SillyOldBag

I agree with jutang - either call the London office - or put what she said! I found several parts of the forms that I couldn't necessarily see that I could answer the question as they phrased it, so wrote how I thought it would be best answered and did an asterisk and refer to the section where you can put extra info ... and if there isn't one of those on Form 80 (I didn't complete it) then just refer to an extra sheet) - that seemed to work for us! I think its just a case of adopting a common sense approach and remembering that the case officers are human and if you explain yourself well will understand what you mean. I'm sure I will go back to worrying about each and every question when we do the next stage of the process though, its easy to be laid back when you don't have to go through it!

Good luck with it all

shelld81

Thanks heaps guys (I'm obviously the Aussie!) I guess that's what I was thinking, I just needed some reassurance that it didn't make sense to anyone else either! I seem to have done an awful lot of 'just do the best you can' but at least they'll let us explain ourselves if we need to. This wonderful thread has taken so much of the stress out of this for me, I am forever in your debt RachelH! I wish there was something we could all get together and do for you, you deserve it!!!

shelld81

Hey Flodsfive, I'm originally from the Central Coast NSW, but I moved up to the Gold Coast in 2001. Lived pretty much everywhere there, Southport, Miami, Nerang, Worongary, Mermaid Waters, Robina, Tallebudgera Valley and Tallai! Wow you'll notice some changes when you get back, there's whole suburbs now that wouldn't have even existed 20 years ago. It's a beautiful place, you'll fit right in when you get home.

flodsfive

Mum and Brother on coast so been back 3 time last 5 years and your right first time I kept getting lost. It's amazing the amount of new developement and whole suberbs, from memory the furthest north town was helensvale, Coomera exsisted but was tiny.

I'm more worried then OH in some ways because so different now, and so am I, what if I don't like it anymore. The children love it and I want them to have what I had growing up outside.

Do you know where your heading back to?

shelld81

You'll be fine, the one thing I've loved the most about the Gold Coast is that it really has something for absolutely everybody. Don't like cities? You can live fifteen mins west and pretend it doesn't exist. Hate people? Drive 20 mins south to Fingal and they all disappear. I guess there's something we're all worried about, but deep down we know it'll be okay. The Goldie has changed, but it hasn't changed so much you don't recognise it. All those new places are either north or south so you can pretend they don't exist if you want to!

I don't know where I'm heading yet, first month back at home in NSW then heading back up to find somewhere to rent. Hopefully back at Tallai, love that place.

Wishing you the best of luck

jutang

I agree I love the Gold Coast, thats why we are heading back and my fiance's family live there too, I loved living there the 10 months I spent there, i arrived in the jan 06 after travelling around Asia and working my way up from Victoria, NSW I arrived and stayed on the Goldie and did all my travelling from there , its a great base to visit loads of cool places!!
We have been away for a year and a half now and apparently it has changed heaps with the population rising to by 18000, but most of them are transitional, but more buildings and cars and it is now classed as a city I think ??
But yeh love it, people are great, friendly, warm and welcoming and great atmosphere for all age groups. good luck!!!!!!!!!
Only 77 days and we are there!! woo hoo

shelld81

Where are you heading back to Jutang?

jutang

Mermaid waters, near Burleigh - you know it ?

shelld81

Know it well, I used to live there on Barrier Reef Drive. Fantastic spot, probably one of my favourites other than Tally Valley and Tallai. Nice and in the middle without being too busy. I have so many fave spots I'm not sure where we really want to be. I like the southern end of the coast more than the northern end though. Better beaches.

jutang

Hi,

not too sure where Barrier Reef Drive is ? But prob do know but just cant remember, we wil live on Alec Ave, its not too far form the highway but far enough for quiet and close enough to walk over to the beach or go for a run over Burleigh Heads, and you can cycle to Broadbeach in 20 mins, i use to live on Hooker Blvd (what a name LOL)when first got there, just behind casino and worked as a manager in The Coffee Club On Broadbeach, met loadsd of cool peeps who I a stil friends with now and thats how I met my fiance. We are getting a married on Rainbow bay, Coolangatta, just off Dbar - hope the rain stops!! Well its not until July. Juts cant wait to drive up The Hinterlands again anhd smell that fresh smell and the late afternoon walks on the beach form Burleigh up to Surfers - FAB!! So many great things to do, I cant wait to start our life there again!!
When are you heading back ?

shelld81

Looking at heading home for Christmas, then up to the barrier reef to go diving Feb next year then back to the Goldie. Feels so far away but time is flying! Don't know if you've ever had a chance to do it but when I get home I'm climbing Mt Warning for the sunrise as a celebration. Beautiful, but you have to pick a nice day! Good luck with the wedding plans, beach weddings are the only way to go. I know Rainbow Bay well. I was working at that little vet clinic at Burleigh, just opposite Stocklands (the old Burleigh Town Marketplace) until I left to come over here. Before that dental nursing in Southport, I've met loads of lovely people through work on the Gold Coast.

jutang

yeh we are off to barrier reef when we get there @ beg of July, cant wait!
bet you are so looking forward to going home!!
Jobs seem to be plentiful on the Gold coast , my fiance is a carpenter and I have a degree in tourim and leisure so fingers crossed we wil be fine!!
Nearly climbed Mt warning , but was too hung over the next day so I dropped out - hopefull sometime this year , once all the brown snakes go to sleep!!
My mate is a vet nurse and my other mate is a dental nurse, when where you last there ?

shelld81

I arrived in England the beginning of June 07. Just here on a two year working holiday, sorting out the OH's spouse visa so I can take him home with me. I think there'll be a lot of to and fro because we both love Britain, but we plan to settle in Aus - it's too wet over here! I was a dental nurse for a long time between the Central Coast, Sydney and the Goldie, and I got into vet nursing mid 04. You guys will have no probs finding work there, there's loads of building going on especially. No problems at all.

jutang

Hi,
I know where barrier Reeef Drive is now!! Asked the OH last night and he told me, I thought I recognised the name , I use to cycle past it nearly everyday going to work. Cnat believ you only left Aus in June 07 and you lived the Goldie before that ?
I agree far too wet here!! There wil be lots of back and for with us too, cos of family and friends, but I think it wil be every 2-3 years possibly, obviously if we make lots of money , there wil be more!!
I have been thinking about retraining, is it hard to get into vet nursing ? I love animals and my mate who is a vet nurse loves her job!!
OH wants to start up his own business, but w eneed to get his licence first, so he wil work for someone for the first year, prob his old employer and then hopefully we can get his licence and set up our own business - so many plans!!
Its 75 days until we go now, cannie wait!!
Hope al goes well for you and keep me updated!!

donovandenese

Hi

I have various Form 888's completed by family and friends who are Australian citizens, but I also need to get supporting witness statements from my parents and friends in the UK who are not Australian citizens - do these statements need to be certified/witnessed and accompanied by a copy of their passports - or is that only a requirement for statements on Form 888's?