Migrating to Aus ...

[Kaloo20]

Just splitting this topic off into a new thread as I haven't had a chance to ask my migration agent why we were quoted 18 months .... from application to completion of our visas. Why have other people got much shorter timelines ?
We are going for skilled migration visas and are heading for just North of Sydney. Need to pay a hefty Gov't Bond for 12 months too. We have no sponsors or jobs lined up.
LOL have never been to Aus !

We're going for independent skilled too (or at least DH is!). Ths job thing is a bit complicated but basically DH hopes to transfer to the Sydney office of the company he currently works for - he's been in touch with someone there and there is a job for him, but he wants to do the immigration thing independently as he thinks his current office will try and keep him as long as possible. If they won't co-operate he will basically hand in his notice in London and then apply to Sydney, but if we can't get a relocation package from them he will probably try and find another job to go to. Luckily his skills are in high demand so that shouldn't be a problem. We're debating at the moment as to whether or not to use a migration agent - just out of curiosity what do you see as the benefits of using one? The guy we are currently in touch with sorted a visa for someone we know within 3 months of the application going in, but the immigration dept. website says it makes no difference to the timescale whether you use an agent of not. For £1,000 we need to make sure he actually adds some value to the process! When you say North of Sydney do you mean Northern suburbs/beaches or actually outside of Sydney?

Sorry this is a bit long and rambling - it's all I can think about at the moment! DH and I met in Sydney 17 years ago and always wanted to go back - how come you chose Oz if you've never been there? We're going to take the kids on a holiday in August/September just to reassure ourselves we are doing the right thing!

Hi

We have chosen to use a migration agent because we would rather pay to have someone else do the running around for us! They also know all the best ways to answer some of the questions.

North of Sydney is vague eh. I have picked the area North of Sydney between Gosford and the coast - Erina? It's 1 hour commute by car to the city centre. Why ? It had good education available, was near to the coast, and seemed like as good a place as any. It's a needle in a haystack approach really. The other area I chose was actually in Sydney but rather like living in Chelsea - v expensive.
Also seriously looked at the Gold coast, (Mermaid Waters) but decided DH's career would benefit being near Sydney and the climate may be too much for my DD who has very fair skin.
Why Aus .... well DH wanted Canada, but I wanted the climate and it seemed a good a place as any. It sounds really slack but hey, it's what you make of any situation or opportunity that counts.

How did you chose where to go? Where have you chosen ? and ... what's the education like there?

We had a migration agent & he was brilliant. Well worth the money we paid him. He filled in all the forms, sent them off, got all our photos & paperwork back (australian immigration office often keep this type of thing). Kept us updated at all times. It took the stress out of it for us.

We had no idea which visa to go for originally, there were 3 or 4 we could have gone with. He helped us get the best one (former resident) and the quickest way. We lodged our application end Nov 05 & found out we were accepted 15/02/006! We were told it would take 9 months from sending in the medicals (done Jan 06)!

Oh a thread just for ius, great!

We are using a migration agent, just had the skills assesment done and all thats fine, just starting on the visa proper now.

DH is a computer Contractor in the UK, so when its time for us to go he will just get a new contract in Oz, some friends have done that and it has seemed to work quite well for them, and there appears to be lots of demand for his skill set. We also have a sponsor.

We are looking at Sydney North Shore, some areas around Manly, Fairlight. But will consider anywhere North Sydney really. Really want to make sure its a nice area as we have a 2 year old and 3 1/2 year old. Also decided that as we are going for the Australian way of life we need to be near a beach or have a pool.

We have been to Australia for some quite long reasonable stretches, I have cousins who live in DeeWhy and my godparents live in Kenthurst (inland a bit).

We were there last 1 1/2 years ago and we had a week in Umina which is near Erina I believe. Lovely area, very quite but did seem to be a bit of a trek to get in Sydney.

Part of me is terrified, we live in a nice area, have a nice house, comfortable standard of living, nice friends, nice nursery which the kids are happy at, and I think I am crazy to give all this up for the unknown.

But then when I think of what living in Australia could be like and I cant wait. Just think the key for us is to get a nice area and then hopefully everything else will just slot into place.

We are expected to be in Oz by mid June, having gone thru the visa process etc. We leave ouir house in less than 2 weeks & are having a holiday with family over here before we go.

We are going to Adelaide, but that's because we have fmaily there (dh's parents, sister, aunts uncles). Still feels very strange, unreal almost. Even tho I am surrounded by boxes as I speak!

I am looking forward to the outdoor life, DD loves the garden, beach etc. But with days like today (hammering it down) she is confined to the house, which often drives us both mental!

We have a good life here, and I often feel at odds having to give it all up. BUT there are far more pro's than con's!

Just wanted to add that we are not planning to migrate long term, unless it is fantastic. We are initially planning to go for 2 years and then decide, we will rent our house out here so if we decide to come back we have a home to come back to.

Not sure what visa we are going for but its one that allows us to apply for an Australia passport if we live in Australia for 2 years, we thought that would give our girls a great opportunity if they could have 2 passports.

kaloo, have you spoken to your agent yet?

jenkel, you say that now, but wait till you go thru the packing, shipping quotes, insurance, etc!

What a task! I wouldn't be going thru all this for just 2 years!

probably true melissasmummy, anyway, bet your excited, you will have to stay in touch and let us know how it all works out. How do you feel about leaving?, will you be leaving any family?

Atually, Kaloo20 we got quoted 15 months and think we are going for a skilled migrant visa. The skills assesment took a bit longer, lots of work for DH chasing up old employers for references etc.

Now need to find all my college exams as we need to prove that I can speak English!

Intereting that you said your agent filled in all the forms mellisamummy - now that I could see being worth the cost!

We haven't totally decided on location kaloo20 - to be honest I have my heart set on St. Ives at the moment mainly because of some great input I've got on mumsnet re. schools etc. St. Ives High looks interesting for DS1 and there seems to be three primaries within that catchment area so plenty of choice for DS2 and DD. We're planning on a holiday in September so I'll have a bit of a nose then, but North Shore seems to be the place for families and the promise of the beach is what's getting DS1 interested.

Jenkel - where did you stay in Sydney when you went on holiday? I was looking at some apartments which seem nice and really reasonable - about £60 a night for 2 bed - in various locations from city centre to suburbs. My DH is in computing as well - market seems good as you say. Have you any ideas where you want to live when you get there?

We really need to commit for at least five years. If DS1 starts in high school there we have to stay until he finishes, otherwise we would end up with him back here in the middle of the GCSE course.

It will be interesting to keep this going and see how everyone gets on!

"Moving overseas: Melbourne primary schools" is another emigration Aus thread. Sorry - not sure how to make a link to other threads! Phone call from dh the other night raised possibility of move to Melbourne. We came back from 5 weeks there at Easter and had a wonderful time (he was working for most of it while I 'did' the city with dd1, dd2 and dd3 aged 10, 7 and 2). Melbourne was everything I could want from a city (currently live in large village in Yorkshire) but as I've said on other thread, its the thought of leaving my parents and DH's parents who are all in their 70's that bothers me.

I think family is what stops most people Emmylou. Certainly when my mum was alive I would have been much less keen to go (even though she didn't live in the UK she was close enough to visit 3/4 times a year). I do feel bad about my dad, but my sister does live in the same country - having lived in Australia for 6 years a long time ago - but it's a bit "now or never" for us and you can't live your life for other people. To be honest (and a real cow) the idea of being on the other side of the world to MIL is very appealing - for DH as well I must add!

Yes! My dd1's best friend is emigrating to NZ and she has no G'parents on one side and awful ones on the other! Ours are all doting though...

sunnydelight, when we went we stayed with relatives, they have a huge house and also used their beach house at Umina, so sorry no help with short rental appartments.

We are looking at Sydney North Shore/Northern Beaches. We both really like Manly, and an easy commute into CBD for DH, which is important as we would like to only have 1 car and I would need the car with two young children. We have decided that as we are going to experience the Australian way of life we need to be within easy distance of a beach or to have a pool. And my cousins/godparents are all Northern ish Syndey area, and we know that area fairly well from previous visits.

Also, my Mum goes to Australia quite a bit, she has retired and she has been twice in the last 2 years for weddings etc, so I'm sure that if I'm out there she will come out again, she loves Australia, she is just tied to the UK through my Stepdad who still works and probably wouldnt be able to work in Oz.

Sorry - had a busy day at work and have only just got back to this thread. Will be on again later. Just talking about it with other people makes it seem so much more real and exciting ... I'll be skipping out of the office this evening !

On a more (way way more!)trivial note - I found Aussie pizzas and sausages errr, a tad different! Had to go to David Jones food dept in Melbourne to find anything remotely equivalent to quality British pork banger - was suprised, what with BBQ culture etc. And only once in 5 weeks were we offered vegetables with a childrens meal in a restaurant. Of course I found the weather, beaches, lack of litter, open spaces, wildlife etc etc a tad different too!

Jenkel, I feel scared, but good scared. It's exciting but daunting at the same time. IYKWIM.

I have never really have a great relationship with family, I will miss my dad, but he just got a pc, webcam, email etc (at the grand old age of 63) just to keep in touch! My sister came today & spent a less than 2 hours here (haven't seen her for ages, 1st time she has met dd, who is 2.8!) so that kinda made me feel crap! It seems that I'm not worth more than 2 hours of her life! Still, that's what makes it easier TBH.

Emmylou, the food there is different, but we had no problem finding what we needed. DH's parents have been there for 30 odd years and know all the best food places. (even some that claim to sell "english type" foodstuffs. (anyone know if the sell Fererro Rocher there)

I love the mini meat pies you can buy there...delicious!

I am thinking that when I get there, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I am so excited about our new life there.

We might end up as neighbours jenkel! Like you I definitely want either a pool or to be close to the beach - personally I would prefer the pool. I don't really know the North Shore at all - I lived in Potts Point when I was there before - but from what everyone is saying it's the place to be. DH will probably be working in Darling Harbour which isn't ideal from the North Shore, but he's leaving the location thing up to me really as long as his commute isn't more than an hour or so.

I loved the foodie markets - all the fresh fruit and veg on sale and the juice bars were a big hit with my kids (juice bars haven't reached York and Harrogate yet that i'm aware of) which is why it was so surprising not to be offered veg with any children's meals - Coles supermarket were even recommending 7 portions of fruit and veg a day (but that could be a marketing ploy on their part!)

fab, some others going through the should I/shouldn't I, why all the forms, am I healthy enough process!! We are using a migration agent because we are crap at getting things done. Because DH never used his qualifications and I gave up work five years ago we are unlikely to have enough points even though family over there, we are going on either a business talent or business owner (temp) visa, has anyone else used these?? Last week, lovely sunshine, having second thoughts, this week can't wait!!

littlemadam, the second thoughts stay a while too. I keep feeling them creep when I let my guard down...

yup - ferrero rocher here - BUt you will probably love darrel lea choc - scrumptious as well as their soft licorice.

we may be a bbq culture but bangers aren't bbq food to us - STEAK, steak and more steak and rissoles....although we love kebabs and fish as well grilled on the BBQ.

dh left his family and friends behind and we took his mum's only grandchildren to the other side of the world and whilst I have twinges about it - we would not swap this for the world..... mil knows this is the best for dd1 especially...... they are talking of visiting - big step on their part.