Guest ANN Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 Can anyone help me Please.We are retired parents aged 69 & 72yrs old. We have our only Daughter living in Australia with her husband & 3 young sons. These are our only grandsons. We also have 1 son 45yrs old living very happily in Bulgaria, & does not want to leave there, & 1 son 48yrs old living in the UK with his wife 2 Daughters & 1 Grandchild, who also is very happy in the UK & does not want to leave. We desperatly want to spend the remaining years of our lives with our Daughter & grandsons in Australia & both our sons are very happy for us to do this. The problem is the Balance of Family Test. Our son in the UK is 48yrs old & does not have any of the skills that Australia needs. He is also over the age of acceptence to Emigrate to Australia. So not only does he not want to live in Australia, Australia does not want him anyway, but because he lives in the UK, WE are denied the chance to live with our Daughter & grandsons who do want us. I know that grandchildren do not count but if they did over half our family live in Australia. We think that it is very unfair to split up families like this, does anyone know of a way round this, or is there anyone I can appeal to on compasionate grounds or any other grounds. Please Please help us if you can. ANN xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pat and mike Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 have you had an initial check with a migration agency?: often these are free or a minimal cost. if there is a way thru it, a good agency can think outside the square...for us, NZ was our fallback plan ; i think you can apply up to 55 not 45, so your son may get thru that way...after a number of yrs in nz you can live in aus under a reciprocal agreement..until a few yrs ago the aus retirement visas were fairly easy to fulfil, but they tightened up on them recently ...maybe nz has something similar.good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ANN Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 have you had an initial check with a migration agency?: often these are free or a minimal cost. if there is a way thru it, a good agency can think outside the square...for us, NZ was our fallback plan ; i think you can apply up to 55 not 45, so your son may get thru that way...after a number of yrs in nz you can live in aus under a reciprocal agreement..until a few yrs ago the aus retirement visas were fairly easy to fulfil, but they tightened up on them recently ...maybe nz has something similar.good luck Thanks for your info but my son does not want to emigrate, he wants to stay in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraighttothePoint Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Can anyone help me Please.We are retired parents aged 69 & 72yrs old. We have our only Daughter living in Australia with her husband & 3 young sons. These are our only grandsons. We also have 1 son 45yrs old living very happily in Bulgaria, & does not want to leave there, & 1 son 48yrs old living in the UK with his wife 2 Daughters & 1 Grandchild, who also is very happy in the UK & does not want to leave. We desperatly want to spend the remaining years of our lives with our Daughter & grandsons in Australia & both our sons are very happy for us to do this. The problem is the Balance of Family Test. Our son in the UK is 48yrs old & does not have any of the skills that Australia needs. He is also over the age of acceptence to Emigrate to Australia. So not only does he not want to live in Australia, Australia does not want him anyway, but because he lives in the UK, WE are denied the chance to live with our Daughter & grandsons who do want us. I know that grandchildren do not count but if they did over half our family live in Australia. We think that it is very unfair to split up families like this, does anyone know of a way round this, or is there anyone I can appeal to on compasionate grounds or any other grounds. Please Please help us if you can. ANN xx Clearly this is a very personal choice but rules are rules and in place for a reason. What can you guys offer Australia? Sorry if that sounds blunt but other than buying a house and spending a few bob you will not add value to one of the country's employment goals, i.e. Australia needs, young skilled labour. More retirees could add even more pressure on their public and health services without a comparable financial redress. What you are facing is not uncommon and thinking out of the square may be the way to go. Why live here? Why not visit for a period of time each year. Less costly in the long run, no visa hassles and best of both worlds as you get to see all your family members. If you can downsize in the UK, buy a flat, lock it up and come here for six months per year. Get the best of both worlds without all the hassle. The only burden then is two gruelling flights per year until you do not want to travel. After all the grandkids will grow up, they will go out a lot here given the lifestyle, your family may have to move for job reasons and you would need to follow, you may not settle, you may hate the intense heat, etc etc. By visting for six months each year you wil probably see them just as much as living here. Sorry if it is another view that you do not want to hear but IMO it is worth considering. Being grand parents can bring emotional choices so stand back and try and think out of the square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ANN Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Thank you for your straight reply. All that you say is true and we will take on board all that you say before we make up uor minds. Ann xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pat and mike Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 there are many uk retirees who have downsized in the uk, and spend 6mths here (usually oct-apr) and 6 mths in uk. that way you just have a tourist visa to apply for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ANN Posted March 25, 2009 Report Share Posted March 25, 2009 Thank you ann xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted May 28, 2009 Report Share Posted May 28, 2009 Hi Ann this is an old post so you may have got help by now anyway. Just something to take into consideration, even if you are able to appley for a visa I am afraid they can take forever. My ex MIL applied 2 years ago and is still waiting, this despite all her children already living in Australia. Good luck with your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ANN Posted May 29, 2009 Report Share Posted May 29, 2009 Thanks Katy, But I can not pass the balance of family test. unless australia change the laws. living in hope Ann xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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