Checklist Help

[Guest mark&rachel]

So visas are approved, does anyone know of a checklist on any sites for what to do before you go? Im sure ive seen one somewhere but just cant find it.

 

Help pleeeeease

[Guest Carolandcraig]

You can try this as a guide, but im sure ive seen a different one as well.

 

http://www.emigrationgroup.co.uk/emigration_checklist.php

[Guest TraceyT]

Hi Mark & Rachel,

 

I posted this on PIO website a while ago, I got it off there originally there are 3 to do lists. It is very long and will need to be cut and pasted to meet your requirements. Hope it helps:

 

TO DO LIST

 

 

Before you move

 

12 months to go

 

Make sure you have at least 2 years left on your passports.

 

Dig out all your personal paperwork, including birth, adoption and marriage certificates, employment refeences, driving licences and qualifications.

 

Update your CV to make it suitable for the Oz/Kiwi market place.

 

Start job hunting.

 

Get your finances in order, consolidate bank accounts and reduce debts.

 

Consider talking to your employer about your migration plans.

 

Talk to your childrens schools about your plans and ask them to prepare hand-over files.

 

 

6 months to go

 

Get quotes from removals companies and flights and get them booked.

 

Sell any unwanted items of furniture and clear out cupboards.

 

Give formal notice to your employer and ensure you get your P45.

 

Ask your doctor, dentist,optician for your hand-over files.

 

Open an Oz/Kiwi bank account.

 

Set up a trading account with a currency broker.

 

Request credit references from your bank,building society or any other lending agent.

 

Identify temporary accommodation in case your house sells sooner than expected and you have to move out

 

 

2 months to go

 

Track down temporary accommodation in Oz/NZ.

 

Book accommodation for each destination on route.

 

Register children in new schools.

 

Book accommodation in OZ/NZ for pets.

 

Start having Goodbye parties now as time runs away at the end.

 

Organise all birthday cards and presents for the next 3 months.

 

Request up to date statements on any endowments, pensions and investments.

 

Depending on your tenancy agreement, give notice to your landlord if renting your property.

 

 

1 month to go

 

Give your change of address to your bank, passport office, DVLA, pension company, inland revenue, insurance brokers and accountants.

 

Bring council tax and utilities up to date and cancel accounts for TV, internet, phone and insurance.

 

Go to a car book sale to sell any items you don't want to take with you, or donate them to a charity shop.

 

Arrange all your post to be redirected to a friend or relative.

 

Transfer funds to Oz/NZ.

 

Start packing non essential items.

 

Collect all hand-over files from doctor, dentist, optician, schools etc.

 

Arrange some private health cover for Oz/NZ if required.

 

Pay off any outstanding debts.

 

Close any surplus bank accounts and destroy unwanted cards.

 

Shred any personal records you are not taking and dispose of.

 

Confirm the removalists are booked.

 

Ensure all your relevant paperwork is in a handy travel file.

 

Cancel any redundant direct debits or standing orders.

 

Ask for a copy of your No Claims Bonus from your insurance company.

 

 

1 week to go

 

Cancel any newspapers, milk or satellite TV subscriptions.

 

Sell your car, bike, van or any other transport you wont be needing.

 

Cancel car insurance.

 

Buy some currency for each destination on route to Oz/NZ.

 

Throw more Goodbye parties!

 

Ensure that yur gods are either about to leave the UK or are on their way Down Under.

 

Organise any presents and cards your children may want to send to their friends prior to leaving.

 

 

1 day to go

 

Make sure transport to the airport is organised and will arrive in plenty of time for the flight.

 

Establish who will be coming to the airport to say goodbye.

 

Pack activity sets and small gifts to amuse young children on the flight.

 

Get a good night's sleep

 

 

 

When you get there

 

On arrival

 

Pick up a copy of "On Arrival" magazine at the airport; it contains lots of ideas, information and helpful websites.

 

Collect your hire car and check into your accommodation.

 

Contact people back home to let them know you have arrival safely.

 

Try not to sleep through the day.

 

Set up a Pay-as-you-Go mobile phone to start your off - you can buy a cheap SIM card and use it in your UK phone.

 

Find your nearest internet cafe for property and area research.

 

Take a few days to get over the journey and explore the area.

 

 

1 week later

 

Get a tax file number (TFN) for Oz or an IRD number for New Zealand.

 

Contact your new employer to confirm you have arrived.

 

Explore the area or suburb you think you would like to live in and ask the locals as many questions as possible.

 

Meet with rental agents and start reviewing some accommodation property options.

 

Find a solicitor to help with rental or purchase contracts.

 

Consider buying a car sooner rather than later. Used cars are cheap if you don't yet qualify for credit.

 

Get car insurance.

 

Register at a local school and arrange to meet your children's new teachers.

 

Get a landline installed and set up internet access.

 

Invite your neighbours around for drinks and focus on making new friends for you and your children.

 

 

1 month later

 

Review your financial position and transfer more funds if required.

 

Set up standing orders for utilities.

 

Register for your local doctor and dentist, and for Medicare (Oz).

 

Meet with mortgage brokers to understand your borrowing capacity.

 

Visit your children's schools to ensure that they have settled in ok.

 

Identify a reliable plumber, electrician and mechanic in your area.

 

Consider re-writing your will.

 

Discuss your first month with your employer and resolve any problems that may have cropped up.

 

Start to attend social functions or join a sports club.

 

Establish a routine and settle into your new life!

 

Not taking credit for typing it out, but had saved it as a word file for future use!

 

Lisa.xxx

__________________

My avatar is a picture of a Kangaroo a kid in my class drew. The paws and pouch look a little unusual!

9th May 2006 - GOT IT!!!!

 

[Guest TraceyT]

Next one:

TO DO LIST 3

 

BANKING TIPS

 

We're going with Commonwealth so our strategy is:

 

- Use credit card for most transactions - look for one with decent bonus points/offers - direct debit full balance monthly from bank account

 

- CBA high interest current account (aka Cash Mgmt A/c) - keep minimal money in it, enough for day to day use, request no chequebook so no debits tax, transfer money from ING to top it up monthly/whenever

 

- CBA basic account (aka Streamline A/c) - with chequebook, keep $1 in it, transfer money across if cheque written (instantly done at ATM)

 

- CBA term deposit - eg 90 days pays 4.4% if set up on web (can only do it once in Oz), not as much interest as ING but difference more than offset by saving on bank charges with free banking

 

- ING a/c - rest of dosh earning 4.75% - can set this up on arrival, application form on web, need copy of CBA bank statement, takes 1 week to open

 

Hope this is some help to someone - my brain's fried...

 

RENT REBATE WHEN YOU ARRIVE

 

Some news that should linterest you new comers. When you arrive as a perminant resident and you are looking for work you can claim a rebate on any rent you are paying. You only get the payment while you are not working and you get it from center link along with your child benefit.

I have just filled a from out for the family we have in the Mandurah house ( they told me about it actually) and they are going to get back around $100 a week.

Hope this helps

Paula

TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ONE WAY TRIP

Try John Wason Ltd. Click here for their web page.

 

They do a special insurance package for expats. It covers your travel there and your contents after you arrive. You can pick and choose which bits of the policy you want. It is even transportable so that if you move to somewhere else in the world your insurance always goes with you.

 

I insured with them and the quote was very reasonable and they were very flexible with which bits of the policy came into effect at certain dates during the move. More importantly I've also had to make one claim (theft from my house in Australia) and they settled in full (minus the excess) very promptly

I found two cheap policies (Which best buys) who cover one-way trips. In both cases cover ends 48 hours after arrival. Most others end at immigration control - what use is that if your stuff gets nicked in the airport carpark???

 

For under 40s: www.leadedge.co.uk

For over 40s: www.worldwideinsure.com

Same company for both.

Columbus (0207 375 0011) offer one way travel insurance. It stops as soon as you pass through immigration, but at least you are covered for delays, loss of baggage, etc. They were very reasonable, only £35 for two adults.

I rang a big Aussie insurer for Victoria - RACV - www.racv.com.au., phone no. 00 61 13 19 55, to compare local prices.

 

RACV said they were perfectly happy to cover temp accom for however long, whether with or without a lease, rent paid nightly or whatever, on same basis as usual contents. Then just a change of address when moving.

 

Premiums were much lower than Wasons esp with a letter from previous insurer saying no claims in last 2 years. A lot of excess options are available - up to $1000. Sample premium for $75K cover new for old with $300 XS in Box Hill, Melbourne was $363 pa. They laughed at the premiums we pay in London...

 

So we're going to go with the cheap best buy travel policies above: leadedge/worldinsure which expire 48 hours after arrival. Then ring up in first 2 days to get RACV cover on the spot.

Outbacker is another option for one-way trip insurance - www.outbackerinsurance.com The cover levels seemed better than other policies in the same price range.

Getting one way travel insurance is not an issue and quite esy to do it's just finding a policy with enough cover to:

a) Ensure you fully covered for a period of 3 weeks

b) Offers sufficient person effects cover so that laptops, cameras jewllery etc are covered (most limit it to £1500) which is no good for us. The Future Mrs Dinky has an engagement ring which is worth more than the total cover and I'd hate to have to replace that again!

 

Any people who have been through this already or who have found a solution I would appreciate suggestions.

Try giving Sweeneys a ring.....specialised insurances

 

0208 6562544

 

Also very good at Shipping insurance...hell of a lot cheaper than the ones pushed by the removal companies

 

[Guest TraceyT]

Last one:

 

TO DO LIST

 

Sell House

Pay off any debts

Sell car

Contact Tax Office (UK)

Get immunised for travel

Sort shipping company

Refs from banks (you will need proof that you are good payers)

Refs from employers

Stop Cable

Stop Council tax

Stop House insurance

Stop Electric, Gas, Water, Phone, Car insurance

Arrange mail to be forwarded to Brenda

Change addresses with bank

Book Flights

Close all bank accounts

Proof no claims bonus.

Convert dosh, open bank account

Get hotmail a/c

Stop car insurance and get rebate

make sure mobile is operative in oz or cancel contract

go to Link shop and buy one-tel pay as you go unlocked mobile with very low call costs £49.95 works in oz they say

Organise ALL the keys you have to the house and doors to give to the new people

Get e-mail addresses for everyone you can (cuts down on postage costs)

Cancel mobile phone contract

Cancel mobile phone contract

OPen oZ bank account (HSBC) prior

Register with as many job agenices as possible as I am trying to do a present, Hays and TMP Hudson have Global parts in london I have numbers if anyone wants them.

Be checking housing market and rentals on line

Decide what you will do first travel, or stay in a b& B

Arrange for car rental for first 2 weeks rentnewcars.com - where bar far the cheapest on all the sites I went on

If you are a tradesman, print of the licence form for your licence complete and have your qualifications ready in hand luggage to

Leaving Party

Pack you suitcase just before packers come with all the bits you will need when you go - (we are travelling first and leaving in Feb but in our cases will be our clothes,(summer) trade papers, driving licence, all important paperwork, references etc. (in hand luggage. So all winter clothes I have will be given away.

Fly west and avoid jet lag [:-) and get 32kg allowance each without having to be tied in to the Qantas migration fare. Which can be costly. Find out about what you can put in the hold for free.

cancel internet

check and have smear

Medical records

 

Carrianne

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I am where I choose to be )