snifter

The system has changed now and all UK passport applications go through the UK. Even lodging from Aus. Its a straighforward process we have found the wait times are usually pretty quick. We got ours back within a few weeks. Price is the same as if applying from the UK too, so bonus there. https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports Just make sure you find a place that does the passport photos to the UK specifications. The standard Aus passport pics won't cut it. We used a proper photo shop (like the Kodak shop in Glenelg) and told them what passport were were applying for and they were able to change to suit the UK spec. It should be easy enough to find a place local to you to get them done.

Is this the visa type they currently have? https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/electronic-travel-authority-601

I'd advise you to contact a reputable migration agent to ensure you achieve your desired outcome. If you carry on without out fully knowing what you are doing and stuff it up, you could really stuff it up.

Hi there. Mod here. I've had a few reported posts in this thread and have done my best to try to remove them all. This means that replies to the now removed posts are also removed to help keep continuity in the thread. Any further issues with rude language or aggressive posts, please report and I'll deal with them. snifter

Hi. Sorry, I’ve only just seen this. You may well be here by now and have a short term rental sorted. If you want info on Aberfoyle Park and Flagstaff Hill still drop me a PM. We are in the area and my kid goes to a local school. Happy Valley isn’t far. I’m not a fan of Sheidow Park as it’s squashed between the express way and Main South road.

I would expect that as they are adults they need to apply for citizenship in their own right and cannot go on your application. Link below explains about kids and what age they are no longer eligible and have to apply for themselves. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/permanent-resident

You should contact them direct to find out. I am sure an email will clarify fully either way. https://adelaidemetro.com.au/Contact-us#make-an-enquiry Also, found this https://adelaidemetro.com.au/FAQs/ Pets People must not, without the permission of an authorised person, bring an animal on board a regular passenger service vehicle unless it is a working animal accompanying a person with a disability.

Hi. If you want to rent it out for a short term furnished let then you are probably best to talk to some decent real estate agents that deal with lettings. I'd want to make sure its all covered with regards to insurance (as its your home and furnishings), given the all clear with the bank/mortgage lenders if required and that you have a decent rental contract in place. If you are wanting a more casual arrangement, not sure what to suggest. It could be you could find a UK family who are migrating and would like to rent it from you for 6 months but you'd need to research and advertise etc. Its not something I would recommend but I have heard of people doing this sometimes. Also not sure what the tax implications are for renting out short term. You may want to check on this also. Re the dog, that is going to be a huge cost to ship both ways inside of 6 months. Its based on the size of your dog so if small it will of course cost less but its still far from cheap. When we looked into it 6 years ago from UK to Aus our whippet was going to cost about £2,500 to ship plus all the vets fees, vaccinations etc. Then the quarantine kennels cost was easily another $1,000 once here. Your dog would need to comply with the vaccination requirements for both countries and rabies bloodwork etc will be needed iirc. Then any quarantine costs if required. Aus to UK https://www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad UK to Aus http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs If there is only a 6 month turn around and you have a set date of return, check this will be ok re the rabies vaccine and blood testing going from UK to Aus. Suggest you get in touch with some reputable pet shippers both here in Aus and also in the UK to discuss further. Be aware you may need to get the blood tests and vaccinations underway at least 6 months before you plan to travel. It is not something you can leave till a couple of months out. And flights for shipping do get booked up so ensure you have it all planned to fit into the timeframe you have in mind. Also as its a 6 month time frame check about the Aus import rules for bringing a dog back into the country within 6 months of departure. This may make a difference if you can bring them back with more ease within 6 months than once the 6 month window has passed http://www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs/cats-dogs-returning-to-australia Aus to UK there is Jet Pets https://www.jetpets.com.au/ and Dogtainers https://www.dogtainers.com.au/ to get you started. UK to Aus pet shipping try giving Bob at Pet Air a shout https://www.petairuk.com/ There are others but you can research those if you want. Good luck.

You would probably be better to post and ask this in the 887 thread directly. Many who read and post to that don't tend to look at other threads.

Hello and welcome. I'm a bit out of the loop with the actual visa process these days. However, given what you've said above, I'd suggest the visa first route. That is if you or your husband are eligible and able to apply. There is a skills list for visas and if your profession is on there or you or your husband have the relevant skills to meet the requirements, then you could investigate that further. I'm honestly not sure what, if anything you would qualify under to apply for a visa these days. I've not looked at the skills list to know. If your teaching degree is 3 years then that might not be enough as IIRC Aus requires the 4th year. FWIW, teachers are plentiful here, at least in South Australia in the metro area. Its out in the sticks in regional Aus they tend to be needing them. For example, this visa may be something to have a read up on https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189 Keep in mind if you are over 45 and the main applicant, there is an age limit. Also, you mention your adult sons at uni. I don't know they would be eligible to go on your visa application with your younger kids and spouse. There are certain requirements to be met once a child is older and out in the world and they tend to be pretty firm on this. It may well be your older sons would have to be in a position to apply for their own visas later on down the line. Given your situation and your rather mixed set of skills/quals I'd say you may well do to run your case past a decent reputable migration agent to assess and see if there are any options for migrating open to you. Go Matilda would be a good place to start https://www.gmvisas.com/ Alan Collett over there should be able to look your case over and give you an idea of what you are facing. Keep in mind migrating is a huge undertaking and expense. If you are all on board as a family (I'm not counting the adult kids here as they are off living their own lives) and up for the challenge and have the finances in place to make it happen, great. If any of you are unsure or you are not in a great position financially, then consider if its wise to make the move. The visa process is the first part of a long process that can have a great ending but could also prove to be a real struggle and cause problems after migrating. I'd research in great detail about life here in South Australia/Adelaide and if it would be somewhere that could suit your wants/needs and lifestyle. Also research employment as it can be an issue for some. Look into the young adults job market also if your adult kids could follow.

I was interested to find out a bit more as we don't rent. Found these links. Some stories are a couple of years old but it gives a picture of recent times hopefully. https://www.finder.com.au/how-much-of-our-wages-do-we-spend-on-rent-in-australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/adelaide-becoming-unaffordable-for-low-income-renters/9205084 Scroll down to find the dwellings numbers https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/4GADE?opendocument https://www.realestate.com.au/news/adelaide-median-rent-well-below-national-average-report-reveals/

It may well be but I cannot recall hearing that. It may be the rule of thumb sort of thing perhaps over something official? People rent without jobs when they move over, but show references, proof of savings etc and perhaps pay 3-6 months rent up front/bigger bond or something to help secure a rental. Of course, if working then showing salary would reflect on if you could cover the rental costs or not. If a salary isn't favourable to cover a rental then I don't expect you'd secure it. But I'm not aware there is an actual percentage to go out from. Of course common sense tells you to go for what you can afford that will allow you to be able to cover all the other outgoings each month. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find somewhere that is less than the 40%

AFAIK you can go to whatever you want. However, with no rental history or job they may well want to see bank statements and proof of funds to cover rent and deposit etc for a set amount of time. Perhaps they may ask for a larger deposit. Keep in mind many leases here are for a year so don't go busting your savings on some really pricey house to start in case your funds run low or it takes you a while to find a job. Also if you do decide to move within the lease period, you are the one breaking the lease so its on you to cover rent till the lease ends or new tenants take over. There may well be some leg work involved on your part there. I'd suggest its wise to start of with what you can afford and that won't break the bank and to build up once you've found your feet and have jobs/income behind you for 6 months or so.

We used a large one coming over 5 years ago and crammed it to the brim. You don't *have* to fill them though. TBH even if you don't have a lot of stuff, if you measure it out properly and its going to come in under, you can always then box it so it does fit better and won't move around at all. Better to have a few extra packing boxes and half fill them if you are worried about things falling about.

Information is readily available on the visa section of the Aus Gov website. To get started https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring After that, IIRC you need to see if you meet the criteria etc also. Gone are the days of family sponsorship if that was the route you and he were looking at. Its skills based that is most likely your route to Aus.

Interesting to read about the development side of things up there. I worked in Port Adelaide for a year or two. Like you said, I'd not be running there to live right now but I can see how it has potential a few years into the future if these developments go ahead.

Our's was school aged when we arrived so we made use of OSHC during school hols and before/after school a couple of days a week. I didn't have to look into nursery costs or kindy thankfully. They do offer a set amount of hours free as it were in kindy (bit like the UK system) but you'd have to research that and discuss with the kindy. We had a bit of help from family on occasion but tbh I never counted on them or really factored them in to helping with childcare after we arrived as they have their own lives, work and so on. We managed on our own in the UK pretty much and we've managed here the same way. For us its been a good move financially, bearing in mind its been over 5 years since the move here. The first year or two not so much as obviously there were all the move costs, buying a house, car etc but once that was all done and dusted, its been settled and good.

IIRC a bridging visa only kicks in once the current visa has run out.

Blackwood is IMO lovely. We live not far from there and are looking to possibly move there sometime next year. It has good access to the city and elsewhere being on the Belair train line. Plus as has been said, it has a good feel in terms of facilities, shops etc along the main street and off of it. Its also not bad for driving into the city and as a good starting point to getting elsewhere if needed. Bushfire risk is always something to bear in mind when considering living away from the metro area on the flat. Once you get into the hills you should factor it in. Please know that its not like we all live in tenterhooks the entire bushfire season or that we don't live our usual lives during it. You make sure you have your bushfire plan, do the sensible things like keeping leaves/gutters etc clear around the home and keep an eye daily on the bushfire risk notifications etc. We also live in the same bushfire risk zone and the first year or so and follow the CFS advice etc. Having said that, I'd personally not live at the end of the high side of a steep gum tree covered hill with only a single track road in and out of it. But living on a regular street, with the standard two way road and good access roads in and out of the area, I have no issue with whatsoever. With regard to the weather, yes it does get a few degrees cooler in the winter and also in the summer it can be cooler than being down in the city. I actually like that we have that sort of climate up here in the winter. I like it feels like we have seasons as you can see the trails and fields etc change over the year. Plus the wildlife is amazing. We have seen koalas, echidnas, blue tongues and more in our garden. Plus roos do occasionally hop down the street. As has been said it also has Belair national park on its doorstep pretty much, plus easy access to the hills and elsewhere. If you are considering Blackwood, keep in mind the other suburbs along the train line there also. You could also look at Glenalta, Coromandel valley, Eden Hills and one or two others before you would drop down onto the flat. If going to the city then then the Belair train line will be great. If going to Flinders Uni then its probably the bus to get there. Its easy enough to get to though from up in Blackwood and plenty of buses etc do run to the uni and hospital. Same with those other suburbs I mentioned. Re archery, iirc there are a fair few clubs around. I think there is one at O'Halloran Hill and another at Clarendon (only open on weekends IIRC) in terms of distance to travel to, they might be worth looking at. There are a few clubs closer to the city itself and one in the Northern side of the city parklands that seems popular. Golf, well, take your pick! There are lots of clubs around. Belair golf course is looking for someone to take over the lease I think but you have options with Blackwood Gold club out near Ironbank and an easy drive from Blackwood or Coro Valley etc. Plus there is Flagstaff Golf club over in Flagstaff Hill. Give me a shout via PM anytime. I'm always happy to try to help

I didn't work to begin with. My husband worked from very soon after we arrived (has laptop, can work anywhere sort of thing) and we decided I'd focus on the home, school and all the other things to get us going. I've been here over 5 years now so I don't think my job hunting is really relevant to todays job market. Plus I've not worked full time since arriving here, I've stayed part time so we don't have to use OSHC and it was what we wanted. I've been in the same job for a fair few years now. My husband has been in employment since we arrived, changed jobs a couple of times and is very happy in his current role. If you are an electrician don't you have to get certified or some such to be able to work here? I'd factor that in to and the time/cost of getting set up. If you don't have a job I'd think you could still secure a rental so long as you can provide the deposit, bond and show proof of decent savings so the landlord knows you have funds to pay for the house. Look in to this and see if it could be possible.

That could be anywhere. Honestly, Adelaide sprawls for miles and you can live north, south, east or west. Your commute could end up being 10 minutes or 70. You just don't know till you are here and it begins to fall into place in terms of work, areas you like and can afford, commute times, schools and so on. I'd say your starting point should be what you can reasonably afford and work out from there. Work out the costs to migrate, the flights, visa costs, shipping, short term rental to give you time to find something a bit longer term perhaps, deposit and bond for a rental etc, funds for a car and drivers licence, insurance etc and then ensure you have savings to support yourselves for at least 3 months if not more. 6 months would be even better. You'll have bills, shopping and so much more to pay out for too. Once you have crunched the numbers, work out what you can realistically afford to rent to begin with bearing in mind you could be a few months without work and so the dream of a house with pool near the beach may be something you need to work towards rather than having from the off. Then research if you prefer coastal or inland and investigate those options. FWIW you don't have to live in a suburb right along the coast, you can also look a few suburbs inland also and still be at a beach within 10 minutes drive. What sort of lifestyle do you have now as that probably won't change too much once here. If you are active out doorsy people there, chances are you will be here. If you are stay at home bods there, you probably will be here. Moving the other side of the world doesn't automatically mean your own lifestyle will change drastically or become amazingly better overnight. It can be a slog to get to where you want to be and may mean a tough ride to start till things fall into place. If you like the coast, look along it, if you don't mind being a bit more inland, look there. I'm not going to suggest specific areas as honestly, I like what I like but others would disagree with me. I know where I would and wouldn't live in and around Adelaide but my preferences are not for everyone nor theirs mine.

This is always worth a read to get your head round how it all works https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-and-learning/schools/choosing-a-school/enrolling-in-primary-school The fee you are asking about is actually a materials and services charge and there is a minimum set amount schools charge. However, be aware many schools can and do charge a little more than this. Schools in less affluent areas are probably not going to charge more than the minimum. As you move into more affluent areas you'll probably find some schools charging a bit more. I don't know what the basic rate these days is but I do know our school charges $430 which is a fair chunk more than the basic set amount. Its reflected in the facilities and materials they have on site. Far more available than at the primary school ours went to when we first arrived where we paid the minimum amount. Also we are in a more affluent area and of things like fundraising done by parents/school tends to occur far more than it did at our previous primary and it shows in the improvements the school is able to make and the materials it is able to offer etc. Far superior to the first school in those respects for sure. As it is in every other area also tbh. AFAIK (unless its changed in the last few years) you don't have to pay the fees again should you change to a new school mid year. We moved mid year and had paid the fees at the start of the year at the first school. Our new primary said no fees to pay if we moved over as you only pay them the once each year. Seems like it works all round and is a fair system that way. FWIW you can probably find the charge of school fees in the annual handbook of whatever school you are reading up on. Their websites should have a Parent Handbook or some such and thats where I found the school fee charge, not listed directly on the school website. As for other costs, there will be things like school trips/camps, sports events (ie if your child participates in a school sports team there is a charge for that), optional individual music lessons on school site, swim week and things like the school canteen if you make use of it (we do packed lunch daily as hate the canteen). Also school uniform, backpack and perhaps an iPad or tablet if your school has a programme and you wish your child to have their own device rather than using the school ones. Can't think of anything else really. Pretty much same as what you would have there. High school materials and services charge is more again but you've a few years before you get to that. Your one year old won't factor in at present as too young for kindy yet. You are looking at daycare for him if you do need something. That is a whole other thing and costs for that will vary of course.

For painter and decorator I found the following https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list# You will find the skills list info then on page 5 of that list. Its alphabetical order, under P. The linked number will take you to this info https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/Product+Lookup/CAA1323ED28F85A5CA257B95007BE8FF?opendocument Check the TRA link also. You need to get your head round this https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/working-in-australia/skill-occupation-list and this https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/skilled-migration-program/recent-changes In all honesty, if you really cannot work out if you perhaps eligible or unsure for what visa or the skills test, application or anything else, you are best to run your case past a reputable migration agent and ask them to assess you case. They should offer a free initial consult and can tell you if you'd qualify for a visa. If you do but really cannot work out how to apply on your own, you are probably in need of their services to help you obtain the visa so be prepared for their fees and other costs. Please ensure you use a reputable MARA agent. There are some iffy ones about who will take your money but you may well not end up with a visa. Do some homework on what a MARA agent is and where they are based and how to recognise one and the best one to use. The visa process has changed in recent years and the skills list also and I am not really familiar with the process anymore.

I don't know Golden Grove at all tbh. I had a quick look on the map and its quite far up (at least to me). Going on realestate.com.au the suburb itself seems to be chock full of the newer build larger properties with fairly hefty price tags. And some more reasonably priced smaller slightly older houses too. It does seem to be a little close-ish to areas that are a lot less price wise. I doubt that would affect your daily living but you might want to research surrounding suburbs, facilities, shops/malls etc to make sure it suits your needs. I'd suggest renting somewhere in the short term and getting your bearings and checking out what appeals. You also mention Burnside, Belair and Craigburn Farm. All of those tend to be rather pricey also and vary greatly in terms of what sort of property. Belair is up in the foothills and you can drop down the hill and be into the CBD pretty easily. Same as you could from Golden Grove I'd imagine. Just the landscape would be very different. Burnside is more eastern and lovely but pricey again. Craigburn Farm is up past Belair and is mostly newer build houses. I find it rather meh around that estate personally (I'd quite possibly not like Golden Grove for similar reasons looking at whats on the market round there) but different folks and all that School wise, if you are opting for a state school, then you'd need to live in the zone if high school and possibly for some primary schools. So no point wanting to go to a school in Burnside area if living in Craigburn Farm. If you are looking at private schools then you can of course send them anywhere. I'd not want to be too far away from school though if you also have a commute to work, unless its on the way and you can drop off easily. Else you are going to be trying to get through rush hour traffic one way to then go back the other for work. Or you could use the school bus I guess but that doesn't suit everyone. I had another look at the map and Golden Grove is a few KM's more into the CBD than we have coming up from the south in the foothills. I make it about 5-7 minutes more travel time, perhaps 10-15 in rush hour??

Hello and welcome. We did try a couple of years back to see if a book club could get going but a couple who had expressed an interest never jumped in and those of us that did meet up, I don't think there were enough of us to keep it going. Personally for me, while I'd love to get back into another book club, at present I have so little free time I don't know if I could fit one in. Or have time to read the books. I'm not too far from you though so could probably meet up locally.