How to arrive and
Some finer points on visas in general
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- If your application is refused
- Migration agents and their uses
Some finer points on visas in generalAustralia is a sovereign country and has the right to decide who can and cannot enter and remain on its territory. A passport is required of all travellers to Australia and it must be valid for the duration of their stay. Citizens of Australia and New Zealand who hold a valid passport for either of these countries will not require a visa when entering Australia. Visas or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) are required by citizens of all other countries. Anyone who arrives without a visa, authority for re-entry or an Australian or New Zealand passport will be refused entry to Australia, or delayed until their identity and claims to enter Australia have been verified. Australian citizens who hold dual or multiple nationalities’ passports, must use only an Australian passport to enter or leave Australia, even if they use a foreign passport when travelling elsewhere. (The only exception is where they have been issued an Australian Declaratory Visa ). New Zealand citizens, travelling on New Zealand passports, receive electronic visas on arrival which entitles them to stay in Australia. All other non-citizens, including people who have immigrated to and now live in Australia permanently, must hold a valid visa or authority for re-entry to Australia. New immigrants are issued with a multiple re-entry visa when their immigration to Australia is approved. These visas are valid for up to five years from the date of being granted. After an initial visa has expired, if the holder wishes to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident, they must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). A permanent resident cannot travel on their migrant visa once they have been granted Australian citizenship (passport). The reason for this is because the migrant visa expires by law when Australian citizenship is acquired, even though it may not yet have reached its indicated expiry date or have been physically cancelled. If your application is refusedIf your application is refused, this does not mean it need be the end of the road for your plans in Australia. There may be a variety of reasons your application has been refused, some of them temporary and others not. These can range from not passing the medical exam to falsifying information. Remember that it is your application and not you as a person that has been refused. If your application has been refused for any reason you may have some recourse. If your application is refused, you should receive a letter with your refusal stating whether or not your application is eligible for a merit review. This kind of review will be based solely on the merits of your application. If it is, you may lodge an appeal in order to try to get the decision overturned. The most common reason that applications are refused is that the applicant does not meet the visa criteria. The appeals process will involve one of the following boards: the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), the Immigration Review Tribunal (MRT) or the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT). The review process comes with a cost attached. You must see this cost in light of the bigger picture and weigh up your chances of success against this. In order to be reviewed you have to pay a fee, which is A$1 400 for the MRT and RRT and A$574 for the AAT. You must apply for a review within the specified time limits or risk losing the right to appeal. Each governing body has the right to overturn the original decision and grant you a visa. Should the body rule against you, you may have the option of appealing to Australia’s Federal Court. In the case that the Federal Court reviews your case, they will not be reviewing based on merit like the AAT, MRT or RRT. They will decide if the process to determine to deny your application was in accordance with the law. A great place to see the ‘big picture’ of Australian immigration policy is at: http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/index.htm from where you might be able to figure out an alternative route to achieve what you want. Migration agents and their usesA migration agent is anyone who uses their knowledge and experience of migration procedures to offer advice or assistance to a person wishing to obtain a visa to enter or remain in Australia. If you do not feel confident in lodging your own application or if your case is complex, you may wish to use a migration agent to help you. Their services can not be described as cheap, but you should weigh up whether it is money well-spent when looking at the big picture of your intended move. You do not need to use a migration agent to lodge any kind of visa application – it is NOT compulsory. But a good migration agent will do the following for you:
You do not need to use a migration agent to lodge any kind of visa application or asylum claim. Your application will not be decided any sooner if you use a migration agent and they cannot influence the outcome of your application. However, if you do not feel confident in lodging an application, or if your case is complex, you may wish to use a migration agent to help you. Using a migration agent can help ensure your that application is lodged with all the information needed to process it quickly. Doing so will ensure that your application is not delayed by requests for further information. Your application will NOT be decided sooner if you were to use a migration agent. A migration agent can NOT influence the outcome of your application. Any migration agent that tells you that they can influence the outcome is breaching the industry Code of Conduct. You should make this breach of conduct known to the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA). The decision to approve your application will depend on whether or not all of the relevant documentation and information has been provided within the set time limits and on your application meeting the criteria for the visa applied for. There is no set fee for the services of a migration agent, but some do provide limited advice free of charge. Under the Code of Conduct, a migration agent is expected to charge a reasonable fee for your case. What constitutes a ‘reasonable fee’ is not clearly defined, so shop around. Never just accept the first quote you receive. To find out more about the agent and their fees, ask the following questions to decide whether they may be worth it:
Many countries have migration agents who are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA) in Australia. Although you are not compelled to use an Australian-registered migration agent overseas, doing so can be to your advantage. Registration with the MARA means that the migration agent is more likely to provide a professional service as set out in the Code of Conduct. The MARA does take disciplinary action against agents who contravene the Code of Conduct. Being struck off the MARA list of agents has a very detrimental effect on an agents business. Accordingly the MARA has a list of sanctioned (disciplined) agents and you should check to see if the agent that you are considering using is on that list before hiring them to represent you. The MARA website is at: http://www.mara.gov.au If you are unable to gain entry to Australia or change your mind about Australia as an emigration destination, then you may wish to consider another destination. Guides such as this one for other countries can be found at: http://www.arriveandthrive.com Citizens of New Zealand enjoy preferential treatment when wanting to migrate to Australia. If you are prepared to spend time in New Zealand in order to ultimately secure a route in to Australia, then you might want to consider this approach. If Australia proves too hard to get in to, then you might want to consider New Zealand in its own right. The two countries are very similar and New Zealand has plenty to offer too. It is far easier to secure a visa for, has all the benefits of Australia and comes with a lower cost of living. You can get a guide just like this one for New Zealand at: http://www.arriveandthrive.com/nz - Chapter 2 - The Final Countdown Your visa application will take several months to be approved. During this time it is prudent to start making arrangements for your ‘Big Move’. What follows is a suggested plan of action that starts off with the most time-consuming tasks and ends with the last minute things best left until your day of departure. Most people moving overseas have usually only had the experience of a domestic move within their home country. It is understandable to imagine that an international removal is much the same – it isn’t. It is far more complicated, costly, stressful and time-consuming. It also comes with an unpredictable watershed point where you cross over to unfamiliar terrain where you are very much on your own. Once your application has been approved by the Australian authorities, you will be given a series of important dates. They will usually be the earliest that you can arrive to settle, the latest that you can arrive and perhaps another date relevant to your visa e.g. course commencement date for people on student visas. With more than 3 months to go 1. Establish a written timetable for the move working in the belief that your application will be successful. For example, determine when the working partner has to be in Australia, and when the rest of the family can follow if that is your preferred approach. Usually it is a case of when is the soonest that you can all make it to Australia. As time runs out, this plan will ensure that you will not have any nasty surprises at the end with no time to deal with them. Write this plan up and refer to it. As time goes by you will refer to it more often and for longer each time. (See Appendix A in this package for a plan template to work off and print out). Don't display it in a place where unwelcome eyes may see it. INSIDER INFO: Once the decision to move has been made, time seems to drag initially, but then it speeds up furiously. Writing things down takes the stress out of the process, especially in the few days just before leaving. 2. Start thinking about what you want to do with your current housing. Will it be better for to rent it out (if you may/can), sell it or terminate the lease if renting. INSIDER INFO: It is a fine juggling act, but don't go changing your life drastically by giving notice on things without having the visa in your passport. Get a firm idea of how likely your application is to succeed before doing anything. 3. Look into storage costs for storing personal possessions in your home country rather than shipping them to Australia. You may think yourself possibly to be coming back soon for whatever reason. You can always have your things in storage sent on to your new home later when the time is right for you to take receipt of them. INSIDER INFO: When putting things in storage, try not to have anything making contact with cement and try to cover everything in a waterproof sheet. INSIDER INFO: To prevent fish-moths living in your boxes in storage, roll up pieces of aluminium foil into little balls and scatter these inside the boxes. 4. If you decide to not take all your belongings, think of when is the latest that you can dispose of them. Have a plan for what you need to get rid of and by when.
Wait until you have received several written estimates and checked each thoroughly before you book your international removal. Always obtain written confirmation of the list of items to be moved, the estimated cubic volume of those items (upon which the quotation is based), a door to door service including Australian port and unloading charges and then delivery to the final destination town or sufficient mileage to cover the area you intend to reside in. INSIDER INFO: Be suspicious of a company that will not visit your home, but will rather send you a quote after you've phoned them once. Costs may climb as moving day approaches. INSIDER INFO: Before choosing a company, ask for a descriptive leaflet on the packing material that will be used to wrap your belongings. Many hands and sea waves will move your goods, so you want them in good shape upon your unpacking. INSIDER INFO: The cost of marine insurance is usually not included in your removal company estimate because it is assessed on the value of your possessions. Rates quoted for this are often very similar, but the level of cover can vary. Be sure to ask for a copy of the insurance company’s proposal form (well in advance) so that you have the time to ask your questions and to assess the values of all the goods that you are going to declare. Once having selected a moving company, arrange for a firm quote to be made by them. If the quote is acceptable then set a date for the movers to pack your belongings. Obtain documentation from the moving company of the paperwork that you will need to complete for packing, insurance, shipping and onward clearance of everything that you're moving. You may wish to consider a small airfreight shipment of essential items that you would like to be waiting for you on your arrival. This naturally raises costs and complicates matters. If travelling with a family, you may have no choice but to airfreight some items and then ship the balance. Check the documents required for the exportation of your goods from your country and for their importation into Australia. Your status may enable you to benefit from certain advantages, such as obtaining an "exemption". This will negate your having to pay duties and taxes upon importing your used personal effects. Many people would recommend bringing as much furniture with you as is possible, primarily for two reasons. Firstly it saves you money by not buying it all in Australia. Shipping costs should really just be a fraction of the cost of new furniture, especially since furniture in Australia can be comparatively expensive. Secondly it does help relieve some of the homesickness you may feel at times after arriving in Australia. Keep in mind that Australian housing standards differ from most of the world. Land in the cities is expensive so dwellings are smaller. Rooms can be smaller than what most people are used to depending on where you come from. Having large bulky items of furniture may not be practical. They may not be able to get into the home or fit in to the intended room. Once you've realised this problem, the item may not be saleable in Australia because of its size. INSIDER INFO: Certain types of wood don't fare well in the Australian climate. For example, large ornamental wooden African giraffes crack after a few years. Have a word with someone who knows about wood and ask how your wooden belongings (especially the expensive ones) will stand up to the Australian climate. Trying to time the arrival of your furniture is really a function of being able to take receipt of it. Of course if you have a house or flat lined up for your occupation in Australia, then you will want the container there sooner rather than later. Just make sure that such housing arrangements are cast-iron clad. Having a container sitting at a terminal because your property transaction has fallen through is very expensive. INSIDER INFO: Clean and dry all electrical appliances to avoid mildew. INSIDER INFO: Take the physical measurements of your largest items that you will be shipping and write these down somewhere to take these with you to Australia or mail to your Web mail address. Once you're in Australia, take these measurements with you when viewing properties to be your new home to see if your largest items will fit in the new property. There are basically two means of shipping your household goods to Australia. Smaller removals are consolidated with other people’s removals destined for the same Australian port and shipped in shared container loads. Larger removals are shipped as full container loads. The major advantage of this method is that the actual shipping container is transported to your residence, loaded with your packed items and sent immediately on the first vessel sailing to Australia. The transit time is approximately 6–8 weeks for full-container removals and 8–12 weeks for shared containers. Keep in mind that shipping a container to Australia can take anything from 6 weeks to 3 months, irrespective of point of origin. This is down to the nature of the shipping industry. You will thus be without your cherished possessions and car for some time. Interim measures to deal with this are thus necessary. Clearing goods in Australia can happen in a few hours – or in a few days depending on its contents. Getting your goods from an Australia harbour to your home can take hours or weeks. Some parties involved will promise you otherwise before they have your money. All goods shipments entering Australia are subject to a government quarantine inspection. Quarantine inspection charges cannot be included in the quotation from your removal company as these are largely based on the amount of time taken by the inspectors. Thus these charges always have to be paid after arrival in Australia. The decision as to whether your consignment is examined is usually based on the contents as described in your packing list. Your remover should advise you about which items are most likely to be inspected. (The rule of thumb is that having anything that could threaten Australian flora and fauna will attract attention.) The quarantine officer has the right to order the fumigation, steamcleaning or any other treatment deemed necessary for any of your items. The cost of this treatment will be charged to you. In some circumstances, duties and taxes may be payable on goods imported into Australia. Again, your remover should be able to provide further details about this because these items change regularly. Personal effects and household goods may be imported into Australia free of duty on the condition that they have been owned and used for at least twelve months prior to importation. An original B534 customs form, a complete inventory and receipts for goods not owned or used within the last twelve months must accompany any shipment. If the goods were packed by the owner, they should provide a full list of contents. Provided all these documents are in order and that there are no dutiable items within the shipment, the goods can be cleared prior to the owner's arrival. A valid visa and passport is also required to be presented for customs clearance. Customs will also ask for a photocopy of each page of the client's passport. 6. Sadly for some, it is probably not a good idea to bring your car to Australia. Unless it is a classic collector's car or is very valuable, you will pay heavily over the odds for insurance (which is steep on the world scale already) because it isn't built to Australian specification. Servicing and repairs will cost extra too because, once again, it is a foreign car not built to the Australian specification. Cars are affordable in Australia (used especially) and you can buy a decent second hand car for a couple of thousand Australian Dollars. There are strictly enforced regulations regarding the importation of vehicles and the process is complicated. The majority of expatriates purchase a vehicle in Australia because it is easier and cheaper to do so. You can read more about the (demanding) importation process here: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/bulletin/importing.aspx The rules regarding importation of a vehicle are as follows:
- A valid passport (and previous passport if the current passport was issued after purchase of vehicle) - A valid insurance policy, driving licence, service record and log book - An import approved certificate - An import permit (not issued to importers travelling on a temporary visa) - An Australian Quarantine Service clearance approval - A steam-cleaning certificate - A Federal Office of Road Safety authorisation - A Bill of Sale - An original purchase receipt and registration document (displaying purchase price and date of purchase) - A vehicle condition report, including receipts for any modifications made that would increase the value of the vehicle. INSIDER INFO: If you do bring your car over to Australia, it needs to pass a roadworthiness inspection in which the inspectors take fastidiousness to new heights. Some would say "petty" is a better word. You have been warned. 7. If you intend to drive in Australia (a highly likely event for anyone living in Australia) and don't have a drivers licence, you should obtain your local driving license. It will probably be easier, cheaper and quicker than going through the Australia procedure for this. Once you're in Australia you can then exchange this licence for the Australian equivalent. INSIDER INFO: Don't think that you can drive in Australia without a licence. Traffic laws are stringently enforced. 8. Start informing yourself about Australia (buying this guide was a good idea in this regard). If at all possible, try to visit Australia prior to moving to establish the facts not covered in this work (or to confirm them) as well as get information specific to your needs. If you can't, don't worry too much. Many others before you have done what you're about to do and have done more than survive. 9. Start saving, no matter how wealthy you think you are. Cut down on frivolous expenditure and review your current costs. You may be surprised at what you find. You're embarking on a life-changing adventure and every penny will help, especially in the early days in Australia. You may even want to start selling certain items you don't want or need. This helps raise cash, but also buys you some time, as it is a few less things to have to deal with as your departure date approaches. Some items you wish to dispose of may take some time to find a buyer for, so don't delay reviewing your possessions with an eye to disposal and their likely sale timeframe. INSIDER INFO: Your shipping costs are calculated using a formula involving dimensions and weight. Heavy things like cast-iron doorstoppers can be left behind unless they're family heirlooms or valuable antiques. Huge fluffy toys may cost more to ship than what they're worth because of their size. INSIDER INFO: There is little point in taking all your clothes. Seasons are marked in Australia, older clothes will need replacing anyway and your taste in fashion will most likely change (ladies!). Your newest and favourite items of clothing that cater for extremes in hot and cold should suffice. Also, there are clothing retailers in Australia.
If you decide to take your pet with you, then be prepared for a lengthy and expensive process. Flying is the quickest, safest and kindest way to move your pet from one home to the next. Professional pet travel companies can assist you with your pet moving – but at a price. Their service levels vary according to price, from offering the full service of collecting your pet from your home, pet boarding, flights, travel crates, documentation and veterinary requirements to even arranging for delivery to your new home. A basic service would be just helping to get your pet to the airport and filling in a few forms. INSIDER INFO: Pet transportation usually involves their being in a crate for lengthy periods of time. To set your pet at ease (they have feelings too), try to create an atmosphere in the crate that smells familiar to them. Put inside the crate their own blankets and toys. A great idea would be put a small item of clothing covered with your family scent in their crate to reassure your pet that you are not too far away. INSIDER INFO: Sedation is extremely dangerous and not recommended for pets travelling by air, unless it is absolutely necessary Dogs and cats may be imported to Australia, however, strict regulations including their quarantine is enforced. Quarantine space may be limited and the duration will depend on the species of animal and the country from which it originates. Proof of vaccination will be required of all animals, as well as an import permit from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (www.aqis.gov.au). The importation of birds is strictly prohibited. International pet travel requires the use of an IATA (International Air Transport Association) approved air kennel that allows the animal to stand up without touching the top of the box, lie down and turn around. It is a requirement that cats and dogs are shipped as manifest cargo and not as excess baggage. There are currently only three quarantine kennels in the whole of Australia. These are based in Perth (Western Australia), Melbourne (serving Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia) and Sydney (serving New South Wales and Queensland). Consequently animals must enter Australia at one of these airports. If you are unable to collect your pet, arrangements for the movement of your pet from these kennels to other cities in Australia may be possible, but only after the quarantine period and these arrangements would have to be made in Australia. From the following list of countries it is a requirement that cats and dogs complete a minimum of 30 days in quarantine: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Macau, Peninsular Malaysia, Monaco, Montenegro and Serbia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Sabah, Sarawak, Seychelles, Slovenia Republic, South Korea, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent Grenadin, Saipan, Switzerland (including Liechtenstein), Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Uruguay. From the following list of countries it is a requirement that cats and dogs complete 30 days in quarantine: Bahrain, Barbados, Cyprus, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia (includes Tahiti, Society Islands, Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands), Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of Ireland, Japan, Malta, Mauritius, New Caledonia, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Vanuatu. Dogs and cats from South Africa have to spend 120 days in quarantine. New Zealand has no quarantine requirement. All animals must be accompanied by the following paperwork: A) An import permit that must be obtained from the Australian Quarantine Import Services (currently costing A$260.00 irrespective of the number of pets). Application forms can be obtained from the AQIS website (see above). All animals must be microchipped (with approved types only) before an import permit can be applied for. One application form must be completed for each animal. The import permit will usually be valid for six months from its application date. B) An Official Export Health Certificate (this must be applied for from DEFRA if in the UK). Your country’s government agency that deals with the exportation of live animals should be able to assist you with this. Only part A is to be completed and certified by your Local Veterinary Inspector (LVI) within 96 hours of the flight. Part B will be completed by the Portal Veterinarian in Australia. C1) In the case of cats, vaccination certificate or card for feline enteritis, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus showing vaccination at least 14 days before the flight and not more than 11 months beforehand. C2) In the case of dogs, vaccination certificate or card for distemper, infectious hepatitis, canine parvovirus, parainfluenza (Shown as D,H,P,Pi on a vaccination card) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough) showing vaccination at least 14 days before the flight and not more than 11 months beforehand. Blood samples to be tested for Brucella Canis and Ehrlichia must be submitted to the relevant authority (VLA, Weybridge, Surrey in the UK) within 30 days of the flight. The dog must be treated by the vet with a long lasting acaricide within 24 hrs of the blood sample for Ehrlichia being taken. If the dog has not been vaccinated against Leptospirosis, a blood sample to be tested for Leptospirosis (L. interrogans serovar canicola) must be submitted to the relevant authority within 30 days of the flight. Negative results for the relevant tests must be obtained for all tests. If the dog has been vaccinated against Leptospirosis then two blood samples taken not less than 14 days apart and both within 30 days of the flight must be submitted to the relevant authority. This is to show either a negative result or a steady and low positive result (positive at up to but no more than titre 1/400). The blood test results MUST accompany the Export Health Certificate. D) Clearance of notifiable diseases certificate (EC618 or 618NDC) from DEFRA for pets in the UK. This comes with the Official Export Health Certificate. The vet MUST give you this certificate, as the portal veterinarian requires it to complete part B, not your vet who only completes part A of the Export Health Certificate. E) Written declarations as required, to support the export health certificate. The full set of requirements must be obtained from your local DEFRA Animal Health Divisional Office for UK pets. Please request from DEFRA a sample copy of the Health Certificate as the veterinary requirements become somewhat clearer than just referring to the notes. Some useful addresses if you wish to take your pet with you to Australia: Pet Exports Ltd. 35 Shelson Avenue Feltham, Middlesex TW13 4QS www.petexports.co.uk Air Animal International Pet Moving Services 4120 W. Cypress St. Tampa FL. 33607 USA Tel: +1 (813) 879 3210 ext.130 www.airanimal.com Petplan Ltd Computer House Great West Road Brentford Middlesex TW8 9DX Tel: +44(0)2085808080 www.petplan.co.uk The UK pet health insurance company that can arrange boarding kennel cover, world-wide transit cover and accident insurance. Airlines will not guarantee acceptance of an animal that they have not seen. The airline will also want to know the type of pet that you have, its size, the type and dimensions of the pet's carrier, pet and kennel weight, your pet's temperament, its age and its health. Copies of health certificates may be required. Airlines also have their rules about the type and size of travelling kennels that they will allow. They should also tell you about what carrier types that they approve. They will also advise you about feeding and water bowls etc. Your pet's veterinarian should also be consulted before departure. Along with all the tests required, your vet should give your pet a full check up, advise you of any potential problems and remedial action to be taken (if necessary) before departure. The only other option is to find a new home for your cherished companion before leaving. You can find out more about pet immigration at: http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/cat-dogs which will always have the most up-to-date list of exempt countries and requirements posted. INSIDER INFO: Deciding to go the quarantine route usually means a financial commitment and an emotional strain for some. It also usually entails regular visits to the quarantine facility that may be some distance from where you live in Australia. INSIDER INFO: Your pet may not be suitable for where you accommodate yourselves and Australia has strict animal cruelty laws which are enforced. Putting your pet in quarantine while you try and find a place to stay that suits them may be an expensive way of doing things. INSIDER INFO: Note that you may not be permitted to bring some items in to Australia. These could include household products or ornaments made from animal and/or plant material. INSIDER INFO: There are even restrictions on items imported inter-state within Australia. Travellers are not permitted to transport fruit, vegetables or plants from one Australian state to another. Even items of clothing, handbags, or household effects made from endangered species of fauna will be seized. This includes objects such as fur skins, ivory, or reptile leather goods. They really want to preserve their environment in Australia. 11. Check which of your electrical appliances will not work in Australia. Ask your local electrician or electrical goods dealer if your electrical appliances will function with or without the use of adapters and/or transformers. Your television will have to be compatible as Australia works on the PAL system which is the same as the UK and South Africa. The USA and Canada use NTSC. Australia uses 240V with 50Hz electricity. Plug fittings are different as compared to the rest of the world with them being 3 square-pinned plugs. Adapters for smaller appliances are useful in the short term. Buying or installing costly converters and transformers on your bigger appliances may prove to be false economy. Buying new white goods in Australia may be a better idea as they're built to the local specification and are newer. Also, what you have may not fit in the space available for it in your new home. INSIDER INFO: Your TV is most likely to be your only real concern. 12. Obtain information about the current real estate market in Australia. Identify the area that you believe yourself most likely to settle in (see the chapter on accommodation). Visit web sites and online newspapers (if you can) to get an idea of the current prices in that area. For certain nationalities there are expatriate neighbourhoods, usually not far from international schools. 13. Relocation services exist to help corporate executives in moving and settling. Should yours be a corporate relocation then your employer should pay for these services. A good reason as to why they should pay is because expatriates will be expected to become productive as soon as possible after their arrival. The relocation service company should help you with your new home's inventory of fixtures before you move in. They should also help with all of your utility contracts (gas, electricity, water and telephone). Some of them may even open a bank account for you and even assist with obtaining visas. The level of service can vary, as do the prices for their expertise. 14. Parents should start the search for a school for their offspring. This naturally follows on from where you choose to settle. Finding an international school that has the accreditation's to offer the curriculum and educational standard similar to your child's current school is very hard. The effort is only worthwhile (if successful) should you only see yourselves living in Australia for a few years. The majority of people send their kids to a local state or private school. On average, private schools in Australia offer a better standard of education as compared to state schools, but at a price. There are many state schools that are as good as any private school. The worst performing state schools are to be found in the less desirable areas in the cities. INSIDER INFO: Have as many of your kid’s school reports with you as possible. They may clear the way for you in finding the ideal new school for your offspring. 15. Have your health checked out sooner rather than later. Carrying a medical condition whilst trying to settle in Australia will make the process more unpleasant than it need be and may even be aggravated as a result of the move. A certain degree of stress in inevitable. Have any malady treated if you think it will need attention eventually, even if it isn't bothering you. For example, having wisdom teeth extracted at home may be cheaper than in Australia. It will also be less inconvenient under the circumstances. As a preventative measure, ask your doctor, dentist, ophthalmologist and any other specialist to renew your necessary prescriptions in order for you to continue your treatment in Australia. You may even want to ask for your medical files. Certain things covered by a conventional medical aid scheme are catered for by Medicare, which is funded by a payroll tax. Private medical schemes do exist in Australia that speed up access to specialised equipment, expertise and procedures. 16. If you own your own home, you need to make a plan about what you intend to do with it. Your options really are to either sell it or rent it out. Of course you could lock it up for a while and visit for holidays or let a friend or relative live in it free of charge on condition they look after it until you decide otherwise - but these two options wouldn't apply to many people. Even if it did, you may wish to consider the value of the additional funds if translated in to how it would help your efforts in Australia. If you let it out (having found a good management agent), the income can cover the mortgage/bond payments to the bank. You then reap the benefits of long-term capital appreciation. In your planning you should consider the worst case scenario of interest rates rocketing, good tenants becoming scarce and property prices collapsing. Anything other than that seems bearable. However, it must be borne in mind that the psychological strain on your mind, once in Australia, has to be worth the trouble, especially if things go wrong. Should you decide to sell your property (or need to for the cash), you have to move quickly. If your timing is off and you're trying to sell in the midst of winter, then you have to alter your expectations in regard to pricing to allow for this seasonal low point in order to find a buyer. If you're selling going in to summer, then you should be able to find a buyer more easily. Have a word with a few local estate agents to gauge the best time of year to be selling in your neighbourhood and what the current state of the local market is. If it doesn't seem like you will be able to find a buyer before you leave, then you have several options. Firstly, sell it for whatever you can reasonably get, especially if you need the cash. Secondly, keep it on the market after you've gone in the hope that the agency finds someone. (This is a risky option because there is no telling how long this will be. It is also expensive if there is a mortgage/bond outstanding on it.) Thirdly, consider letting let it out as rental property. Fourthly, let it out on a short-term basis whilst keeping it on the market. INSIDER INFO: Having a reputable, trustworthy estate agent looking after your property either makes or breaks the experience for you. Do your homework about local agents by especially getting referrals. 17. Have valuables such as jewellery or artwork appraised and photographed for insurance purposes. You may want to take photos of your most expensive or sentimental goods before they are packed away for shipping. Have some form of date identification in the photos such as a newspaper or digital camera datestamp. This could come in useful if there is a dispute about the goods when you’re in Australia. With more than 2 months to go 1. Start shopping around and compare prices on airfares. Cheaper airfares usually entail flying via an airline's hub before flying on to Australia. You're essentially swapping off time to save money. Be sure to check whether you will be changing planes which may entail clearing the local Emigration Control in some airports. The further in advance you're able to book, the cheaper the fare should be. However, that is subject to the time of year, special events and other unusual circumstances. Remember: Try not to pay the full fare up front until your visa application is approved. See if your travel agent can secure a "hold" on your seat(s) or is willing to accept a deposit with the balance being paid a week or so before you fly. INSIDER INFO: You will not be issued with tickets until you've fully paid for your fare. INSIDER INFO: The days of cheap tickets at the last minute or on a stand-by basis are long gone. Airlines have learnt to overbook flights instead. 2. Apply for the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) membership card if you think you will be making use of hostels. A YHA card entitles you to a discount (usually a Dollar or two) at certain hostels. Not all hostels are part of the YHA scheme. For the card to pay for itself you will need to spend at least a week in hostels. 3. You will need some decent luggage to protect your belongings and valuables. Cheap backpacks are easy to break into. Large cases just aren't practical. Think about your travel needs and then keep in mind that you may travel often as part of living in Australia, and not just within Australia too. Your choices are to arrive with luggage that will do for your immediate needs of relocation and then buy something in Australia which suits you better once you're familiar with how things work there. Or simply buy the best you can find in the hope that it will do for a long time. Either way, a month or two beforehand is when that decision needs to be made, allowing time for you to explore your alternatives. A daypack (a cross between a small backpack and a shoulder bag) is a good idea to include. They're small enough to take on any plane and have multiple uses. A traditional suitcase will lure you into packing heavily. This will make movement difficult and can result in having to use expensive taxis. 4. Get your tax affairs in order. Make sure your taxes are paid up. You will not want to have to deal with your old taxman whilst sitting on the other side of the planet. It is time-consuming, expensive and frustrating. Find out whether or not you also need to notify your local taxman of your relocation. Having 2 taxmen to deal with is not fun. 5. Get certified bank statements from your bank. Also get some proof of your mortgage/bond if you had one. These papers can help with opening a bank account and securing a mortgage in Australia. 6. Open a Web-based email account if you don’t already have one. Perhaps have multiple addresses for certain purposes – one for social use and another for more formal purposes. Start passing out your new email address to your close friends and family. You may want to be discreet about as to why you've done this, especially at work. An ordinary HotMail, Yahoo! Mail or similar such service should suffice. 7. Obtain copies of your no-claim insurance certificates from your car insurer. Not having a no-claims bonus certificate in Australia will add a few hundred Dollars (yes, hundreds) to your compulsory annual car insurance bill. Even if you don't intend having a car in Australia for a while, you will eventually wish you had this certificate. Its harder to deal with your ex-insurer when you haven't been a client of theirs for several years. This piece of paper is worth more than its weight in gold - literally! 8. Update your CV, save it to a disk and forward it to yourself on your Web-based email service for permanent storage. Get as many written references from previous employers as you can. Try and get the contact details of people who you reported to in some capacity, even if they've moved on to another employer. Agents and prospective employers in Australia check references, especially for mid- to high-level positions. 9. Contact employment agencies in Australia if you believe that their response at this time will help you in any way, even if just for your visa application (if relevant). Email is a widely used means of communication in the Australian workplace. It is quick, easy, personal and less formal than other means of communicating. It is quite acceptable to deal with employment matters via email. Just be sure that your written English is of a high standard i.e., no spelling mistakes or bad grammar, no slang and no bad jokes. Avoid topical news issues about Australia. Keep it simple, straightforward and professional. 10. Make arrangements for how or where you will be staying once the removal company has packed up your belongings if you're shipping everything to Australia. INSIDER INFO: Large employers in Australia, especially multi-nationals, sometimes even contact the police from where you came from to check your background. They want to know whether you're a wanted person or not. They may also ask if you have a police record of any kind. With more than one month to go 1. Draw up a list of the people you'd like to see before you leave. Start contacting them to arrange a time to see them to say goodbye. With only a matter of weeks to go before you leave, time will start to fly by. You may not have enough time to see everyone, so it may be a good idea to arrange parties or barbecues and have a group of people over at a time. You may want to keep the gathering small so that it is still personal and you get to spend some quality time with each person. 2. Give notice on your accommodation and your employment. Make sure that it is in writing and that you receive a written confirmation of some kind. Make enquiries about deposit refunds on the accommodation, key returns, etc. Find out about your pension contributions and tax situation at your employer. 3. Get an International Driver's Licence. It is surprisingly cheap and usually available from your local Automobile Association office. Even though you may intend swapping your current driver's licence for an Australian one, this takes time (about a month) and you will need a fixed address. You will have many other things to contend with in the months after arriving and may want to hire a car at some stage. You may need a car for work, to help move your belongings or just for a weekend drive in the countryside. It will be better to have it and not need it, than the other way around. They're usually valid for a year, but this depends on your nationality. 4. Start looking around for someone to buy your foreign exchange through. Some companies will give a great rate for traveller's cheques whilst others are cheaper for foreign notes. Determine who will give you the best deal for everything, all included. Buying cheques here and notes there may not work out cheaply because of standing and/or minimum charges. Shop around a lot for this one because the differences can be astounding, especially if you're dealing in large sums of money. Your personal bank is a starting point, but it needn't stop there. 5. Photocopy or scan the documents you think you will need in Australia. With the originals and copies you can do a few things with them depending on their nature and necessity. You can post them (copies, originals or both) on ahead to someone you trust that is already in Australia. You can leave them with someone reliable and have them post them on to you once you're ready to receive them. If you're able to scan your valuable documents, then consider doing so. Make sure the scanned file prints out adequately before you consider yourself finished with them. Then email the file to your web-based email address. Try and keep the files as small as possible. 6. Decide what to do about your bank account. Keeping your bank account open in the short-term is a good idea. Monies owed to you can be paid in when you're away. Existing insurance policies can be paid for out of this account. Local debts can be serviced through this account. Family or friends can be helped out quickly through having money left in it. You can pay for local holidays in the future. Most importantly you keep your credit status alive should you ever need or want to return. For all of this to happen, you will need to give someone who you trust implicitly, who is capable and reliable, the power of attorney over this account and your financial affairs in general. Think long and hard over who this will be. Power of attorney forms for your account should be available from your bank. 7. Contact your utility providers and advise them of your intention to terminate your account. Do this in writing and make sure you get a written confirmation in return. Ascertain when the last day of service delivery will be. If you're letting your property out, advise the incoming tenants and/or estate agent that you've done this. You don't want to be liable for someone else's debts, especially when you're on the other side of the world. 8. You may want to open a private box at a post office. If you are going to hand the key to someone you trust to visit the box periodically, be considerate and have the box at a post office close to this person. Advise all parties who may post you things of this new postal address, such as your bank, insurer, utilities, magazine subscriptions, etc. 9. Cancel or redirect your magazine subscriptions and such like. Inform any professional body of your change of postal address as well. With a few weeks to go 1. Provide a few copies of your written itinerary and contact details (email and Australian postal address) for friends and family. This serves several purposes. People can contact you if need be whether in emergency or just to say "hi". Also some family members take comfort from thinking they know where you are. 2. Collect all the important documents in one place. Keep them in a waterproof pouch that is small enough to keep with you at all times. 3. If you wear contact lenses, buy a few bottles of your preferred solution. Buy enough to keep you until you find the same or similar kind in Australia. It may be cheaper than in Australia too. This logic applies to any other personal items that you make frequent use of, have a particular preference in a brand and you think will cost more in Australia. 4. Start saying your goodbyes to friends and family. Arrange a farewell function at your work for your last day, if you to do so wish of course. 5. Keep checking your moving plan to see what still needs doing. With a week to go
Do not forget to put your name, address, phone number and any other information you might think useful inside every piece of luggage that you will check in with the airline. Do the same on the outside, using the luggage labels given to you by your travel agent or airline. If possible write both of your addresses, at home and in Australia (if you have one). This is in case your luggage goes astray whilst in transit. It is a good idea to put something on your bags, for example a ribbon or special label, so that you’ll easily recognise them on the baggage carousel on the ‘other side’. When you’re bleary-eyed after a long flight and jet-lagged, you don’t want to walk off with someone else’s luggage or have someone else walk off with yours. Australia has very strict food importation laws to protect the local agricultural industry from diseases coming from other counties. Think twice about what you put in your bags to take with you by way of foodstuff that you may miss having in Australia. Most processed foods (e.g. chocolate, sweets, tinned fruit, jams, etc.) are allowed but you’ll be expected to show them to customs officials anyway. All non-processed products such as: seeds (including beans), fruit, plants, meat and dairy are not allowed in the country. Being hit with a hefty fine at the airport is not a pleasant introduction to Australia. 2. Make sure your tickets and foreign exchange have arrived. Check the visa in your passport.
4. Check the moving plan to finalise anything outstanding. It will take far longer and cost more (in several ways) to try and arrange anything you've forgotten from the other side of the world. 5. Find out how long before your flight is due to take off that you need to be at the airport. (This is usually 2 hours, but sometimes 3 depending on security requirements.) 6. Arrange for someone to take you and your luggage to the airport. 7. Become relaxed about things that need doing and get excited about what awaits you. The big day 1. Keep calm. Keep the atmosphere positive. Remember why you're doing this. 2. Phone the airport to see if your flight is on schedule or if you need to be at the airport earlier. 3. Confirm with the person(s) taking you to the airport that they will be there to fetch you by a certain time. 4. Check your documents and passport one last time.
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