Hi everyone.

Just joined the forum,great place to get views and info.

I would like your opinions on my predicament.

I lived in Auz as a p resident from Jan 98 till sept 06,when I returned to UK to spend time with familiy.I plan to return to live in Aus next March(2013),basically I have to return by then to keep residency as RRV expires end of March 2013,and cannot get extended(again).
I used to miss my life in Aus terribly when I first moved back to UK,(lifestyle,house,near Mornington,50 min from Melbourne),but in the last few years I have settled in UK,have been working as cabin crew for 5 years,rent a place with my fiancée(who will need to apply for residency somewhere down the line,when we return,at first coming over on working visa),have friends,income,sold house in Aus(getting to much hassle to keep rented),just have nice life,you know,not amazing but happy.
BUT I just feel I would be loosing a golden ticket if I let my residency go,despite giving what I have up to return to Melbourne,no job,no place to stay(initially).

What would you do,am I mad to return to nothing to keep my right to live in Aus and give up my life in UK?

Opinions/suggestions welcome.

Thanks
Dean.

I think you have to do what YOU think is right.

I wouldn't live in the UK again if you gave me a million pounds to go with, but that's just me.

How does your OH feel about going to Australia? Excited / Indifferent / Dreading it?

Might be worth your while to look at when you will be eligible for Citizenship, then you can also factor that into your decision making process.

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for reply.

Well she is excited,little apprehensive as never been to Aus before(as we only met 18months ago),she is young and I think she will find it a cool place,like I did,just taking that step(no family or friends to put us up for a while),I guess min would be 4 years before I could get citizenship,and 2 years before she would become full resident,can you apply for ALL jobs if you are temp resident?

Just something makes me feel I would regret giving up my visa down the line.

If you're happy, why jack that all in for something that might work?

One obvious question springs to mind... why didn't you become a Citizen?

Iam Happy,but would I regret it once it's gone....?

Reg citizenship,yes I know I ask myself that everyday now arrrrrr lol.

Not as if I didn't want to or couldn't,just it was one of those,will get round to it,when you are living in Aus and are resident you don't always feel the urgency to become citizen,I know that sounds bad,guess I disnt think I would return to UK for as long as I have,was only goung to be 2yrs away lol.
What's that Lennon line ...life is what happens when your busy making other plans,or something like that.

If I could afford a nice house in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield or somewhere in Shropshire (Ironbridge for preference) I'd gladly move back to the UK, at least for a few years. But nothing could induce me to leave Australia permanently.

Well we are moving back to the UK in a few months all going well and to steal someone else's line my wife wouldn't stay here for a million pounds. If life is good, you have a decent stable job etc why throw it away on the off chance things might be better here ? Having grown up in Australia I don't consider it a 'golden ticket', to us life here is the same with sometimes 'better' weather to others I guess it is the perfect life. The thing is no one else can tell you what is best for you. You appear to have a good life already.

Well yes it's comfortable,could be better,doubt I'll own a property hear in UK.

Do you mind me asking why you are returning?,pm me if you wish,guess I say golden ticket,cos its not easy place to get into,and came over with my (ex)wife who was a resident herself, do got residency thru spouse.
It's strange cos I was so adamant about returning 2 years ago,but now mixed over it.

I suppose things can always be better Many here are resigned to never owning their own home, we apparently have the least affordable housing in the world unless you live out in the sticks.

We are returning for lots of reasons, my wife has never wanted to live here and can't wait to go back. I have lived in the UK for quite a few years on and off and love it, I'm under no illusions about the economy or whatever but I see all the same shit here to be honest. I have also been offered a fantastic work opportunity which is a major bonus. I was back in the UK around a year ago and it just reinforced it for me, it can be a great country to live in, not for everyone but that is the same as everywhere. It sounds as though it is more a case of in your mind you are thinking you might be throwing something away, my thoughts are if it ain't broke don't fix it

We moved to Australia in 2002 and in 2005 we were posting EXACTLY the same as what you are posting now and moved back to the UK. In 2011 we moved back to Australia again

Couldn't wait to get back out of the UK.

We also said we would NEVER move back to Australia lol

Lol well glad Iam not the only one.

Thing I worry about is that I am I chasing something that isn't there,I know Australia used to be cheaper than it is now,and I never rented before in Aus,so that will be a new one on me.

Not as if I can't wait to leave UK,but then again,not chomping at the bit to return to Aus either,just feel I have that option at moment which will be gone after march 2013,will I regret not taking that chance,guess I can always return if things go pear shaped.!

Add me to the list of people who would be quite happy never to set foot in Australia ever again. I know that I will be dragged back, kicking and screaming unless a miracle happens with the DH (he's Australian) but for the meantime I am absolutely loving life in UK - so much to do, see and be part of, so much variety in such a small space and so nice not to have flies crawling up your nose whenever you venture out.

I dont think of it as a "golden ticket" at all - that's just emotional advertising from the likes of WDU, it's just another (and in my opinion only of course) bland boring place to pass your days until they carry you out in a box.

I think on balance you have more chance of getting on the real estate ladder in UK than you do in Aus TBH.

It would however be silly to throw away the opportunity to return here if things go badly in the UK. No one has a crystal ball and can say what the future will be, but IMHO it is better to have options than to be stuck.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

There's no right answer mate.

You could come back and it could go horribly wrong and you'd regret ever making the decision to return.
You could come back and it could go brilliantly and you'd think of it as the best decision you ever made.
You could stay in the UK, that could go horribly wrong and you'd regret never making the decision to return.
You could stay in the UK, it could all go great and you still might regret never making the decision to return.

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the drift.
You sound like you want to return.... so do it.
How will it work out? Well you wont know until later.

Hi guys.

Appreciate all the views,it helps to get a perspective from others.

Chatting to my partner tonite,guess the only thing we have to give up are our jobs,we only rent a flat,and would probably store our belongings in UK,I still have some stuff in Aus,so guess that will help when renting if unfurnished.

Guess the main issue is I can always return to UK at any time,if after 6 months,I can't find work or feel its not for me anymore,but if I allow my RRV to run out,I will never have a chance to try and make a go at living in Aus again.