df79

Hey Liam

Good luck to you, the guys on here have given you some good advice, I'm glad to hear you've got a good support network in Oz. If you get your first car, you won't go far wrong with checking out some of the noticeboards in the hostels on Pitt St - you're bound to get a good deal for your first car.

Take care and let everyone know how your doin

David

Liamruscoe

Hi Shell

Im going Brisbane, saying that I dont think I have a choice at first because its one of them 1 area only visas, but ill be able to move around, just as long as I keep a fixed address (like my nans house or something)

My tickets came through today, I got them from expedia.co.uk they are quick easy and always have the cheap deals, I got my 1 way for £440!

I thought I would be really exited when I booked it all but I cant get my head round it at the moment it just seems too big to think about. Because its such a big move I cant even comprihend myself there, even though ive been twice before!! I also feel like its ages away even though it just 12 weeks now.

Anyone else get this? or am i just weird

Liam

df79

Liam I went over to work in Sydney when I was 23 in 2003 and I was fine until I got to Heathrow, then I got nervous. I don't recommend this at all, but I had 6 pints of Guiness in 1 1/2 hours and can't remember getting on the plane, I then woke up over East Siberia and thought (quote)'what the f*** am I doing?'

So mate it's totally normal to feel nervous about something like this - at any age. I'm sure when you land and catch up with a few people and get sunburnt you'll know you've made the right decision.

Heres for the Oprah bit -

If you want to make anything of yourself in life you have to take risks, which takes guts, however there is one thing that I and a lot of pople on this forum can't risk thats turning round in x years and saying what if, this is not a dress rehearsal and so what if it doesn't work out - at least you tried and its better than staying in the same shite town for the rest of your life - like most of your mates/peers will.

You can make it work simply because you've already demonstrated the guts to go in the first place

God I'm in a nice mood today!



David



Im going Brisbane, saying that I dont think I have a choice at first because its one of them 1 area only visas, but ill be able to move around, just as long as I keep a fixed address (like my nans house or something)

My tickets came through today, I got them from expedia.co.uk they are quick easy and always have the cheap deals, I got my 1 way for £440!

I thought I would be really exited when I booked it all but I cant get my head round it at the moment it just seems too big to think about. Because its such a big move I cant even comprihend myself there, even though ive been twice before!! I also feel like its ages away even though it just 12 weeks now.

Anyone else get this? or am i just weird

Liam[/QUOTE]

Cam1977

Just wanted to add my best wishes Liam. It's a big step at 18 but you seem to be pretty well organised and with all that enthusiasm I reckon you're just the sort of person to make a go of it.

Hope you have a great time.

Liamruscoe

Could'nt agree more! if you dont do these things in life then you'll always think about them when its too late.

Your right about the staying the same town thing, all my mates will always be here, and that might sound sad, but its gonna be good for me to think that its always here for me. But i have much higher expectations of my life to just stay around.

Anyone given the oppertunity has got to try it. The less you have to loose the better

I like to see it all as a challenge, im looking forward to being really scared/nervous, I thrive on that sort of thing. It often makes me perform better.

I just have to keep thinking possitive

Elaine M

Hi Liam,

My daughter is 18 and joining me in Adelaide on a 139 visa in July so I imagine she's going through the same kind of thoughts that you are; she can't wait to get here, I know that.

Without wanting to complicate things for you, if your visa is valid until May 2008 I guess it must have been granted the month before ours in 2003; I'm pretty sure the requirement to stay in the designated area, which came into force since then (along with a change in the status of this visa type from permanent like ours to temporary), wasn't backdated to cover permanent residency visas already granted. I'm already here and I certainly haven't been notified that I have to stay in Adelaide!

So you could actually move anywhere you want within Australia at any time I think. It would be best to be near your relatives to start with though; I stayed with my sister when I arrived and it was really helpful to have that support while I found out how everything works over here and got myself settled.

I hope it all goes well for you; I'm sure you'll have a fantastic life in Aus as you sound determined to make a real go of it.

Good luck!

Elaine

JAJ

This is incorrect information. Currently there are absolutely no conditions like that on a designated area sponsored visa (there will probably be for new applicants from July 2006 but that's another story).

The original poster (Liam) is quite free to go back to Australia and live/work where he likes, as long as his visa is valid.

For skilled sponsored it's quite normal to get the bond money back after 2 years.

JAJ

No such requirement exists. It may be introduced for new designated area sponsored *applicants* from 1 July 2006, but that's another issue.