Don't tell DP but I'm seriously thinking about emigrating to Australia again.....

[katierocket]

He's going to tell me I'm being ridiculous and that we made our decision last year (not to move to Oz but to move to Wales!) but it's nagging at me that it's chance of a lifetime.

I know Oliveoil is going through the process, is there anyone else?
what made you make the final leap?

(I should mention that my sis lives in Melbourne)

Go for it. Nothing to stay in this country for imo. The pull needs to be stronger than the push though I think.

(I'm an expat wannabe - longing to go to Canada).

I'm from Texas. I now live in London and everyday wish I didn't. It's been hard for me but maybe if your sister is close it wont be too much of a problem?

go for it.

i am hoping to go to NZ in a few years.

Eandz - sounds horrible. Can you go back to Texas?

Did you agree that your decision was final? no harm in changing your mind, things change. Maybe last year wasn't the right time and this year/next year is, for all manner of reasons?

what i meant was that maybe your dh will see that because you have family (a sister) there already it might be a better move. someone will be there to show you the ropes and you'll have support.

callisto,
i won't be able to move back to the states for a while because we decided that i'd join him here in the uk and we'd start having a family...our other options as far as places to live are dubai or geneva. so i guess i'll just stick to london cuz atleast i can (now understand) what everyone is saying. it makes me sad though. but i made this bed so i guess i have to lay in it.

If your husband is keen on Australia as much as you are - go to it! Be realistic with your expectations - it might take a while to get a job, settle in and meet friends. But if you are keen and positive, all these things will happen in time and it will be a great move for you both. If your husband's only reservation is, he has only just moved to Wales - that shouldn't be a reason not to go. If he wants to give Wales a 'fair go', give it a time limit, then move if you still have the urge. Australia isn't going anywhere(unless you need to move before a certain age/time for visas, etc.?!). If your husband doesn't share your enthusiasm, I don't know if I would push it. Good luck!!

Thanks everyone
DP wanted to go for it at the time, it was actually me that wimped out. He thinks that our opportunity has passed and we shoudl make the most out of the move we've made.
The reason I did wimp out was leaving behind my mum, I just couldn't do it. If I could persuade her to come too (not sure if she'd get visa and prob 75% she would refuse) then I really do fancy it.

Unless the visa qualifications change, we have 3 years to make a decision but also I'm so aware that it would be another huge upheaval for DS1 (in yr 1) althoguh I know ultimately he'd be ok.

sorry to hear things are not good eandz. Whereabouts in Texas are you from? My brother has lived in Austin for 19 years. Great city.

Callisto - I'm a Canada wannabe too, but no chance with ds1 (they don't take expensive people apparently )

KR- I'd be tempted to go for it.... (but I get itchy feet and love living abroad).

I planned to emigrate to australia about 4 years ago but got pregnant and stayed here for the sake of my partner(was v.casual at the time). Several of my friends have since gone and everytime i get an email or see a picture.. i wonder what i would be doing if i had of gone?

I'm from Houston, it's not a great city but it's where my family is. Austin is a great place, your brother is an amazingly lucky man!

you can ask your mom anyway, cant you?

Getbackinyouryurtjimjams, was a bit shocked by your message. On what grounds can the Cdn gov't possibly argue that they will not accept a family specifically on the basis that they have a child with SN? That's appalling, especially for a country that prides itself on being liberal and accepting. The Cdn gov't uses a points system to assess potential immigrants, don't they?

I think every country does chisigirl. I know Aus does as well..... Autism is has a massively expensive lifetime cost (millions per individual) so I can see why they do.

Here's the wording:

"Applications for permanent residence will not be accepted if that person?s health:

is a danger to public health or safety; or
would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada."

noooo chance!

GBIYYJJ, I still find it an uncomfortable idea. If you're really serious about emigration, is the "invest in a Canadian business" route a viable option for your family, rather than the "collect as many points as possible" route? Having said that, I'm not sure what services would be like for your son as education is a purely provincial jurisdiction and health is predominantly a provincial matter so the quality of services would vary dramatically depending on the province you lived in.

sorry, x-post, gbiyyjj.
Yup, that wording makes it pretty clear, I guess.

I think it will be the same anywhere chisigirl. I'm sure that the UK will have similar rules.

Are you in Canada?

I had a look at NZ as well - my grandmother was from NZ and half my family have citizenship under various rules- but they have similar rules to Canada:

So you'll be rejected if you "are likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand?s health services or special education services"

Interestingly, afaik, the UK doesn't really have an immigration programme. You have to use a 'route', such as claiming asylum, or having a British parent or GP, or marrying a Brit, or coming from an EU country. I think that's actually a reason why the UK gets so many people seeking asylum. (ie They don't have the option of just saying "I'd like to emigrate to the UK. Here are my credentials".)

No, I am not in Canada but I did live there for 17 years. I am in the UK. I much prefer it here. No, really, I do!

hello jimjams
Yes I think sadly that rule about being a 'burden' on the health service applies to most countries. When we were originally thinking about it i was pregnant with DS2 and a migration 'expert' said it was a shame we'd not applied before I got pregnant as "if there is anything wrong with the baby they will just refuse you".

I wonder if I'm just being a 'grass in greener' type of person but I really do love Melbourne.

Your are right Chisigirl, at the moment. However the UK is bringing in a Points based system for not only immigrants but for all visa nationals coming into the UK, even for short periods.

getbackinyouryurtjimjams - friends of mine moved to Canada nearly two years ago now. Their son is autistic and they were accepted (no family or anything out there). The boy is now in mainstream education and doing really well - something they could never have imagined here.