To migrate or not?

[shine]

Australia was the only country spared of the last financial crisis and currency/economy has remained strong. Being a big country, it is much less affected by global crisis, unlike Singapore. For Singapore, it seems a little ripple elsewhere might turn out to be big waves here.


Actually, we are also considering children’s future education (university). Don’t think they are smart enough to apply for scholarships and getting into local U seems pretty tough (esp getting into their desired courses). I’ve heard of people who use all their might to get their children to study overseas. We now have the advantage (but not the right timing), so should we go ahead?

Also, being less congested, the spread of contagious disease would be minimized. :nailbite:
So, still contemplating…or should we just take a chance/risk and go ahead. Don’t like then come back lor… LOL. “Where got come and go so easy one?? Many things to consider even if decided to come back leh…” (Hee, speaking like a true blue Singaporean)!

[Breadandmuffins]

We hv relatives who are malaysians and migrated many yrs ago. Now "conflicts" with teenage child wanting to be "independent" fr their parents eg, want to moved out at 18yr olds & other not so asian behavior. Child will grow up quite different fr our asian belief so hv to be prepared for that.

[verykiasu2010]

A former colleague was doing fine here but the grass down under was decidedly greener, making him green with envy


So he migrated and pull out all roots, withdrawn cpf, sold the house, hosted the farewell party

Bye.

For a while it was ok down under, nice detached house in a nice suburb, big house with big car, cushy job, got the kid into the local top uni, etc …

Context : took all financial resources from SG and put it all in OZ, and took out loan for the balance of the house purchased

Then OZ went into recession and long period of slump … jobless but got installments to pay … so came back to look for job. Got hired. But one snag : cpf says : put back all your money plus accrued interest … or else forever be a foreigner on EP.

Alright sold the house in OZ and converted the balance proceed after bank loan settlement and brought back the S$ - context : exchange rate to S$ when brought the $$ to OZ was 1.5S$ to 1 A$, when converted back it was about 1S$ to 1A$…so imagine the heartbreak : sold the house in SG before the asset enhancement - convert to A$ at 1.5, took the loan, then OZ recession got to sell the house cheap and lose money and convert whatever is left into S$ to 1:1 …and come back kena repay cpf plus accrued interest…plus more expensive housing cost …

is a sad story, lived out over a period of about 15 years

luckily SG has been good in the last 20 years (as a whole) and the returnee made good during this period and retired comfortably - in SG

[shine]

Hey verykiasu2010, thanks for sharing! Yah, we won't be withdrawing our CPF money. Kekeke...need Plan B to fall back on just in case.

[verykiasu2010]

it is not difficult to obtain PR in OZ, US, Canada & NZ at this point in time


some civil servants also hold multiple PRs - useful when the kids are at uni-going age

[LOLMum]

hi shine,


congratulations on your aust pr.

and now the headache :evil: go or stay.

i dont know much about australia so no comments.

but if we go, we would keep the house in spore to generate income. also i know i wont be homeless if things dont work out in aust (goodness know how much a flat is gonna cost in the future).

going there with not much $$$ might not necessarily be a bad thing if you are able to find a job quickly or at least have some $$$ to survive for some months. also check out the benefits aust pr are entitled to and see if it could help you to cope. nothing shameful about applying for benefits if you cant cope.

i have friends who moved to other countries and they are happy. it depends on your mindset and the community you are living in.

but if you moving to aust and your kids are boys, please dont forget they have to come back to do ns. and if you are going to give up your singapore citizenship, pls make sure all the paperworks are done properly especially those for your boys. ns issue will be a major problem if paperworks are not done properly.

sometimes, if you never try, you never know. best wishes.

[Oppsgal]

verykiasu2010:

it is not difficult to obtain PR in OZ, US, Canada & NZ at this point in time


some civil servants also hold multiple PRs - useful when the kids are at uni-going age

So envy... how they get hold multiple PRs?

[shine]

LOLMum:

sometimes, if you never try, you never know. best wishes.

Hi LOLMum, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm tempted by your last statement to just go... and BTW, we've got only girls, so no NS issue.

[shine]

verykiasu2010:

it is not difficult to obtain PR in OZ, US, Canada & NZ at this point in time


some civil servants also hold multiple PRs - useful when the kids are at uni-going age

Unfortunately, kids' age still too far from uni age and our PR can't last us till then if we don't go over. When children reach uni age, we'll be too old to apply and penniless to get approval. :sad:

[verykiasu2010]

Oppsgal:

verykiasu2010:

it is not difficult to obtain PR in OZ, US, Canada & NZ at this point in time


some civil servants also hold multiple PRs - useful when the kids are at uni-going age

So envy... how they get hold multiple PRs?

some countries grant PR without minimum period of residency

some allow longer time frame to satisfy the residency period

I find canada's most generous in cash terms