Hello

Well, after 8 yrs in Perth, we are seriously considering going back to the UK for 2 years to be closer to family and friends.

We originally came here for 1 yr and have stayed for 8 and have citizenship. I always have a terrible pull for the UK. I find it hard not having my mum round the corner and spending the wk’end with my sister, we are very close.

I have great friends here and a job that I love with people who are really fabulous and caring – something rare compared to some people.

I have a 12yr old and 7yr old. The older one wants to finish year 7 and graduate school and seems to be excited about the move back but slightly worried about school as she will start 6 months into Year 8. The 7 yr old thinks he’s just going to be spoilt rotten by grandma and play lots of soccer!

I am worried that even though I have this strong pull to go home and it has to be now or never, is it really the right thing to do for the kids and myself???? My hubbie is really just going because of me, not because he wants to jump on a plane back to the UK quick smart but he knows that I get homesick and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.

It’s been hard here and tough when I’m around my friends who have all their family here but the lifestyle is great, the kids love swimming at the beach and have some great friends. I do think its getting very expensive here and to take the kids away has become incredibly expensive too, pretty much impossible.

Do I give that all up to go back and let them experience an English country school and reap the benefits of all the history and countryside that England has to offer? Incl the weather? Which I love, I don’t mind it getting dark at 4 in the afternoon and freezing in winter….that’s my kind of thing, mad I know!

I’m worried about getting a job – I don’t expect to just go home and think that I will fall into a job, and more worried that I wont.

I have friends who have been here for years and regret not going back to at least see if they have made the right decision, sometimes a costly one. I don’t want to be one of those people and have those regrets and worried as to whom I would blame!

If there is anyone who can share their experiences and stories then I would be very grateful to hear from you. PM if you like.

Cheers
Lucie

Migration....should have a health warning lol.....we did not have any family in Aus and I understand how hard it can be when you see other friends with extended family around them, we had nice friends and had a very good lifestlye in Aus but when push came to shove after about 7 years it was just not enough for us for it to be home, so a few years of trying to fit in a move that suited everyone (just does not happen lol) we just went for it....we have no regrets whatsover. Everyone is different so every story is different on these threads, you just have to really know (as best as you can) what will be the best for you and your family. It's harder when you have children, it can become very tangled as they get older and develope their own lifestyle etc, I did know one lady who stayed in Perth because her son did not want to leave Perth until he finished High School and then changed his mind and wanted to stay until he finished College etc so as much as she wanted to return to England she stayed in Perth....fast forward a few years and son now lives with his wife (whom he met on a holiday while in the U.K) and two young children and she is still in Aus because now her husband will not leave as his job has turned out to be something he loves.....her good friends have all come and gone but makes new friends all the time, but she now wishes she would of moved years ago. For every story like that there is another completly different happy stcompletelye the complicatons of migration. It sounds like you have a good life in Aus, maybe trips to the U.K more often might help or just try and push thoughts of "the good old days" to the back of your mind if that's what is stopping you from enjoying fully what you have in Aus. Best wishes

My sister lives in Melbourne and moved back to the UK for a couple of years about 3 years ago- at the time had been in OZ about 10 years. Moved back because her hubby (OZ) was bored of his job and wanted to give it a go in the UK and also she wanted her son ( 3 at the time ) to spend time getting to know his English grandparents, aunts & cousins.

She loved it , our parents loved it, everyone loved it - except the husband and so they moved back to OZ last year ( She wanted to stay )

I think in many ways she almost wishes she hadn't gone back to the UK - it was VERY hard for everyone when she left to go back to OZ, and it sort of rekindled all those strong feelings of missing home that she'd learnt to deal with before moving back. She's found the cost of living etc has risen a lot since she's been back and is struggling with re-settling in again.

I don't want to put you off just wanted to give you her experience so you can take from it whatever will help you.

If you had permanent residence when your 7 year old was born, then he's automatically an Australian citizen. However, you need to make sure he has his own citizenship certificate, otherwise there could be a lot of problems proving status later on (passport alone won't do).

Use form 119, fee is A$60.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/119.pdf

As for the rest, moving between the UK and Australia is an expensive process and you don't want to become someone who constantly moves back and forth. But if you are planning to move back, it's probably better to do so before the older one becomes a mid-teenager. Long term, it's always possible that one or both your children might return to Australia when older - but they might not stay permanently.

Thanks for all your replies

Migration should be a health warning and for those that are thinking of moving here, please take off those rose tinted glasses when you arrive!!!

Lots to think about and take into consideration.

My main concern was moving back and then finding it hard to come back, building up and making new relationships again. Taking my kids away from their friends and family again and learning to cope with that.

The lastest news in London and surrounding cities does not really help my decision and in some ways, makes it very sad to see that happen and that I may be considering taking my children back into that life.

Do I stay and put the wrench for my family to one side and carry on being the great actress that I am becoming (ie.) everything is rosey and I love this place and just get on with my life here and enjoy what it has to offer or do I just do it and get on with it and move back and risk thinking that its going to be an adventure, jumping the hurdles on the way???

@ Jaj, Im confused as to why my son would need a Citizen Certificate when he has his own Australian passport? have you had trouble before experiencing this??

Many thanks and keep the advise coming its all very helpful, esp those that have already been there and done that!

9 days to go and we will be on that plane back to the UK,after 10yrs in Canada.......looking forward to it!!!!

9 days to go and we will be on that plane back to the UK,after 10yrs in Canada.......looking forward to it!!!!


Can you please keep us posted as to how its going - if you begin a new thread, can you PM so I can watch out for it.

and goodluck!

You take care of yourself, being a mother is never easy as we tend to consider everyone else first (well except my SIL's...lol)....as you say you really have two choices stay or go, if you think you can live the rest of your life in Aus then stay and you might end up loving it....if you have enjoyed what you have so far and your acting then I think your not doing so bad. All the best.

A lot of reasons, but basically a passport on its own is insufficient proof of citizenship.

Read:
http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Eviden...an_Citizenship

Pay the $60 necessary to get him a certificate, which also registers him on the Department of Immigration & Citizenship database (the same way your status is recorded).

Hi Lucie,

I lived in Australia for 7 years and then get the itch. Like you I had a good job, nice friends and life was good but I longed for the homeland. So I moved back and after about 8 weeks I realised in horror that I was a different person to the one who had left the UK and the things I took for granted in Australia just were not there for me in Blighty. In short I moved back to Australia 9 months later and have never been happier. I wouldnt have ever been able to work it though unless I went through the process.

Another person would go back and settle down, I couldnt.

I guess my point is, your homesickness probably wont go away unless you do something about it so if you are in a position to do it but leave the door firmly open to return, and position it maybe as an extended return to give your kids the culture etc and see how it goes.

Then you wont feel so bad if you freak after a few months and realise that you would rather be in Australia for everyones sake.

Good luck, going back for me cost me about $50k but in the grand scheme best $50k i could ever spend because it totally settled me down when I realised where I really wanted to be.