BIG MOVE 2023

anacaf · September 2023

@margotrobbins said:
Sa mga nagBM lately under visa 491, may additional docs pa ba na required/hiningi maliban sa Passport, Visa Grant, Ticket?

Etravel po.

kapchiboy · September 2023

@margotrobbins said:
Sa mga nagBM lately under visa 491, may additional docs pa ba na required/hiningi maliban sa Passport, Visa Grant, Ticket?

Hi, just arrived yesterday in Sydney.

To answer this question in detail, ang mga pinakita ko sa airport sa PH ay:
1. Check In/Bag Drop - Passport, Ticket (with Travel Tax Receipt), ID
2. Checkpoint at Immigration Queue - Passport, Boarding Pass, E-Travel
2. Immigration Officer - Passport, Boarding Pass, Visa Grant Letter

I'd like to share also na ang tinanong lang ng officer sakin ay, "Unang pasok niyo po sir? (First entry)"
Yes ang sinagot ko then okay na.

whimpee · September 2023

@kapchiboy said:

@margotrobbins said:
Sa mga nagBM lately under visa 491, may additional docs pa ba na required/hiningi maliban sa Passport, Visa Grant, Ticket?

Hi, just arrived yesterday in Sydney.

To answer this question in detail, ang mga pinakita ko sa airport sa PH ay:
1. Check In/Bag Drop - Passport, Ticket (with Travel Tax Receipt), ID
2. Checkpoint at Immigration Queue - Passport, Boarding Pass, E-Travel
2. Immigration Officer - Passport, Boarding Pass, Visa Grant Letter

I'd like to share also na ang tinanong lang ng officer sakin ay, "Unang pasok niyo po sir? (First entry)"
Yes ang sinagot ko then okay na.

Thanks for sharing!

Ozzy23 · September 2023

Hi guys, sharing a short summary of our BM last August 2023. Sana makatulong.

Aug 6 - flight @ 1:00pm thru cebpac. We arrived in NAIA T3 3 hrs before our flight. Since 1st time to enter Australia, need magbayad ng travel tax. Sa check in process, need buksan lahat ng checked in baggage for all flights bound to Australia. Requirement daw ito ng Australian Gov. Hindi naman chineck isa isa yung laman, parang nag swab lang sila sa loob or something na pinahid pahid sa mga gamit namin. Kinabahan lang kami kaya di na namin masyado nakita yung way ng pagcheck nila kasi mas tinutukan ko yung mga gamit namin kasi biglang pumasok sa isip ko yung laglag bala modus. Sabay sabay pa naman binuksan yung 3 luggages namin. So I suggest na wag nyo ng ipashrink wrap yung gamit nyo kasi masasayang lang. Then pagdating sa immigration, sobrang haba ng pila pero dahil pregy si wife, sa priority lane kami. Smooth lang yung process, we just showed our visa, passport, boarding pass and e travel, and wala ng questions from IO. Pinapasok na agad kami. So medyo maaga kami nakapasok ng boarding gates kaya kumain muna kami and nagtake out ng food para sa flight. Then 1hr prior departure, umupo muna kami sa ibang gate while waiting. Tapos naisipan kong icheck yung mismong boarding gate namin which is located sa baba pa (cant remember the gate #) and ayun, nagulat ako ang haba ng pila and andun na mostly mga kasabay namin sa flight. Kaya pala may pila kasi binubuksan din isa isa lahat ng hand carry baggage. So pumila na din agad kami. Kung ano yung ginawa sa checked in baggage sa labas, ganun din yung ginawa sa mga hand carry items. Tapos pinatapon mga water na dala namin. So I suggest na hanapin nyo na agad yung boarding gate nyo once nakalusot na ng immigration. And also, wag na kayo bumili ng bottled water kasi masasayang lang din. Pwede naman humingi sa FA during flight.

So we arrived in Melbourne @11:30pm. During arrival sa airport, swabe lang sa immigration since PR visa, tinanong lang if we travelled to Indonesia for the last 7 days. Ewan ko kung bakit, siguro may outbreak ng covid or something sa Indonesia kaya nila tinanong. Tapos random lang ang inspection ng luggage. Tinanong lang nila if may dineclare kami sa arrival form and nung sinabi namin na meron, tinanong lang kung ano yun then hindi naman na binuksan yung luggage namin. As long as wala daw pork products. Special mention pa yung chicharon and lechon. Medyo nagsisi pa kami kasi tinanggal namin sa pinas yung ibang foods tapos di naman pala bubuksan. Hehe. Pero ayun nga, it's better safe than sorry kaya okay lang.

Nagbook pala kami 1 week prior arrival sa airbnb for 25 days while naghahanap ng work and apartment. Good thing we have friends here in Melb na tumulong samin sa pagcheck in sa airbnb. They even booked us an Uber from airport to airbnb.

Aug 7 - gala with friends then secured a sim through vodafone. Nag avail na kami agad ni wife ng sim plan for 55 Aud per month. Pinagamit muna ng friend namin yung bank account nya for the meantime para sa application. I suggest pwede din kayo kumuha ng sim lang muna na prepaid thru Coles or woolworths which is cheaper if ayaw nyo pa muna mag avail ng plan.

Aug 8 - bank account verification. Opened account 1 week prior pumunta dito sa Melb sa Commbank as per advice ng mga nagBM na. So we just needed to go to the bank para sa verification, however, pagpunta namin dun, for appointment pa pala ang pagverify, so they told us to come back after 3 days para sa verification. After verification pwede na magtransact, yung physical card ay ipapadala sa postal address after a week.

Sa money transfer pala, since BPI ang account namin sa Phil., nagtransfer kami thru BPI outward remittance. Nasa around 3 to 4k ang charge per transaction kaya mas okay if lakihan nyo na agad ang transfer. Ok naman ang exchange rates. It took 3 days bago pumasok sa commbank acct namin yung pera pero yung pagdeduct sa BPI acct, instant kaya wag kayo kakabahan if makaltas agad sa BPI acct., as long as correct details ang nilagay sa online form. So double check prior submission. Pero don't do this if hindi nyo pa naveverify in person yung commbank account nyo. Not sure lang sa other Au banks.

Aug 9 - applied for Medicare at Services Aus. Paper form kami unang nagapply dito. They only needed a photocopy of passport and visa from VEVO. After 3 days, tumawag ako sa hotline to follow up since need na namin yung medicare for my wife's check up. Then sabi nila may mga missing items daw yung form na nafill up namin kaya we need to recomplete the form tapos email nalang daw sakanila. Kinabukasan, tumawag ako ulit and ayun, prinocess na nila yung application namin while on the phone. Siguro around 45mins kami nagprocess thru phone call then after nun, binigay na nila yung medicare # namin. Tapos yung card ay ipapadala nalang sa postal address. Address ng friend pala namin yung nilagay namin na postal address for all of our applications kasi nga nasa airbnb pa kami. After 1 week dumating na si physical card.

Aug 10 - TFN application. We tried to apply thru Aus. Post kaso kulang kami sa documents. Wala pa kasi that time yung medicare card namin which is requirement for identification check. Then our friend told us na pwede palang online and no needed docs to submit. So ayun, nagapply kami sa website ng ATO. After 1 week nareceive na namin yung TFN again sa postal address ng friend namin.

Aug 11 to 18- apartment and job hunting. For apartment, nagbook lang kami ng nagbook ng inspections sa realstate.com, rent.com and other rental sites. Yes totoo nga, kasing hirap ng pag hanap ng work and paghanap ng apartment dito. Sobrang tight ng competition, every inspection na pinupuntahan namin ay andami namin kasabay. Syempre mas malakas application nila kasi may rental history na sila and complete documents. Kami visa and bank statements from Philippines lang ang laban namin. Then our friends advised us to offer the agents ng advance payments or +5 to +10 dollars sa monthly rental para daw magkaedge kami sa ibang nagaapply. So ayun, we continued inspecting properties tapos nung may nagustuhan na kaming unit, inofferan na namin ng 3 months advance payment and ayun, nakuha na namin yung unit. Maswerte lang kami kasi may naitabi kami ni wife na pera para makapagsimula dito sa Au. If tight po budget nyo, try to book sa flatmates.com, mas mura and mas madali daw makakuha ng unit doon.

Sa work naman, sobrang dami kong inapplyan sa seek, indeed and linkedin even nung nasa pinas pa kami. Kaso hirap talaga makakuha ng work if wala ka mismo dito sa Au. Ang unang step kasi ng job application ay phone interview and since hindi siguro nila ako matawagan sa phone kaya walang nageentertain sa mga applications ko sa pinas. Pero nung andito na kami and nilagay ko na yung Aus mobile # ko, ayun na,may mga tumatawag na. During job hunting, yes, madami din akong natanggap na rejections. Nakakapanlumo minsan kaso syempre di dapat tayo mag give up kaya apply lang ng apply. Luckily after 2 weeks nakahanap na din ako work.

Aug 19 to 28 - Buying stuffs for apartment and moving in. Bali nung nakuha namin yung apartment, we agreed with agent na last week of august kami magmove in, just so hindi naman sayang yung stay namin sa airbnb. So during this time, explore lang kami sa area. For gamit sa bahay, sa Kmart and BigW kami bumili. Nung nasecure pala namin yung unit wala pang electricity and water supply. So sa electricity, tumawag kami sa Origin (energy supplier) since yun ang sinabi ni agent na pwede. It took 3 days bago nagkaroon ng electricity. Remote lang yung pagconnect nila so no need na puntahan pa ng mga technician. Sa water naman, si agent na ang nag asikaso kaya instant may water na sa unit. Then nung nagkaroon na ng elec., inunti unti na namin nilipat mga gamit namin.

Aug 29 - start of work.

Ayun guys, sana makatulong. Keep your faith and see you soon here in OZ. God bless!

mikelle · September 2023

Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@mikelle said:
Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Thank you. Yung appointment for verification ng account, no, hindi siya online. Pumunta kami mismo dun sa branch since akala namin pwede na agad magverify kaso ayun nga, binigyan kami ng sched kung kelan babalik. Not sure if ganun talaga ang process or baka marami lang silang client by that time kaya pinababalik nalang kami.

Sa Engineering po ako.

Sol_Au · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:

@mikelle said:
Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Thank you. Yung appointment for verification ng account, no, hindi siya online. Pumunta kami mismo dun sa branch since akala namin pwede na agad magverify kaso ayun nga, binigyan kami ng sched kung kelan babalik. Not sure if ganun talaga ang process or baka marami lang silang client by that time kaya pinababalik nalang kami.

Sa Engineering po ako.

I watched a vlog about things that the pinoy family did upon arrival and he said with banks, need na talaga ng appointment. NAB yun bank niya though, pero same case sayo, nageentertain ng walkin pero they just scheduled an appointment. Looks like ganyan na nga talaga.

Ilang days ka bago pinabalik? It would be nice sana if you can schedule an appointment before arrival para maaasikaso mo na siya agad.

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@Sol_Au said:

@Ozzy23 said:

@mikelle said:
Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Thank you. Yung appointment for verification ng account, no, hindi siya online. Pumunta kami mismo dun sa branch since akala namin pwede na agad magverify kaso ayun nga, binigyan kami ng sched kung kelan babalik. Not sure if ganun talaga ang process or baka marami lang silang client by that time kaya pinababalik nalang kami.

Sa Engineering po ako.

I watched a vlog about things that the pinoy family did upon arrival and he said with banks, need na talaga ng appointment. NAB yun bank niya though, pero same case sayo, nageentertain ng walkin pero they just scheduled an appointment. Looks like ganyan na nga talaga.

Ilang days ka bago pinabalik? It would be nice sana if you can schedule an appointment before arrival para maaasikaso mo na siya agad.

Pinabalik kami ng CMbank after 3 days para sa verification.

irl031816 · September 2023

Congratulations @Ozzy23 ! Nakakatuwa na parang ang smooth lang ng naging BM journey nyo. Ask ko lang din sana yung about sa pag offer ng advance payments or additional +5 or 10 $ sa rental, paano nyo inoffer yan sa agent? verbal lang ba?

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@irl031816 said:
Congratulations @Ozzy23 ! Nakakatuwa na parang ang smooth lang ng naging BM journey nyo. Ask ko lang din sana yung about sa pag offer ng advance payments or additional +5 or 10 $ sa rental, paano nyo inoffer yan sa agent? verbal lang ba?

Thank you. Yes po. Verbal lang sa agent. Bulungan nyo lang during or after inspection. Hehe If gusto nyo na talaga yung unit.

era222 · September 2023

@Ellimac said:
Pwede po pala mag arrive kahit after ng first entry date? All along yun yung basis natin. Pero tatawagan pa din po namin DHA tom to double triple confirm 😅 and will inform the group po. Thanks po

Kamusta, na-triple confirm nyo ba with DHA? (Asking as segurista na gusto overprepared lol)

mikelle · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:

@mikelle said:
Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Thank you. Yung appointment for verification ng account, no, hindi siya online. Pumunta kami mismo dun sa branch since akala namin pwede na agad magverify kaso ayun nga, binigyan kami ng sched kung kelan babalik. Not sure if ganun talaga ang process or baka marami lang silang client by that time kaya pinababalik nalang kami.

Sa Engineering po ako.

Mukhang we need to visit the bank pala agad upon arrival. Hehe.

Nice, sana makahanap din kami agad ng work ng asawa ko pag-BM namin. Nasa engineering and construction industry din po kami. Thank you for your insights! God bless po.

Sol_Au · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:
Pinabalik kami ng CMbank after 3 days para sa verification.

Thanks for the info. Few questions pala about sa outward remittance sa BPI:
1. Yun pagtransfer niyo from BPI to CommBank, online ba siya via the mobile app? Since you said it need muna maverify yun bank account.
2. Since outward remittance, di naman need ng dollar account?
3. If no dollar account needed, ok naman yun exchange rate?
4. When did the outward remittance, bank account lang ang need? Nakakakaba kasi magtransfer agad ng malaki. Lagi pa naman ako may sample amount na transfer muna just to be sure na papasok talaga sa acct.

TIA!

margotrobbins · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:
Hi guys, sharing a short summary of our BM last August 2023. Sana makatulong.

Sa ibang mga nagBM via other airlines, open check din ba ang ginawa sa luggages niyo? Thanks!

era222 · September 2023

@margotrobbins said:

@Ozzy23 said:
Hi guys, sharing a short summary of our BM last August 2023. Sana makatulong.

Sa ibang mga nagBM via other airlines, open check din ba ang ginawa sa luggages niyo? Thanks!

Sa PAL ganun din ang ginawa. Open to sanitize.

Hunter_08 · September 2023

@margotrobbins said:

@Ozzy23 said:
Hi guys, sharing a short summary of our BM last August 2023. Sana makatulong.

Sa ibang mga nagBM via other airlines, open check din ba ang ginawa sa luggages niyo? Thanks!

I think lahat po going to Au binubuksan yung check-in baggage before check-in counter to swab for illegal substance.

Pherds · September 2023

Tanong ko lang po kung allowed ba or may nakapagdala na ng regular guitar? Salamat.

crisanthony · September 2023

Any idea po nasa magkano ang daily rate ng mga airbnb sa melbourne for family of 4? Thank you po.

era222 · September 2023

@crisanthony said:
Any idea po nasa magkano ang daily rate ng mga airbnb sa melbourne for family of 4? Thank you po.

Kung wala man sumagot, you can check out listings sa Airbnb website mismo--try it out for a certain month tapos lagay mo for 4 pax, and sort it out by price to see yung ranges. The "per day" price will show din. Although alam ko pag long-term stay like a month, mas discounted ang rate: https://www.airbnb.com/

That's what I'm doing sa pag-budget ng AirBnb for Sydney naman.

mathilde9 · September 2023

Sa mga offshore who were granted visa in QLD, under Settlement Funds, anong items ang covered ng Other Funds Component? Pwede ba dito ang VUL/Insurance/Credit Cards? Thanks!

Jco15 · September 2023

Hello po! Meron po dito or may kakilala na migration lawyer? pa-pm nalang po ako if meron. Thank you!

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@Sol_Au said:

@Ozzy23 said:
Pinabalik kami ng CMbank after 3 days para sa verification.

Thanks for the info. Few questions pala about sa outward remittance sa BPI:
1. Yun pagtransfer niyo from BPI to CommBank, online ba siya via the mobile app? Since you said it need muna maverify yun bank account.
2. Since outward remittance, di naman need ng dollar account?
3. If no dollar account needed, ok naman yun exchange rate?
4. When did the outward remittance, bank account lang ang need? Nakakakaba kasi magtransfer agad ng malaki. Lagi pa naman ako may sample amount na transfer muna just to be sure na papasok talaga sa acct.

TIA!

Hello to answer your questions:

Yes po online lang. Sa app makikita yung link pagscroll mo sa baba ng log in page. Eto po yung link https://www.bpi.com.ph/personal/bank/remit-and-transfer/send-money
No need for dollar account if Monday to Friday ka magtransact. You can transfer your peso savings account to your au bank account.
Yes po mukhang ok naman yung rates. Parang nasa 37.xx ata yun nung kami nagtransfer. Though yung transfer fee nasa 3k php to 4k.
Actually nagtry din po muna ako magtransfer nung una just to be sure. Nagtry ako transfer ng 50 aud and ayun, mas malaki pa yung transfer fee kesa sa 50aud na natransfer ko. Hehe. Then after that nagtransfer na ko ng malaki and same lang ang fee. Kaya I suggest lakihan nyo na agad yung amt na itransfer. Makikita naman agad yung total na mababawas sa account nyo including the current xchange rate and transfer fees bago nyo iproceed yung transfer. 3 days bago pumasok yung money sa cmbank.

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@Pherds said:
Tanong ko lang po kung allowed ba or may nakapagdala na ng regular guitar? Salamat.

Since wood siya, probably hindi siya pwede. But you can try and declare.

margotrobbins · September 2023

@mikelle said:
Mukhang we need to visit the bank pala agad upon arrival. Hehe.

Suffice na ba yung passport as requirement for verification? or may additional requirements pa sila na hinihingi? Thanks

Ozzy23 · September 2023

@mikelle said:

@Ozzy23 said:

@mikelle said:
Congrats p @Ozzy23 ! Ask ko na rin po, online po ba yung appointment booking sa Commbank? Also, if I may ask ano pong occupation/industry ninyo?

Thank you. Yung appointment for verification ng account, no, hindi siya online. Pumunta kami mismo dun sa branch since akala namin pwede na agad magverify kaso ayun nga, binigyan kami ng sched kung kelan babalik. Not sure if ganun talaga ang process or baka marami lang silang client by that time kaya pinababalik nalang kami.

Sa Engineering po ako.

Mukhang we need to visit the bank pala agad upon arrival. Hehe.

Nice, sana makahanap din kami agad ng work ng asawa ko pag-BM namin. Nasa engineering and construction industry din po kami. Thank you for your insights! God bless po.

Yes po. Yun po dapat gawin pagdating ng Au.

kapchiboy · September 2023

@margotrobbins said:

@mikelle said:
Mukhang we need to visit the bank pala agad upon arrival. Hehe.

Suffice na ba yung passport as requirement for verification? or may additional requirements pa sila na hinihingi? Thanks

Just to share lang my experience with NAB, I opened a NAB account the day after my arrival date. Passport and grant letter lang ang hinanap sakin. Kahit requirement din ang Tax File Number, you can still open an account kasi pwede naman i-add later yung details sa app pag meron nang TFN. In-assist lang ako ng bank teller so that I can skip the TFN part sa e-form.

I was able to open an account that time na rin (they issued my bsb and account numbers, then nakapag-open na rin ng NAB app account) Yung bankcard naman arrived 3 business days after opening.

marksolito · September 2023

Hi. Question lang. Currently here in Guam. What if mag big move ako by next month, pero planning to go back home sa Ph for like a week or two. Ano ano mga need kong requirements for immi sa Ph airport? Thanks

era222 · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:

@Pherds said:
Tanong ko lang po kung allowed ba or may nakapagdala na ng regular guitar? Salamat.

Since wood siya, probably hindi siya pwede. But you can try and declare.

You can bring wooden items, but you will need to declare since wood is a natural resource. All info about what you can bring and what you’ll need to declare is on the official Border Force website: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/can-you-bring-it-in

Sol_Au · September 2023

@Ozzy23 said:

@Sol_Au said:

@Ozzy23 said:
Pinabalik kami ng CMbank after 3 days para sa verification.

Thanks for the info. Few questions pala about sa outward remittance sa BPI:
1. Yun pagtransfer niyo from BPI to CommBank, online ba siya via the mobile app? Since you said it need muna maverify yun bank account.
2. Since outward remittance, di naman need ng dollar account?
3. If no dollar account needed, ok naman yun exchange rate?
4. When did the outward remittance, bank account lang ang need? Nakakakaba kasi magtransfer agad ng malaki. Lagi pa naman ako may sample amount na transfer muna just to be sure na papasok talaga sa acct.

TIA!

Hello to answer your questions:

Yes po online lang. Sa app makikita yung link pagscroll mo sa baba ng log in page. Eto po yung link https://www.bpi.com.ph/personal/bank/remit-and-transfer/send-money

No need for dollar account if Monday to Friday ka magtransact. You can transfer your peso savings account to your au bank account.

Yes po mukhang ok naman yung rates. Parang nasa 37.xx ata yun nung kami nagtransfer. Though yung transfer fee nasa 3k php to 4k.

Actually nagtry din po muna ako magtransfer nung una just to be sure. Nagtry ako transfer ng 50 aud and ayun, mas malaki pa yung transfer fee kesa sa 50aud na natransfer ko. Hehe. Then after that nagtransfer na ko ng malaki and same lang ang fee. Kaya I suggest lakihan nyo na agad yung amt na itransfer. Makikita naman agad yung total na mababawas sa account nyo including the current xchange rate and transfer fees bago nyo iproceed yung transfer. 3 days bago pumasok yung money sa cmbank.

Thanks! Another option ito instead of bringing cash.

Sol_Au · September 2023

@kapchiboy said:

@margotrobbins said:

@mikelle said:
Mukhang we need to visit the bank pala agad upon arrival. Hehe.

Suffice na ba yung passport as requirement for verification? or may additional requirements pa sila na hinihingi? Thanks

Just to share lang my experience with NAB, I opened a NAB account the day after my arrival date. Passport and grant letter lang ang hinanap sakin. Kahit requirement din ang Tax File Number, you can still open an account kasi pwede naman i-add later yung details sa app pag meron nang TFN. In-assist lang ako ng bank teller so that I can skip the TFN part sa e-form.

I was able to open an account that time na rin (they issued my bsb and account numbers, then nakapag-open na rin ng NAB app account) Yung bankcard naman arrived 3 business days after opening.