Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Well to be honest we have been back since the 20th Dec but hey better late than never.

Previously LIBBY now JLKK. No reason for the change, just felt like it.

Oh and to PANTS, Hi thanks for your PM, and please dont stop posting, it just would not be the same with out you!!

Well as I said we are back. We landed at Heathrow on the morning of the 20th and it was chuffin cold. minus one and still in shorts. Did I get laughed at!! Anyway, soon got used to the weather with help from Tog 24 triple thick coats...snuggley.

Are we glad to be back, now after a couple of months. Yes and No. I think because we have had 3 winters and only a small amount of Adeliade Sun (Bad winter and spring of rain) it is taking its toll on us.

Glad to be back because of the usual familarity stuff but on the other hand Oz still is in my heart somewhere. Would we go back, who knows in a couple of years, but not to Adelaide, thats a definate no. But Queensland, maybe.

We did come back because of emotional stuff from family, but now the excitement of us been back has sudsided, back to normal I am afraid. One thing I have learned, dont come back for family. If you were tempted back with promises of things been different and family seeing the children more ect, then dont hold your breath. Friends on the other hand have been great and made it lovely for us.

Oh I do go on dont I, sorry. I suppose what I am trying to say is if you are considering coming back, then do it because you want to. Dont give in to emotional blackmail. My Brother told me that my Mum, who I do love hugely, said to him....Dont ring her or text, then she will miss us and come home. She never rang me for 8 months......Well I am here so she won....for now!!!!

Hope everyone else is OK and happy,

Libs XXXX

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Good luck Libby. The family thing is a weird one. We hardly hear from ours out here at all. The time difference does make it hard but there's no excuse for no letters etc. Friends on the other hand are different. They are the family that you choose.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

I hope everything works out for you. We went back to UK for Christmas and I agree with the fact that it is exciting to see people at first but then everything returns to normal. This made my 11 yr old daughter realise that she would rather be in Australia as her life is so much better there.
We live in Queensland and I would certainly recommend it as a place to live if you do return.

All the best

Amanda

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi Libby
Great to see you are home safe and sound.

I grimaced when I read the bit about Oz being in your heart still!!! That's exactly how we've been feeling for 2 years!! We've tried so many times to put it on the back burner and focus on life in the UK but in truth, it has never been far from our minds. (Don't get me wrong, we are happy in the UK, but there is something niggling there.....most likely the fear of losing the visas in May 07 and not having options after that. Also family in Oz.) I feel we left Oz prematurely (although circumstances brought us home rather than burning desire to live in UK).

I hope you settle back OK or at least reach some conclusions about life, where you want to be, what makes you happy, etc!!

Maybe you'll be like me...still posting here two years after returning to UK :scared:

Good luck and hope you settle down ok.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hope you don't mind me asking but why did you not like Adelaide,was it the weather,or lack of employment? Hope if you do return to OZ you will find a place where you can settle . Make the most of your time in the U.K. :beer:

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

You don't have an indefinite amount of time to make up your minds, once your visas are expired the door is normally closed to such a choice. Unless you qualify to migrate again under the rules in place at the time.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Thanks for all your responses, really appreciated.

JAJ, we do still have until 2010 to make up our minds, but having said that, we have got STNI for South Australia so if we can not change it to a 136 then we would have to apply again. I have emailed the dimia to see where we stand just in case we do want to go back.

Irish Guiness.....We thought Adelaide was OK but not for us. Other people love it and I would not like to put the place down. each to there own. It did not live up to the dream for us.

Libs.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

You can't change it to a 136, as far as I know.

Why do you think you can't go back because it's an STNI visa?

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi,

We know we can go back to Adelaide, but not to Queensland as its a sponsered visa and we still have a year to go on it. Thats what I was lead to believe anyway. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thankyou JAJ

Libs

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hello there Libby

Nice read but sad also....the bit about what your mum said. As for Oz being in your heart, join the club.....but difference being I will have to re-apply if I ever go back, that or go back in the next 3 yrs for approx 18mnths to get my citizenship..!!! Hubby thinks stuff it I can re-apply but then he would say that being an Aussie..alright for him.!!!

Keep in touch Libs and I hope you settle a bit more once the months pass...

karma sent..

xx

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Arrrr thanks Pants for the karma, you are so lovely.....Will keep in touch matey.

Libby. (Decided I dont like being called Libs).

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Keep us posted and I hope things get much better....it's
still early days and summer's not far away :)

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

STNI is a permanent visa, not a sponsored one.

With STNI visas you are supposed to live in the sponsoring state, however if you make a genuine effort to settle there and find it's not for you, you do have right to move elsewhere.

If you want to get some professional advice in the UK, talk to Ian Harrop - http://www.ianharrop.co.uk (you'll have to pay something, but it ought to set your minds at rest).

However if you let your visa expire, then the door is closed.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

If you've got a permanent visa and you are married to an Australian citizen, you should try for a Resident Return Visa before thinking about a spouse visa.
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/968i.pdf

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi Jeremy

Thanks

My PR is for 5yrs as far as I know looking in my passport and I thought after that time I will be stuffed so to speak as a RRV won't apply will it?

I can't see us going back for some years.....!!!

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi Libby

You made it back home!

What you said about not coming back for family, really hit home with me. That's one of the major reasons I would return. It plays on my mind so much that we're denying them their grandchildren. But you're right, the novelty would soon wear off.

We know of a few people that have returned due to missing family and friends (amongst other things) and they've all said exactly the same as you. The initial elation of seeing them, all that fuss, soon dies down and you're left with the reality of life back home.....all that hum-drum we escaped from.

I hope, over time, you settle back into life in the UK. It must be the same feelings back there as us lot have here...only in reverse! Always feeling unsettled and somethings not quite right. :rolleyes:

All the best xx

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Actually I think you are doing really well Tracey.

When you look back as to how bad you were feeling months ago and now you have said that you know the novelty of family etc will wear off, you have come on in leaps and bounds.

You are proof that by some soul searching, you can overcome homesickness. I know you still get it, but I reckon you are doing brilliantly.

Good luck.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Under current rules it is possible to get an RRV on concessional grounds, if you have 'substantial ties' to Australia, eg an Australian citizen spouse:
http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/pdf/968i.pdf

Make sure you don't fall foul of the '5 year rule' explained on form 968i.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Thankyou for your advice JAJ, its really appreciated.

I will definatley contact Ian and have a word. Its got to be worth paying him a fee than applying again if we dont need to.

Thanks again

LIBBY.

Thanks for the words of encouragement from Scottish Mark and Tracey W and Hiddenpaw and of course Pants.

XxXxX Libby

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Jeremy I cannot believe you have retired.

It is not going to be the same without you.

I shall have to do a story about it now. I shall make it so you have run away to secretly work with the DIMIA boys.

You have to be old, grey and wrinkly to retire and you are not.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Ekkk I am scared now Jeremy...what if I do fall foul..will they not let me back EVER..!!??

:scared:

Hubby thinks I can just re-apply from scratch...if this not so??

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Did you read form 968i and what exactly it says about 'substantial ties' and the '5 year rule'?

Do you visit Australia often?


A spouse visa is always an alternative, however an RRV is much quicker and cheaper. The AHC London are (anecdotally) quite lenient on spouses of Australian citizens, but if you want to help your case keep as many ties as you can, read what it says about the 5 year rule very carefully and make sure you abide by it.

If your husband was to die, or you split up, then you really would have to make up your mind about whether you wanted to go back to Australia or not.

If the details of form 968i still confuse you, then a paid consultation with a good UK based agent like Ian Harrop is likely to be money well spent. http://www.ianharrop.co.uk

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Thanks Jeremy

I did read the forn and so did hubby. I have emailed AHC for some advice as hubby and daughter are australian citizens by birth and how it would stand if we went back about my PR expires in Oct 08. We also have property still in Oz.

Thanks again Jeremy now enjoy your retirement but sad you are !!! :)

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hey PP, thanx for that! :D I think I am actually making progress!

I never really thought it would be this hard. But after 18 months the 'sad' days aren't quite so often and so severe. They're still there, but on a mini level! ;)

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi,

Hope you settle back to life here a bit easier over the next few months. Spring on the way etc etc ! :D

It just goes to show how different families are. Our daughter missed her grandparents and we felt she would be missing out on a relationship with them, this was one of the reasons we returned. Since being back we have definitely seen more of my parents and hubbys. Friends have come and gone, the good ones have stayed.

Not sure how Adelaide would compare to Queensland? We thought Adelaide was the bees knees compared to Perth...we have friends who live in Adelaide and love it? Strange how we look at places differently :)

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Does owning property in Oz mean that you can renew your RRV? I know if you hold property in the UK you are considered resident? My husbands RRV is up in 2010, but we own property in Oz.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Not sure you are right on the UK residence thing. Owning property in the UK doesn't make you resident (even if you are a UK citizen). Resident means "living in the UK" for a substantial portion of the year each year.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

I am looking at the "ties" I have with Oz as we aren't going back when I PR runs out in 2yrs...

Not sure it may help

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

If you look on the inland revenue site it states that if you own UK property you are considered resident, for tax purposes, even if you are not. I had a friend in Oz who owned property in UK and her husband just used to come back every two years to renew his residency - all he had to say was that he owned property here.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Thought you might say that. Resident for tax purposes (i.e., liable for tax in the UK) is not the same as resident for immigration purposes.

I too own a house in the UK, but I ma not a UK resident. Due to the dual tax treaty (UK-US) I don't end up being liable for tax in the UK (becasue I pay it all over here - including tax on my rent income - or lack thereof). But I am not classed as a UK resident, I am a UK citizen living overseas. For similar reasons, I am not eligible for NHS treatment when I go back (not that I'd do the NHS holiday thing, anyway).

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi Dunroving,

I'm returning to the UK in 5 months after 5 years in Oz. I've read many things on this website about the consequences of returning to the UK, including having to pay International student fees for over 16's, no entitlement to benefits for a period of time (I assume 6-12 mths), trouble getting car insurance or having to pay through the nose for it as UK compnaies won't accept Australian NCB, and NOW from your post it sounds like we won't be entitled to NHS treatment. Do you have any details, such as how long for, etc?

I'm stunned that after myself & hubby have paid UK tax for almost 27 years combined (before 2001), that we'll be treat like immigrants on our return!!! (or maybe worse than immigrants??)

Baz!! :scared:

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Huh? I don't get it. My husband and I have come back to the UK and are entitled to NHS treatment. Our car insurance also accepted our Australian NCB - however I did insure with the same company I was with when I left and they still had the record of my UK NCB as well. So, what about my friend who just kept coming back to the UK every 2 years to renew his residency visa by saying he owned property in the UK? I know from DIMIA point of view, once you have achieved permanent residence status in Oz it is out of their hands (as told to me by DIMIA) and they are no longer interested in you. I am not a UK citizen and I can get NHS treatment.

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi Stuck,

That's interesting!!

Actually I just got a reply from Churchill Insurance today. Good news!!

QUOTE - "I can confirm that we are able to accept proof of No Claim Discount from Australia, you must intend to live in the UK permanently in order for us to insure you and your husband.

Should you require any further assistance, please contact us on 0800 200 300, or 0208 313 3030 and ask to speak to our Sales department"

Who are you insured with?

Also, can you explain this bit - it's been a very long day! :rolleyes:

I know from DIMIA point of view, once you have achieved permanent residence status in Oz it is out of their hands (as told to me by DIMIA) and they are no longer interested in you.

Regards

BAZ!

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Yes Stuck pls can you explain that bit about DIMIA saying no longer interested etc etc....

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

If you are returning to be a resident, then you are fine. Intention to stay makes you a resident as soon as you step off the plane.

But if you are resident elsewhere and go back to the UK for a holiday, no you are not entitled to NHS treatment other than in an emergency situation.

Sorry if my email was confusing - when I said "go back" I meant for a holiday (that's why I referred to "NHS holiday")

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Where do you live? Are you back in the UK as a resident, or on vacation (I assume resident as you talk about car insurance)? If you are resident in the UK, then you are eligible for NHS. Otherwise, you are not eligible for NHS treatment (regardless of whether they give it to you).

Re: Hello....we are back in blighty
 

Hi - actually we were first insured with Norwich Union (also accepted our NCB) because we imported our car from Oz and they were the only one's who would ensure while we were waiting for UK registration number. Then we changed to Diamond (much cheaper!). As for the other bit, I contacted DIMIA to ask about my husband situation re RRV and citizenship. They just said that once you become a citizen (sorry, got it wrong-Ithink) DIMIA are no longer interested in you.