The Price Of Emigrating To Oz.

[Jim Brady]

I was talking to a chap yesterday in the pub,I asked him where his brother was,he told me his brother is visiting his children in Oz.His brother is 54 and wants to emigrate to Oz to be with his kids,he tells me for his brother to be accepted into Oz he has to put down a £30.000 deposit which is returned after 12 months,this is to prove that he is not dependent on the state.Do people from Oz have to pay that to our government to come here ??
Regards.
Jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

#1... Jim I was 53 when I emigrated to Oz. Think the cut off age was 55. I had to sign a paper to say I would make no claims upon the State , which I have never done. I think we had at the most about 2000 dollars cash on arrival, and had to use the bulk of this to buy an old banger to get around. I worked more or less continuously for 3 months before we left UK just to have a bit of cash on arrival. Our house was not sold and stood empty for 2 years, and I was even paying poll tax for same 2 years. I had family out here which put us up for a month or so, it was my intention to more or less retire with maybe a job sweeping up the Mall or something, I was back at sea within the month as had to make money quick. From starting work however I never looked back and have no regrets about leaving Blighty. Older people coming out here to be with family find it hard going if only have the old age pension as the UK does not increase it the same as other countries. They are not entitled to an Australian pension as are not citizens in most cases, and believe they have had to have been working in Australia in any case to get. I think they have to pay all their medicals privately as well. The ones who have lived out here longer would be better able to give info. I fitted all the required criteria for an Australian pension, many don't. The way to get handouts out here is to jump on a fishing boat in Indonesia and claim persecution somewhere else in the world. There are centre link payments the same as your dole office for the usual lot. If you are not prepared to work in Australia would be advisable to stay away, unless you have a private income and plenty of money. A lot of British stars if you can call them that stay out here in various places, but of course money is no object with most of them. For out of work youngsters in UK with a bit of ambition I would recommend Australia as you can go as far as you want if willing to work, that is what I found anyhow. It is a dashed sight harder to get handouts out here unless you are a citizen, or a refugee. However the Country suits me and I wouldn't swop. Cheers John S Jim in other words the ones flooding the UK and going straight on dole money or whatever you call it now would have a hard time trying to get the same here that is why they claim to come in as refugees. My wife was over in UK a few years ago and she paid herself for medical treatment, don't know how others claim straight away. The system as the UK uses is a honey pot for most people world wide, how they can afford it I don't see how. Pensioners out here the ones who receive Australian pensions are not too badly off, certainly better off than they would be in UK, but to live here just on a UK OAP would be nigh on impossible. JS

[Jim Brady]

John you say for out of work youngsters here it would be a great career move,would they have to find 30 grand,if so it would out of the question for any of them I should imagine.
Regards.
jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

No, the 30,000 pounds you are talking about is for elderly visitors visiting relatives I assume, this is to cover any medical bills that may arise. I came out here as a visitor in 1989 as there was a death in the family, that's when we decided to come out here permanently. All our medicals we had to pay out ourselves in the UK, 3 specialists as we were emigrants, we were given a date after about 10 months wait, which was the 28 of October and if weren't out of country by then had to go through all the processes again. You could only get out here on the point system with having a sister here that gave me an extra point and shoved me over the line just. I had my parents out here at various times and just stood surety for them, they had no money, even paid for their airfare. When I came here as a visitor in 89 had to go to the bank to borrow the money for flights. Never borrowed money out here apart from mortgages which can pay off 3 times quicker than the quaint way one used to pay in the UK. The only money ever borrowed was to buy a new car as was advised to do this as had to get a credit rating, every car since then have always paid cash. The first TV we hired out here would only give us a chatty old thing as had no credit rating, now the banks want to throw money at you always knock them back now, want no debt especially from them. The old age pension here is I think about 1200 dollars a fortnight for a couple, which we only get a portion of as take other monies and pensions into consideration. There is a rent concession also that elderly people can get. This is only what I read on paper pamphlets handed out every so often through the mail. Public transport is free between certain times, the weather and climate is good, you could live off what you grow in the backyard if so inclined. I remember in the UK was always waiting for the wages to go in the bank at the end of the month, have never had that worry out here, and yet you see all the whingers here as well. Maybe they expect different things from life than what we ever did. Youngsters can I believe get temporary work permits out here if under 26, a working holiday so to speak. Wish I was young again with the same opportunities. Cheers John S

[Rodney Mills]

Jim,

There were different rules for other nationalities. We were in Australia from 1985 to 1999 (six months out of each year, except 1986 when we made back-to-back six months visits) the rate for foreigners—Americans included—started at 200,000 Oz dollars to be used as start-up money towards forming a business to provide jobs for Australians. As ones age increased so did the investment fund required. Part of the agreement towards landed immigrant status are the same previously stated for Brits. No government support for medical or any other assistance until one is qualified for service as is an Australian, and sufficient funds, over-and-above the entry investment fund, to assure the Australian government that one is self-sufficient.

The investment fund for elderly potential immigrants was something like A$750,000. The ones paying the price back then were the wealthy Hong Kong residents wanting to emigrate rather than live under China's rule.

Whether these rules are in effect or not today, I have no idea; however, there was no shortage of takers then.

Cheers and a happy New Year, Rodney

[Les Woodard]

Not to sure about anyone getting a job out here at the rate of unemployment going up while our latest lot of pollies dither about how to run the country. What with the mining mob laying of workers nearly on a daily basis and manufacturing companies being screwed against the wall hence so many closing down. Think anyone wanting to come out it would pay to come out and have a good look around first. Even the Kiwi's are moving back to NZ so that should let you know what work is like in Oz and in fact there are Ozzies going with them. I lobbed up here In 69 and finally got residency in 88 but can only say that it was a good move on my behalf. Will not comment on the Oz pension as it would seem that I was gloating. Did not know that it was so hard for anyone to emigrate here now.

[Doc Vernon]

As far as I know with recent dealings with my Nephew who was going to apply to come here there was no Money Deposit needed if you have a Family Member,just a Form to fill in with a Stat Declaration!
However he never went through with it,but is sorry now that he did not take it up at that time!
Cheers

I declare that for all my relatives listed in this statutory declaration, I will:
1. provide information and advice to help my relatives settle in Australia;
2. assist my relatives to the extent necessary in relation to accommodation during
the period of two years immediately following the grant of the visa if my
relatives are in Australia, or during the period of two years immediately
following their first entry into Australia under that visa, if my relatives are
outside Australia.
3. assist my relatives financially, to the extent necessary, during the period of two
years immediately following the grant of the visa if my relatives are in
Australia, or during the period of two years immediately following their first
entry into Australia under that visa, if my relatives are outside Australia.
4. accept responsibility for all financial obligations to the Commonwealth
incurred by my relatives that arise out of their stay in Australia.
5. accept responsibility for compliance by my relatives with all relevant
legislation and awards in relation to any employment entered into by my
relatives in Australia.
6. accept responsibility for compliance by my relatives with the conditions under
which they are allowed to enter Australia (unless the Minister decides
otherwise).
7. inform the department in writing if I withdraw my support for my relative/s
before this application is finalised
I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory
declaration is guilty of an offence under section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act
1959, and I believe that the statements in this declaration are true in every particular.

Can say that am not sorry I immigrated in 1980 with my small Family,had exactly $400 ,so had to pull my Finger out quick smart,got a job on the second day we were here and Irene on the 5th Day!
We battled for a while but soon got on our feet and Today we are sitting quite comfortable,No Mortgage or other Debts!
Also get a part Pension while Irene is still in work,(she choses to keep working doesn't really have to)
so yes we are glad the move was made!
South Africa is a good place and I still love it but the Work and Pension is deplorable!
Cheers

[Jim Brady]

I imagine the guy here his age is most probably against him (54) and he does not have any trade or calling ,he is at present a school janitor so I don't suppose that there are many openings in that line.I imagine a young man with a good trade and sponsorship wouldn't have a problem going to Oz without having to pay any kind of surety.The way things are going here soon we will be able to claim asylum in Oz.
Regards.
jim.B.

[Keith Tindell]

I think the rules re relatives going over to Oz have changed again in the last few months, my wife's brother was hoping for his son to join him in Brisbane, but now has to get a job there and hope the firm will sponsor him. Kt

[j.sabourn]

Just watching TV programs re Immigration if a apparently homeless vagabond tries to enter Australia and does not have money to support himself he is put on the next flight out. How much of this is propaganda to appease the Australian people wouldn't know. Usually on the farms and country areas they are always looking for casual labour for fruit picking, they are usually youngsters and those students looking for cash that are employed. To work otherwise in Australia you have to have a work permit, if the immigration think you are coming here (unless a youth) to work unofficially it is a no no . I come into quite a bit of contact with younger families emigrating here from the UK and when ask them why they came 9 times out of 10 it is to make a better future for their children. The first trip back to the UK in 1995 was staying in London and the first thing that hit me was the grubby school yards and the fuel vapours from traffic. Here the kids seem to have a much healthier life style, those brought up here will never notice, you have to have lived in the UK to know the difference in life styles. If you want real beauty in a country it is NZ, the only thing I found on a recent visit was that with used to living in a big sprawling country felt a bit claustrophobic, and yet they only have 4.5 million population, maybe the 29 million sheep had something to do with it, Cappy would be in his element. For those ex pats living in NZ I am sure they are aware of the life style they enjoy and would be loth to change now, nostalgia excepted. Cheers JS