My spouse and I decided to move to Australia for a better lifestyle, and also because I have family in Australia. We are currently employed with decent jobs (and pay) but not truly happy here in NYC, USA. We currently do not have jobs lined up in Australia and it seems that the job market in Australia is defienetely slowing down, and also that the Aus economic outlook is all dependent on China. Given all these economic problems, I'm having second doubts about moving to Aus (we're scheduled to go next month but haven't purchased tickets yet)! However, my spouse is still willing to try out life in Australia. However if things dont work out for us in Australia, then there's no coming back for us here in the U.S. because of visa issues. Any advice?

very tricky situation. Many people (myself probably included) would not take the risk of jumping ship from a good job in NYC, to Australia with no re-entry to the US if it went pearshaped.

But at the same time - there are many that would take the gamble.

sorry as you can tell I'm pretty bad at giving advice. Will be interesting to read what others think.

Go for it! You only live once! (well.. some people believe!)..

Why not try Australia for a good 5 years and then move on if it doesnt suit you?

There is always going to be a good reason for staying put.. since moving away from our old life (as good as it was) we are all changed for the better! It is so refreshing trying out life over here, and yes, I know its not for everyone, but saying that... I couldnt recommend it enough..!

Em x

I'm in the dont risk it group. There is so much uncertainty about at the moment that if you have job security and reasonable accommodation this is not the time to be risking it all, especially if you have family to consider. There are times for risk and adventure but I really dont think this is one of them.

I'm with Quoll, if only because you say because of visa issues you can't go back to the US if it doesn't work.
So you are giving up your lives for an adventure into the unknown - and if you hate it or can't get jobs, there is no way back, you're stuck with it.

If it were me I would be putting my plans on hold to see how things pan out, especially as you cannot return.

What Quoll says.

I agree, don't risk it. It's all good and well someone saying, 'go for it, you only live once'...only you can decide, but you are having doubts so i would trust your instinct. God i wish i trusted mine

Because of your visa issues, and the 'current economic climate' I'm also with the stay where you are brigade. I wouldn't risk it at the moment. If you were in the UK or Europe or somewhere you could move back to, I'd be more likely to say 'go for it, you only live once' but not in your circumstance.

Although I haven't ever done it I would consider trying to get the 175 visa and then you can assess things from a position of strength and maybe move in a few years time when you have a better gauge of how things are. I believe you'd only need to enter Oz to activate it then you could have a few more years in NYC. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

What are these visa issues? If you stay in the United States, do you have a chance of getting a green card?

If no, then maybe you should think hard about taking up the opportunity of permanent residence in Australia.

Hi all, thanks for your advice. We have secured an Aussie PR so that's also one of the reasons for moving there, since here in the US my husbad and I both have an employment based temporary visa (and i've been here in the US total of 11 years both as student and for work, and still no GreenCard yet (only H1b work visa!)). We do have a chance to get greencard, but that'll take 3-4 years (meaning staying the same company), and frankly we're just soooo tired of waiting and waiting... So now we have the Aus PR, but scared of the OZ econ prospects because of all this global uncertainty! Yeahhh, we have a complicated situation!

But surely you have to also consider the current US economy (or lack of)!!

I think wherever you go things are going to be tough for a while. If you're happy where you are, then stay. If you're not, then change your life.

If you're building a career, and that career is important to you, I'd stay put in the states.

Dunno what you do mate but a lot of big companies in Australia are far more open to recruitment from abroad than say the UK for example. All the banks will accept applications from overseas. If you applied to MacQuarie or something and they were interested they'd probably just get you along to their NYC office and do an interview over video conference. I would suggest you have zero to lose by applying for jobs now.