Hel&Will

I have been busy making enquiries to see what entitlements we will/will not be able to get if we get our 496 temporary residency visa and have had a major shock.

I have just received an email from the education authority in Canberra stating that we will have to pay $12000 per year plus $349 insurance for our son to attend school as he will be classed as an overseas student. I knew that NSW charged for temporary visa holders around $5000 per year but $12000 is too much!

All these extra costs are starting to give us negative thoughts about moving when we were starting to think we were nearly there - meds being done tomorrow. Unfortunately we were 5 points short for a 138 visa and missed the 139 visa deadline so a 496 was our only alternative. I can see why they have changed the rules on the designated sponsored visa but if these areas need the skills why are they making it so difficult financially for those first 2-3 years? Ontop of school fees we will not get 1st homebuyers grant, medicare, child benefit etc then once we have met the criteria of living in area for 2 years/working for 12 months we have to apply for the 883 visa (which costs over $2300, have medicals again etc etc).

Sorry to rant but just feeling so deflated now as it seems we take one step forward then 2 back. I know we will have a better quality of life but it looks like it will be a very broke life!

frustrated Hel

3littlefigs

Bloody hell thats a lot. Is this fee for state school? Have you thought about a church school? May be less expensive. Have no idea, but just a thought. We too are moving to canberra, but on a spouse visa. Hoping to be there in May. Do you know you could always live in a place called Jerrabomberra or just outside of canberra in a places like Royalla and they are considerd NSW. It's such a huge thing and these things don't make it easy. Any ideas as to where you might live. finding it a problem choosing schools and suberbs. Dx

Hel&Will

No that is for a state school. Because we are on a designated area visa we have to live and work in ACT as that is where our sponsor lives. I have questioned these fees again with the education department and am hoping they have confused the visa as this is a new visa which seems to be causing some confusion. We do have cousin who lives near Royalla so we might have to change sponsor in order to get into a nsw school - the only problem here being that we would both have to work in nsw not ACT.

We are looking at living in south canberra (Tuggeranong) probably Theodore, Calwell or Chisholm.

sasbear

Hi,

Try moving to somewhere just on the outskirts but still within the ACT - then send your child to school at maybe Sutton or Quenbeyan both in NSW - not sure if you can but it is worth looking at.

Kids in Canberra travel from outside of Canberra to school here -so maybe works other way round.

Sas

Suni&Jay

Would a private school be any better? We are on a temp visa and have our boys in a private school, about $6,000.00 each/year

Dorothy

I was under the impression that the kids had to go to school in the state that sponsored you. Look into the private school thing, though. It could work out to be loads less money for you.

joho

What is you nominated occupation is it a low point one.

Jo

iamthecreaturefromuranus

If ACT is anything like NSW then I think you have to pay the state schools fees even if you send your kids to private school... basically its just a tax

Caroline B

If you can cope with a catholic school these are often much cheaper - v good one up the road from us was $1400 per term. Mind you my hubby said there's a reason!! We were lucky to get into non denominational state schools and in QLD you don't pay - but are on a 457 visa and it does cheese you off that you still pay taxes and don't seem to get very much benefit.

liverpool girl

We send our daughter to a private school and pay $7450 for the year. We do not have to pay the government fee of $4500 on top of that. When I enquired re secondary schools, I asked whether we would have to pay international fees and they said no, just normal fees since we are residents, albeit temporary (on a 457). I don't know whether this is the case for all schools though.

chilli

how old are the children in these posts?
mines 14 would these prices apply to his age..

is it true that once you've started as an international student that you have to stay a int student?

liverpool girl

My daughter is in year 1. Fees of $7450 apply for all the whole school which goes up to year 4.

chilli

thank you


any more?

JAJ

There may be confusion here. ACT does charge fees to those on student visas, but should usually have an exemption for certain types of temporary visa such as 496 (NSW has an exemption for 495/496 visas). Contact the ACT Education Department and ask the question specifically. If that doesn't lead to a clarification, contact the ACT regional migration people and ask them to clarify.

iamthecreaturefromuranus

I would get this doubled checked if I were you. We have a friend who works for NSW education authority and they are adamant that if you are on a 457 visa that you must pay the $4500 pa. Even if you then chose to send your kids to private school you will still be made to pay the $4500 on top.