Mike Lee

I am 71 my wife is 63 we want to visit family in central coast N.S.W. for twelve months but are encountering all sorts of problems like because of my age i have to take a medical,cannot book one way flights without residents permit,travel insurance would cost in the region of £1000 each even with the reciprocal medicare arrangement and it is looking more and more difficult. Any info/advice would be great.

quoll

Have you thought of doing 6 months here and 6 months there? Just as an alternative perhaps. My parents had 15 years of that - finally stopped doing it when they turned 80 but AFAIK they never had a visa problem, they didnt have to do a medical and they always had a return ticket but were able to register each year for medicare as a visitor. Perpetual summer for them arriving in October and leaving in March - they were able to build a granny flat on our block as well and so always have somewhere of their own to stay - and they left their car with us when they went back each year. I know that isnt what you were after but it might be an alternative which is more manageable.

Mike Lee

hi thanks for that, it is an option to consider but its the long flights every six months that are the offputter

moneypenny20

You can book return flights but either keep the return leg open or set a date which you can later change, obviously there would be a charge but at least you'd be here

quoll

LOL you get used to them I assure you! An Avomine (travel sick pill) and a glass of wine and the rest is a bit of a blur!

Beedubya

Avomine now on the list, thanks Quoll.

Beedubya

Do you think it may be the one way ticket causing most of the problems? My mother came here a few times in her late 70's and I don't recall her having any problems, she was just visiting..........for as long as she wanted I suppose on a return ticket.........

Dorothy

Who told you that you need return tickets? You'll have a visa valid for 12 months, so you certainly cannot be expected to book tickets that far in advance. Try a different travel agent or do it yourself online.

My mother came over to visit my sister while she underwent chemo in August 2009 on a one-way ticket as she didn't know how long she was staying.

eddie007

Your Grandcchildren are VERY lucky peeps to have their grandparents coming for a long visit like that