I know there's a few out there in the same position as me, ie Oz citizen though not really lived here before. This might amuse you, plus show you one more potential hurdle in advance!

When we went to register for Medicare on arrival they accepted Howard's Spouse visa no problem, but looked long and hard at me as an Oz citizen who hadn't had a Medicare no. before. <_< In the end I had to take in all sorts of documentation to prove that I was intending to stay in Oz permanently before I and the kids (also Oz citizens) could be added to Medicare.

They wanted:
One way ticket
Details of shipping goods out here
Copy of my resignation letter from my job
Details of house we were renting
Details of car we had just bought

It's helpful if your own name is on all of these docs - Howard had sorted the shipping in his name only so they nearly didn't accept this... oh the glories of red tape.

Also, when you Oz citizens come in with your brand new Oz passports, do insist on having them stamped on entry. I did for the kids, but didn't for myself and there have been a couple of occasions it would have been useful to prove when I came in.

Elaine :rolleyes:

Even 13 years down the track I often have to fill in government paperwork detailing date of arrival and flight numbers!! Make a note of it all somewhere - it might come in useful one day.

Thanks for the info, didn't realise there would be a problem!

I'll make sure some things are done differently, ie the shipping, as I normally do everything in my name - but my husband has the citizenship, so I'll do it in his name just to keep the paperwork!!

Thanks again.

Jules :)

Printed this one off!
Barry's going off his head he hates all beauraucrats!
Forewarned is forearmed...wondering what we'll have in the absence of flight numbers,since we're sailing?
Much obliged
Gils