Marisawright

Job shouldn't be a problem, the housing market is frustrating though.

Here's some information about moving to Ireland. As a UK citizen you've got no formalities to worry about and it's an English-speaking country, plus it's right next door! https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/rights_of_residence_in_ireland/residence_rules_UK_citizens.html Annoyingly, it says nothing about a financial requirement and I can't find it anywhere else either. It's just possible there isn't one, fingers crossed. Maybe you could try contacting the Citizens Information to see what they say. In the case of Ireland, he would apply for a short stay visa (Visa C) then apply for a longer stay visa once he's in the country. http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Family+Members+of+EU_EEA+_Swiss+citizens I'd say Ireland would be a safer bet than other European countries, because even after Brexit, Ireland is likely to retain closer ties to the UK and therefore you'll have a better chance of eventually making the transition back to the UK.

One thing to check up on. If you're applying on the basis of your income, then the rule is that your current job must meet or exceed the income threshold (even if it's in Australia), and you are returning to take a job in the UK within three months of arrival. What I'm not clear about is this: does that mean there has to be a job waiting in the UK, or does it just mean you're intending to find a job within three months? It would be worth researching. Remember also that it's not an either/or rule. You can use a combination of income and savings. I found a calculator, but i have no idea whether it's still current or not. https://crossborderlegal.co.uk/spouse-visa-income-threshold-savings-calculator/

...however, if you don't have an account, all you have to do is write, email or phone the International Pensions Centre. Whichever way you contact them, they insist on replying by snail mail, so patience is necessary. However I got a very clearly explained letter, setting out exactly what my entitlement was, how to pay extra and exactly how much to pay, and where to send the money.

I don't know why you are asking the question, because you are not nominated by the state. You had your nomination cancelled. So you are back at the beginning.

There is only one way, unfortunately.

Worth mentioning that even if you can't quite reach the magic figure of 30 or 35, you can still get a pro rata pension. I found out far too late to catch up so I've only got 17 years, but that's enough to give me a part pension.

It's not hard, but how many hundreds of people are in the queue ahead of you, with applications that aren't so straightforward? That's part of the issue. Personally, I think Australia should introduce a financial requirement (though not as harsh as the UK's), because that would cut out some applications at a stroke. I am also coming to the conclusion that bridging visas are being so widely abused, they shouldn't exist.

Here is the information about how it works: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/residency-requirements-in-spain However looking at that info, I recall that some European countries have introduced financial requirements too, so you'd need to check that out. The advantage is that, unlike the UK, you can arrive together, look for jobs and then apply without having to leave the country - whereas the UK insists that the spouse has to apply from their home country. Of course the disadvantage is that it's going to be harder to find work in a non-English-speaking country. I wonder what the rules are for Ireland?

If the boys are going to Cronulla then going north isn't a good idea. You'll have to battle through the whole of Sydney every time you want to visit them. The trip from Cronulla (the northern tip of Sydney) to Hornsby takes an hour even in light traffic. On an average Saturday afternoon, it will take you two hours. Let's not even think about doing it in peak hour! Wollongong has a big unemployment problem so I'm not surprised to hear drugs are an issue - however I'm sure it's like most cities, there are good suburbs and bad suburbs. What's your budget for a home, if you don't mind me asking? And are you looking for a house or an apartment?

Are they in Australia or offshore?

It was twelve months when we did it but that was in 2015. Have you considered going back to Europe instead as a second-best solution? There are lots of areas in Spain and Portugal which are so full of English expats, you'd think you were in England. If you're a British citizen, your husband has a right to remain with you as the spouse of an EU citizen. You don't have to do anything before you leave Australia - you just arrive, go and register yourself at the local police station, then there is a whole stack of bureaucracy to go through, but at least you'd be there. You'd have to get your skates on, though, because it would be wise to get there and get the process started before the Brexit deadline. Both the EU and the UK have made numerous statements promising that any Brits settled in Europe before the deadline won't be turfed out. At least then you'd be closer to home and family would probably love to visit you for holidays

First of all, you'll need to book holiday accommodation for about four weeks while you search for a place to live. Check Airbnb for prices - in Sydney that's about the best you can do. Then, check out realestate.com.au for rental prices and don't forget you'll have to pay one month's rent as a bond. Warning - Sydney estate agents shamelessly doctor photographs so if you see something that looks like a bargain, it's probably a dump. Assume your supermarket bills will be much the same as in the UK. Some things are dearer and some things are cheaper. Your biggest expenditure will be buying stuff to get set up. Do a trial shop on Australian websites for all the stuff you'll need (depending if you're shipping stuff). Try thegoodguys.com.au for whitegoods, hoover etc. Petersofkensington.com.au for kitchen stuff. Harveynorman.com.au for furniture etc. I do hope for your sake that it's not Sydney!

Are you still working or are you retired? If you're still working, the Central Coast would be problematic because there's not much work around, and anything within reasonable commute of Sydney will be expensive. If you're older, then things like being close to shops, hospitals, health care and good public transport become important and the Central Coast isn't ideal for that either. Vicky's suggestion of Newcastle is a good one. It's a couple of hours' drive from Sydney (or about the same on the train), so it's not affected by Sydney commuter prices. It's the major centre for the region so it has all the amenities you could wish for, plus lovely beaches. You might also consider heading out to Port Stephens, which is outside Newcastle to the north. That may seem far away, but the attraction is that you'd be living on a gorgeous bay with gorgeous beaches,and you could afford something a bit bigger. It would be the sort of place that your children would be keen to visit for weekends as it's a beach resort.

Are you aware that having money in your home counts as savings? You don’t even have to finalise the sale before you apply, you just need proof that you’ve sold it and proof that you’ll have enough money left over after paying off the mortgage to satisfy the requirements Otherwise if you are using cash, you need evidence that you have held the savings in a bank account for at least twelve months.

Yes you are still restricted

In that case, do a comparison between shipping a few boxes and the smallest Movecube. The amount of extra stuff you can fit in the Movecube usually makes it worthwhile. You sound like you’re on top of the furniture aspect. The reason I suggest doing a full trial shop for all the other stuff is that it makes you realise the sheer volume of things you have to buy and how long it will take, at a time when you’ve got a million other things to do

I would urge you to rethink that strategy. A Movecube is well worth considering. Your children are already feeling distressed about the move. They're going to find themselves in a strange country, where nothing is familiar. They'll have lost all their friends, and it will take time to make new ones. They'll have lost their grandparents and every other adult that they trust (except you). They're too young to take a longer view and understand things will get better. Having familiar toys, clothes, books etc gives them a haven where they can feel safe amidst all the overwhelming strangeness. Having familiar furniture, pictures and ornaments will help them accept that this strange new house really is their home. I know shipping seems expensive, but do sit down and do a "test shop" to understand how much it's going to cost you to set up your home. You may be planning to buy second-hand furniture, but most people greatly underestimate the cost of replacing things like towels, bedding, pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, kitchen appliances, whitegoods, vacuum cleaner, etc. We tend to accumulate those gradually over time, and don't realise how many hundreds of pounds they represent. Go to online Australian stores, "Add to Cart" all the things you'll need to buy, and then look at the total (there's no danger you'll buy anything accidentally, so don't worry about that). Use thegoodguys.com.au for whitegoods, TV and appliances. If you're on a budget, Target.com.au for household stuff. If you want quality, then petersofkensington.com.au (they're in Sydney, but the prices would be similar in stores elsewhere). Furniture: harveynorman.com.au or if you want cheap tat to get you started, fantasticfurniture.com.au. It really is worth doing the exercise. Even if it doesn't change your mind about shipping, it gives you some idea of the job you've got in hand after you move, and what's available in Australia.

Once you get past Tweed Heads, virtually the whole of the NSW coastline as far as Newcastle has no high rise. Then after Wollongong, no high rise further south either.

I can't imagine you liking the Gold Coast as it's all a bit too commercialised, and also humid. Actually I was surprised when you said the Gold Coast is less humid than the Sunshine Coast, as I've always found the opposite. Being further north, you'd think the Sunshine Coast would be worse, but it seems to have its own microclimate for some reason. You could consider Ballina, which has an airport. The population is only about 20,000 but as it's only a couple of hours' drive from the Gold Coast, you're not too far from a big shopping centre.

Where is your family? There are so many nice coastal towns but some are quieter than others. Port Macquarie is becoming popular with retirees and they even have a theatre with some good shows. Port Stephens is lovely and has the advantage of being close to a big city (Newcastle) for all the amenities you might need.

Well no, he can't answer it for us all, because there are so many variables. It depends what kind of visa you're on, what your investments are in the UK, how much income you have, how long you've been absent from the UK.....the list goes on. Alan is what they call in showbiz a "triple threat" - very few migration agents are also accountants, let alone an accountant with experience in both countries. So if you engage him, he's certainly better placed than most to give you clear advice on your particular situation. But do be aware - you never, ever get to choose who you pay tax to. It depends entirely on where you are legally resident.

Having family in Australia might earn you a few extra points (depending on the relationship) but otherwise it's useless, I'm afraid. It's worth researching if your mother is an Australian citizen, because then you'd be able to claim citizenship too - but many people who migrated in the 1970's never bothered to get citizenship, so I'd say it's unlikely. Getting a job won't help either. Most employer-sponsored visas are temporary, for two to four years only. For some of them, there's the possibility of applying for permanent residency after that, but it's far from guaranteed. It's almost impossible to find an employer who'll sponsor you for a permanent visa, because it takes a year or more to get the visa approved. Think about it - how many employers would offer you a job, then wait a whole year for you to arrive? To apply for a visa, you need to have the qualifications AND the experience specified on the skilled occupation list. So your only option is for one of you to retrain. Be wary of anyone who suggests you get a student visa and do your retraining in Australia. There's a lot of agencies that look very reputable but are basically scams - they get paid by the Australian colleges, so they're not acting in your interest. Basically, it will cost you four or five times as much to retrain in Australia, and you and your partner would only be allowed to work 20 hours a week - so you'd use up all your savings, live on the poverty line and even then, you might not get a visa at the end (because the rules change all the time). So if one of you is going to retrain, do it in the UK where one of you can continue working and build up your savings for the move.

I'd say, since this is such a critical moment, you should pay a reputable agent for advice rather than relying on a forum. There are several good agents on these forums whom you could consult.

You can’t choose. While you are living in Australia, you may or may not have to pay Australian tax depending on your visa. If you have income from the UK, you will remain liable to pay tax in the UK too, but under different rules because you’re a non resident.