out going passenger card

[maccastime]

Well i have just about organised all necessary paperwork here in Australia,for my retirement in Hua Hin,for January 23.
1. question.. i am a permanent resident in Aust,exiting on a one way ticket. On my outgoing passenger card from Sydney,do i complete the section Aust resident departing Temp? or Aust resident departing permanently? As i have been advised that if i complete Departing permanently,this info will be entered onto a database,and may effect what i wish to keep in Aus,e.g. medicare,taxation etc etc.I will be making the odd trip back,and was worried about this.
Hopefully some kind expats may steer me in the right direction.

[Nereus]

Yes, it is confusing. Before I left more than twenty years ago I notified the ATO (tax) that I was moving overseas, and also got removed from the electoral roll. Ever since I just go in and out as a visitor. I still have a Medicare Card, but they will not pay the Pension. I have seen on other forums that some people have found their Medicare Card cancelled. I believe that you are "supposed" to notify Medicare if you are going for more that 3 months, but I never have done so. I also still hold an Australian drivers licence, and in fact just had it renewed, but you need an Australian address to do that. (WA).

My advice for you, would be to insert "temporary", and just leave it at that. I assume that when you say that you have the paperwork in order, that you have either an "O" or "OA" visa for Thailand? If not you are likely to get hassled about the one way ticket. Good luck.

[squire]

I'm an Australian citizen but have lived permanently overseas for the past 15 years. I always tick the 'Aust. resident departing permanently' box during my annual visit to see my folks in Aust. I still have a valid Medicare Card and I'm a non-resident for Aust. tax purposes. However, the Medicare records show my residential address being that of my parents in Australia (don't inform them that you have an overseas address). For tax purposes, it was best that I inform the ATO of my overseas residence, in that way, I only pay with-holding tax on Australian interest income rather than marginal tax rates. Since Australia does not have a national ID card, it cab be difficult for various gov't dep't's to keep track of you.

Similarly to Nereus I had my name taken off the electoral roll, and for my NSW Driver's Licence, I use my parent's address and if I'm not in Australia at the time of expiry, the NSW RTA allows licence holders to renew their licence by mail (but not for consecutive periods).

[chelsea]

Well i have just about organised all necessary paperwork here in Australia,for my retirement in Hua Hin,for January 23.
1. question.. i am a permanent resident in Aust,exiting on a one way ticket. On my outgoing passenger card from Sydney,do i complete the section Aust resident departing Temp? or Aust resident departing permanently? As i have been advised that if i complete Departing permanently,this info will be entered onto a database,and may effect what i wish to keep in Aus,e.g. medicare,taxation etc etc.I will be making the odd trip back,and was worried about this.
Hopefully some kind expats may steer me in the right direction.

I am from UK originaly and have Australian Citzenship, if you have permenant residence but not citzenship, look into how long you can be out of the country before your permenant residence runs out.
I had a mate that went back to live in the Uk (only had perm res) and he had to come back for visits every few years to keep his residence up.

I would definitley mark temp departure and probably buy a cheap ticket to exit Thailand before you leave (even if only from BKK to Singapore) as now days some airlines will not let you aboard without having a departing ticket. Plus if only a one way ticket you may get hassle at the Thai end when you arrive.

If you have a trusted friend in Aus use their home as the address you will be staying at and keep all licences, medicare etc going as if you do go back to Aus to live, then all has to be started again.

Before you leave get all your bank statements, credit card bills, insurance and any other correspondence that you may get sent to be mailed online to you. That way whoever has your mail going to them will only have a minimal amount to deal with.

Also if you put that you are permanent departure and not have citizenship, they may cancel your residence as you have stated you are going for good. It is hard enough getting it in the 1st place, once you loose you will never get it back again.

Licence renewals, tax returns etc can all be done online, so as long as you can get all the info from where you get your post sent, all will be OK.

Definitly only mark temp departure and keep all other things going and take a cheap exit Thailand return ticket with you on departure and then you should have most bases covered.

Good luck

[chelsea]

One other thing that I forgot to mention, when I only had permenant residence and no Australian passport (only UK), I had to apply for a re-entry visa to Aus before I left. If you did not apply for one (they will let you out of the country) but you are refused entry back into Australia.

Also if you did apply and went over the date that the re entry visa was issued for, again they used to refuse entry back into Aus.
So be very careful in what you do, otherwise you may get into big trouble with your Aus residence status.

[maccastime]

Thanks Chelsea for this info.
Yes i have Aust citizenship,born here in Sydney.
I am applying for a non imigrant visa here in Sydney,then a retirement Visa in LOS.
The Thai Embassy advised me i would not have any problems with my one way ticket,as i will have my Non Imigrant Visa,hope this is the case.
Also i think i will take your advice on not advising Medicare etc,and yes i have an address in Aus for my mail.
Once again many thanks.From a concerned liverpool supporter.
Take care.