The state of the UK property market is affecting applicants who are either in the process of applying for Australian business visas or who have obtained their business visas but waiting the best time to make their permanent move.

Many UK business migrants would be relying upon the sale proceeds of their family home to provide both the business investment as well as settlment funds required to make the move and establish themselves in Australia.

The continuing decrease in UK property prices means that the confidence of many business migrants is slowly being chipped away as they had hoped a good sale price would facilitate their move to Australia.

For those who are in the process of applying and are holding back on lodging a visa application, its important to be aware that the Australian government can change visa requirements from time to time.  Your eligibility is not guaranteed, if you choose to wait and the immigration rules change and you become ineligible than unfortunately your window of opportunity has closed.  Its important to remember that most of the provisional business visas are granted for 4 years, once granted, the visa holder is not obligated to move permanently straight away.  For many UK migrants, it may take up to 18 months to settle their affairs at home before leaving for Australia.  The visa period allows for this, and this effectively means that some business migrants could delay their move.  No doubt the the property market will continue posing significant issues into 2009, perhaps there is some solace for visa holders that they do not have to make the big move just yet but the clock is ticking.