sa2uk2oz

I was just wondering when looking at various posts by different posters, and noticed some people joined the site way back and still haven't made the move yet.. How many people out there have activated and are leaving it to the last minute to make the move over, or have decided not to do it at all.
We are at the other end of the scale, activated within 6 weeks of getting the visa, and moved over 7 months later. No regrets.. Best decision we ever made.

chilliman

I'm still in the UK but finally heading out feb next year!

Alot of reasons for the delay, all not entirely in my control but will be getting there eventually!!

moneypenny20

We had a year between me validating and us actually moving out. A couple of reasons, one (house) outside our control and one (daughter) inside our control.

louie

Had the visa 18 months now. Intend to move eventually be it won't be for a while for job reasons.

Cheetah7

Visa granted in Sept 07 and we made the move 6 months later - we didnt validate just moved over.

I didnt see the point in hanging around - life too unpredictable for us so just bit the bullet and moved.

chris1386

validated march '08 and stuck in blighty with house not selling

SheilaClare

Visa granted Oct 06, validated April 07 and finally going Dec 08, delayed at first due to work commitments, then house not selling but we're now renting house and going, as fed up with the waiting.

pata

I will have had my visa for 3 years in Jan.
Again various reasons for delaying move, mainly my son not wanting to go.
My daughter moved out to Brisbane earlier this year and I am now aiming to let out my house and move over Feb.

mrbond

How long do you have once in possession of your visa before it;s too late to go?

Craig822

Visa granted in June 05. House bought on validation trip in Sep/Oct 05. Finally moving 6 weeks on Sunday!!!! Lots of reasons such as finishing contract in the RAF and a short holiday in Baghdad to negotiate. Can't wait now - this year has been the longest.

louie

5 years for most people.

mrbond

Do you need to validate within the first 5 years, or spend a set amount of time in AU etc etc?

I'm going to apply within the next 6 months and trying to gauge timescales for leaving the UK (if successful)

sa2uk2oz

When your visa is granted you are usually given 1 year from the date on your police clearance. In our case we had to obtain both uk and SA police clearances as we had lived in both countries during the past 10 years.
As our South African police clearances were already 6 months old when we submitted them, we only had 6 months to make our initial entry, then a further 4 and a half years to move over.
Threw a bit of a spanner in the works for us as we thought initial entry would be made within a year.
But more than happy we made the move as fast as we did.

Watty'n'Arls

We are in a similar position to many expats. Have the visa, validated but the housing market fell on its bum. We have decided that we will sort out renting out in Jan and get there asap into 2009!!

Its frustrating!!

DEEDEE01

We were granted 175 in April this year, we too are just bighting the bullet, not validating and just going in Feb 09.

We to were dumped on by the UK housing crash, but we thought what the hell, it's now or never !!

We will be letting my cousin look after our house for about 12 month and them sticking it on the market for whatever we can sell it for.