LAND DOWNUNDER

[CarolineM 0]

Dude I totally missed it I went to bed. I mean, he had a pic of his fiance, in her bra and panties, on all fours, looking seductively at the camera and pushing her cleavage together.

It seems that would have been a private photo for them to share - not something to post on a public forum. I wasn't saying I was offended by it, or it was porn, or anything...just questioning whether she knew it was there!!

ya know?

Sheesh!

[Poi_n_J 0]

Hey Caroline,

Thanks for that. I will be looking anything relating to the office from Office administration to reception to P.A. I've worked in different industries so I won't be too fussy but am currently in the engineering industry.

I also will be looking to go to school part time whether thru community college or through scholarships as J is currently doing. So will have to look into that once I'm there and settled with a job. I heard it was expensive to school there being an 'outsider' but with my eventual greencard I'm hoping that will make it different. Anyone know much about that...?

Priscilla

[Kath 0]

hi ya pris

i was talking to a friend of mine who i met off here and she said her husband didnt want to do any schooling before he got his greencard...the us citzen reckons that it wouldnt of made any difference because he was married to a toledo resident and a us citz...

so i would just looking into your town or state fee structure for immigrants either married to or not to us citz an see what ya come up with...to see what the diff is...

does your microsoft word have a resume maker within it on your computer that could help ya out too

kath

[Lunamel 0]

Can't stay long because I'm packing...

But Priscilla -- I don't know if it makes much difference either. I've been studying at NYU, and the tuition for overseas students there seems to be the same as for out-of-state residents (it's cheaper though if you are an in-state resident). So I expect the same will apply for you -- if you apply to a college in the state where you're resident, then you get the "in" rates; if you apply in another state, then it's more expensive.

Mind you, university IS expensive in the US, much much more expensive than here in Australia. Community colleges are a more affordable option -- so it might be worth shopping around.

[Elle 0]

Caroline - it was funny to read after while cuz sum ppl where getting their cyber knickers in a bunch over it. I thought you were genuinely *just* asking if his fiancee knew he had a pic of her like that. But I think some were just stirring trouble.

My friend went to Georgetown for a yr and she said it is quite expensive to go to school there. A lot of her friends took out student loans, so I guess that's something you can also consider? From my understanding, you can also just go to a Jr. College and transfer the credits if you wanted to get a BA from a state Uni.

Just to give you an idea, the tuition for Uni - out of state for a year in MD, is $35Gs, if your a resident its $17Gs. As Chris mentioned, community colleges are much more affordable.

[CarolineM 0]

Stewart goes to the Community College here. He gets in state tuition bc he's married to a Florida resident. Same at any of the Florida Unis...in state. Those colleges ya'll are mentioning are wicked expensive no matter what as they arne't state schools. They ar eprivate. Private uni's will be WAY more expensive!!

STewart loves the CC as he can work and go at the same time. Once he's finished he can go to any in state school! It works out well!!

Kath - the reason he HAD to have his trnascript evaluatted is becuase to get his job he had to prove he had taken certain courses....they had to see an "American" version of it...not sure how it would work with other jobs, but it couldn't hurt

[Elle 0]

Can you get the transcript "Americanized" here or is it over there? Did your hubby have work experience in his field before moving there? I'm wondering if I should get my transcript changed.

I asked Eric and unfortunately the rate I quoted, was for schools like University of Maryland -- which is a state Uni he said. So glad we have HECS!!

Caroline - where in Florida you from? Was there in Daytona for a vacation in September. If he finishes CC, he can apply the credit to any state school, would he still have to pay tuition? I would like to do post grad...its just with the rates Eric mentioned, I'm like aight maybe we should just save up for the kids lol.

Stewart goes to the Community College here. He gets in state tuition bc he's married to a Florida resident. Same at any of the Florida Unis...in state. Those colleges ya'll are mentioning are wicked expensive no matter what as they arne't state schools. They ar eprivate. Private uni's will be WAY more expensive!!

STewart loves the CC as he can work and go at the same time. Once he's finished he can go to any in state school! It works out well!!

Kath - the reason he HAD to have his trnascript evaluatted is becuase to get his job he had to prove he had taken certain courses....they had to see an "American" version of it...not sure how it would work with other jobs, but it couldn't hurt

[ausqueen 0]

Hi all

I disappeared for a while as I'm trying to pack up all my stuff and get ready to leave on Tuesday -- only two days to go! Tobias has been back in the US for a couple of weeks, and I can't wait to get back there with him.

Hi ausqueen, and welcome! It definitely seems like the DCF route is faster, provided you're married already. Provided you're organized, I reckon you can get the process done in 2-3 months, and you also don't have the hassle of AOS that you need to go through on a K1. Let us know if you've got any specific questions, as we just went through the process (though we were between the old and the new systems, so things have changed a bit -- have a look at the aussie DCF thread that Kath linked).

And Elle, you won't be going through AOS if you take the DCF route. As you've been married 4 years, you also get your permanent greencard straight away -- lucky you! Though after all your hassles you deserve a break

See you all once I'm back in the US!

Chris

Hi again... to everyone.

I wasn't being rude ignoring your welcomes and replies re DCF. Chris, Kath, Caroline... All much appreciated. I just couldn't log on because of work, but was dying to get back on here. I checked the DCF thread. Still have some questions, which i will ask later. Right now we (Aaron and I) are focusing on sending the RFE back (our attorney simply never sent it on, so we are doing it ourselves!) and hopefully organising my visit to the US for Christmas.

As for getting married now... if they let me in on a visa vaiwer... I doubt we can get married in US while I am there, since I can stay no longer than... just over 2 wks, then I return home to Syd? Aaron might come late January (to Syd) with work... maybe for couple of weeks or more. Then we could do DCF. Or maybe get everything done when he comes here? I am still totally confused and unsure what to do.

He has an appt today at the local office (San Francisco) to hopefully find some answers... have to wait for him to call me afterwards. Then I will know more.

Blessings to all of you... at whatever stage you are... we'll catch up with you one day

Have to go get some sleep now. See you when I wake up!

SAFE TRIP, Lunamel

xxoo

vik

[Elle 0]

Vik - what about a Vegas wedding? I know it may not be every girls dream to be walked down the aisle by an Elvis impersonator but you guys can always get re-married?

[CarolineM 0]

Or just a courthouse wedding - don't need more than a few days - or just get married in Oz - that's what we did!! It will honestly cut MONTHS off of your time AND Give you automatic work auth....and give you a green card right off WITHOUT AOS - really good deal

[Poi_n_J 0]

Thanks Gals for all your responses. Sounds like I'll wait till I am a state resident and check out those costs against the Community College.

Hey Kath! I have a resume already that has been given plenty of compliments on it's professionalism I just wanted to make sure it matched the States idea of professionalism. I've just begun to search for some templates online but have yet to find one.

Have a great trip Lunamel....That is one thing I can wait for...the long flight over....

[CarolineM 0]

Poi n J - where in Melbourne are you getting married, or are you doing it in the states? I can show you my photos from the registry if that's where your going. It was really nice

[Poi_n_J 0]

Hi Caroline,

We get married at the Melbourne Registry too.

I'd love to see your photos. Which room did you get the small or the big? How many witnesses did you have? Where did you go for your reception/drinks?

First I wanted a vegas wedding cos we said we were going to do it better later. Then we discovered DCF and decided that was a better way and marry in Melbourne then do it better later. But I get the feeling later may never happen due to house/kids etc... so I the pressure is on to make this as special as possible on our next-to-0 budget lol..

[David A. 0]

Two more weeks and I'll be DCF'ing in Sydney.

So far I've got everything I need except one thing, I even printed out the DS I & II for the wife so that she can hurry up and fill it out and immediately transfer that information on the originals that Sydney will be sending her later on. She's already got her police report including finger prints from SAPOL. We're definitely trying our best to make this as quick as possible. She's already done her name change and has the certificate to prove it. It took two weeks for the Chapel to send me copies for the marriage certificates since Sydney requires official copies. So far, no one has an exact time table on how long it will take if you weren't caught between the change when people already had all the forms sent to them ahead of time.

I'm just waiting for one of my Chiefs to complete my Statement of Military Service, since I fall under the 100% requirement for poverty level. Not like we really need it, since I own a home and she owns two properties in SA that she rents out. So we're definitely covered.

So far my trip goes like this...

Get to Sydney, file the I-130, then spend a few days looking around.

Then fly to Melbourne and take a trip down the Great Ocean Road with friends.

Then off to Adelaide, South Australia to visit her mom and relatives...

Then off to LAX and back to Florida again to play the waiting game!

I'll keep you guys updated.

[CarolineM 0]

Yay! David, sounds like things are really moving along!! That's wonderful!

Ok, Poi n J - I'm so excited for you! We had the small room...no the big room! (I think) we had 35 guests. Our "officiant" was named Monica. She was nice. BRING YOUR OWN MUSIC - we didn't and got stuck with the Titanic song while we signed the certificate. WE chose our own readings and each had one "witness" to read them.

The photos in the garden were great. Their photographer is awesome but expensive!! His photos are nice though.

We then travelled to the Langham for dinner and drinks - they have a five star buffet that was really nice.

How many do you have coming? Look in my photos - there are two from our wedding there - out in the garden. When I get home I'

ll send you some more!

OMG do you have any questions? I am SO excited for tyou! it's really a great place to get married. Where are ya'll staying? We stayed in the Westin!! It's so nice!