Lou8670

All ours are top tethered but our kids aren't that little anymore but thanks for the advice.

Thanks weedolly. Thing is I don't know what we'll leave. We usually pack light and wear everything we bring but kids are getting bigger and so are their clothes so its getting more difficult to fit it all in 2 bags which is what I would usually pack for the 5 of us! I'm sure if i don't fill them my SIL will order a mountain of stuff from Sports Direct and the like and ask us to bring it over for her lol! Regarding car seats, we purchased some last time as it was far cheaper than hiring them and they were rubbish compared to our UK car seats which were far superior. We left them in Australia so they will have been dumped by now and the kids are a lot bigger. I'll check if our booster seats meet requirements. TBH I hadn't even considered that they wouldn't so thanks for the tip. I can't see that they won't given UK regs are usually ahead of Aussie ones but will check! My SIL can also hopefully advise as she's a police officer! We've already booked a car from the airport when we booked our flights. We hired with Bayeswater last time but this time the deal we were offered by the airline was way cheaper and we don't have to pay for a taxi to and from the airport which would cost an arm and a leg to Rockingham!

Trouble is I love the Aussie surf brands and last time came back with a bag full!!!

Really can't decide! Think you're right! If I really have a massive change of heart and think what the heck are we doing then we can always bring it all home with us. Big excuse to pack lots of shoes and clothes...!!!

Hi all I know there have been lots of posts on here about luggage etc but wondered what others opinion is on my little question. We are flying to Perth in October to validate and have connecting flights from where we live through London and Dubai with BA and Qantas (being operated by Emirates...result)! So we are allowed 5 cabin bags, 5 check in, 3 car seats as the kids are under 11 and hand bag/ laptop each! (There are slight differences in weight with BA having no limit on hand luggage but 23kg hold and Emirates 7kg hand and 30kg hold so may mean a bit of swopping at gatwick where we are staying overnight). The dilemma is...we currently have 2 cabin and 3 hold cases. Should we maximise our luggage allowance and leave our summer clothes in Perth with my SIL or just take what we need? I understand some of the airlines will only agree to increase baggage allowance on validating your visa so when we return next year it's unlikely we would be given any extra luggage allowance. But if we can't sell the house it may be a little longer before we move which would mean all our summer clothes would be in Perth! (Good excuse for me to do some more shopping though)! Should we buy the extra cases and go for it? We won't fit them in our hire car but lots of family will be there to help as we are over for a wedding.

Hi Monkeylloyd. I have no experience of camping in Australia but I've seen posts on PP that Aussie tents do have built in ground sheets to keep out the creepy crawlies and it can be a pig to clean your tent before shipping - it needs to be pristine and will get checked by all accounts! We're still not sure wether to ship our tent. It has built in ground sheets for the 3 bedroom pods but if We camp there is think I would change it so may leave it here and not bother shipping it; jut ship the cool box, camping table etc

My son wants to go on the show just so he can hold up the card for Australia. I've said I'd make him one and we could enact our own show at home!!!

I would recommend you go and thoroughly enjoy your holiday, have a good look around Perth, its suburbs and surrounding areas. Then when you've decided whether or not you want to apply for a visa you can start looking into the process. There are lots of migration agents around, just make sure you select one that is registered with Mara. Alternatively, you can apply yourself, particularly if your case is not too complex and you don't mind a bit of leg work. I would suggest taking a look at the immi website and skills select and have attached the link below. http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/ Good luck Lou

Hi Michelle Paul You can prove your children are part of your family unit by supplying copies of their birth certificates. When we did ours reloaded everything as they also required the children's copy passports for confirmation of identity. It may also mean you need to load some documents more than once as proof. I'm not sure about the form for your change of address but I do believe there is one you need to complete. Any questions just ask and I'll try and help. Lou

Another option is to work out at home. We find the Insanity DVDs get you in trim. They are pretty much like high intensity circuits but you don't need to run around or any equipment and can work out in your lounge. Although of course you miss out on the social aspect of joining a gym.

Re the 28 days you can extend this is you provide proof to your CO you have booked your medicals and your Pcc receipt. We did this as we had to travel to the UK for our medicals and couldn't do them within 28 days. Agree with the comment re the form 80. It's quite lengthy and lots of questions on your work (even if you are not claiming work experience) and travel so have a read through the form and start completing it straight away.

That's a useful tip re. Quoting 475 visa. DIAC only issues 100 489 visas a month so I think that's probably why they are less known.

It's not so much my mil as she has said she's coming with us and has already submitted her contributory parent application but my parents are struggling with the idea. On one hand Dad has helped is spruce up the garden ready for the house to be sold and then they get on a downer about us going and my mum keeps crying all the time.

Wow...still 'hot 'and sunny here. Having a late lunch with the kids at a little harbour 2 mins away whilst the agent shows some people around our house.

Thanks Nikkis2000. This is a really big step for me as its not just a house but our home.

Getting very real and scary now as our house is on the market and we have a viewing tomorrow! So much to do!!!! We've had friends here all week (9 of us including 5 children) and the house has been turned upside down! Best her the marigolds out first thing tomorrow and blitz the place! Wish us luck!

More than that if you include the cost of the the visa, medicals, shipping, rental deposit etc. Are you looking for a total cost to include visa and shipping etc or just visa or just the move and set up costs in Oz?

I would check your insurance policy as every policy is different. It should say which items need to be listed either due to what they are or their value. If you're not sure ask your insurance broker or the insurance company.

I would take just enough to allow you time to find the local equivalent or local products you like. After all, Australia is not a third world country and you'll have to do this eventually anyway if you intend to stay ! I actually get factor 30 Aussie suncream and face cream brought over to the UK as I find it better than what you can buy here!

Is there any way you can go on a 189 or 190 visa? Sorry if you've already covered this elsewhere!

We ploughed on ahead with our visa application and have our visa grant but like you we need (or I need) some confidence that we are doing the right thing for us! We are validating our visa and doing a reccie in October but over the last few months I've been thinking about our move a lot. The hardest part so far has been the decision to put our house on the market. So, need convincing...like Lozzachino says have a look at the pics thread. Also my SIL has lived in Perth for 6 years, loves it, has no desire to come home, despite her home being in a stunning beach riddled island just off the coast of France. She's only managed to come home briefly and when necessary to see her grandparents who were ill and sadly passed away but has not had the desire to come home for a proper visit or because she misses the place. She misses family but we Skype and chat on Viber almost daily. Lots of our friends have emigrated to Australia, one came home but realised the UK was depressing and has returned to Oz. He loves it and would recommend the move. So no one I know personally has had any regrets about emigrating which has got to be a big motivator for a move to Oz!!!

Can you fit beds into Move Cube or is it just smaller items?

You're so brave to go through all of this with your other half already in Perth. You must be so exited to be joining him again. Have an enjoyable flight!

Dreading moving out of our home. We're selling. It's going to be so sad but if we don't go for it it'll be what if...

Our lovely friends arrived to stay with us today for a week. They know of our plans and are gutted as we did a ski season with them 10 years ago, lost touch a little, hooked up again last year and have seen lots of them in the last 12 months. Other friends from our ski season are in Perth and New Zealand so i think they feel everyone is deserting them! They said its too far and too expensive to come to Australia and Im gutted as love them all to bits and would love them to come out and see us !!!!