Credit for Expats & The best Banks

[AndyA]

Hi

I'll be entering Australia within the next month (hopefully) on a 457 visa.

Can anybody answer the following please:

1. How long do I have to wait in order to qualify for a full australian bank account (not just a card cash account).

2. How long will I have to wait to be able to obtain a credit card.

3. How long will I have to wait for general credit - Ie. a contract mobile phone.

4. Which is the best bank to make international transfers from (time/cost). I guess i will have to transfer cash back to the UK every month to pay for my credit cards...

Cheers,

AA

[kaz101]

Hi Andy,

1. We applied for a bank account outside Oz and then verified it when we got there. Not sure what you mean by a full bank account.

2. We were self employed and even though we had the money from a UK house sale sitting in St George they still wouldn't give us a credit card. This was nearly 3 years ago though and we've not bothered with a credit card at all. I've been told that cards like Virgin are much easier to get

3. Don't know that one since we've never bought anything on credit here yet.

4. You'll have to check the bank websites for that one but when transferring money we use companies such as HIFX or Baydon Hill which give us better exchange rates than banks and sometimes waiver the fees (depending on the amount being transferred).

Regards,
Karen

[AndyA]

Thanks Karen. I have an account with St George - opened last year, I'll continue to research and pad out the thread.
AA

[AndyA]

How are people finding banking with NAB?

[cowboy]

Originally Posted by AndyA

How are people finding banking with NAB?

My wife banks with NAB. She likes them well enough to have kept them for 10 years being outside the country. Online banking in Aus is not like online banking in the US, yet, but it gets better every year.

When we go later this year, that's probably where I'll open my account.

[AndyA]

Originally Posted by cowboy

My wife banks with NAB. She likes them well enough to have kept them for 10 years being outside the country. Online banking in Aus is not like online banking in the US, yet, but it gets better every year.

When we go later this year, that's probably where I'll open my account.

All good. I've heard that NAB are investing a billion in the banking systems this year. That will create new jobs and better systems. The other banks are doing similar, but with a much lower budget.

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by AndyA

Hi

I'll be entering Australia within the next month (hopefully) on a 457 visa.

Can anybody answer the following please:

1. How long do I have to wait in order to qualify for a full australian bank account (not just a card cash account).

2. How long will I have to wait to be able to obtain a credit card.

3. How long will I have to wait for general credit - Ie. a contract mobile phone.

4. Which is the best bank to make international transfers from (time/cost). I guess i will have to transfer cash back to the UK every month to pay for my credit cards...

Cheers,

AA

Hi Dude..

can you please give detials how to obtain 'Company Nomination' ??

[AndyA]

Originally Posted by alliswell

Hi Dude..

can you please give detials how to obtain 'Company Nomination' ??

Company Nomination happens when you are sponsored for a 457 visa. The company has to apply to sponsor you and they have a separate TRN number which is trackable on the DIAC portal. If you are being sponsored for a 457. you need the companies TRN & ABN numbers to track your application.

Good luck.

AA

[alliswell]

Originally Posted by AndyA

Company Nomination happens when you are sponsored for a 457 visa. The company has to apply to sponsor you and they have a separate TRN number which is trackable on the DIAC portal. If you are being sponsored for a 457. you need the companies TRN & ABN numbers to track your application.

Good luck.

AA

Andy if you dont mind, can you please give details how can I proceed to get a company sponsorship.


Heey congrts for your success..

-Ramesh

[AndyA]

Originally Posted by alliswell

Andy if you dont mind, can you please give details how can I proceed to get a company sponsorship.


Heey congrts for your success..

-Ramesh

Hi Ramesh,

You will have to canvas for a job, i.e. email, telephone, mail companies that specialise in your field. i previously worked for the company that are sponsoring me.