Hi all, as yet another week has passed with hardly any movement from DIMIA we are thinking about going with or without a visa in November. We are thinking about going out and just living on savings until visa grant then flying to Bali and back to validate. Just wondering though if our daughter would be allowed to start school or would we have to wait until visa grant, any ideas anyone? Also anyone any thoughts about weather this is a valid idea or not. All thoughts appreciated.
Tracie

Hi Tracie

We've mulled over the idea ourselves so will be waiting with interest to hear whether it's a valid idea.

Lou
xx

Hi Tracie
We have also thought about this. But when we checked the schools website, it said that we would have to show them our migrant visa for our child before they would consider them. It might be that it depends from one school to another. Perhapes check the school website and see if it mentions anything.

I suppose it depends how long before you expect to get your visa that you're thinking of going. Wouldn't hurt them to be out of school for a short while.

Lou
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Friends of ours done this 2 years ago and there girls couldn't start school until they had visa, be very careful with your decision as they had a very bored 5 year old to deal with whose used to going to school everyday.
They were in oz for 2 1/2 months before they got visa aswel.

Good Luck

Kate

Thanks everyone for your ideas. Our problem is that we become homeless at the end off September. We are sorted for October but then thats it. We have booked a Short term rental in Aus for November and really dont want to loose it. But now our other problem is that the dog cant get into quarantine until nearer the end of Nov!! God this emigration lark is stressfully!!!
Tracie

Hi Tracie

We're in a similar situation in that we'll probably complete the sale of our house at the end of Septemberish. We've looked around a bit for short term rentals here but they all want 6 months - still looking though. We could stay with my Mum but that's 25 miles from here so that would mean taking the girls out of school anyway.

Also DH is temping as he was made redundant and his earnings are a bit less than before and the rents around here are extortioante so he'd be trekking to work in a job he has no interest in just to pay rent AND we'll be eating into our savings a little.

We are so ready to go to Oz having just been on a reccie that it's really tempting to just go but then what if we are one of the unlucky ones whose visa takes months longer than expected. If only we could predict when we might get our visas, all this inactivity is very depressing and is making it difficult to plan our lives.

Lou
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Same here, we spent today looking around estate agents but they all want 6 months min rental. We did find one house but they wanted £800 pound a month plus bills etc! We've more or less decided now to take the chance and book the flights and hope for the best. The way I see it is that worse case scenario we are in Aus for a few months living on savings with a break in Bali to look forward to when celabrating the visa. My daughter does really well in school and I really dont think she will suffer by being out of a school for a while if needs be. My only concern is what if something drastic that we havent thought about happens and we dont get the visa at all!!! God decisions decisions!
Tracie

Luckily for us we do have a cheaper option - my brother has a house in France that we can go and stay in. It would be basic and no internet connection but cheap and a great experience. We may do that for a bit then see what's happening with the visa.

Either option means taking the girls out of school but they'll be learning from travel and my two are very close and great play mates so it would be fine.

It's all very scary though Tracie - all these decisions - but I suppose sometimes we have to take giant leaps of faith. After all the worst that could happen is that we'll end up out of pocket

Lou
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Tracie keep in mind too the aussie school year finishes on 23rd December and doesnt resume until 29th January. Usually kids dont do much in the last few weeks anyway as they are winding down the year, so it is usually just revision. So if u were to come here in November and couldnt enrol her to start till the January, I dont think she would miss much anyway. Also, Im not sure how a "transfer" to an aussie school works. Just say for example, she is in Grade 3 in the UK, she has already done half a year and would normally finish that grade in the UK summer. But, our grade 3 doesnt commence until January and finishes in the December. So shes either going to have to repeat what shes already learnt in grade 3 for half a year, or, miss half a year of grade 3 and start off in Grade 4. Gets confusing doesnt it !! I think Id find a school here u are interested in , then contact them and find out where u stand. Either that or contact the Dept. of Education for the State u are moving to. If it means shes got to repeat what shes already learnt in the Uk I dont think having a few weeks off school is going to be that important. Mind u, it might drive u around the bend trying to keep her occupied lol

Good Luck,
Chris

What would you do if the visa was refused?

Come home after a 3 month holiday and an experience that not a lot of people can say they have had, (worse case scenario)
Tracie

I am not sure where the OP is headed but in WA the schools finish on Friday 8th December. and go back on 1st Feb 2007.

HI guys

We had to show our visa once our child was accepted into school last week. The reason for this is certain visas require you to pay more than the normal fees.

Nicola

'Tracie keep in mind too the aussie school year finishes on 23rd December and doesnt resume until 29th January. '


Just to bear in mind some schools finish first week in December.