Marisawright

Class 3 is more expensive. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668585/NI38_12_17.pdf

I recalled his username from earlier posts and looked it up. He got bad advice from his employer's agent and didn't leave the country within the required time after he lost his job. He didn't get a ban though.

Yes, as it's income she would have to pay tax on it. And no, it wasn't very nice!

Reading the above, I assume they were living together while he was in Australia, and he can justify their current separation by the fact he had to leave when he lost his job. So I don't think that's a problem. The problem would be whether he could get one of the new temp visas when he overstayed last time (so there's a black mark against him). Also it would only be temporary, and he's asking about their prospects of getting PR.

So you are now discounting the PMV altogether, I think? For the spouse visa, you have to prove that you have ALREADY been living together, as the equivalent of a married couple, for at least twelve months. Getting married only a few weeks before applying isn't likely to help in proving the relationship is genuine, IMO. When you say you've been "in contact with her" since March 2018, what do you mean?

I think you'll still be able to top up, they are just making it less flexible. For instance, right now you can back-pay six years and you can pay Class 2 instead of Class 3. Some of that is changing next year.

Officially, it was your daughter's responsibility to put up the money. As far as the government is concerned, what you did was gift her the money so she could pay the bond. Therefore the money belongs to her and so does the interest. Whatever you arranged privately is your business. We had someone post here recently who had done the same thing. When it came time to reclaim the money, the child kept the lot. The parents didn't have a leg to stand on because the bank account was in his name and legally, they shouldn't have been providing the money in the first place. I'd have thought your daughter could direct her interest to be paid into whatever bank account she liked, perhaps it's the way she is asking the question.

I know the contributory parents' visa sounds like a lot of money, but in the end, it probably works out cheaper - because once they get it, they'll be eligible for full Medicare, all benefits, and after ten years they'll be eligible for the Australian aged pension as well. Plus no restrictions on buying property or travel. The waiting time is about five years.

How old are you? If you're thinking of moving back, it's very important to be aware of things like pensions, because moving back at the wrong time, without making preparations, can cost you a lot of money. Firstly, be aware that if you leave Australia before you reach pensionable age, you will not get the Australian pension, ever (I'm talking about the aged pension, not your superannuation). At the same time, you probably won't have enough NI contributions to get the British pension either. If you've got plenty of superannuation and don't think you'll ever need the state pension, that's fine - but most people feel happier having that safety net. So it would be wise to start paying Class 2 contributions to top up your British pension now. They're about to change the law to stop people doing that, so be quick.

If you're thinking (as many do) how harsh the Australian government is, denying parents the right to join their children - think again. If the tables were turned, and you were an Australian wanting to bring your parents to the UK, it would be even worse. The only way you can bring a parent to the UK is if they're so infirm they can't look after themselves. A lot of other countries are equally as strict.

I'm sure someone else with more experience will chime in but here's how I understand it. The big problem with a non-contributory visa is that the waiting period is over 30 years, so there's no point in applying from the UK and waiting for it to come through. So what people do is arrive on a tourist visa, then apply for the parents' visa while they're in Australia. That means they will get a bridging visa, which means they can stay in Australia while they wait. Your parents may not be allowed to do that on their current visa, because I think the "no further stay" condition would prevent it. But they could wait until the end of that visa, then come back on an ordinary tourist visa and apply then. There are major downsides to that strategy though. It's vital to consult a reputable migration agent and get them to explain all the pitfalls. It's not an easy road to choose. The problem is that once they're on that bridging visa and they've sold up in the UK, they are no longer UK residents. Their investments and pensions left in the UK are mostly taxed as if they were foreigners. Their British pensions will be frozen forever at whatever the rate is when they leave the UK - they'll never get any increases, and they''ll lose any additional benefits they may be getting. It gets worse. Because they'll be on a bridging visa, not a permanent visa, they're treated as foreigners in Australia as well. They'll have to jump through hoops to buy a property because they'll be "foreign investors". They are entitled to Medicare through the reciprocal agreement, but that only covers essential treatment. They can't get ordinary health insurance, they have to pay for the (more expensive) overseas visitors' health insurance. They are not entitled to the Australian pension or any old-age benefits or aged care. No one likes to think about their parents getting old and dying, but if you're planning this road, you really need to consider it. I'm in my sixties and I'm all too aware how health costs rise as we get older, and in Australia, medications are expensive and not everything is covered by Medicare. Your parents will be facing old age without any of the safety nets offered to the elderly in Australia, on frozen pensions. I hope you are rich. I believe there are also restrictions on travelling outside Australia while on the bridging visa, someone else may know better. Some bridging visas don't allow you to leave the country at all.

If you want professional advice from an agent on this matter, you need to pay him for it. However, that letter is congratulating you on your new job and giving you permission to go to Melbourne, so you should have no problems.

It probably doesn't matter, because of that last line - "you are probably out of luck" means what it says. WRussell is a highly experienced migration agent. When he reads a post like yours and thinks there's a chance, he says, "I suggest you consult a MARA registered agent to develop a strategy". The fact that he hasn't, speaks for itself. Given his experience, if he can't find a way, I'd be surprised if anyone can. I know it's hard, but the harsh fact is that for the vast majority of people, migrating to Australia is impossible - and you and your girlfriend may be in that situation. Australia only accepts people in a narrow range of occupations, and even then, you need the right qualifications AND the right experience. You can go back to uni, retrain and then get the work experience, but there's always the risk that occupation is off the list by the time you apply. The fact that you breached the conditions of an earlier visa would make your chances even worse (even though I seem to recall it wasn't your fault). I'd say you have two options. Pay a top agent (e.g Wrussell) to examine your case and give you a professional opinion. Or explore the possibility of bringing your girlfriend to the UK on a Partner Visa. There are no skills requirements, only a financial requirement.

To provide a more serious answer to your question - I think you were joking, but there is no way you'll be able to transfer the money quietly and hope the tax office won't notice. These pesky governments talk to each other now, so you'll be found out and stung for a fine as well as the eye-watering tax. I haven't done it myself but I've seen people ask about this before and yes, you'll lose a vast chunk if you take a lump sum. Remember it's a pension fund, the whole idea of it was to provide a pension for you in your old age (when you will need it, the way the age pension is going), so I guess governments want to discourage people taking lump sums, because too many are inclined to spend them. As I understand it, you have two choices. Either transfer the money to an equivalent pension fund in Australia (there isn't one approved yet but hopefully there will be, so it's a case of being patient) or sit back, let the money continue to earn interest, and take it as a pension in your old age. But as ThePomQueen says, Andrew can advise on your particular situation.

If you're currently living in the UK, then you will be covered by Medicare under the reciprocal agreement. Officially that means you are entitled to "essential treatment". Elective surgery is not covered (and although those suffering might not agree, spinal fusion is considered elective). Physiotherapy is not covered by Medicare, you have to pay privately and it is expensive. You can get cover with a health fund under an "Extras" cover. I wouldn't worry about the surgery, by the time they start suggesting that, you'll be past the waiting period anyway. It's a last resort because it's a big, expensive operation with a long recovery road and a relatively low success rate. I've had double spinal fusion. It cost about $35,000 (of which my health insurance paid $25,000). You're totally out of action for three months, in physio for the next three months, and have to be careful (no vigorous sport etc) for twelve months because that's how long the bone takes to set around the screws. it was very successful in my case - but I had mine done using a new procedure at one of the top neurosurgical units in the world, in Sydney. I've since met several people who have horror stories about their fusion (and the relatives of one person who didn't make it...), and if I'd met them before the op, I would've been far more hesitant! Particularly as it doesn't always stop the pain (though it did in my case). Good luck with the physio. When you get here, look for practitioners who call themselves "manipulative therapists". They have a slightly different kind of training which includes very gentle spinal manipulation, and it helps. You don't want to go near a chiropractor with a ruptured disk, but an osteopath is another option.

One can never read Immigration's mind but I doubt you would have any issues, because your situation is so different. You're not intending to sneak into the country pretending you're there for a holiday, then "decide" to stay. You've already done the right thing and applied for the correct visa offshore. Your temporary visa is valid for a whole year at least, so you've given yourself time for the 309 visa to come through.

Since that's officially permitted, whereas moving on a 190 isn't, they are two different situations. Although in practice, most people who "fly over to activate PR and go back" do it because they're waiting until they sell their house or until a child has finished school. For most people, landing a job before they arrive in the country is just a pipe dream. The reality is that if an employer has the choice of a halfway decent local candidate, or an excellent candidate thousands of miles away, he's always likely to pick the local guy. He knows the local guy's there already, whereas he'll worry (perhaps needlessly) about the time it will take the overseas guy to arrive and get settled in. Until you're in the country, you are always up against that prejudice, unless you're in an occupation where they can't find anyone locally. It's not like the old days when Australia was desperately short in certain occupations.

The answer is not to take it as a lump sum, it’s a pension

Exactly so why are you even suggesting it

What WRussell means is that your relationship must meet the criteria for a partner visa. Just being married will get you nowhere. If you bring her to Australia, marry her and apply for a PMV, but you haven't lived together long enough and you can't supply the evidence they require, then the visa will be refused and all your efforts will backfire.

Interesting feedback. Your experience echoes mine - that the best way to get temp assignments is to walk in and register in person, rather than trying to get anywhere on the phone or online. It sounds like that doesn't work any more, at least in Melbourne. I wonder if that applies to all skillsets or just particular occupations? I assume you've got yourself an ABN and are offering yourself as a private contractor. In that case, companies will hire direct so making some direct approaches could be worthwhile. LinkedIn is a good place to look.

If you take rent from someone, that is classed as income. If you are not allowed to receive other income (and I'm not aware of the rule) then you would be breaching the conditions of your visa.

That's a great idea which will get them through the first six months, but they are coming on a bridging visa for the non-contributory parents' visa. I think that means they won't be able to travel outside Australia so going back for top-ups won't be an option (and am I right in thinking, they are tightening up on "medical tourism" so they'd be refused anyway?).

The question is though, will the OP be entitled to the safety net on the reciprocal agreement with the UK?

Just check first whether you'll be able to work while you're waiting. Also bear in mind you would arrive on a tourist visa, and that Immigration is entitled to refuse you entry to Australia if they feel you're likely to overstay your visa.