hello to all!
can someone give me advice , so that I am keeping myself focused, this process ‘emigrating’ is going to take a long time ..

Just think that they only let in the good ones that wait patiently, and there will be light at the end.
Limbo land is very soul destroying but hang in and you will get there. Our applications been in 6 months now and we are just starting to feel like we are getting somewhere. It gets easier when you start preparing to go, at least you can see something happening, were waiting for our med request but in meanwhile putting house on market.
Jenny

advice on what??

thanks for that! jensteve

no probs! when did you apply? this site certainly helps with all questions you can think of. Without it me and hubby would have waited until after our meds to sell up, turns out as were paying bond it cant be done with the time scales, so thanks to expats on that one, even our agent couldn't be bothered telling us that one.

jenny

we are at the very very early stage but we are very very committed. i am due to talk with an agent soon i have been in contact with an employer in Perth very interested in my profile (cv) thats good. we have a long long way to go ....i have been told that sometimes skilled professionals (Nurses) are pushed through quickly as there is a demand for nurses down under is this true?

Nurses can get in incredibly quickly, a matter of a few weeks in some cases, even less if you frontload your meds and police checks. I'm quite happy with the wait though as long as we get the end result.
Plus gives us more time to sort things out this end, just working out endowments this week and what to cash in.
Heading to perth, have family living in Ocean reef, looking forward to going.
jenny

Hi Noelf
Perhaps there's a meet up planned near you? If not, you could arrange one. It always helps to meet up with people going through the same process since other people just don't know what you're going through.
Larissa

ha, i forgot that, cash in policy-/,
jenny; do you think I should have an off shore account opened so I can transfer the £ across to Aus $ (when the house is sold)
or keep an account opened in the UK (it will be a lot of money from the after-sale of the house.

...and if none of the above works, you can always come and help me work on my house! I'm starting to panic now thinking my visa will be here before i've got everything sorted!!! I NEED MORE TIME!!

ok i'm sure i'll manage, if i'm not ready by the time the visa gets here the house is off up for sale as is!! (no garden, doors, carpets, bathroom.... lol) oh yeah on top of that i've got to learn a new programming language and software before i go..... (bugger!)

The only serious bit of advise i can give you, just keep yourself busy and try not to think about it too much. Then don't panic!

Jenny that's our destination, Perth!, we hope to settle around Duncraig i here its a nice place to settle?

ta i will be on the look-around

Noel
I notice from an earlier post that you said you came into Nursing at 'a late stage' in your career.
Before you do too much.
If you are over 45 you will struggle to get anything other than temp.visa.
Also if you do not have enough experience you will struggle.
Get your skills assessed first and make sure you are able to go on PR before you sell your house etc.
If everything is ok then good luck to you.

G

jensteve,
Could I be bold and ask about the bond you are paying?
We are only in the talking stages as my husband's family has just gone to nil.
We would go only with proceeds of property sale - so any expenses that other's are finding would be very useful to know in advance
Thanks,
Topsy

To gain 5 extra points we decided to put $100,000 into the oz government, this is held for 12 months and then we get it back hopefully with some interest. There is time limits on just about everything though and when we get asked for the money we are only given 49 days to get it over to oz, so we have to sell beforehand as wont have enough time to sell. So with that in mind we will be renting for 12 months then buying. Just as well british house prices have gone nuts and we will have plenty left over to at least buy something.
jenny