Marisawright

I'm sure there are expats in Cairns but most of them won't be on these forums. People join PomsinOz to do their research before they move. Once they arrive in Australia, most never come back to these forums again unless they're unhappy or need help with a question. A handful of people stay active because they've made friends on the forums and enjoy chatting, but they are in the minority, I think.

No, can’t blame her. I lived in Sydney for thirty years and it was never easy to find a place to EAT after nine pm. The lockdown only affected night clubs really

Then you need to find out. If he is not MARA registered, do not trust him.

So you're not planning on staying long? If you're planning a return to the UK eventually, then do make sure you maintain your UK bank accounts and consider paying NI contributions while you're away, to safeguard your UK pension. It may be a long way in the future, but also be aware of residency requirements for further education. For instance. if you return when a child is 18 and ready to go to university, you'l be up for full international fees - so you should plan to be back in the UK before they turn 15 to avoid that.

Is your lawyer a MARA registered migration agent? Have you just arrived in Australia or has your 457 almost run out already?

The 410 visa was cancelled a long time ago. HOWEVER, if you already hold a 410 visa, that doesn't affect you AT ALL. The cancellation was not retrospective. Sometimes the people who man the phones in the visa department have no idea what they're talking about! However, if they are now saying there may be changes for existing 410 visa holders, that's new information. They are planning to make a big reduction in the number of visas, so who knows? But it would be rough if they suddenly decided that people who've been allowed to renew for years, suddenly can't. If your immigration specialist has heard a whisper, then probably @wrussell or @Raul Senise would have heard as well?

Firstly it depends where you applied from - onshore applications are much slower than offshore. Also, some countries are regarded as higher risk and all applicants from those countries are scrutinised more closely, making their process slower. In general, British applicants who apply from the UK should be on the faster end of the scale (relatively speaking!). Another factor that affects processing time is whether your application is "straightforward". Applications which aren't clear or need further checking are often put aside.

Get yourself to a good migration agent, right now. Don't delay. You need expert advice, not amateur advice on a forum. Sadly, your experience is very, very common, It's why we're always telling people to regard the 457 (and the new TSS) as temporary visas, and expect to go home at the end. The "transition" to PR has never been easy, though employers/the government painted it as such to lure in applicants. Legally, the employer is under no obligation to do anything for you. I'm not saying that in an "I told you so" spirit, only to forewarn you that you should prepare yourself for the reality that you may have left it too late. I wish you the best of luck.

You've made me realise that's pretty much what I do. I'm up till midnight normally anyway, because my hubby is a night owl. I used to nag him to come to bed earlier, but he would just toss and turn. So now, I have a siesta in the afternoon, and that means I'm not sleep deprived.

I don't think it asks you to demonstrate it.

No, it wouldn't. Immigration cares about the permanency of your relationship, not the permanency of your residence in Australia.

Your second idea - coming on a student visa - is a very expensive option and is unlikely to work. There seem to be a lot of scam artists advertising the idea, but they get commission for selling the courses so they're exaggerating the chances to get you to buy. Whether you're in Australia or still in the UK, you still need to have an occupation that's on the skilled list, and hold all the qualifications and experience required. You don't get any advantage because you're already in Australia. If you need to retrain, you'll find it's MUCH cheaper and easier in the UK than in Australia, which means you'll have more savings behind you when it comes time to migrate, and will be able to give yourself a better start in your new life.

Does he have to be physically awake at the same time as his colleagues in the UK? I have a couple of clients in the US and one in Italy. Very, very occasionally, I'll stay up late to make a phone call. Otherwise, we communicate via email and messaging and live with the time delay.

You've already got this information on another thread. You've got two options: the TSS visa, which is not recommended for a family, and the independent skilled visa. There isn't anything else. The ideal would be for you to get your 189 visa and secure a job offer from your company, preferably with some relocation costs thrown in. That way you get the best of all worlds - security and freedom and the assurance of a job as well.

Lots of people work night shift so I don't see why not. However if he's planning to work for an Australian company as well (which would mean working both days AND nights in the same week) then I wouldn't recommend it. People who work night shifts long-term do suffer health problems as a result, which I believe are made worse if they're not able to get into a regular rhythm.

You would need to arrive back before expiry, then stay in the country long enough to fulfil the "2 years in 5 years" rule. Then you could apply for another RRV. If you don't arrive back before expiry, then it's likely you'll lose your right to return altogether - because in your current circumstances, I can't see why they'd give you an RRV at all. A job is not regarded as a valid reason for not making the move. The vast majority of migrants arrive in Australia without a job to go to, because it's so difficult to get a job offer while you're overseas. Besides, to get a RRV you must demonstrate "ties to Australia" - and you have none.

No

If you look at the definition quoted, then they are a foreign purchaser. Their time spent in Australia would be classed as time limited because it’s a temporary visa.

Jobs aren't always advertised and it's who you know. I'd expect that to be particularly true in Adelaide which is a fairly clique-y place. I've seen suggestions that networking on LinkedIn is a good way to go. Also research what companies exist in Adelaide and maybe do some spec applications?

I think your problem might be that you're over-qualified. Most of the large companies in Australia have their head offices in Sydney. A handful are in Melbourne or Brisbane. Mining companies might have a major office in Perth. So trying to find a senior IT job in Adelaide would be very difficult, I would think.

It can be tough to find work after 50 in some parts of Australia. The UK doesn't seem to have such blatant age discrimination. What kind of work do you do? One tip - it's illegal for any interviewer to ask your age and you don't have to put your age on your CV. You also don't have to show all your work experience, so delete a few of your early jobs so they can't work out how long you've been working! Are you getting any kind of Centrelink benefits if you're struggling? It's well worth investigating. The problem with returning to the UK is that you may not be eligible for support there, so you should check that out first.

Barclays and Santander both told me that the new money laundering laws prohibit banks from opening accounts for non-residents - and that any bank which still does so, is breaking the law. I was able to open an account the day I arrived by showing my passport, but all I could do was deposit money. They then told me to make an appointment with a "consultant" once I had proof of address to get the account fully set up. After the appointment, it was another week or two before I got my ATM card. So really, I might as well have waited until I had proof of residence anyway. If you use a money transfer service like Moneycorp, you can transfer your money to them (and convert it to GBP), then it can sit in your Moneycorp account until you've got the British account open.

If it’s any comfort, it’s more difficult for an Australian partner or parent to come to England

Whether she's a stay-at-home Mum or working makes no difference. Australia is not like the US, where health insurance is tied to your job - it's the same for everyone. If you can find a doctor who "bulk bills", then doctor visits are free. If she needs to see a specialist, most people go private (which means you pay and get some of the fee back from Medicare), but you can tell your GP that you want to be treated in the public system - it may mean a long waiting list depending where you live. Prescriptions aren't free but they are subsidised. There is a "Safety Net" which might be what you are thinking of: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-safety-net/you-need-know/what-safety-net

If it ain’t on Seek it’s probably not being advertised at all.