jtb Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Hi I'm currently in the UK, but have a job interview next week for an organisation in Perth, which I'm feeling fairly confident about. The job is great and it would be getting to do very interesting things that would be a lot harder for me to access in the UK and Perth looks to be a great place. It's a 2 year position and they will sponsor on a 457 visa. When I applied for the position my wife quite liked the concept of going to Perth for 2 years, but now they've shown more of an interest she's got some serious reservations. Currently we have a good life in London, own our own house and earn about £75k between us. My plan with this was to ask my current employer for a career break, which my manager has said could be OK for me, and to rent our house out. The job in Perth is likely to be $90k-$100k and she's worried that won't be enough to support 2 people if she can't find work. From my calculations I think we'd probably be OK if she picked up some part time work. She has lots of experience in project management and general admin. In case she couldn't find work would we both be able to survive comfortably on 90-100k? However the thing that's freaking her out the most is that we're currently trying to start a family, and the extra cost and lack of support network if she was to get pregnant when we're in Perth might be too much for her. I imagine that we wouldn't get any additional support on a 457 visa. Has anyone had experience of starting a family when they've just arrived? My feeling is that it is only 2 years and we can see what happens, but this idea seems to be giving her massive concerns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odies Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 hi, welcome to PP , for your answers I would look at some of the older threads as lots have been discussed on where your head is at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifi69 Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 The salary you quote would be fine for 2 people IMO. Wow I would imagine thousands would love to be in your position. You have the opportunity to come to Perth for a 2 year adventure without any financial outlay, your job being kept open for you back in the UK. I really can't see any negative points at all. you haven't given your ages but if it was me I would treat it as a long holiday and put the baby making on the back burner until you returned to the UK. Only for the reasons your wife mentions...having a baby is tough, even tougher if you have no support. i would treat Perth as your last fling so to speak before the sleepless nights and nappy mountains appear.. Good luck on it all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikkiwd Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 in my opinion a single salary of 90-100k will be fine to live on should your other half not find work straight away. We will be bringing in a fair bit less than that and we have 2 kids, in fact there was a recent thread asking if it was possible to live on 50k for a couple and a baby. Cant help too much regarding 457, I know kids will have to pay for schooling but that won't affect you as it would be a few years away. There are a couple of expectant mothers moving out so maybe they will be able to offer more info. The fact you will still have a job and house to go to after 2 years, if you go back, means you are not taking a massive gamble and giving everything up so peace of mind in a way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StraighttothePoint Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Just do it and stop worrying would be my advice. Money you will earn is fine for you all under these circumstances, conditions of move mean little gamble really and it would be a big experience for all involved. Perhaps even thinking about not wanting everything out of this will help to let you make your minds up? Treat it like a career and/or life break. Would it be an idea for you to work and your wife to do some voluntary work? That way she has an interest, is not committing to something with an employer that she perhaps may not be able to fulfill and is getting out and about. Send me a private message with an e-mail address and I will send you a excel budget sheet to help you work out all the figures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give me a break! Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 Personally if you are planning on starting a family and you know your only here for 2 years then either wait to start the family until you get back. Yes the salary would be more than enough for the two but if you have to have extra costs for medical help with pregnancies etc that could be an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted November 22, 2013 Report Share Posted November 22, 2013 I will be the one to add a few words of caution. Yes, you will survive on the salary. But, it is not going to be the same standard of living as you have now. Though you will be fine. I can understand your wife's concern regarding having kids. The fact she will be doing it on her own without family support is something I can understand her concern. You need to assume your only income will be your income - if your wife is going to be having a baby, then she is not going to be earning and if not, many partners of 457 holders struggle to get work because of the temporary nature of the visa. However, if you treat it as an adventure and an opportunity to experience living in another country then it seems a really good prospect. You never know, you may get here, love it and apply for PR and stay! Perth is a great place for families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackboots Posted November 24, 2013 Report Share Posted November 24, 2013 And on another note , if you feel you are both ready for a family and at an age where you know its right , just be cautious in putting it off . Not every one conceives off the bat ! Good luck with your decisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7cdb Posted November 25, 2013 Report Share Posted November 25, 2013 StraighttothePoint said: Just do it and stop worrying would be my advice. Money you will earn is fine for you all under these circumstances, conditions of move mean little gamble really and it would be a big experience for all involved. Perhaps even thinking about not wanting everything out of this will help to let you make your minds up? Treat it like a career and/or life break. Would it be an idea for you to work and your wife to do some voluntary work? That way she has an interest, is not committing to something with an employer that she perhaps may not be able to fulfill and is getting out and about. Send me a private message with an e-mail address and I will send you a excel budget sheet to help you work out all the figures. Amen to that I'm looking at closing/leaving a little business I have spent 10 years building and still have no worries about giving it a go. you can always wonder....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtb Posted December 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 It's been an up and down couple of weeks, but I got the job and my wife and I are going to make the move Thanks for the advice above, I didn't post on or come back here as I wanted this to be a decision between us and our families and we were having enough debate between ourselves. I'm glad we have made the decision now, as I haven't slept properly for about a week. Both our families are really supportive and if we do have a child we won't be able to move for grandmothers coming out to help. We've been investigating my wife's employment prospects and they look pretty good. She's putting in an application at the same place that's employing me soon (we wouldn't be working together, it's a very big place) and they've been really encouraging. One quick question. I'm on the 457 temp skilled visa, would it be worth my while trying to go for PR as soon as I get to Perth to try and get some more rights for maternity/paternity? Or do you need to wait a while? The place I'm going to be working at is being great with help and advice so far, but I'm sure I'll be coming back here very soon with more practical questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 Nothing to stop you applying for PR when you get here, if you're thinking of that I would look up what you need for the skills assessment and bring all the necessary documentation with you. If you're looking for your employer to sponsor you for PR (I suspect they may not as they've only offered a 2 year contract and most 457 visas are for 4 years), they could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtb Posted December 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 (edited) ali said: Nothing to stop you applying for PR when you get here, if you're thinking of that I would look up what you need for the skills assessment and bring all the necessary documentation with you. If you're looking for your employer to sponsor you for PR (I suspect they may not as they've only offered a 2 year contract and most 457 visas are for 4 years), they could. Thanks ali. The 2 year visa is due to the way the kind of projects I'm involved in are funded all across Aus. It's govt. funded so they can only offer contracts that match the definite funding available, even though there might be more in the pipeline. I'm not sure if I want to ask my employer for PR sponsorship for my reasons (paternity/maternity) right at the start of the job. I've a feeling that I might do OK in a skills assessment with my current, and especially new job. It's a massive skills shortage area and I'll be a working on what seems to be a high priority area for the WA and Aus governments. Thanks for the heads up on the documents, I've already started a file of any paperwork that might be useful, so I'll read more about the assessment. Edited December 6, 2013 by jtb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted December 6, 2013 Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 I was talking to our HR dept for a one of my staff who had enquired about maternity leave, (for our employer) they had to have worked for us and been on a PR for a year to be entitled to the additional unpaid leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtb Posted December 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 Thanks, that's useful to know. I'll get on it as soon as I can. If the timing works, it works, if it doesn't we have already planned our contingencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtb Posted December 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2013 It looks as though I score 85 on the self assessment points test. Is it worth trying to get state sponsorship for the PR or just go for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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