Emigrating. What to do first?
Emigrating. What to do first?
Me and Hubbie have decided that we would like to emigrate to Australia if we can, within the next 2 or 3 years. Certainly within the next 4 or 5 before our son starts school.
Where do we start?
Where are the nicest places to live?
Best Schools?
I am a city girl at heart but would like to live somewhere slightly rural so my son can lead the best possible life. I don't want him somewhere smoggy like Birmingham where we are now, but on the other hand, I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere for my sanity!
Hubbie is an electrical power linesman so how hard do you think it would be for him to find work? I am a housewife.
Help!
Answers:
Start with this website: http://www.immi.gov.au/
It's the Australian Government's website for people wanting to migrate.
Make sure you can emigrate - it's not always as easy as people think. We are being sponsored by my partner's brother for permanent residency (we're in Australia already because of work), we didn't have enough points otherwise as our occupations aren't 'in demand'.
Start saving - it's not a cheap process.
There's a lot to read and absorb on the process, lots of forms to fill out, skills to be assessed, medicals to take, police checks to undergo - if you can start planning now, you can take it slowly and not stress. A lot of people see it as a bit of a race and get stressed if things don't happen quickly. It's currently taking from 4 months to two years, depending on what type of visa you apply for.
The best advice/help I got was from this website britishexpats.com
There are people on there going through the process, and those who have been succesful. There are posts on how to fill out forms, where to do the medicals, what you need to provide in evidence, shipping, quarantine and everything else. People will also give you lots of support when you panic, or wonder why you ever started the long, tedious process. For example, our application was eventually 140 pages long - and still we've been asked for more information!
Good places to live? WA (Perth) and Queensland are popular. You may like Adelaide, its got lots of open space and good for families. We live in Sydney. It's cramped, busy, a bit polluted - but I come from London originally so it suits me. We are thinking about moving up the coast up a bit though to get more space.
Is your hubby an electrician-type? There's a shortage of them - he should be fine!!
Schools - don't have kids myself so can't really advise. But I hear differing opinions on the education system out here. Some think its good, some don't.
Hope this helps. PM me if you have any other questions.
:)
Answers:
Thanks for replying.
I know it's going to be a long, hard process but that's why I'd rather start it now before it's time for Billy to start school. I'd hate to move him while he's at school.
My husband works up poles all day supplying electric to everyone in England. (Obviously not on his own - ha ha!) He works for the old MEB. He can do the normal house electric stuff though too.
How much money do you think we will need to save? I mean, we have about 30k equity in our house which we will obviously take with us, but how much does the actual process cost?
I have two friends who have family in Perth so they could sponsor us if need be. (Does it have be be your blood family to sponsor you or can it be friends?) We'd ideally rather do it off our own back though first.
I don't fancy Sydney. As you said, it's like London. I don't want Billy to grow up there. Somewhere with people round but also a big none smoggy garden would be nice. Not in the sticks though cause i'd go mental. I have the attention span of a 5 year old!
I was thinking Perth because of the contacts out there. We'd have our friends visiting then as they have family over there too. I've had a look at some property websites for a feel of some places and oh my god, Australians like in the 80's! Their taste in decor is drab!!!! ;)
Hubbie did one of the assessments online and we have the right number of points to go apparently.
Answers:
Sydney is so beautiful and is certainly the most cosmopolitan place in Australia - other cities can feel a bit like small towns after the UK and you might want to bear that in mind. Adelaide is attractive but not the most lively place in the world and Perth is beautiful but very isolated: you're several hours' flying time from any other city, either in Australia or in Asia. In fact I think you're closer to Singapore than to Sydney there. I haven't been to Melbourne but I gather from a lifestyle point of view it's attractive, though has chilly, wet winters. I like Brisbane - a good combination of lifestyle, climate and I imagine property prices judging by the vast pile a friend of mine lives in.
Answers:
Thanks for that. I'll have a look into Brisbane too.
Me and Hubbie have decided that we would like to emigrate to Australia if we can, within the next 2 or 3 years. Certainly within the next 4 or 5 before our son starts school.
Where do we start?
Where are the nicest places to live?
Best Schools?
I am a city girl at heart but would like to live somewhere slightly rural so my son can lead the best possible life. I don't want him somewhere smoggy like Birmingham where we are now, but on the other hand, I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere for my sanity!
Hubbie is an electrical power linesman so how hard do you think it would be for him to find work? I am a housewife.
Help!
Answers:
Start with this website: http://www.immi.gov.au/
It's the Australian Government's website for people wanting to migrate.
Make sure you can emigrate - it's not always as easy as people think. We are being sponsored by my partner's brother for permanent residency (we're in Australia already because of work), we didn't have enough points otherwise as our occupations aren't 'in demand'.
Start saving - it's not a cheap process.
There's a lot to read and absorb on the process, lots of forms to fill out, skills to be assessed, medicals to take, police checks to undergo - if you can start planning now, you can take it slowly and not stress. A lot of people see it as a bit of a race and get stressed if things don't happen quickly. It's currently taking from 4 months to two years, depending on what type of visa you apply for.
The best advice/help I got was from this website britishexpats.com
There are people on there going through the process, and those who have been succesful. There are posts on how to fill out forms, where to do the medicals, what you need to provide in evidence, shipping, quarantine and everything else. People will also give you lots of support when you panic, or wonder why you ever started the long, tedious process. For example, our application was eventually 140 pages long - and still we've been asked for more information!
Good places to live? WA (Perth) and Queensland are popular. You may like Adelaide, its got lots of open space and good for families. We live in Sydney. It's cramped, busy, a bit polluted - but I come from London originally so it suits me. We are thinking about moving up the coast up a bit though to get more space.
Is your hubby an electrician-type? There's a shortage of them - he should be fine!!
Schools - don't have kids myself so can't really advise. But I hear differing opinions on the education system out here. Some think its good, some don't.
Hope this helps. PM me if you have any other questions.
:)
Answers:
Thanks for replying.
I know it's going to be a long, hard process but that's why I'd rather start it now before it's time for Billy to start school. I'd hate to move him while he's at school.
My husband works up poles all day supplying electric to everyone in England. (Obviously not on his own - ha ha!) He works for the old MEB. He can do the normal house electric stuff though too.
How much money do you think we will need to save? I mean, we have about 30k equity in our house which we will obviously take with us, but how much does the actual process cost?
I have two friends who have family in Perth so they could sponsor us if need be. (Does it have be be your blood family to sponsor you or can it be friends?) We'd ideally rather do it off our own back though first.
I don't fancy Sydney. As you said, it's like London. I don't want Billy to grow up there. Somewhere with people round but also a big none smoggy garden would be nice. Not in the sticks though cause i'd go mental. I have the attention span of a 5 year old!
I was thinking Perth because of the contacts out there. We'd have our friends visiting then as they have family over there too. I've had a look at some property websites for a feel of some places and oh my god, Australians like in the 80's! Their taste in decor is drab!!!! ;)
Hubbie did one of the assessments online and we have the right number of points to go apparently.
Answers:
Sydney is so beautiful and is certainly the most cosmopolitan place in Australia - other cities can feel a bit like small towns after the UK and you might want to bear that in mind. Adelaide is attractive but not the most lively place in the world and Perth is beautiful but very isolated: you're several hours' flying time from any other city, either in Australia or in Asia. In fact I think you're closer to Singapore than to Sydney there. I haven't been to Melbourne but I gather from a lifestyle point of view it's attractive, though has chilly, wet winters. I like Brisbane - a good combination of lifestyle, climate and I imagine property prices judging by the vast pile a friend of mine lives in.
Answers:
Thanks for that. I'll have a look into Brisbane too.