Gill123

It is a small world! My husband went to Conyers School - many years ago though!

Good luck with your move back.

dontheturner

Gab, Cheaper to buy one off Ebay!! Don

barney41

St Francis of Assisi is a really hard school to get into, as it is so small, but it is a very good school so good luck with that. We are doing the usual, attending church, etc to hopefully get a place for our 21 month old daughter when she turns three.

Most of the time we prefer living in the UK, we have a nice life here. I have to admit to wondering whether I would like to live in Australia again - we both miss the weather. Is that a good enough reason to move somewhere? We are planning to go to Australia next year for a seven month holiday though. Just to see how it goes and to get our RRV - you never know how you might feel in a few years.

barney41

Basically, the test consisted of what you have done to make roots in the UK. For example, rented a house, enrolled on electoral roll, got a GP and Dentist, moved furniture back to the UK, gave up rental in Australia, sold car in Australia, gave up jobs in Australia, flew dog back to UK, one-way flights, etc, etc. The mistake I made was telling them we still had a bank account in Australia. So I appealed and let them know the bank account had been closed. Appeal won!!

Don't say you have anything left in the previous country, obviously apart from if you have a house for sale that can't be helped. Unless there is no equity.

Hope that helps.

Gill123

I know how tricky it is to get into St Franics - its my biggest worry! My daughter attended there from 2004 to 2008 and we were really impressed with everything about the school. There is a year 5 place available at the moment - as long as nobody else takes it before Christmas, it's ours, so fingers crossed.

There were very few students actually enrolled based on church places, unless that's changed drastically. Then it's sibling link, then catchment I think. I don't blame you at all for attending church to increase your chances - the rule used to be that you had to be attending church for 2 or 3 years previous to enrolling your child - so I don't know if that still applies?

My youngest daughter turned 3 in October, so if our eldest does get the Year 5 place, I'll put her on the nursery list. Our girls may end up in nursery together!

I can imagine that while you still have a valid visa or a way of getting one, it will be hard to 100% close your mind to not returning to Australia. I can only say - never say never! As you say, you never how you may feel about returning in the future

barney41

No, you won't have to do the 'Right to Reside' test if you are a British National. Also, just reading up on this and only people who will claim income-based benefits should need to do the habitual residence test. Which means I was asked to do it and I shouldn't have.

nikkihawkins84

This thread is a breath of fresh air for me!

We've just found out that there's no chance in our TWP being renewed or turning into a PR application, so we're heading home in April next near.

Anyway, as we planned to stay here we don't have any savings for returning to the UK and although we'll be able to save a bit over the next few months we can't save that much and we want to enjoy our time left here. So when we get back we'll be applying for benefits etc.

Still not liking the prospect of going back but at least this part of it won't be a huge problem.

Beedubya

What kind of test is this? I don't remember doing it, but then again with all the forms we fill in nowadays it might have passed over my head, I claimed Jobseekers Allowance for just 2 weeks in between my jobs.

As I am going back now with very little money would I be able to sign on seeing as I worked from May 2009 to March 2010? I hope to not need it and get a job ASAP, but you never know.....