They're buggers; out of this list you can't do the following until you get there:
- Applied for an Australian Tax File Number.
- Registered with Medicare.
- Applied for an Australian driver's licence.
They really don't like you being there! Tax file number takes 2 mins; you should already have it though if you've worked there in the past, you keep the same number for life. But if you've not got one you can't apply for it out here.
Driving licence in NSW is after you've been there for 6 months
Medicare is a 2 minute job in the office with your visa print out and passport
Who did you go with for banking? We use Commonwealth Bank as you can withdraw money at any Post Office (there's always a post office out west, but not always an ATM!) and they let you apply from the UK.
Still got the letter they sent me in Febuary 2009 which gives me a
non resident tax file number.
So I can put down my TFN, but it asks for
evidence that I've applied for a TFN.
Ive opened an account with The Commonwealth, just waiting for them to send me all the paper work.
https://www.commbankuk.co.uk/
Great news Ben - made up for you dude
Thanks man.
You can apply for an Australian Super account which then gives you a reason to apply for a Aussie TFN. Both can be done online. The Super people will want a TFN to activate the account, but I just used their letter asking for this, to apply for the TFN. I can pm you details/links if you want. I also got my brother (in Brisbane) to draw up a rental agreement for me using some published Aussie rental agreement forms.
Thanks.
Im hoping I might be OK giving them my TFN and Common Wealth bank account details.
Good idea on the rental agreement forms.
Asked the guys the on the (Volvo) forum; they know of nothing going for work at the moment, but they said that for regional VIC the best bet is to get CV's in the door and go from there; they're more likely to take someone who has the guts. Certainly one of them found his work by just asking there if they had any work.
One thing I got involved in before my Visa fell apart was the Bush Fire Brigade in NSW, basically I used that as a way to meet new people and get involved with the community (plus some interesting skills). Unfortunately I got my clearance etc through, and then about 2 weeks later had to leave
Im hoping to see my old boss when I get over there. Just hope I can remember where he lives.
If he hasnt got any work for me I was thinking of contacting some agencies.
Money is going to be extremely tight for the first few months.
My choice is either stay here longer (with the horrible winter weather/darkness) and save more money.
Or go over with not a lot of money and struggle for the first few months.
So im choosing the second option. Haven't really got many friends out there and no family, haven't got anywhere to live or a job. But.................................At least it will be the middle of summer!
After doing some searching on the expat forums I found some useful information about what people in a similar position have done:-
, hi my hubby is a self-employed bricklayer so we did a mock letter to the main housebuilder that he builds for informing them that he would be unavailable for any contracts as we were emigrating. We also enclosed a copy of our instructions to the estate agent to put our house up for sale, a letter from our rental people in Oz, a copy of our shipping quote .... I also think we put our flight details down. All in all it took 5 weeks for us to get our approval and we have just delivered our car up to Yorkshire this morning to the shippers depot.
I emailed everything I could that 'might' have made up the points and it was accepted - my import approval request was granted. Although not on the 'official list' (which they do say isn't exhaustive) I used my mortgage company's letter approving our intent to 'let' the property rather than sell. My resignation letter, even though I have no work in Oz (yet!), An Aussie bank statement for an account not yet validated and used the address of the holiday apartment rental we will use as a base to find somewhere more permanent. Also booked flight details etc.
So a good experience of the process. Showing full intent to move rather than trying to pull a fast one (which is why the controls are in place) and my car is due off the boat in a week!
So maybe there not as strict as i thought with the criteria for the import approval.
Im hoping with TFN, bank account details, resignation letter, and shipping quotes, I wont be far off having enough evidence.
Im hoping to stay with my friend for the first week when I get there, so maybe I can put her address down as where I will be living.
This is the last hurdle now, once ive got my import approval everything else should be fairly straightforward, expensive but straightforward.
