Immigrating to the UK

Paul Kemp said:
1. I have 3 smarty plans that cost me £25.20 a month. Contracts help with credit but I just can’t bring myself to sign one.
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How/where did you sign up for this?
Sinbad said:
If you don't mind the schlep, it's worth switching your current account regularly - a lot of the banks offer inducements to do this, couple hundred pounds here or there, it adds up
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Yea - Ive done this, is also helps keeping an eye on the pitiful savings account interest rates and move money as they offer better rates for liquid savings.
 
Priapus said:
Renewing my SA passport - it expires in 2025. But I don't fancy going through the hassle @Sinbad went through, doing it abroad. So, doing it now.

Do I tell DHA I lost it? They give several options - one being "Expires in more than 6 months" - which is correct. But I am not sure if they take issue with that sort of thing?
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I'm in the same situation with a passport expiring in 2025.
What was the conclusion about what option to select when renewing?
 
PsYTraNc3 said:
I'm in the same situation with a passport expiring in 2025.
What was the conclusion about what option to select when renewing?
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I just selected the "Expiring in more than 6 months" option. Which was an extra R600 fee. Paid R1200 in total. Seems like a small price to pay, to avoid issues later in getting a new passport abroad.

Taking a trip tomorrow to get biometrics done at the local DHA office.
 
Dave said:
Smarty is a sub-brand of Three.

Pay As You Go SIM Deals | Free PAYG SIM Card

Explore SMARTY's pay as you go SIM cards for flexible, no-contract mobile service. Enjoy flexible SMARTY PAYG plans with unlimited calls and texts.
smarty.co.uk smarty.co.uk
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That, or buy a card at Argos and activate via the app if you don’t want to wait for sim delivery. Then you just manage it via the app. When family come out to visit I activate one of the handful of spares I have for their trip duration. Check coverage in your area but I’ve travelled all over the country and it does the job.

Edit: Reading that again, you’ve already got smarty? 12GB plan for myself is £7.20 2X 30gb @£9 each for the kids. Unlimited calls and text and we never run out of data.
 
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Paul Kemp said:
That, or buy a card at Argos and activate via the app if you don’t want to wait for sim delivery. Then you just manage it via the app. When family come out to visit I activate one of the handful of spares I have for their trip duration. Check coverage in your area but I’ve travelled all over the country and it does the job.
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Let me rephrase my question above, are you paying £25.20pm for 3 sims uncapped?
 
Tman* said:
Let me rephrase my question above, are you paying £25.20pm for 3 sims uncapped?
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Yeah, just realised my misread there and edited. Not unlimited but we just don’t consume huge amounts of data outside of our home.
 
Priapus said:
I just selected the "Expiring in more than 6 months" option. Which was an extra R600 fee. Paid R1200 in total. Seems like a small price to pay, to avoid issues later in getting a new passport abroad.

Taking a trip tomorrow to get biometrics done at the local DHA office.
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That's perfect.
Thanks!
 
Right, first step done. Applied for the new passport - did not feel like visiting a local DHA office and FNB slots were all full until next year. So I went down to the Discovery building and just said there was an issue booking a slot - they assisted me - biometrics done.

Next up, house goes on the market next week.

Things are happening.
 
Priapus said:
Right, first step done. Applied for the new passport - did not feel like visiting a local DHA office and FNB slots were all full until next year. So I went down to the Discovery building and just said there was an issue booking a slot - they assisted me - biometrics done.

Next up, house goes on the market next week.

Things are happening.
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Nicely done. Once the ball starts rolling it all happens in the blink of an eye. Next thing you know, and you’re in Blighty.
 
The Voice said:
Nicely done. Once the ball starts rolling it all happens in the blink of an eye. Next thing you know, and you’re in Blighty.
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Still feels like it's a long time away; we plan to leave at the end of April (Wife has no choice due to visa issues) - and that seems like ages away.

Got to do some minor touch ups around the house before the estate agent comes by with her photographer next week.
 
Mephisto_Helix said:
April will be here before you know it and suddenly it'll be too soon :laugh: Voice is right, it flies when it gets going
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Indeed! I got in on my wife’s ancestry visa. She came over first while I was doing my application and tied up loose ends in SA - I’d be joining her in 6 month’s time. Plan was to resign and take some time off to pack up, say my goodbyes, etc, in the last 2 months.

The 6 months were cut down to just 5 when the Home Office screwed up my entry date (I’d asked for December - they put it as November). I kakked my pants because 4 months had just flown by, so had to do everything in just a few weeks, including resigning - my boss was PISSED because I only have him 2 weeks notice. I was like what are you going to do? I’m leaving the country lol.

I had to give the family member I was selling my car to power of attorney to complete the transfer of ownership as well because I had to get to the UK to collect my BRP.
 
The Voice said:
Yeah, not sure how, but as of the 5th I’ve been here for 8 years already.
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My wife has been in SA for 8 years. That seems to have just flown by.

I’m still really on the fence with regards to using an immigration agent for the visa. I’m worried I screw up the required documents etc.

I know Im eligible for the Soouse visa - as my wife was born in the uk and both her parents are British citizens.

It’s like an extra 20k to use agents.
 
The Voice said:
Indeed! I got in on my wife’s ancestry visa. She came over first while I was doing my application and tied up loose ends in SA - I’d be joining her in 6 month’s time. Plan was to resign and take some time off to pack up, say my goodbyes, etc, in the last 2 months.

The 6 months were cut down to just 5 when the Home Office screwed up my entry date (I’d asked for December - they put it as November). I kakked my pants because 4 months had just flown by, so had to do everything in just a few weeks, including resigning - my boss was PISSED because I only have him 2 weeks notice. I was like what are you going to do? I’m leaving the country lol.

I had to give the family member I was selling my car to power of attorney to complete the transfer of ownership as well because I had to get to the UK to collect my BRP.
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LMAO poor guy. But yeah, there was literally nothing he could do. It is what it is/was.

I’m in talks with my company still. They know I am leaving. They have a UK HQ. So they going to see if it’s feasible for me to work there in a UK contract.

Otherwise I’ll work for them for 6 months whilst in the UK on SA contract until I find a local job. Probably won’t take 6 months to find a local job.
 
Priapus said:
My wife has been in SA for 8 years. That seems to have just flown by.

I’m still really on the fence with regards to using an immigration agent for the visa. I’m worried I screw up the required documents etc.

I know Im eligible for the Soouse visa - as my wife was born in the uk and both her parents are British citizens.

It’s like an extra 20k to use agents.
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Like I said, they'll contact you for documentation if they need more.
 
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