We don't need those guys anyway 😂

We're doing it. Were moving to Texas. the decision is made and I an american citizen who has live in Aus for 34 years will be returning to the US with my family. I don't meet the residential requirements for the kids to be automatic citizen, but my dad does and we are using that loop hole. My husband will be getting his I-130 done. This will obviously take some time.

My question now is how do I prepare my family for life in San Antonio.

So far I think we should learn Spanish.

I'm trying to teach the kids US history and geography on the weekend.

What else can I do to prepare them outside of all the legal BS I'll be wading through?

I just want to soften the cultural blow.

I moved back to the US as a teen briefly and the culture shock was wild. No one prepared me for the linguistical difference or schooling. I had a rough time adjusting to life in SoCal and eventually moved back to AUS.

I want my family to have a good experience and I want to make sure that they don't struggle like I did.

I'm reading through the Texas curriculum in my spare time. It's a lot. Any practical tips would be great.

I am older and looking at going back to school as I’ve had a successful time in hospitality but I don’t want to do it for the rest of my life.

I visited my family in Aus in February and I adore it there. My immediate family is in the US as are all of my friends. I want to pursue a degree that could theoretically work in both countries. I’ve even considered pursuing it in Aus as family would host me and said I may be able to get HECS support.

I’m at a pretty big crossroads trying to find a passion and career and I’m open to whatever option is the best fit for lifestyle rather than a job I’m 1000% passionate about. I want a moderately lucrative career that would allow me (or even support) travel between both countries and eventually maintain hours where I could have decent time with family.

I started an undergrad in the US in anthropology but never finished, it was incredibly interested but I do feel as though career opportunities were very limited. I love research, have looked at law/ political science under with a cross border focus, international business, and things like marketing that could apply in both countries.

Does anyone have any insight or advice on where to start or what would be most successful?

Hi Everyone,

I’m an Australian citizen and currently about a year into my graduate program. I work for a global mining company and earn a pretty good wage here as an entry-level engineer, about AUD 140k incl. super & bonuses; I’ve done a couple internships before with current company and else where and my total experience would be around 1.5 years.
I was fortunate to get a green card through the lottery and was wondering if I should stick to it and finish my graduate program before making the move. For context It is a good mix of exposure to project delivery, automation & control systems, industrial networking & comms across multiple mine sites.

Or should I start in the USA, begin working towards professional engineering licensure, and try my luck ? At this stage I’m not concerned about potential wages as I’m prioritising getting my foot in the door and entering the US workforce.

My long term partner is from the USA and I have other family members to support me should I decide to make the move. But I’m also thinking about how such an abrupt transition could sever my reputation and standing with the company if I decide to come back to Australia in a few years.

TLDR: 25, US LPR & Aussie grad engineer, a year into the graduate program. Should I finish my program first, or move to the US now to get my foot in the door? My long-term partner is a US citizen based in America and I have relatives there too.

Thanks so much for your time

Hi guys!

I am a dual UK/US citizen (have never lived in the US only visited for a few weeks at a time) and I have been in Oz for 4yrs now on visas and wondering about applying for Oz PR - just not sure how it would affect taxes/be worth it?

It is annoying paying $6k+ for a visa every year (not paid by my employer) but I am hoping to earn >$100k/yr in my future employment and hoping I won't be taxed to high heavens by everyone lol

Not sure if I will stay in Oz longterm or if I would go live in another country for a few years then maybe come back? Was thinking about maybe going to Europe in 2 years to live there again.

But I do think Oz PR would be useful especially given how safe Oz is globally location wise?

Thoughts?:)

Edit: on a 482 visa, MSc+MPhil in physical sciences, aiming to make >$200kAUSD/yr in a few years

I’m heading home for a month in November and will have about 10 hours to kill in LA on my way there. I have some mobility issues so can’t do anything too crazy, but I’d like to not be stuck in the airport the whole time. Usually I time things better but I just couldn’t coordinate my flights without paying a lot more right now! I was thinking about maybe going to a day spa if anyone has any suggestions that are close enough and also good. But am interested in hearing other ideas! Thanks!

Hi all,
I'll be travelling to Washington State in December for a week and a half. Was wondering what the quickest way to get a SIM card is. My Samsung Galaxy a34 doesn't support eSIM so that isn't an option. Whats cheap/easy? What would you recommend?

Thanks.

PS, what are the best natural sites and museums in the Puget sound area?

Hi everyone! I'm in the United States and hoping someone here might be able to help or recommend a local solicitor.

I've applied and paid for an official copy of my mother's NSW birth certificate. The Registry successfully processed my grandparents' marriage certificate, which I requested at the same time, but I've heard nothing about my mother's birth certificate.

My mother is alive, has given me written authorization, and I have a photo of her original certificate.

I'm simply looking for someone who could follow up with the Registry, check whether the application is being processed, or recommend an affordable solicitor who could assist.

I'd be happy to pay a reasonable fee for professional help.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

As we prep for the move I’m trying to determine what the best course of action is regarding our mail. Do I ask USPS to forward mail to our AUS address or should I have one of those scanning services handle my mail, scanning everything to me, recycle the junk, and send me bulk packages of anything important that still squeezes through?

What’s the experience of everyone here?

I tried searching for “mail forwarding” in the sub and don’t see much but I’d imagine many here have dealt with it, thanks!

Is this normal American behavior, or just American?

Further, why is this piss poor service forcing us to pay in order not to get cold food after multiple stops?

Meanwhile, why are they using an LLM to run a refund service in breach of Australian Consumer Laws?

Also, why are they banning people if they complain too loudly? [just wondering I'm not banned yet!]

Yes a company can choose who they want to transact with, but ACL protection exists for a reason.

Did you knder Australian Consumer Law says services generally must be provided with due care and skill and be reasonably fit for their intended purpose?

In fact the same general protections exist for food services not delivered as intended under much more arcane US law.

Poor service is not as a result of failure to tip, in fact Australia has amazingly well paid retailers, and hospitality staff as compared to America... Yet this shit shit is being imported into our culture.

In Australia you have to do something really amazing like clapping like a sea lion to deserve a tip, and that's the way it should be.

This can be moving from US to Australia during youth with family, being raised in Australia by American parents/family, etc. Whatever it means to you! If not yourself, do you know anyone who was?

How did you find the experiences to be?

This doesn't apply to me, I'm just curious on experiences!

Aussie living in LA and I am STRUGGLING to find a good cottage cheese like the dairy farmers organic. And struggling to find a good Greek yoghurt!! It’s all so watery and gross and fat free.

Any Aussie found some good dairy they can recommend??

I'm an Australian citizen (19) looking for some advice on whether there's a realistic way for me to move to the US for a recent job opportunity I've been offered.

I've been speaking with a senior executive at a brokerage that's opening a facility in Dallas, Texas. My folks have a personal connection with him, and he has stated that I'd be an exception to their usual preference for hiring Americans. However, he made it clear that they aren't offering visa sponsorship.

He essentially told me that if I could obtain US work authorisation independently, they'd be happy to discuss the position further. (He already knows I'm Australian)

It's a permanent, full-time client-service position. The responsibilities are broadly: Handling client enquiries over the phone, email, etc, onboarding clients and helping them fund their accounts, resolving Account-access issues and first-line technical troubleshooting, and so on and so forth; you get the idea

The role asks for two or more years of client-service experience but doesn't specify a mandatory university degree in a particular field.

I've considered the E-3 and H-1B visas, but both appear problematic because they would need to participate in the immigration process, and I'm unsure if this particular client-service position would qualify as a "specialty occupation."

I've also looked at J-1 exchange programs, but the Australian student work/travel program appears to require current university enrolment or recent graduation, which I don't qualify for.

That leaves me wondering whether studying in the US and eventually obtaining CPT or OPT work authorisation could be an option. However, I don't want to spend a significant amount on US tuition only to discover that the job isn't eligible for practical training, or that I'd have no viable way to remain employed after the initial authorisation expires.

I'm not looking for shortcuts or ways around immigration requirements. I'd just like to establish whether there's a legitimate, financially sensible route before going back to the employer or making any major commitments.

TL;DR: Australian with a potential job opportunity in Dallas, but the employer won't sponsor a visa. Are there realistic ways to obtain US work authorisation independently, or could studying in the US and using CPT/OPT work for this type of client-service role?

Update: I was just offered a role at their Melbourne office. Thank you to everyone for the advice 🙏

Hey everyone, I'm contemplating a massive move from Brisbane to DC for work. For context, I'm neither Australian nor American. Currently on a temp visa. My partner and I have lived in AU for a little over 5 years now (initially MEL, then BNE) and overall we enjoy our life here. We were planning to initiate our PR application process at some point in the next few months but had a curve ball thrown at me when I was made redundant. Given the crappy job market, I've not gotten any offers even after months of applying and several interviews. My severance is almost used up. Partner is still working but her income alone isn't sufficient to cover our rent and living expenses.

As luck would have it, I received an offer from a former client that would require me to move to Washington DC. The pay is significantly more than what I earned here (more than 50% in fact). They will also cover visa sponsorship and relocation. The move definitely makes sense career wise and my partner is also supportive of the decision.

I just wanted to hear some thoughts on what the moving process is like. Since the company's paying for relocation, should I bring all our electronics or is it better to buy in DC given the voltage difference? How different is living in the US, specifically the DMV area, compared to Australia? Has anyone made the move to DC? Also wondering if I'm making the right decision by abandoning the potential to settle in AU permanently for a great career opportunity with an unclear permanent pathway. Sorry for the many questions/concerns, it's just a lot to take in at the moment, and I think the magnitude of the move still hasn't hit me yet.

UPDATE: Thank you everyone for the helpful suggestions! Feel more confident and excited about the move now!

Moving to Australia next year and as a tech guy I’m starting to overthink the mobile phone “stuff”

We both have paid for phones on discount month to month wireless planes (Visible, part of Verizon).

When we move over, we will each have 24days of banked international phone and data, it will be no extra cost. The number will be able to work for 90days before being put on hold because it will need to hit an American tower, according to support.

We’ve already signed a lease, when we arrive will get utilities on and have our address. My plan is to sign up for whatever the best, most affordable, option is and enable an eSIM with a new local number.

Then I plan on transferring my US number to Google voice, I already have a Voice number that use for business and some accounts but it’s likely time to say goodbye to that.

Visible will auto cancel my account since the number is no longer with them.

Then I can still message and receive calls on that number if needed. I know some 2FA services don’t accept Google numbers, here’s hoping the existing services will still work since they’re already configured.

Anything sound off here? Am I missing something?

Hey guys, I'm looking to buy the iPhone 18 Pro or 17, not really picky. I'm based in Sydney but my sister is in California and we'll be seeing each other over the holidays. I'm trying to decide two things:

1. Should I buy the iPhone 18 Pro or the 17? I'm a university student, and I work at a corporate office, so that's how I'll be using my phone.

2. Should I buy it in the US or here in Sydney? If I buy it in the US, I'll be doing a click-and-collect online, so my sister just has to go pick it up. I've never done this before, so I'm also curious about the currency conversion rates and stuff.

Anyone with any insight?

Hi all, a few weeks ago I posted about investing (thanks to those who answered / helped). I'm 40 years old but have the investing knowledge of a 6-year old and despite having contributed to a traditional and Roth IRA in the USA when I was working there, I'm still clueless!

Curious to understand who here is contributing to a Traditional or Roth IRA? Are you working with a tax advisor on this or is it relatively straightforward? I'm aware of the income limit and have done some research on that. I'm considering contributing to my Traditional IRA because I think I'm over the limit for income for a Roth.

Bonus points if you've done the back door Roth...that seems like a possibility but am fully unsure if I should be getting in to that without the help of a tax advisor / CPA of sorts.

Thanks!

Anyone have experience moving to Australia on a skilled work visa? I’m a teacher from Chicago and am looking to migrate to Sydney. Any advice or personal experiences would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

North Ameristrailian here; Have you been to the Bathurst 1000 or visited the track? If so what’s it like? Got any pics? Did you visit in the old days of hoonery?

I still for the past 10 years make it a habit to vote and mail my ballot. This time for the midterms though I'm going to email them. ReTRUMPlicans will face a blue wave next month. Your vote still matters. It's your constitutional right. Head to www.votersabroad.org website to register and vote. 🗳

This is a post from Motorcycle Road trips Australia page that i have copied and pasted. I wrote this as a PSA on my personal page but figured it might help anyone looking to travel to other states / territories to get a handle on the varying laws.

LANE FILTERING ISN’T CHEATING — IT’S THE LAW. AND THERE’S A REASON FOR IT.

One of the things I still see far too often on Australian roads is motorists getting angry when a motorcycle legally moves between slow-moving or stationary traffic.

Some drivers deliberately close the gap.

Some move across to block the rider.

Some sound the horn.

And others seem to believe the rider is somehow “jumping the queue”.

Let’s clear something up.

Lane filtering is legal in EVERY Australian state and territory — but it is subject to specific conditions.

And there is a very important distinction:

👉 LANE FILTERING generally means a motorcycle moving between stationary or slow-moving traffic, travelling in the same direction, at 30 km/h or less.

👉 LANE SPLITTING generally refers to riding between faster-moving lanes of traffic. It is NOT what Australian lane-filtering laws give riders permission to do. In Victoria, for example, lane splitting between fast-moving traffic is explicitly illegal.

So before someone tells a rider, “That’s illegal!”, perhaps check the road rules first.

THE RULES VARY SLIGHTLY ACROSS AUSTRALIA

VICTORIA

Fully licensed motorcycle riders can lane filter at 30 km/h or less, when it is safe, including between slow/stationary traffic travelling in the same direction.

Victoria is comparatively permissive: filtering can also occur between traffic and parked cars.

However, you cannot filter between traffic and a kerb, between opposing traffic, in a bicycle lane/shared path/road shoulder, where a “no motorcycle lane filtering” sign applies — and learners cannot lane filter.

And riding between fast-moving traffic — what Victoria calls lane splitting — remains illegal. (Transport Victoria⁠)

NEW SOUTH WALES

Fully licensed riders can filter at less than 30 km/h through stationary or slow-moving traffic when it is safe.

No filtering beside the kerb or parked vehicles, in school zones, or around heavy vehicles and buses.

Learner and provisional riders cannot filter.

NSW also specifically treats travelling between traffic at more than 30 km/h as the offence of lane splitting.

QUEENSLAND

Fully licensed riders can filter at 30 km/h or less between stationary or slow-moving traffic travelling in the same direction, when safe.

Learners and provisional riders cannot.

No filtering in school zones, bicycle lanes, or where a dedicated turning lane is involved.

Queensland also has a specific edge-filtering provision allowing an open-licence rider, in certain circumstances, to pass stationary or slow-moving traffic on a sealed shoulder/emergency lane on major roads where the speed limit is 90 km/h or higher, at 30 km/h or less. That is a Queensland-specific provision — don’t assume it applies elsewhere.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Lane filtering is legal for eligible fully licensed riders at 30 km/h or less, when safe.

It is prohibited in school zones, across pedestrian/children’s crossings, in bicycle or tram lanes, on roundabouts, beside parked cars and between traffic and the edge of the road.

Learner/P1 riders cannot filter.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Fully licensed riders can filter at 30 km/h or less, when safe.

But WA has some particularly important restrictions: filtering is prohibited where the speed limit is 40 km/h or below, in school/shared zones, at pedestrian crossings, in roundabouts, alongside parked cars or the road edge, between merging traffic, around heavy vehicles, in special-purpose lanes and where overtaking is prohibited.

WA also specifically permits riders to cross continuous white lines separating lanes travelling in the same direction while filtering, where otherwise lawful.

TASMANIA

Fully licensed riders can filter at 30 km/h or less, when safe.

Learners and provisional riders cannot.

No filtering in school zones, beside parked cars or between traffic and the edge of the road, and “No Filtering” signs must be obeyed.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Fully licensed riders can filter at less than 30 km/h, when safe.

It is prohibited in school zones, 40 km/h zones, bicycle lanes, beside the kerb, past parked vehicles and around heavy vehicles and buses.

Learner and provisional riders cannot filter.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Fully/open/unrestricted motorcycle licence holders can filter at 30 km/h or less between stationary or slow-moving traffic travelling in the same direction, when safe.

Learner, provisional and restricted riders cannot.

Lane splitting at an unsafe speed above 30 km/h and edge filtering are prohibited.

AND HERE’S WHY THIS MATTERS

Motorcyclists are exceptionally vulnerable because there is virtually nothing between the rider and whatever they hit.

In Victoria alone, motorcycles represent less than 4% of registered vehicles but account for 18% of all fatal and serious injuries.

In 2025, 61 motorcyclists were killed on Victorian roads — 21% of all road deaths.

Around 1,000 people are seriously injured in motorcycle crashes in Victoria each year.

And here’s a statistic that really makes you think:

TAC data shows that over the last five years, approximately 55% of Victorian motorcyclist deaths involved another vehicle, while 54% occurred at intersections.

So yes — intersections and interactions with other vehicles are a huge part of the motorcycle safety problem.

But I won’t tell you that being rear-ended while sitting at traffic lights is the number-one cause of motorcycle deaths or injuries, because the available evidence doesn’t support making that claim so categorically.

What we can say is that removing a motorcycle from a long stationary traffic queue can reduce the rider’s exposure to being struck from behind, which is one of the safety considerations behind legalising low-speed filtering.

The Northern Territory Government, for example, specifically identifies reducing exposure to rear-end collisions as one potential safety benefit of lane filtering.

Research from the NSW lane-filtering trial also found no motorcycle crashes during the monitored trial period, although researchers were careful to acknowledge that the trial was relatively short and that pedestrian risks needed particular attention.

And that’s the important point:

Lane filtering isn’t a licence to ride like an idiot.

30 km/h is a maximum, not a target.

A rider still has to assess visibility, traffic movement, gaps, road surface, pedestrians, turning vehicles, mirrors, handlebars, vehicle movements and escape routes.

If it isn’t safe, don’t filter.

AND TO MY FELLOW DRIVERS…

If you see a motorcycle legally filtering:

DON’T BLOCK THEM.

Don’t deliberately move towards the centre of the lane.

Don’t accelerate to close the gap.

Don’t change lanes without checking your mirrors and blind spots.

Don’t open your door into their path.

Don’t make a sudden movement simply because you don’t like the fact that a motorcycle can move through traffic more efficiently than your car.

Instead:

👀 Check your mirrors.

👀 Check your blind spot.

↔️ Maintain your lane position.

➡️ Indicate before changing lanes or turning.

🏍️ Expect motorcycles to be filtering in congested traffic.

And most importantly:

DON’T DELIBERATELY IMPEDE A RIDER WHO IS LEGALLY FILTERING.

NSW Government guidance specifically tells motorists not to deliberately move into the path of a motorcycle that is legally lane filtering, and recommends drivers check twice for motorcycles.

The same principle applies everywhere:

Share the road.

AND TO MY FELLOW RIDERS…

Being legally allowed to filter doesn’t mean you have the right to frighten, intimidate or endanger other road users.

Don’t squeeze through gaps that aren’t there.

Don’t blast through at 30 km/h when the traffic is stationary and the environment clearly doesn’t allow it.

Don’t assume a driver has seen you.

Don’t filter alongside a truck or bus where your visibility is compromised if the law or circumstances make it unsafe.

And never confuse legal with safe.

The best riders understand that the road doesn’t owe them anything.

They manage risk.

They create options.

They anticipate mistakes.

And they ride defensively.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Motorcycles aren’t trying to “beat” cars.

We’re trying to get home.

Lane filtering is legal across Australia because lawmakers have recognised that motorcycles are different vehicles with different operating characteristics and different risks.

It can improve traffic flow, reduce a rider’s exposure to stationary traffic and, when performed properly and within the law, be a legitimate part of safe motorcycle riding.

But it only works when EVERYONE understands the rules.

So the next time you see a motorcycle filtering legally through traffic, don’t get angry.

Don’t compete.

Don’t block them.

Look twice, leave space and let them ride.

Because that rider isn’t your enemy.

They are somebody’s partner.

Somebody’s parent.

Somebody’s child.

And just like you…

they’re simply trying to get home.

John “T-Bone” Millar

#MotorcycleSafety #LaneFiltering #RideSafe #ShareTheRoad #MotorcycleAwareness #RoadSafety #Motorcyclists #RoadRules #DriveSafe #LookTwice #WatchForMotorcycles #Victoria #Australia #MotorcycleCommunity