goody

I appear to be a rarity (first time in my life on that one) We`re moving out to WA in hopefully March 2005 on a retirement visa, being 55 yrs old. I asked a question over a week ago about the money I`ve got to take with me to support myself.
Didn`t get a single reply so I`ll try again , is there anybody already in Oz who has travelled on such a visa who can give me the SP on the mechanics of accessing the money transferred and buying property on the initial 4 year visa. Must say this is a great place for info and support, Happy 2005 to all

Kev Goodwin

moneypenny20

I haven't got a clue about your specific visa I'm afraid Kev, just wanted to say welcome, you are not alone and someone somewhere will have an answer for you. There are a couple of "oldies" about. Try posting query on the immigration forum. Several experts look in there and may be able to help.

All the best.

Jamiem

Hello there Kev.,

Sorry, I'm afraid I haven't got the faintest idea as to any answers for your questions! I just wanted to say "Good for you" for not being afraid to take a gamble. I myself will hopefully get a visa grant sometime around summer and will be heading for WA. My Mother can't get her head around the fact that I would want to spend the rest of my life in another country where I know nobody, but that prospect excites me immeasurably! She is getting on for 66 now, and would consider a ten mile drive as a vast distance, so I cannot, sadly, forsee that she would come out and visit, which is a shame.

Best of luck for 2005! I'm sure you'll love it out there

Jamie

goody

Thanks for that Jamie, if only our family were so supportive .Sadly all have been anti, won`t talk about our move and can`t understand why we would want to leave the UK. All of our friends have been the opposite and are excited on our behalf. Strangely the friends have travelled around the world, my famly haven`t. Nuff said.

Kevin

JAJ

Money transfer, banking etc: http://www.migrantbanking.co.uk

Buying property: http://www.firb.gov.au
(as you're not permanent residents you will face restrictions)

Jeremy

gdad

LO Kev

My wife and I are approaching the later stages of applying for a 410 retirement visa and need to raise over £300,000 to get it. Other options exist though.

You can buy a property BUT if you plan to rent it out on occasion then you will have to buy a new one or buy the land and start to build the house within a year.

The whole business needs careful study or you could use an agent. I did not but it is probably the best option.

gdad

Chris Mitchell

Hi Kev
just wanted to say good luck, but can't help you on your questions

Chris

Paylia

Hi Kev
We are in the same position as you - we have our 410's and will be arriving in July.
I don't see the transfer of funds or accessing them as a problem. I have opened an account with WestPac and transferred some cash for our last holiday into it using Osforex, and will probably be doing the same with our capital in due course. HiFX is another company which specialises in international transfers of cash.
You will be taxed severely on the interest made by any deposits until you register for a Tax file number - so worth doing that as soon as you arrive.

As has been mentioned above any house purchase made by a 410 holder must be subject to approval by the FIRB - not usually any problem - just make sure that when you find your property you make any offer "subject to FIRB approval"

Good luck and enjoy your retirement




Peter

goody

Hi,
Sounds like we`re at about the same stage in visa application, we just need to exchange contracts on our house, set up the health insurance ( a nightmare) and sort out whether or not we can afford the £4,000 Airpets are quoting us for a one way flight for our terrier dog.
Re the property, I`m assuming that since our visa will be for over the 12 month threshold we can after a written request, buy a pre-owned home. I was looking for confirmation that this is the case, rather than get there and find we have to buy a new house on a new development, which we don`t want to do.
We`re hoping to fly out to the Bridgetown area, nr Bunbury WA some time in late Feb/March but it all depends on the house sale going ahead on schedule, as obviously we need the proceeds to buy our 410 visa points.
I didn`t use an agent either, and other than the odd bit of confusion with the Aus High Commission keeping our passports when they knew we needed them for the medicals, things haven`t gone too badly. There are always loads of questions you need to ask but I`ve found the members of this forum very helpful and friendly.
please let us know how you get on with your move, any tips gratefully accepted.

thanks

Kevin

goody

Peter,

Thanks for that info, like you we`re heading for WA but about 3 hrs south of Perth.
I think you`ve confirmed what I needed to know i.e. providing I apply to FIRB when I make an offer on a house and mention this in my offer, things should be ok.
many thanks for the help and the best wishes which are returned, good luck with your move.

Kevin

Larissa

Hi Kevin
Good luck with your application, your family will should get used to the idea in time and may come to be more supportive. Many of us have been through the ups and downs of dealing with unsupportive families, so you aren't alone on that one!
As for the quote for 4 grand for your dog, that sounds really expensive. My husband arranged for our cat to fly to Perth and it worked out much cheaper than we were quoted by any of the usual companies. I think the immunisations are more complicated for dogs, but a good vet can sort them all out. I'm going to send you a quick pm with some contact numbers which may be of some help (I hope!). Unfortunately most of the info is in my husbands head, which isn't much help! Perhaps a search for shipping animals may help, I'd do it myself but I'm limited on dial-up.
Take care
Larissa