LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Hey all! It's been a bit.. but Paul and I have gotten the packet 3 sent back to Sydney as of Monday. *fingers crossed*

Do you know if it's good for the American fiancee to attend the interview? I can try to fly out if it's a good thing.

Just waiting for packet 4 and the interview date!

Australia is a low fraud consulate. You can go if you want but honestly it doesn't affect the Aussie process at all, whereas in some countries it does. Save the money on a flight for a surprise when your fiancee gets there.. or something My husband (then fiancee) had roses waiting for me on the front seat of his car when we walked out of the airport. Made me very happy.

[TJ2010 5]

You're doing CR1 so the NVC will request it be sent with your DS-230. Not sure of the NSW application form, but there is a part where you can specify your address. Best of luck ...

Hi Deb+Steve you're right, I am doing CR1. On the NSW application for police certificate theres a space for an address, so I'll put mine and have it sent to me.

May I ask fellow CR1ers... We're waiting for NOA2 and transfer to NVC.

Will the next step in the process require me (the Australian visa recipient) to collect the "pre interview" documents and return them the the consulate here in Sydney, or should I be sending these documents to my husband in the US to return to an NVC centre in the US?

I'm kind of frazzled because my husband is about to go on an extended "business trip" and won't have access to his mail/finances for the duration. We thought we were organised when he mailed me his tax stuff and his I-864 thinking that the rest of the process will be handled between me and the Sydney consulate, but reading VJ makes me think this is not the case, and he still needs to have input in the process.

I'm sorry but I'm just reading so many conflicting things so I was hoping to get the info from the horses mouth as it were, (fellow 2010 Australian CR1-ers)

Many thanks and all the best

[Deb+Steve 13]

Hey TJ

NVC is split between you and your husband:-

1. About a week after you receive NOA2, you can check the NVC AVR for a case #. Soon as you have a case #, speak to an operator and give them your email address and your husband's email. For reasons much like yours, my husband and I created a joint email purely for immigration.

Petitioner - pays AOS fee $70. Your husband will receive an email with the invoice. When it shows paid in the online portal, he sends in the AOS package (I-864, cover sheet + supporting docs).

Beneficiary - submits the DS-3032 (choice of agent) to NVC. When that is accepted, the petitioner will receive the IV fee bill.

Petitioner - pays IV fee ($400).

Beneficiary - when IV fee is paid, submits DS-230, cover sheet, original docs + copies.

Wait for P4 (interview letter).

The only pre-interview stuff you do as a CR1 is the medical. You will need your husband to pay as they only accept payment from an American bank account. You will have access to teh portal so you can pay it from his account if he is not able to. This is also where the joint email comes in handy. NVC will email you everything once you've given them your emails. Once your case is completed at NVC that is when you book and have your medical done.

Hope that helps, let me know if you need anything else ... best of luck

[bextavaz 4]

Have we worked out if its okay to cancel the return leg of the airfare for our journey over?

Even looking at the prices right now, its $2k for one way and $1.1k for return... its bloody rediculous.

[Deb+Steve 13]

Have we worked out if its okay to cancel the return leg of the airfare for our journey over?

Even looking at the prices right now, its $2k for one way and $1.1k for return... its bloody rediculous.

Hey Bex - V has one way flights to LAX all through August for less than $600. That's what we bought and the husband booked our domestic flights to Tampa from LA.

[bextavaz 4]

Hey Bex - V has one way flights to LAX all through August for less than $600. That's what we bought and the husband booked our domestic flights to Tampa from LA.

I completely forgot about V Aust. I've always flown QANTAS so was only really checking them out... Kinda surprising that they don't match fares to VAUST though...

Just had a look and one way flights at $573 for the very end of August... I wonder why the prices go up in September... must be a peak travel time from Aus...

Will certainly keep V in mind now... haha.. THX Deb

How's the emotional rollercoaster ride going? I am currently relating very well with your comments Selling everything and essentially starting at zero is definitely something I'd rather skip in this process hahaha

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Have we worked out if its okay to cancel the return leg of the airfare for our journey over?

Even looking at the prices right now, its $2k for one way and $1.1k for return... its bloody rediculous.

You have your cheaper flights but I thought I should tell you there's no issue with not taking the return flight. One person did have issues when they had their interview, the IO claiming they left the country during the process... but a simple check of the airlines records will prove it didn't happen.

[painterface 0]

she got the packet 4 today

her interview is august 3rd

here's the thing..

she sent her sealed medical records and police check with all the forms already

but

the checklist says(all checked):

1 PASSPORT: A passport must have at least 8 months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa.

1 AUSTRALIAN POLICE CERTIFICATE: The certificate must be issued on the basis of a fingerprint check.

1 MEDICAL RECORDS: Please ensure that the panel physician provides you with a copy of Form DS-3025 vaccination documentation worksheet as part of your medical.

1 MRV FEE: This fee can be paid at any Australia Post outlet. Ensure you bring the original receipt for this payment with you to the interview. This fee is payable in Australian Dollars. 1 USD$140.00

1 EXPRESS POST 3KG ENVELOPE: Please be sure the envelope contains your name and the address where you would like us to mail the visa.

1 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Unless otherwise stated, we require the original and one photocopy of all documents

..I don't understand

should I email them? is there a number I can call?

what's the deal?

[bextavaz 4]

Phwoar just noticed the massive bruise on my arm from the blood test... TY Brisbane medical..

[CareBear 18]

Dont want to hear that Bex - havent had mine yet!!! lol

[bextavaz 4]

Dont want to hear that Bex - havent had mine yet!!! lol

It was just a standard blood test, I've got no problems with that little ####### of a thing, I've just never seen my arm bruised after one before

I just remembered, apparently I was "too big" for the x-ray, so they had to shoot through twice, and apparently then it was sketchy.. hahah...

Another thing to note as well... They give you two options, you can either pick up your medical once it is complete (from the medical centre) or they can mail it to you... whilst they tell you this, they immediately then say "BUT, if we mail it to you and it goes missing in the post, you will have to take the medical again (and pay the fees AGAIN)...

So whilst I was on my walk around down to the xray/blood test, the post office is right next door... so I went in and got the MASSIVE toughbag that they recommended I get, and went and got a registered post label for it... Cost about $13 total.

This one time in particular, I need Australia Post to pull through on the postal front or I'll go skitz... hahahah

[TJ2010 5]

Hey TJ

NVC is split between you and your husband:-

1. About a week after you receive NOA2, you can check the NVC AVR for a case #. Soon as you have a case #, speak to an operator and give them your email address and your husband's email. For reasons much like yours, my husband and I created a joint email purely for immigration.

Petitioner - pays AOS fee $70. Your husband will receive an email with the invoice. When it shows paid in the online portal, he sends in the AOS package (I-864, cover sheet + supporting docs).

Beneficiary - submits the DS-3032 (choice of agent) to NVC. When that is accepted, the petitioner will receive the IV fee bill.

Petitioner - pays IV fee ($400).

Beneficiary - when IV fee is paid, submits DS-230, cover sheet, original docs + copies.

Wait for P4 (interview letter).

The only pre-interview stuff you do as a CR1 is the medical. You will need your husband to pay as they only accept payment from an American bank account. You will have access to teh portal so you can pay it from his account if he is not able to. This is also where the joint email comes in handy. NVC will email you everything once you've given them your emails. Once your case is completed at NVC that is when you book and have your medical done.

Hope that helps, let me know if you need anything else ... best of luck

Hi Deb/Steve your account has been extremely helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to write that for us. I will be sending my husband to look at your post. A couple of questions. What is the cover sheet you mention with the I-864? Also, is the supporting documentation his tax history? How long did it take before it showed as paid in the online portal after the payment is made?

When I submit the DS3032 is that to the Sydney Consulate? Or sent stateside?

When I submit the DS-230 what original documents are requested? I was thinking it was the whole shebang including a police certificate, is this not the case? I'd really like to have everything organised to that I can send it to them same day, but I don't want to get a police certificate if I don't need one. Is the DS-230 etc. submitted to the Sydney consulate, or does it go to the US?

Trying not to pull my hair out too much over this process Serenity Now!

Cheers,

T&J

[bextavaz 4]

Was just reading the post above by painter...

Seems that my P4 has a completely different type of checklist for the interview

[alex and astrid 38]

she got the packet 4 today

her interview is august 3rd

here's the thing..

she sent her sealed medical records and police check with all the forms already

but

the checklist says(all checked):

1 PASSPORT: A passport must have at least 8 months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa.

1 AUSTRALIAN POLICE CERTIFICATE: The certificate must be issued on the basis of a fingerprint check.

1 MEDICAL RECORDS: Please ensure that the panel physician provides you with a copy of Form DS-3025 vaccination documentation worksheet as part of your medical.

1 MRV FEE: This fee can be paid at any Australia Post outlet. Ensure you bring the original receipt for this payment with you to the interview. This fee is payable in Australian Dollars. 1 USD$140.00

1 EXPRESS POST 3KG ENVELOPE: Please be sure the envelope contains your name and the address where you would like us to mail the visa.

1 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Unless otherwise stated, we require the original and one photocopy of all documents

..I don't understand

should I email them? is there a number I can call?

what's the deal?

You should have photocopies of everything you sent to them, so just make sure your fiancee takes those copies with her to the interview.....I can't remember what my checklist said, I am sure it said my passport, the express post envelope and the receipt for the fee. Email the Immigrant Visa section of the consulate if you want clarification, just be prepared for them to take a few days to get back to you.

Phwoar just noticed the massive bruise on my arm from the blood test... TY Brisbane medical..

I got a SICK bruise from my medical at Ann St. I had Dr. Yates do my bloods - I told him to take it from my right arm, he said he wanted to do the left....took two goes in my right, and then decided I was correct and did it in my right! I ended up with a 10cm bruise on my right, and looked like a junkie in my left

[bextavaz 4]

You should have photocopies of everything you sent to them, so just make sure your fiancee takes those copies with her to the interview.....I can't remember what my checklist said, I am sure it said my passport, the express post envelope and the receipt for the fee. Email the Immigrant Visa section of the consulate if you want clarification, just be prepared for them to take a few days to get back to you.

I got a SICK bruise from my medical at Ann St. I had Dr. Yates do my bloods - I told him to take it from my right arm, he said he wanted to do the left....took two goes in my right, and then decided I was correct and did it in my right! I ended up with a 10cm bruise on my right, and looked like a junkie in my left

Interesting... my blood test was done at Sullivan Nicolaides (where the xray is done at QScan)... its like a one stop shop in there now... I can't say I've ever had a bruise from a blood test before though...