Migrant Stories South Australia

Describe your process and visa route getting here. After returning to the UK from a Working Holiday Visa in October 2018 I immediately started getting a plan together to come back. Jenny was amazing in helping me get everything together, and in January 2020 I happily lodged my EOI for a SA 491, expecting to be there by the end of the year…of course the world then turned upside down, and even though I got my invitation to lodge my visa in June 2020, I didn’t get my grant until April 2022.

What was the journey over like? I took the direct flight from London to Perth then onto Adelaide. It was a long, long trip but I preferred the direct flight to having a stopover in Asia or the Middle East…you get most of the journey over with in one go!

What was your first month or 2 like? Busy! I had already secured a job to start 10 days after I landed, so it was pretty much straight into work, and in those 10 days I was trying to sort out everything else like finding a rental. The rental search was brutal, and I went to a lot of viewings in those first few days, but luckily I secured something to move into a few weeks later. In the meantime, I was staying in a private room in a backpackers’, which did start to wear a bit thin!

Anything that went well/didn’t go so well? I was really lucky in being accepted on a gorgeous rental apartment in the city centre, and work was great from the start. I can’t really complain!

Anything you would do different? I probably would have looked for some alternative short term accommodation options. I vastly overestimated my tolerance nowadays to sharing kitchen spaces with a bunch of backpackers!

What is your life like now compared to your old life? I go to the beach most weekends – even if it’s not so warm, I still go for a walk by the sea. I didn’t get down to the coast very often when I lived in London. Being able to walk to work rather than cram onto the Tube is also a much more pleasant way to start the day!

What do you do in your free time? Lots of beach time of course! I’m also planning some hikes when the weather gets cooler. There are lots of outdoor activities here – I’ve had a go at Stand Up Paddleboarding which I loved! I’ve also taken an evening class in understanding wine (South Australia is a wine capital of the world) which has sparked a real interest in learning more about it.

Favourite food here? I love that there are sushi shops everywhere (in the same way that there is a Greggs on every corner in the UK) – such a cheap, yummy and healthy lunch. I also love all the Vietnamese food that you find here. And burritos from Zambreros!

Anything you miss about your old life? Reliable online shopping. Back in London if I needed something I ordered it on Amazon, and it turned up the next day. That does not happen here!I also miss my friends and family of course. I’m doing my best to reach out and meet new friends here but it’s a slow process.

Any advice you would have given to yourself while going through the relocation process? I actually think I did a pretty good job – I swore by my massive spreadsheet keeping everything organised!

Describe your process and visa route getting here. We applied for a 489 Visa and went through the process quite swifty (Started in March and had Visas by August 2019). The plan was to move out in March 2020 but we all know what happened there! 

What was the journey over like? There were still restrictions in place due to covid when we travelled in March 2022. We had to have covid tests on the morning of flying, wear masks for the whole journey and were very limited in the airport as to what was open. That said we had a good journey! We flew with Singapore Airlines from Heathrow to Singapore, 6 hour layover and then onto Adelaide.  

What was your first month or 2 like? We found the first 3 weeks the most stressful! We had no rental, no job and no schools for the children. As soon as we secured a rental in week 2 everything dropped into place. We could then get the boys into schools and as soon as that happened we just dropped into a normal routine. 

There was a lot to organise and sort out with utility suppliers, car, insurances etc but we figured it out as we went! 

Finding work for my husband (He was the main visa applicant) was the next priority but he was fortunate and found employment within the first 4 weeks.  

Anything that went well/didn’t go so well? We used a relocation agent which helped us secure a rental. Money worth spending in my opinion. We weren’t getting very far without contracts of employment regardless of being able to prove our funds and offering 6 months rent up front. The relocation agent had built relationships with the real estate agents and found us a property before it went onto the open market. They were great advocates for us and this stood us in good stead with the agents. 

Anything you would do different? Nope! 

What is your life like now compared to your old life? The same but different! We had a great standard of living in the UK. Good schools, great jobs and support networks. Here in Adelaide it has felt like we have had to start over again…. two steps backwards, but we know that the best is yet to come! 

We can’t wait to be able to buy our own property and settle into our own way of life. At the moment we are working towards meeting the criteria to get our PR and that puts a lot of pressure on us. Its all about playing the long game here though and we knew that from the outset. 

We have always been a family that makes the most of free time and have always loved exploring. The main difference here in Adelaide for us is access to the coast! As we are originally from the Midlands this would of always been a 3 hour drive, now we have a 3 minute drive! I will never tire of the amazing views we have here both across the ocean, over to the City and up to the Hills. It’s stunning! 

What do you do in your free time? Beach activities such as Nippers, Kayaking, walking, running, eating and exploring! There is so much to explore out there and we know our adventure has only just begun. 

Favorite food here? A good old Aussie BBQ with steak and who doesn’t love a sausage sizzle!  

If you have kids, how are they doing? We have one son in Year 7 at High School and the other in year 4 in Primary. Both have settled amazingly! No issues at all! High School seems to be less pressurised here with less homework and more of a focus on wellbeing. Primary school is very similar to the UK but again with less homework! If the kids are happy then so are we! 

Anything you miss about your old life? The obvious one of having immediate family and close friends nearby is the biggest miss. Second to that I miss having the stability of long term employment, which we don’t have here, but I know in time that will come. 

Any advice you would have given to yourself while going through the relocation process? Build your resilience! There will be knock backs but emigrating is not for the feint hearted! Only those who really want it and work at it will achieve it. 

Describe your process and visa route getting here. Adam is a plumber by trade and Wes was super confident we would get a PR visa pretty plain sailing. I don’t think we could have done it without the DUC to be honest. They were so professional, honest and it was clear that they genuinely really want to get people their visas. The whole process took 18 months and 10 months of that was waiting for the grant, which felt like forever at the time. I know it’s not a long wait post-covid times but back then it was quite a wait! As soon as our visa’s were granted we booked our flights that night and we left a month later.  

What was the journey over like? I am not a fan of flying and awful turbulence on the first flight didn’t help but actually it was absolutely fine. Kids slept pretty much through both flights. I didn’t sleep for a minute though! We booked night flights for that reason and the kids managed to get comfy and didn’t cause us any issues. We flew with Singapore and had about 4 hours layover before the next flight. Would definitely do that route again.  

What was your first month or 2 like? Felt like I was on the best holiday ever. A holiday that hasn’t really ended in 3 years. I felt at home as soon as I got off the plane and knew this was now home. I think we are incredibly lucky that neither of us have ever had a wobble or felt home sick at all. Kids settled amazingly and again have never said they’ve missed England. Our now 5 year old can’t remember England at all and he’s a fully fledged Aussie!  

Anything that went well/didn’t go so well? Not really. In hindsight I think we wouldn’t have been in such a rush to find a rental and put the kids into school and childcare. We may have still ended up in the same area but I wish we had booked another air b and b after a month and looked around more.  

Anything you would do different? I wish we came years ago, but we can’t change that. As above maybe we would have spent longer really scouting out suburbs but we actually love where we’ve ended up.  

What is your life like now compared to your old life? Our life now doesn’t even compare. Honestly we are like different people. We love adventure now. I hate sitting at home and always want to be out exploring and after 3 years that desire has only grown. In England I could have easily hibernated for days at a time! Our kids are thriving here and are just confident and happy kids who love Adelaide and everything it has to offer. We bought a camper and love to explore the great outdoors. We bought a big renovation project and have been working like mad the last two years to have our dream home. I am hoping it will be finished by the end of the year and then next year we can travel more. The best thing ever is that our friends from Cornwall are now moving here as well in the New Year. It is amazing to see that our love for this amazing country has had an effect on others and they want a better life for themselves and their children as well.  

What do you do in your free time? What don’t we do!! Take advantage of everything out there. Hikes, camping, beach days, sports, city days, wineries, breweries…the list is endless. We are always so so busy. I have never had a day here that I’ve felt bored.  

Favorite food here? I love a smashed avo and eggs. Can’t beat a good schnitty as well.  

If you have kids, how are they doing? Absolutely thriving and loving life. They have so much more confidence here in trying new things and meeting new people. They are genuinely really happy kids. Technology isn’t really a thing in our house but they just don’t have time to sit around. They’re always off doing something!  

Anything you miss about your old life? Absolutely nothing. I miss certain foods, but it is amazing how taste buds change. I imagine I would find the old foods that I have craved probably wouldn’t taste that great now.  

Any advice you would have given to yourself while going through the relocation process? Have faith. It will all work out. No regrets. Have fun.  You are doing this for you and your family, not to please anyone else. I still have struggles with certain members of my family not having any interest in our lives anymore but there isn’t anything I can do to change that. It’s their issue and we are super happy and that is what is important.  

Davey’s Down Under

Describe your process and visa route getting here. I was lucky in this regard. It was a quiet, normal ride for us. We started with our English language scores, approval of our academic qualifications, medical tests, submission of our E.O.I and its acceptance. All in all, it took us around a year and half to get our 190 PR visas for SA. This peace is considered good from where we are coming from 😊 

What was the journey over like? Seamless and beautiful so far. No major challenges, thank God! 

What was your first month or 2 like? Although, there are two more weeks to go for us to complete our first two months down under. Nevertheless, when I look back, it seems that we are doing pretty good and settling down amicably. 

Anything that went well/didn’t go so well? My kids schooling. Maybe I am getting a bit overzealous to start school, but things take their time. However, there is nothing else that I could have done to counter this discrepancy. Over here, there is a concept of schools’ catchment zones and school administration needs at least a 12-month rental agreement. Rental market in Adelaide is skewed towards the higher side these days. Luckily, we have got a place of our liking in Magill, after a handful of inspections. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that, now, kids can go to school soon. 

Anything you would do different? If I could afford, I would like to buy a home straight away. 

What is your life like now compared to your old life? I am happy and enjoying my time here. 

What do you do in your free time? Take the family out to many nice and beautiful places around Adelaide. Also, since I love to cook for family and friends. So, yes, cooking and meeting new friends, in addition to going out. 

Favorite food here? For a foodie, it’s like a kid in a candy store. So much is offered that at times we get crazy to settle down for a meal. I like fish and chips, Afghan rice and their BBQ, Indian veg curries and local meat burgers. 

If you have kids, how are they doing? So far so good, but they miss going to school. They will get there soon!! Apart from this, they love being here. So much is on offer that one cannot encapsulate. outdoor, indoor and all sorts of activities are there for kids. 

Anything you miss about your old life? My parents and lifelong mates, only. Rest, rather unfortunately, nothing else. 

Any advice you would have given to yourself while going through the relocation process? Plan out your finances well and thoroughly, especially those who are coming from developing countries. Rest, you will reach there sooner or later. Just relax and enjoy the journey and experience different shades of life. Life isn’t just black and white! 

Although we have been busy, building a beautiful house with a pool in the Adelaide Hills. We lived right next to the beach when we arrived in Marino then we moved to another beach location, Brighton. We stayed there for 2 1/2 years and it was a great location. Little one went to Kindy and started school there.
Building was quite an experience, not sure I would do it again but we have designed the house to suit us and it’s gorgeous  nothing like coming home from work in the summer and jumping into the pool to chill out after a hard day 
We both have been extremely lucky with landing great jobs (although hubby doesn’t agree with that statement, he’s always been well paid).
It did take us a long time to feel like we wanted to stay. We didn’t move from a bad place in fact we love Scotland and both had great jobs, we were just looking for something different in life. It does take a while to get used to so many different ways but having our own place helped a lot.
It feels like a massive journey we’ve been on and now I cannot believe it’s 4 years already and we are about to apply for citizenship 
Thanks again after all these years to Wes and Jenny for helping us make it happen 

Cost of living – (a quick snapshot to give you an idea)

Home loan – much higher than UK (however, we do have a bigger house and pool)
Shopping (food) – about the same as UK
Clothing – can be cheaper than the UK
Furniture – similar or as above, can be cheaper
Fuel – about half the cost of the UK
Rates – again higher than council tax (bigger house)
Electricity – same (then we installed solar so much less)
Health Insurance – don’t have to pay in UK so an added expense (you can survive on Medicare, publicly funded health care insurance in which UK has a reciprocal agreement in place)
If no healthcare then Ambulance cover is required – again an added expense
Insurances – I’m sure they are similar to the UK
School – choices between public, Catholic or private (you do not need to be Catholic to attend their schools. Public has a charge but not much, we are unsure as our little one attends a Catholic school which is just over $4,000 annually rising to approx. $8,000 for year 10-12, and private fees are higher than Catholic fees). There are many well performing public schools, you will figure what’s best in the area you settle.

Finally, incomings –

Husband’s wages – similar to the UK (he is a fitter supervisor)
Mine – much higher than the UK (Project Manager in State Government)
Hope this helps a little, as we were under the impression, everything costs more before we moved over and as above indicates, it certainly doesn’t!

Good luck with your journeys!

We spent 3 months in the USA, mainly Florida but then we had to leave due to EsTA requirements so took the train up the east coast (we’ve got time ). We went to Georgia, Washington DC and New York before entering Canada by coach.
We then travelled all across Canada and have now based ourselves in Whistler, which is just 2 hours or so from Vancouver. It’s lovely here and in the mountains. The Rockies are amazing.
Like anything, it has its ups and downs. Canada is incredibly hard to navigate due to lack of transportation as it is in peak season, but we have made it work. We wouldn’t change anything that we have done so far.
Money wise, it can really be as cheap or as expensive as you make it but you need to have realistic expectations and appreciate that prices have gone up everywhere and nothing is as cheap as it used to be.
It truly is a once in a lifetime experience and we are happy that we made the decision. Having been travelling before has probably helped with the ad-hoc planning. You do find though when you don’t always have a firm plan, things can get more expensive. However, it is hard to make a firm plan as none of us know when we will get our grants. Also, places that you visit are not always as nice as they seem when you get there so the plans change.
In terms of Covid, things have been pretty normal. Nothing has been a ball ache. We had to do covid tests to originally enter the US and my wife got selected for a random test to enter Canada. There has been the odd place we’ve had to wear masks in Canada but things are pretty relaxed now in most places.
We will add some photos and feel free to message us with any questions. Happy to help were we can.
What I will say is that I have lived in Australia before, and nowhere that we have visited even comes close to life out there. So rest assured, good things are coming to us all.

Dartanian Armanian