Mark the spark

Thanks Ali Our visas expired in March We do own a house here and are both working we just want to go on holiday for a week in July. Will probably just apply and for the 1 year then apply again next year for 5 years

Hi all we need to apply for a residents return visa, what's the quickest and easiet way to do this? we have been in Perth now 15 months, is it worth applying for the 5 year one or would the 1 year get processed easier? As I've read you need to have been here 2 years to get the 5 years. Anyone applied for 5 years without being here 2 years? Thanks in advance

Great read, Thanks for sharing

No not done any other tickets yet have not needed to but think EWP and working at heights seem most important. There is a ticket for everything out here but from my experience so far a lot seem geared towards the mining sites up north. I had most UK tickets but they mean nothing over here. Get white card first and apply for provisional electrical licence on arrival as it takes about 3 weeks to be issued and you can't work without it. My wife is working full time as well so we're doing fine money wise hoping to buy a property soon. We are renting in one of the cheaper suburbs about 40 mins from CBD. We'd probably have to watch the pennies a bit more if we was further south paying bigger rent which is why we moved up here. Kids are settled in school and daycare and centrelink help towards childcare costs after school which we never got in UK.

Somewhere between $25 to $30 dollars is about right. Its finding a company to take you on and sign off your hours that's the issue. It's fairly quiet building wise at the moment. We've been here 7 months and I've nearly completed my retraining and have final exam in October. I had a few contacts from the UK out here who luckily got me a start. Sent out loads of emails before we arrived and got pretty much no replies.

She is 5 and turns 6 in November. As Arwen says depends on when she turned 6 as to year group. There is an even newer primary school in Alkimos which opened in Feb and one opening next Feb I think at Alkimos beach

Our daughter goes there, in pre primary year and my son is starting kindy there in February. we've found it fine although we have nothing else to compare it to as we've only been here 7 months. It's only about 18 months old so the facilities are like new. It also has a swimming pool and our daughter is starting free lessons later this month. Its certainly better than the school she attended in the UK

Re: Verystormy Not the case for my kids. Barely touched the iPads since we've been here the last 6 months. Very sweeping statement to make

Many thanks

Hi all Am currently filling in form 929 for change of passport details for our visas. Does anyone know an email address i can return the completed forms to? Also do the copies of the photo page of the new passport need to be certified? It says on the form it does but seems a little over the top to me? Many thanks in advance for any replies

We should definitely be there now it's the 28th. Myself, my wife and our kids, girl 5 and boy 3.

Brilliant update, Exciting knowing we'll be doing the same thing in less than 3 months. Thanks for sharing.

We've booked with John Mason after recommendation for some friends who moved over a couple of years ago. Theyve been good so far and have come and done survey and are coming to pack our stuff up on the 4th January ready for shipping. We're having half a container the cost is just over £2000.

We arrive on the 12th of February so as long as it's a few days after that date we'll come. Me, my wife, 5 year old daughter and 3 year old son

We land February 12th

That's good news, we have had a quote off John Mason after being recommended by a friend who moved a couple of years ago. We'll more than likely use them when we move in February.

I have sent you a private message

We've booked ours through ozhouserental. Good selection on their website

Got a 4 week holiday rental in butler then going to look somewhere north of Joondalup as we know a couple of people that way. Been looking at alkimos, jindalee, butler and also around banksia grove and carramar. It's hard until you get over and get a proper feel. We rented in butler on our validation trip and liked it but a lot of the other areas weren't built then.

Nice one mate, congratulations. We fly February 10th, just need our youngests child visa granted before then!!

I'll do a team before the weekend

Good news on the job front Jason, does it seem busy work wise over there? I take it the rental was easy to sort? We've give ourselves 1 month in holiday rental, seems like that should be fine to get somewhere permanent if you've managed it in 12 days.

Hi we are in a similar situation our 176 visas expire 17th February 2016 and we fly out early Feb. We had another child since our visas were issued in 2011 and have been told by an agent and the Australian commission in London to apply for a offshore child visa, I think the visa number is 190. This is what we have done a few months ago, credit card has been charged and we are waiting to be allocated a case officer. There is a slight chance the visa will not be issued before we go so have been told we can take our son on a holiday visa then travel offshore when the visa is ready to be granted. Just really hoping it will be granted in time before we travel.

Cheers mate Around the rates I expected

Thanks ElectricalTech it sounds like it's as I suspected. When we came over to validate our visa in 2011 it was only a 2 week course to get the A grade licence, as long as you had your vetassess cert. Unfortunately the poor pound to dollar exchange rate and the poor UK housing market meant we couldn't afford to make the move then. What would you say the pay differences are between a electrical trade assistant and an A grade licensed spark? Am trying to work out how much of our savings are going to be taken up doing the 12 months on reduced wages!