Validation trip, couple of questions!

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Validation trip, couple of questions!
Topic Started: 9 Feb 2010, 05:56 AM (293 Views)
lolcat	9 Feb 2010, 05:56 AM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #3,052 Joined: 4 February 2010 Migration Status Visa Approved My Location Wimborne, UK - Melbourne bound!	Long-time luker, first time poster! Myself and Mrs. lolcat are Melbourne bound during March to validate our 176 visas. We’re aiming to spend in week in the city doing the sensible validation things with some touristy stuff, then a week going along the Great Ocean road and back. So, itinerary out of the way, a couple of questions: Is it worth setting up bank accounts now, bearing in mind we’re not likely to be returning to settle in the next two years and the predilection of Australian banks to slap charges on everything? I’m being pessimistic about selling our house for a sensible price in the current economic climate, plus we’re happy to wait and see if the exchange rate improves at all, plus it gives our respective parents time to adjust! I’m an analytical chemist, which was the profession that gave us the 176 visa; so I’m thinking of making a couple of appointments with science/tech employment agencies to discuss current employment opportunities, and to get an idea where the key geographical locations for chemistry/pharma are. Reasonable idea? Cheers, A + H



KarenandTim	9 Feb 2010, 07:04 AM Post #2
Addicted Member Posts: 193 Group: Members Member #1,641 Joined: 31 August 2007 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Location Highton	lolcat 9 Feb 2010, 05:56 AM Long-time luker, first time poster! Myself and Mrs. lolcat are Melbourne bound during March to validate our 176 visas. We’re aiming to spend in week in the city doing the sensible validation things with some touristy stuff, then a week going along the Great Ocean road and back. So, itinerary out of the way, a couple of questions: Is it worth setting up bank accounts now, bearing in mind we’re not likely to be returning to settle in the next two years and the predilection of Australian banks to slap charges on everything? I’m being pessimistic about selling our house for a sensible price in the current economic climate, plus we’re happy to wait and see if the exchange rate improves at all, plus it gives our respective parents time to adjust! I’m an analytical chemist, which was the profession that gave us the 176 visa; so I’m thinking of making a couple of appointments with science/tech employment agencies to discuss current employment opportunities, and to get an idea where the key geographical locations for chemistry/pharma are. Reasonable idea? Cheers, A + H For visa reasons we had to have an account ready,can't say for certain if it is the best way to do it, but we set up an account before we left the UK and then just had to pick up the cards and activate them when we arrived. Check carefully with the staff which account is best for your situation because you can always change once you get here. You tend to get charged if your account goes under a certain amount, so as a long as you are able to do that you should be fine. Hope you and Mrs. Lolcat enjoy your trip. We live in Geelong, not far from the Great Ocean Road, and it's certainly stunning. Anglesea golf course is always a guarantee for seeing wild kangaroos and there is a section of the trip where koalas can see seen in the trees. Can't remember where, just that there is a cafe and camp site with a giant koala shape outside. Also the Queenscliff to Sorrento ferry gives you a good chance of seeing a pod of dolphins. Good luck :yeap:



RobN	9 Feb 2010, 01:15 PM Post #3
Addicted Member Posts: 462 Group: Members Member #2,255 Joined: 26 May 2008 Migration Status Permanent Resident	KarenandTim 9 Feb 2010, 07:04 AM You tend to get charged if your account goes under a certain amount, so as a long as you are able to do that you should be fine. NAB don't charge monthly fees now, and there is no minimum balance or monthly deposit required. Easy to set up a bank account in Australia, just need to show passport within 6 weeks of entry to country, and have an address. If you do open an account, they will ask for a Tax File Number - make sure you're put down as a non-resident if the account type allows (any interest accrued then has 10% non-resident withheld and there's no need to complete an Australian tax return if that's your only Australian-sourced income).



lolcat	13 Feb 2010, 05:00 PM Post #4
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #3,052 Joined: 4 February 2010 Migration Status Visa Approved My Location Wimborne, UK - Melbourne bound!	Thanks for the replies all, NAB seem to be a good bet, I'll be contacting them shortly. @KarenandTim - ta for the tips for the GOR, we'll plan accordingly!



Thebears	14 Feb 2010, 11:19 AM Post #5
Posts: 2,172 Group: Moderators Member #798 Joined: 8 July 2006 Migration Status Temporary Resident My Mood GO CATS GO My Location Malvern East	Most 'research' is now done in Sydney at the big pharmas there. There are numerous biotechs nr the Unis but not sure what you're looking for. Also unsure what the job mkt is like for Chemistry jobs. When do you think you'll move down here for good as the agencies will paint you a picture which may not be the real truth until you start going for interviews yrself. Good luck! mRS b



pleasedeletemyaccount	14 Feb 2010, 05:11 PM Post #6
Member Posts: 34 Group: Members Member #2,996 Joined: 24 December 2009 My Location South East Victoria	Hello! We used HSBC and they were able to set up a GB account from Australia allowing us to keep GB funds in the GB account then transfer across into a AU HSBC account later. For the main funds we used HiFX. HSBC are a 'global' bank that allowed us to set up overseas accounts from here, so what I am saying is that no doubt you can set up a AU account from Great Britain as they were able to set up a GB account from AU. Makes sense? Good luck!



tam_n_brett	15 Feb 2010, 08:17 AM Post #7
A phenomenon Posts: 1,067 Group: Members Member #902 Joined: 9 September 2006 Migration Status Permanent Resident My Mood always got a smile :0) My Location Briar Hill, Melbourne	We set up an account with Westpac from the UK without problem, they have a London office and we contacted them and did it all on the phone. We used HIFX to transfer funds.

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