Stop the bus, time to get off.

Soldato
Joined
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OK so here goes. I've been going on and on annnnnd on about moving to Australia for years, it's about time I got on and did it before it's too late.. (Maximum age is 45)
So having spent the last few months sending emails back and forth to a migration agent.
Tonight I signed on the dotted line and started the process officially.
Bye bye to the first £700
So, this thread might serve as a trials and tribulations of the move and maybe inspire others to do the same, I know a few people on here have already done so.
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The rules for emigration to Oz change on the 1st July and there is a possibility I will not qualify after that date so my Visa app has to be in by then.
This I feel is somewhat of a rush but hey ho, you don't get anywhere without trying. :D
To say I'm going to be skint after all this is an understatement.
£700 retention fee
£700 agent fee
£2100 skills assessment fee
£2575 Visa application fee
£190 Medicals
£115 IELTS test
£35 police checks

:eek: :(

Whether this goes anywhere or not I have no idea, clearly I want it to but for now I'm just running with it. :o :D

I'm going for a State sponsored 176 but typically Queensland (where I wanted to end up) isn't partaking in this. :rolleyes: so it'll have to be one of the other states for a few years, then I'll be free to move. :D

Fingers crossed and all that.:)
 
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Cool! What do you do?

I'm going in April and probably going to stay for a bit on a holiday visa. Also looking in to staying and working on an SC457. :D
 
Best of luck with it. I'm far too "dont know the word" to wan't to move to another country. Well I do wan't too but I wouldnt have the balls to do it.
 
If you think thats expensive wait till you get there and see the cost of living!

Friend of mine moved out last October. He had great plans of working less and seeing the kids more, but the reality has been the complete opposite - not quite the dream he envisaged, but if it's what you want then go for it :)
 
Yes, I've been to Oz before although it was a while ago now, stayed there for about 3 months. mostly scuba diving as I travelled up the coast from Sydney to Cairns.
Flew out to Uluru for a few days too. Bladdy hell that was hot. :D

I'm on the SOL list with a full 60 points under "general mechanic". Although the migration agent was slightly worried to start with that I might be over qualified for this role but after looking at it, it's the closest role I could undertake that fits the criteria anyway.
 
If you think thats expensive wait till you get there and see the cost of living!

Friend of mine moved out last October. He had great plans of working less and seeing the kids more, but the reality has been the complete opposite - not quite the dream he envisaged, but if it's what you want then go for it :)

If it doesn't work out over there, there is nothing stopping me coming home again. None of the current "interviews" I've been watching suggest it's ridiculous.
I have no ties, no kids (that I know of) so it's the perfect opportunity for me to up sticks really.
 
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I know it's too late now but you could have done all of this without an agent and saved yourself 700 quid.

Oz is expensive and you'll take a hammering on any GBP > AUS $ savings you want to exchange. It's a great country though and I hope it all works out for you.
 
[FnG]magnolia;18511392 said:
I know it's too late now but you could have done all of this without an agent and saved yourself 700 quid.

Oz is expensive and you'll take a hammering on any GBP > AUS $ savings you want to exchange. It's a great country though and I hope it all works out for you.

£1400 quid actually but due to the speed of everything I'd rather have everything in order and submitted correctly
 
What is 176. Sounds like a load of expensive bs to me, surely it boils down to is there an employer who wants you. Find them first and get the fees paid for
I thought migrating anywhere nice was basically about having a degree and enough cash


GBP > AUS $ savings you want to exchange.

Aus dollar has been doing well in recent years. Which is bad if you want to convert your wealth over now but good for the future.
Their economy is likely to do far better then ours as part of the pacific/china region you're in the right place


Is New Zealand any easier, I read somewhere half of their population are brits
 
I tempted when I was out there and was getting about $650 a week after tax for just a basic admin job. Back then I thought it was a decent wage, when the exchange rate was over 2.5, now its more than I get over here :( Cost of living shouldn't be too much different to here, somethings are more expensive, some things are cheaper (eating out, fuel, sport)
 
Just a question... but why arent you going down the 457 route??? It would be cheaper as there is no skills assesment test (unless this is new)

Also, im guessing that English isnt your first language? IELTS isnt normally required for UK Citizens.


As for internet. Mine has been fine even in one of the more remote cities. Just had mine uncapped from 8meg to 17. Not sure how that compares to what you get in the UK these days
 
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