Is it possible to open a Australian bank account without having a visa. With the rise in the exchange rate, we would like to change a few thousand pounds over now. Our meds were sent on the 2nd of Dec so we hope to hear something within the next month.
Also if our visa is not granted will there be a problem changing it back

Jacqui

Hi Jacqui

It's good to see you are thinking ahead about the exchange rate in advance.

We opened a bank account with the commonwealth bank of Australia (they have a branch in London. http://www.migrantbanking.co.uk/index.php We already had our Visa so not sure if you need to have your visa or not.

We did not transfer our £ into $ with the Commonwealth bank though we used http://www.hifx.co.uk/index.asp I dont recall having to show them a visa.

Not sure what you understand about buying currency but if you want to buy all your currency now (even though you do not have all the money to pay for it) you can on what is called a forward contract. Anyway I am no expert but if you click onto the following link it will take you to the emigration page of the HIFX site and they explain it all there. http://www.hifx.co.uk/pservices/emigration.asp

We found them a great group of people all friendly and always happy to help.

Good luck with your move over here

Sharon
www.immigrate-to-a-new-life-in-perth.com

Hi Jacqui,

Yes you can open a bank account without having a visa - we did.

Good luck on hearing about the meds.

Sarah