If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Sep 18th 2010, 9:51 am
#31
Going for a ride
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: Monbulk, Victoria.
Posts: 2,838
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Why not just apply for PR yourselves, without the use of a migration agent, validate if you get PR, then you have 5 years to decide if the time is right or not? Its affordable that way, and you have plenty of time to weigh up what you want to do.
I also support the theory, if you can afford to try it for a year or so, go for it. You have nothing to lose if you dont like it. (except money of course)
I also support the theory, if you can afford to try it for a year or so, go for it. You have nothing to lose if you dont like it. (except money of course)
Sep 18th 2010, 10:14 am
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 484
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Oh yeah apply yourself. Do NOT use an agent. I used all the tips on here to do it ands it wasn't that difficult. Saved couple of grand. Will cost you 1k to apply altogether and take 1.5 yrs. Or come on another visa - don;t know anything about them though
If you don;t do it you'll kick yourselves
If you don;t do it you'll kick yourselves
Sep 18th 2010, 10:30 am
#33
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Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Amongst Melbourne's tall gum trees
Posts: 1,323
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
I think the hardest thing of all is to have one part of you loving your life in Australia whilst the other part is desperate to have the family close by. Until you try it you'll never know, but after six years on here, I'd say it's a rare poster, close to family, who makes a complete go of it. They struggle with wanting to be in two places at once.
If you're 'running away' from perceived problems in the UK, the move is unlikely to work. If you're 'running to' perceived lifestyle in Australia, the move is unlikely to work. If you're after an adventure, prepared to give it a go, have an experience and see where it takes you and make no pre conceived judgements, it's likely to be successful
this because you have nothing to lose. we went, loved it, were torn because of the usual family reasons depicted in many of the posts here, and returned - much the richer in experience for it. we will forever be torn, true, but we have learned that we love both places and we had some fantastic experiences in australia and NZ.
DO IT - and you can always come back.
DO IT - and you can always come back.
How does that work? 
Look up threads on cost of living, check out real estate websites and job websites and get a more balanced view on what you would need to live on, the comparison to the UK is misleading.
As far as I can see, you have nothing to loose. You are not uprooting children, the family would cope and you don't have to cut all financial ties with the UK. Keep a hold of the house, rent it out and come over for a while as a test. If you end up back in the UK after a couple of years, at least you have tried.
As far as I can see, you have nothing to loose. You are not uprooting children, the family would cope and you don't have to cut all financial ties with the UK. Keep a hold of the house, rent it out and come over for a while as a test. If you end up back in the UK after a couple of years, at least you have tried.
Sep 18th 2010, 5:53 pm
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: UK - for now
Posts: 32
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
good post, elyce. like you, my parents are in france anyway - and could visit australia annually, as yours do. definitely something i remind myself of now and again
am glad melbourne has been such a success for you!
am glad melbourne has been such a success for you!
Sep 18th 2010, 9:03 pm
#35
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: South Derbyshire
Posts: 17
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
thanks everybody for your kind words of advice and support, I have read the responses and taken all on board.
the question now is where to start with the forms, which type of visa is best, but thats another question altogether!
cheers,
the question now is where to start with the forms, which type of visa is best, but thats another question altogether!
cheers,
Sep 19th 2010, 12:16 am
#36
Still alive
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 28,994
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Just my 2c worth here. The whole "nothing to lose" thing is a load of crap in my opinion. We lost an awful lot coming here. Not only the money aspect, but family who now refuse to speak to either of us because we abandoned them - and not distant family, but parents and siblings who were formerly close. Friends who have moved on with their lives. A marriage on the verge of collapse with very little support here. Unemployment for a very long time for us both (at different times) which causes even more financial hardship. Don't underestimate what exactly there is to lose.
Sep 19th 2010, 12:36 am
#37
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
www.immi.gov.au
Just my 2c worth here. The whole "nothing to lose" thing is a load of crap in my opinion. We lost an awful lot coming here. Not only the money aspect, but family who now refuse to speak to either of us because we abandoned them - and not distant family, but parents and siblings who were formerly close. Friends who have moved on with their lives. A marriage on the verge of collapse with very little support here. Unemployment for a very long time for us both (at different times) which causes even more financial hardship. Don't underestimate what exactly there is to lose.
Just my 2c worth here. The whole "nothing to lose" thing is a load of crap in my opinion. We lost an awful lot coming here. Not only the money aspect, but family who now refuse to speak to either of us because we abandoned them - and not distant family, but parents and siblings who were formerly close. Friends who have moved on with their lives. A marriage on the verge of collapse with very little support here. Unemployment for a very long time for us both (at different times) which causes even more financial hardship. Don't underestimate what exactly there is to lose.
Sep 19th 2010, 1:10 am
#38
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,188
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
...they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
More seriously, I guess the "nothing to lose" statement always comes from those who made the move and lost nothing. As Dorothy said, the move, on a purely financial basis, is damned expensive for any family. To just chuck that all in and go back again may not even be financial viable for many.
When I first arrived I loathed the place, and I really couldn't tell you why that was now if you asked me.
If I could have just packed up and gone home I would have done it in a shot... but I couldn't. I simply couldn't make it work financially and so I felt trapped here for a long while.
Any family has the potential to lose plenty. It's not always a happy ending.
More seriously, I guess the "nothing to lose" statement always comes from those who made the move and lost nothing. As Dorothy said, the move, on a purely financial basis, is damned expensive for any family. To just chuck that all in and go back again may not even be financial viable for many.
When I first arrived I loathed the place, and I really couldn't tell you why that was now if you asked me.
If I could have just packed up and gone home I would have done it in a shot... but I couldn't. I simply couldn't make it work financially and so I felt trapped here for a long while.
Any family has the potential to lose plenty. It's not always a happy ending.
Sep 19th 2010, 1:18 am
#39
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,855
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
...they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
More seriously, I guess the "nothing to lose" statement always comes from those who made the move and lost nothing. As Dorothy said, the move, on a purely financial basis, is damned expensive for any family. To just chuck that all in and go back again may not even be financial viable for many.
When I first arrived I loathed the place, and I really couldn't tell you why that was now if you asked me.
If I could have just packed up and gone home I would have done it in a shot... but I couldn't. I simply couldn't make it work financially and so I felt trapped here for a long while.
Any family has the potential to lose plenty. It's not always a happy ending.
More seriously, I guess the "nothing to lose" statement always comes from those who made the move and lost nothing. As Dorothy said, the move, on a purely financial basis, is damned expensive for any family. To just chuck that all in and go back again may not even be financial viable for many.
When I first arrived I loathed the place, and I really couldn't tell you why that was now if you asked me.
If I could have just packed up and gone home I would have done it in a shot... but I couldn't. I simply couldn't make it work financially and so I felt trapped here for a long while.
Any family has the potential to lose plenty. It's not always a happy ending.
Sep 19th 2010, 2:20 am
#40
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada - Darwin NT - Newcastle NSW - Toronto - Townsville QLD - Brisbane - Toronto
Posts: 201
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
This is something only you can answer.
I'm married to an Aussie, I lived here for 3.5yrs before moving back to Canada, taking along the Aussie hubby (he left family behind here - not very close to them)
In Canada, we left good jobs, our own home, 2 cars and my parents and my grown children, with whom I am close to. It was the Aussie that was hesitant to leave because of the jobs, the home and the cars.
Since we've come to OZ (in February)...we have landed into better jobs with way better pay. At the moment we are renting, but plans are to build a home next year. We have a nice new car and he has a work car. The only thing missing for me is my family.
So while some may think along the lines of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'....for us, even though we were doing fine in Canada, we are better off here.
I'm married to an Aussie, I lived here for 3.5yrs before moving back to Canada, taking along the Aussie hubby (he left family behind here - not very close to them)
In Canada, we left good jobs, our own home, 2 cars and my parents and my grown children, with whom I am close to. It was the Aussie that was hesitant to leave because of the jobs, the home and the cars.
Since we've come to OZ (in February)...we have landed into better jobs with way better pay. At the moment we are renting, but plans are to build a home next year. We have a nice new car and he has a work car. The only thing missing for me is my family.
So while some may think along the lines of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'....for us, even though we were doing fine in Canada, we are better off here.
Sep 19th 2010, 3:33 am
#41
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 199
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Yes agree there is loads to lose. Before we ping ponged sadly my wife's mum passed away. I will forever regret that year that my wife and daughter could have spent extra with her. If she was alive we would be in the UK that is certain.
It highlighted just how pointless enjoying the Australian "Lifestyle" is without the people you love.
Having experienced this I will say it does irritate me people emigrating for purely financial reasons - actually it makes me angry (but that's just me, and my problem)
It highlighted just how pointless enjoying the Australian "Lifestyle" is without the people you love.
Having experienced this I will say it does irritate me people emigrating for purely financial reasons - actually it makes me angry (but that's just me, and my problem)
Sep 19th 2010, 3:59 am
#42
Ping pong PoM
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,537
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
If you are both under 30 I would thoroughly recommend taking a sabbatical from your jobs, renting out your home (Perhaps MIL will look after the dogs?) and taking working holiday visa to check out what it is that you're actually hankering after.
My advice is hedge your bets until you know exactly what it is that you are asking for. None of us can tell you what life will be like for you! If you love it, then it's easy enough to come back and sell up. If you don't then you can chalk it up to experience and you still have a home and jobs to come back to.
PR visa, moving everything, selling up and flying over will cost you in excess of 8,000 GBP and that's if you do all the forms yourself without using an agent..... Bringing your dogs over will cost around 3000GBP each if they're sizeable animals. You can see how your savings quickly get eaten up...
My advice is hedge your bets until you know exactly what it is that you are asking for. None of us can tell you what life will be like for you! If you love it, then it's easy enough to come back and sell up. If you don't then you can chalk it up to experience and you still have a home and jobs to come back to.
PR visa, moving everything, selling up and flying over will cost you in excess of 8,000 GBP and that's if you do all the forms yourself without using an agent..... Bringing your dogs over will cost around 3000GBP each if they're sizeable animals. You can see how your savings quickly get eaten up...
Last edited by alipally; Sep 19th 2010 at 4:03 am. Reason: costings added!
Sep 19th 2010, 6:56 am
#43
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ferny Hills, Brisbane
Posts: 102
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
It is not an easy decision is it?
We came over jan 09. During the time of actually making the decision i has lists everywhere of pros & cons. In the end we ripped them all up and simply asked ourselves. If we go and dont like it we can always come back, of course noting that we would need to get the money!, BUT if we dont go will we ever ask 'What if ..' in the future. This really helped make our minds up and have not really looked back.
Came over with a job ready and 2 girls in primary school.
Good Luck
We came over jan 09. During the time of actually making the decision i has lists everywhere of pros & cons. In the end we ripped them all up and simply asked ourselves. If we go and dont like it we can always come back, of course noting that we would need to get the money!, BUT if we dont go will we ever ask 'What if ..' in the future. This really helped make our minds up and have not really looked back.
Came over with a job ready and 2 girls in primary school.
Good Luck
Sep 19th 2010, 1:44 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: If you were us, would you emigrate to Oz?
Well..I've been away for the weekend and thought I'd see the advice being dispensed..
..all good.
I would on the whole not bother...there has to be some very good reasons to move - like you both are obsessive regular beach bunnies.. or seriously in to Australian-style city living which can be very rewarding. I'd say you'd have to be very geared up financially, and in terms of personal resources to get the most out of this country as it is very expensive for more recent arrivals.
If you are Mr and Mrs InfactReasonablyHappy then stay but come over for a look..and no, traipsing around pretending to be living in Australia doesn't do much - come over and see if it really grabs you (it might) after you have done the basic maths on income and expenditure.
Another thing I notice which counts in your favour - I notice that you actually do something. If all you did was traipse around Tesco at the weekend I would be concerned. You say you are into the outdoors and walks - are you really, or do you just play at it. One problem is that people seem to think they are really into what they think is Australian life but they're not and never will be, and when they try it out, it doesn't work because it never would. Stay at home playing with the bank holiday BBQ.
..all good.
I would on the whole not bother...there has to be some very good reasons to move - like you both are obsessive regular beach bunnies.. or seriously in to Australian-style city living which can be very rewarding. I'd say you'd have to be very geared up financially, and in terms of personal resources to get the most out of this country as it is very expensive for more recent arrivals.
If you are Mr and Mrs InfactReasonablyHappy then stay but come over for a look..and no, traipsing around pretending to be living in Australia doesn't do much - come over and see if it really grabs you (it might) after you have done the basic maths on income and expenditure.
Another thing I notice which counts in your favour - I notice that you actually do something. If all you did was traipse around Tesco at the weekend I would be concerned. You say you are into the outdoors and walks - are you really, or do you just play at it. One problem is that people seem to think they are really into what they think is Australian life but they're not and never will be, and when they try it out, it doesn't work because it never would. Stay at home playing with the bank holiday BBQ.