Luma

Have they run out of passports? Or people to process the passports?

One of the new rules is you can't get into the UK on a temporary South African passport.

TouristTrap

It was all over the papers there a few weeks ago. They've run out of passports or some other nonsense like that, one reason why the UK slapped that one into place.

I'm just wondering if they're issuing them again.

bruce67

They ran out of the "special" paper they use apparently. my mates sister has just got hers after a delay, I got mine on Wednesday but my delay was for other reasons I think.

bruce.

JAJ

I don't think the 2004 legislation changed section 6 of the existing legislation, which covers loss of South African citizenship on acquisition of another citizenship.

From reading these forums, not every South African wants to keep their citizenship in any case. Not only does it now mean you are obliged to use a South African passport on entry to and departure from South Africa, but it also means you cannot access formal British/Australian/Canadian/US/NZ consular assistance in South Africa.

bruce67

See I told you it was confuseing

JAJ you are still the man in the know as far as I'm concerned. I don't mind following the rules(use of SA passport) until it is no longer in my interest. When I head for Aus and get my Aus citizenship- if I'm forced to chose I'll be an Aussie. Until then no burning bridges for me

Thanks for all the info.

bruce.

Quincy

Glad to hear you are happy in Oz. I would be grateful for some advice. I'm from Cape Town and moved to South West London 4 years ago. My wife and I are quite happy but both struggle with the long winters. I'm quite keen to move back to SA, but unsure about jobs, crime etc. My wife is dead against moving back (she's European and lived in SA for 7 years) but very keen on moving to Brisbane, Australia where she has family. We visiting Aus for the first time at the end of the year to check it out. Understandably we both feel a bit uncertain at times. We would be grateful if anyone could share more information how easy or difficult the move was, and how life in Aus compares to life in the UK and SA.

rossfive5

Hi Quincy, I sent you a pm. I would think long and hard before moving back to SA if I was you, especially if you have or plan to have children. My brother tried to move back a few years ago and could not find work and he is very highly qualified and earns a ridiculously high salary in the UK. He is in the IT industry. On the other hand, friends moved back last year and the husband found work almost immediately and the wife kept her UK job earning pounds but working from home in Cape Town. They have no children. Her Mum has cancer so she wanted to be near her.

Shellfish

Horses for courses, mate. I know three people who went back last year and all three were employed within three weeks of returning (which is more than I can say for myself in Australia, they don't hand out jobs at the airport)

rossfive5

Anyone in the know would have heard from numerous sources that jobs in SA are hard to come by if you are white. My husband started getting job offers in Australia a week after looking. (IT again) Everyones different, but for us Australia has more to offer than SA. Why settle for less in SA when you can have it all in Oz

Luma

We've just moved to Perth 3 weeks ago after being in the UK for 6 years.
It is fantastic here. I really battled with the long UK winters especially with 2 toddlers stuck inside all the time.

The move was stressful especially with little children but hey we are here and we're happy. We put our house on the market at the end of February and it was stress from then onwards until we flew mid June. The stress was huge during the trip and for the first week after landing. But if you mentally prepare yourself for hard slog you will be fine. Hey you've already moved from SA to the UK so you know what it is like to move country already.

Good luck with youd visit to Brisbane at the end of the year. We moved to Perth without ever having visited Australia before. We have no regrets as Perth has the lifestyle we were after. We've already bought a house as we're really keen to get well settled in!

rossfive5

I agree totally. It is alot easier second time round. We also came here without having visited Aus before and love it. Perth definitely does it for us. We have also bought a house, moved in, getting more settled every day.

TouristTrap

Those who are moving onto Aus. You do know that you'll suffer from 'gypsyitis' for the rest of your life, from which there is no cure, right?

littleflower15

I'm SA living in the UK now for 4 years. Next year we qualify for residency. We are considering moving to NZ or Oz later on, but wondering where the job opportunities are better for teachers.

rossfive5

What's 'Gypsyitis'? Is that when you can't stay in one place for long and keep getting the urge to move? My parent must have that. They have emigrated FIVE times!!!!! UK to SA for 18 years, SA to UK for 2 years, UK to SA for 10 years, SA to UK for 2 years, then UK to SA again. They love the outdoor lifestyle but miss the grandchildren. All my brothers are now in the UK but if I can persuade any of them to move to Aus, then my parent have said they will move to Aus.

Luma

Well now that I have been here in Aus for over 2 months I'm going to answer my own question.

No for me it was harder this time round moving country. The main reason is we have two toddlers and it moving country with children is much harder than just by yourself. I have found the stress totally overwhelming.

I got really depressed when I moved to the UK and I'm feeling quite depressed now. I miss familiar surroundings and good friends that you can just phone and pop round whenever.

But I do like Perth and I know things will improve - it just takes time to settle in.