would have such views.

Following my 175 visa grant, I got admitted as an Australian lawyer and also my registration as a migration agent. Now looking forward to this coming January when I can apply for citizenship.

I am still living in Melbourne, have met a wonderful girl (from Perth it living in Melbourne) and am very happy with my new life in Oz.

[pradiprn]

hey good to see folks back in action here. How is Broome treating you Leanie? Hope its good out there. and good to hear from you Killara. glad things are going well for you.

I am thinking of studying law. have a deferred admission offer in one of the unis here for degree program. have discovered ironically that HR may be the profession that has the most systemic discrimination against migrants. so have to think of other career options now.

[Killara]

I am thinking of studying law. have a deferred admission offer in one of the unis here for degree program. have discovered ironically that HR may be the profession that has the most systemic discrimination against migrants. so have to think of other career options now.

 

Law is a good career choice (in my opinion anyway) and I have found that experience from abroad is reasonably recognised in Australia, though of course it probably helps to be from a country where the legal system is based on common law as it is in Australia. Study is not cheap though.. I'm glad I didn't have to do an Australian degree because tuition costs are so much higher here. A few universities here offer part-time law courses though which allow people to work almost full-time, and that could be a good option for someone thinking of studying law here.

A HR background would be highly valued by law firms specialising in employment law / industrial relations law.

[leanie]

Hey Killara, I'm glad you are very happy with your life in Aus. Citizenship in Jan, is that 4 years for you? I thought you applied around the same time as the rest of us but I guess you must've got in there a year or so before most of us.

 

Hey Pradiprn, good luck with your studies and if thats the career path you want to choose you should go for it.

 

Broome is pretty good. It is just coming into the dry season so lovely and warm during the day but a bit cooler at night. Not too humid most of the time but I have had a few really humid and hot days where you feel pretty sticky! The beaches are beautiful, the water is crystal clear. It is not too busy at the moment but come tourist peak season the population of Broome swells and its probably not so nice for the locals. My kids are at a good school but it starts so early 8am-2pm, and I am not a morning person so thats hard to get used to lol! My baby is good and finally sleeping through the night but she wakes early, again not so good for a non morning person!