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Original poster

PIL want to move to Australia

118 replies

PILinOz · 19/03/2023 20:04

I posted this on the living overseas board but I don't think it's particularly active so reposting here for traffic.

My parents in law have just come back from visiting their daughter, her husband and kids in Melbourne. They have told us that due to the health benefits of living in a warmer climate they want to move over there permanently and are seriously looking into making it happen.
We are very close to them and my kids absolutely adore them. Whenever they leave to visit, usually for a few months at a time, my kids are incredibly upset and miss them terribly. If PIL move away permanently they will be absolutely devastated.

They are in their late 60s and financially comfortable. They suffer from some health conditions. How realistic is it that they would be granted permanent residency?

OP posts:
k1233 · 20/03/2023 07:52

Why don't they summer and autumn in Australia and summer and autumn in UK? That way they miss the cold in both.

TequilaNights · 20/03/2023 08:04

My aunt was rejected due to health issues, despite having the money to pay for private health care, they wouldn't allow it.

Candleabra · 20/03/2023 08:06

They’ve just come back from a lovely trip so not surprising they are wanting to move. I think that after every holiday. I would be supportive though perhaps not actively encouraging. If investment funds, visas etc are required they may find it’s not a goer anyway and not worth falling out over.
Doing extended holidays every year sounds like a good compromise but they need to come to any decisions/realisations themselves.

Rosula · 20/03/2023 08:08

Am I right in reading those queue waiting times to be around 10 years? It looks like your children will be adults by the time this actually happens, OP. Will they really want to uproot themselves in their late 70s?

FirstnameSuesecondnamePerb · 20/03/2023 08:11

Maybe it's just gut reaction to coming back. It's hard on them. I'd have thought that spending our winter months there then coming home in the spring is the best of both worlds really.

ComeOnYouSummer · 20/03/2023 08:17

How exciting for them, a how new lease of life. You must be so happy for them. I hope their dream comes true.

Mirabai · 20/03/2023 08:53

Better climate is the reason why many retire to S.France, Spain, Italy. The drier, warmer weather can really help with health issues like arthritis.

No idea if they would be successful in their application but feasibly they could live in Aus for 10 years or so and return to the U.K. when they hit their 80s if necessary. Although they may prefer to remain there.

HoppingPavlova · 20/03/2023 09:13

@Rosula Am I right in reading those queue waiting times to be around 10 years? It looks like your children will be adults by the time this actually happens, OP. Will they really want to uproot themselves in their late 70s

My understanding is it’s more a case of being able to stay, providing qualify with funds, for 10 years on a Bridging Visa and then assessed at the end to stay on. So the worry is more being settled then potentially having to go back to UK in older age.

StopStartStop · 20/03/2023 09:44

Florenz · 19/03/2023 23:22

Is Melbourne colder than the UK in winter? It never looked cold on Neighbours!

😂Oh goodness! Don't move to Melbourne then. You'll have random teenagers moving in with you for years. 😂
Neighbours as a true and accurate representation. 😀

dottiedodah · 20/03/2023 09:57

Are you close to your own family?I mean if they do go your DC will still have one set of DGP here .You could stay with them of course .Maybe build it up "Nanny and Grandad are moving to a new country ,we may be able to visit them" Talk about Koalas ,Roos and anything like that .Make it an adventure .People do move around more now .The world is shrinking and we can visit more often .With free accomodation its a win win for all!

MiniBossFromAus · 20/03/2023 10:13

My parents have looked into it. There a range of visas available - immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/aged-parent-804#Eligibility, is the one my folks looked at.

My take on it is that the love needs to be shared around. Totally get your children will be sad and miss their Grandparents but your SIL also needs her parents.

FWIW - Melbourne winter, whilst cold, wet and miserable is never as cold as a UK winter.

LockEmUp · 20/03/2023 10:28

Ok said SIL is not particularly happy. What will they do if SIL and family move (out of the area) or even move back to Europe?

notacooldad · 20/03/2023 11:52

Ok said SIL is not particularly happy. What will they do if SIL and family move (out of the area) or even move back to Europe?
I would imagine they will sort something out.
It's hardly the point of the thread.
OP is upset about her kids if they go. Shes hardly interested in pages about Ozzie weather and what may or may not happen in the event of something that may or may not yet happen.

Quia · 20/03/2023 12:29

Australian TV is lousy.

Aussiegirl123456 · 20/03/2023 19:23

Quia · 20/03/2023 12:29

Australian TV is lousy.

  1. barely anyone here watches TV
  2. they do have British and American tv stations here, so is no different to English tv if for some strange reason someone did want to sit and watch tv.
milkyaqua · 20/03/2023 23:26

Aussiegirl123456 · 20/03/2023 06:34

I’m an immigration lawyer here in Australia. How many children do your in laws have and how many live in Australia?

It's a shame the OP hasn't returned to take up this offer of insights from someone who knows the system.

Quia · 20/03/2023 23:39

barely anyone here watches TV

Kind of proves my point, really.

Crikeyalmighty · 20/03/2023 23:46

If I was them I would move to Spain , release some cash ( if their income and assets are at that level they would still be fine for Spain- even post Brexit) and go out a couple of times a year to Oz for 6 weeks a time. That way you can easily see them too in Spain or if they come to uk and they get good weather all year round if they time it well .

howmanybicycles · 20/03/2023 23:55

Will you be able to visit them? It's hideously expensive. We had family go a decade ago and we still can't afford to visit. If you can though, focus on that as it will allow some continued contact. They may want to stay in the UK 3 months a year too so perhaps, if needed, have a look for accommodation they could rent if that happened. This might make it feel more manageable if they do decide to emigrate.

Aussiegirl123456 · 21/03/2023 00:44

Quia · 20/03/2023 23:39

barely anyone here watches TV

Kind of proves my point, really.

No because we have exactly the same tv as you, so how is our tv bad when yours is good, but it’s exactly the same? We have itv and bbc etc.

Eaglesqueak · 21/03/2023 00:51

Quia, yes the tv is lousy, on channels, 7,9 and 10, but ABC and SBS are pretty good. I spend 16 weeks a year in the UK and the quality has plummeted there over the past few years too. Luckily, we get the best dramas and documentaries etc from the UK, plus, given that it's the 21st century, we also have Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV etc and if we need a UK tv fest, BBC
First, UKTV, Acorn, BritBox...
We have just as many reruns of Bargain Hunt as you too, lucky old us!

PacificallyRequested · 21/03/2023 00:52

Quia · 20/03/2023 12:29

Australian TV is lousy.

Er hello? Kath and Kim, Summer Heights High, Offspring? Aussie TV is great!

echt · 21/03/2023 02:20

May I mention Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries; The Doctor Blake Mysteries -now cancelled because of sexual allegations to die with star actor; Glitch.

Got say I love them because of the settings, as well as the vintage kitchenware of the kind you get in Father Brown.

PomPomtheGreat · 21/03/2023 02:30

We emigrated to Australia in 2008 and absolutely love it. Melbourne is a bit ropey if you are genuinely going for the weather, but still far nicer overall in the winter than most of the UK. My daughter lives there and loves it.

If the in-laws are retired, I would be suggesting they consider buying a small flat over here and a small flat in the UK and spending the summers in each. That way, I don't think they wouldn't even need a permanent residential visa here. When we lived in New Zealand, we had friends whose parents did just that and divided their time between their two daughters. They had to spend one day under the six months each year in New Zealand, but of course they could stay as long as they liked in the UK.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 21/03/2023 02:50

@Aussiegirl123456 barely anyone here watches TV

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

What Australia do you live in? Plenty of people watch TV. Stop pretending Australia is a land where people are always active and outdoors and never sit inside.

Some might be like that, but it's hardly the majority.