Help with filing in Australia

[loz9 0]

WARNING : VENT

I am so mad I could hit someone.

My husband got a letter in the mail today saying, in a nutshell, you've missed your final interview appointment of Aug 19. Your paperwork will be valid for one year should you decide to pursue immigration to the US. If you'd like to reschedule a final interview, please mail or fax us your request as soon as possible. We'll be extremely busy over the next two months.

I don't understand how this could have happened. This has practically been a compulsion for me. I have been checking e-mails (and junk folders!) religiously every day hoping that he would get his appointment date. We both have seen nothing! They said it was sent on Aug 6th.

I'm just so upset. He could have been here by now. I started thinking the worst - something's wrong with the application, they'll request further information.. ??? We both just sat there on the phone in silence like *what*? I know there are worse things that could have happened, but now I'm worried that b/c they've indicated they'll be very busy processing similar visa types that they won't have an open time. (My mind always goes to the worst scenario in situations like this)

I'm seriously in shock. I've lost sleep over this the past couple of weeks. This is like rubbing salt in an open wound.

So my husband has a letter requesting a new appointment time that he's going to print out today and send via express post. He's requested that, if possible, they call or send a hard copy as well as an e-mail just in case.

I'm so angry. He could have been here by now.

Ok. I'm going to stop b!tching now. Here's hoping we can get another appointment time quickly.

[faith0922 0]

That's terrible!!!

Sorry to hear that loz... hopefully they will give him an appointment asap.

[Mrs. BB 0]

What a mess!! That sucks!

[kaffy 2]

I can't believe that Loz That really really sucks Hopefully a new appointment will open up for your husband ASAP

[loz9 0]

Thanks guys. I've calmed down a lot..still sucks, but it is what it is. My husband is earning good money, so we've been able to save some more before he comes over, which is a plus I guess.

He sent the letter off yesterday, so hopefully we'll hear something relatively soon.

The consulate never answered my e-mails. Good job, US government.

[loz9 0]

Kaffy, would you be able to tell us what you went through at POE?

[loz9 0]

Well, they didn't waste any time this time around. I got an email less than half an hour ago. My husband's new appointment is Sept 30th. At least we know this time. I don't see how we missed it the first time around. Something's fishy.

Ok, I'm going to go check out tickets and hotels. Even though it's still almost a month away, at least we know!

[kaffy 2]

Kaffy, would you be able to tell us what you went through at POE?

Hey Loz, glad to hear they're getting their act together this time. Sept 30 will come quickly and it's good that your husband has still been able to work in the meantime. Have you started classes yet? How's your settling in going?

My POE experience was pretty straightforward. Upon arrival at the airport I headed to the Non-US citizen line and handed the immigration officer my passport & brown envelope. He reviewed my documents quickly then asked me to take them and head over to the immigrant processing area which was to the left and had a seated waiting area. There were two officers there - one guy opened the envelopes, checked the information and fingerprinted the immigrant, the other guy did the actual processing (interviewing & stamping). Another flight arrived before mine and there were already 5 or 6 people sitting there waiting - all from the same family. I handed my stuff over to the first guy and sat down. After about a 20 min wait I got called up and he fingerprinted me (left and right index fingers), and asked me to sign the page my fingerprints were on. I sat back down and waited some more. More and more new immigrants arrived, including one Asian (Vietnamese?) lady who sat down beside me and tried to speak to me in her language, I just shook my head and said "Sorry I don't speak ... " since I didn't know what language she was speaking She saw I had my cellphone out and pulled out a slip of paper with an address and phone number. I guess she wanted to borrow my cell to call the number but I shook my head and said "No, sorry" since I didn't feel comfortable lending my phone to a stranger. It was a long wait before I got called but it wasn't a boring one since I got to listen in on everyone else's interviews. The family before me was being interviewed one by one and I think only their younger daughter spoke English so the officer only asked them very basic questions such as "What is your birthdate?" and "Is this your daughter/son/father/etc?". I really don't know how these people do it - moving to a new country is difficult enough, and to not know the language as well.. I just hope they have a good support network here! Anyway I finally get called and the guy is really friendly. We chit chat about how the flight was, my plans for the US, the confusing layout of the airport, etc. The only real interview questions he asked me were what my mother and father's names were, where I was born, and where my husband and I met/married/lived. He then hands me a slip about removing the conditions on my visa and I sign something to say I understand and agree to these terms. He says everything's in order, stamps my passport and says welcome to the USA. He also explained that my SSN would arrive in 4-6 weeks as I ticked the box on my DS-230 form but if I wanted it sooner I could go down to the social security office in person. I went down last Tuesday but they said I had to be in the country for 10 days first so that my information can be processed first. I went down again today and the lady looked up on the system and said my number was assigned to me last Friday and I should get my card soon. So now I have my number and can start job hunting!

Hope this helps!

[faith0922 0]

Hi guys, how are things going on your end?

Good to hear some good news for your Loz.

Thanks for sharing your POE experience Kaffy!

Btw, I received my visa and the "sealed envelope" on Monday. So we're good to go whenever we need to (as long as we leave within 6 months).

[kaffy 2]

Btw, I received my visa and the "sealed envelope" on Monday. So we're good to go whenever we need to (as long as we leave within 6 months).

That's awesome Faith! When do you think you'll be moving over?

Things are going really well on my end. I love it here in the northwest. We're in a really nice neighborhood and our apartment has an awesome view of the lake which is lovely. Caught up with friends and family this past weekend which was nice - everyone's popping out babies all over the place! Husband's friend has a 7 month old, another friend is due in Feb and my sister in law is due in April! Thankfully that takes the pressure away from us since we aren't ready to even think about having children yet! Anyway we saw a baseball game (we won, yay!), had a few BBQs, then went to the state fair. At the fair I was even reminded a little bit of home..

I don't know what that guy's show was about but found it rather amusing that on the left hand side you could have your photo taken (for a fee) in front of a fake Uluru backdrop

So that was labor day weekend.. and now that I finally got my SSN I get to start job hunting this week! There's a really good hospital just down the road from me which I hope I can get into. Wish me luck!

[loz9 0]

Thanks so much for writing that out Kaffy! My husband's a little nervous that he's going to get grilled when coming in to the country, so I'll send him this and he won't worry.

That Australian show is hilarious! I love how the place was packed too. All things Australian must be pretty popular! That would be a funny picture for you two to have in front of the 'fake' uluru! Too bad it cost money.

So when are you starting job hunting??

[kaffy 2]

I sent off two applications on Thursday and another one today. Trying to get into one of the hospitals nearby (I am a health science grad seeking an entry level admin role). My mother in law is an RN who works as an Admin Manager at a hospital down in Vancouver and she's been awesome in helping me find jobs, proof reading my resume and giving me plenty of helpful tips. She's confident I will get an interview soon and I hope she's right! I'm getting soo bored with sitting around doing nothing ><

How are your classes going?

[loz9 0]

I sent off two applications on Thursday and another one today. Trying to get into one of the hospitals nearby (I am a health science grad seeking an entry level admin role). My mother in law is an RN who works as an Admin Manager at a hospital down in Vancouver and she's been awesome in helping me find jobs, proof reading my resume and giving me plenty of helpful tips. She's confident I will get an interview soon and I hope she's right! I'm getting soo bored with sitting around doing nothing ><

How are your classes going?

That's great that your MIL is also in a similar field. She must be a great resource! I'm sure you'll get some interviews soon. I know what you mean about sitting around doing nothing though. Drives me crazy!

Classes are going well so far. I had my first exam (in anatomy) on friday. I just checked to see if she'd posted our grades online yet and she did. I got a 100%. I have my next test in phonetics on Tuesday. Hopefully I'll get a similar result on that one! I really like it though. Thanks for asking!

[Davis 0]

Sorry I have not posted in a while been very ill but much better now :-) just caught up with every ones posts

Good luck with the exams and Job hunting,

In less than a week I got my packet 3 back wow that was fast :-) just doing my DS-230 forms and trying to dig up all the important dates they ask for.

I went to the NSW police station to get my finger prints taken but they asked for a paid envelope that I did not have, and the post office was closed of cause. So I will be back there again today.

One question do you know if it is the $40 background check or the $170 background check thats needed ? as the Office was a bit unsure but throught it was the $40 one but I have a feeling its the more expensive one.

Also sending off for my UK police check as well does any one know if that has to be sent direct to consulate or can it be sent back to me and then I post it ?

[kaffy 2]

Nice work Loz!

Hi Davis, good to hear from you. I'm pretty sure you need the more expensive (with fingerprints) police check. In QLD we had a cheaper one (name check only) and a more expensive one (with fingerprints) and I was required to get the one with fingerprints. The Consulate's website says this about NSW:

If you reside in New South Wales

Make an appointment, and then appear in person to be fingerprinted at your local police station. You must pay the fee of A$175 (subject to change, please check the current fee with the police) and complete an application form, which the police will forward to:

Address

NSW Police Department

Criminal Records Section

Level B3 NSW Police Headquarters

1 Charles St

Parramatta, NSW 2150

Telephone

(02) 8835-7888

Please find further details on the New South Wales Police website.

And with your UK police check, you can have it sent back to you first, rather than having it sent directly to the Consulate. hope this helps!