Help with filing in Australia

[loz9 0]

Oh, and I booked a hotel in Sydney. It seems like it's only a block or two away from the consulate and I found a pretty good deal money-wise. Thanks for the recommendations. They definitely put me on the right track.

[loz9 0]

*bump*

[kaffy 2]

Hi Loz, how's things?

I interviewed for a job yesterday.. health information tech at one of the hospitals here.. pls hire me!!!

[kaffy 2]

I got the job!

[loz9 0]

I got the job!

YAY! CONGRATULATIONS! That's awesome! When do you start??

Things are good here..My grades are pretty much awesome so far lol. My husband's interview in this coming Tuesday. Eek! I had to send further proof of domicile so I posted that to him a couple weeks ago. He got that a few days ago, so he should be all set. Do you think he should dress up? I can't wait! ahhhhh

[Davis 0]

well done on the job kaffy.

I am filling out I864 and just have a few questions.

1) I have listed my wife, the petitioners, current income, as it requested. Unfortunately though, she is working in Australia and when we get to the US, she will be unemployed until she finds a job. That shouldn't take long, but she will be unemployed nonetheless. Is it correct to put her income from Australia on the form?

2) I on the other hand WILL have a job when I get to the US as my Australian company has asked me to continue working with them remotely. I will include this on the I864 form. I am also getting them to write me a letter saying that I will be working for them while in the US. With the money I will be getting paid we will be over the 125% poverty guideline, but I want to make sure this is acceptable.

3) Just in case, we are going to put in our savings that we currently have, just to cover all bases and let them know that we have enough money. The problem is that all of our money is in AUD, should I just list everything in USD with the current exchange rate?

As always thanks for your help and ideas

[loz9 0]

well done on the job kaffy.

I am filling out I864 and just have a few questions.

1) I have listed my wife, the petitioners, current income, as it requested. Unfortunately though, she is working in Australia and when we get to the US, she will be unemployed until she finds a job. That shouldn't take long, but she will be unemployed nonetheless. Is it correct to put her income from Australia on the form?

2) I on the other hand WILL have a job when I get to the US as my Australian company has asked me to continue working with them remotely. I will include this on the I864 form. I am also getting them to write me a letter saying that I will be working for them while in the US. With the money I will be getting paid we will be over the 125% poverty guideline, but I want to make sure this is acceptable.

3) Just in case, we are going to put in our savings that we currently have, just to cover all bases and let them know that we have enough money. The problem is that all of our money is in AUD, should I just list everything in USD with the current exchange rate?

As always thanks for your help and ideas

Hi Davis,

1) Are they asking for her current income? If so, put her Australian income. If they ask for US income and it's 0 then you may need a joint sponsor.

2) I don't know..maybe someone else could chime in?

3) Savings would count toward your total assets I think. From what I remember they have a space for that somewhere. Whatever you choose to do as far as listing currency just be consistent. I think we did USDs.

I know that wasn't too much of a help..maybe try e-mailing the consulate?

[loz9 0]

Well, I talked to my husband.....

HE WAS APPROVED! :dancing:

He said it only took about 25 minutes total. They asked him where I was born. He said his answer went in to way too much detail. He proceeded to tell them where I was born, grew up, went to college (where we met), where we were married and that we moved to Australia after that lol. He laughed when he was telling me about it b/c he said he was nervous that he wouldn't give enough information. Must've worked though b/c they didn't ask any more questions. He said the guy who interviewed him was really nice and said "well, i'm going to approve your visa. congratulations and good luck with your new life." My husband thought that was pretty funny b/c the guy made it sound like he was immigrating from a 3rd world country. Um...Australia isn't exactly desolate.

So we're not sure when we want to buy tickets. Any opinions? I don't want to book tickets for two weeks from now and then something go wrong. We're hoping that he can come over on the 14th of October. Do you think 2 weeks is enough time to allow for the visa to arrive or should we wait til we actually have it in hand?

Thanks for everyone's help and support through the whole process. It can be stressful and I know that having an outlet with people who are going through similar situations really helped me.

[kaffy 2]

CONGRATULATIONS LOZ & HUSBAND!!! So glad that your journey has finally come to an "end"

As for tickets.. I think 2 weeks is plenty of time. The information sheet they should have given your husband says that they usually process the visas within 2 working days and with an express post envelope should only take another day to receive. (and according to the timelines here most people do receive them within 3-4 days). Even in my circumstance where mine was delayed, I got it back within a week (well, 6 working days)

[loz9 0]

CONGRATULATIONS LOZ & HUSBAND!!! So glad that your journey has finally come to an "end"

As for tickets.. I think 2 weeks is plenty of time. The information sheet they should have given your husband says that they usually process the visas within 2 working days and with an express post envelope should only take another day to receive. (and according to the timelines here most people do receive them within 3-4 days). Even in my circumstance where mine was delayed, I got it back within a week (well, 6 working days)

Thanks Kaffy! Soooo glad that we are at the "end." What do you know about removing conditions? Is it a lot of extra work?

Thanks for the info on how quickly they get the visas to you. I forgot to ask my husband how long they told him. He did mention that he has the tracking number for it though. I'll have to get that from him and compulsively check it every day lol.

How's your new job going?? Are you enjoying it?

[kaffy 2]

Um.. I know that you file to remove conditions using Form I-751. I looked at it briefly the other day and it doesnt seem too complicated - but I know that it's going to take time because we're dealing with USCIS this time and not fast-tracking it through DCF.

I start orientation for my job next Monday but yesterday I went in to meet with HR and also to have my pre-employment health screening done. More jabs - lucky me. Nurse warned me I might have a slight adverse reaction to the vaccines but I didn't - instead I had a reaction to the adhesive on the band-aids

Have you received your Aussie PR status yet? Would love to pick your brains about it since I cant find anything at all online

[loz9 0]

Um.. I know that you file to remove conditions using Form I-751. I looked at it briefly the other day and it doesnt seem too complicated - but I know that it's going to take time because we're dealing with USCIS this time and not fast-tracking it through DCF.

I start orientation for my job next Monday but yesterday I went in to meet with HR and also to have my pre-employment health screening done. More jabs - lucky me. Nurse warned me I might have a slight adverse reaction to the vaccines but I didn't - instead I had a reaction to the adhesive on the band-aids

Have you received your Aussie PR status yet? Would love to pick your brains about it since I cant find anything at all online

Yea I'm sure dealing with USCIS is going to be painfully slow compared to DCF. Oh well..at least you're in the country while you're doing it.

I haven't received a decision on my Aussie PR status. They said it could take months and months to get a final decision on it. I may try and follow up on it soon though. Feel free to ask away though. I'll try to answer any questions you have. The hard part was getting my temporary residency. The PR process was just filling out a form and sending in some supporting documents (the standard - pictures, bank statements, bills, etc.).

Good luck on Monday!

Good luck on Monday!

[kaffy 2]

Only a form? ahh ok.. I was expecting it to be tonnes more paperwork.

I read in the Partner Migration booklet that since we applied for my husband's TR off-shore (we were in Japan), they will allow us to be off-shore when we apply for his PR too. I hope this is correct because there's no way we are flying back there.

How long into your 2 yr stay did they send the form to you? And do you know if it will expire with you living back in the US now? I read somewhere that you can remain overseas for up to 5 yrs and it will still be valid but I don't know how long you have to return to Australia for to "re-activate" it. Hoping you have more details!

[loz9 0]

Only a form? ahh ok.. I was expecting it to be tonnes more paperwork.

I read in the Partner Migration booklet that since we applied for my husband's TR off-shore (we were in Japan), they will allow us to be off-shore when we apply for his PR too. I hope this is correct because there's no way we are flying back there.

How long into your 2 yr stay did they send the form to you? And do you know if it will expire with you living back in the US now? I read somewhere that you can remain overseas for up to 5 yrs and it will still be valid but I don't know how long you have to return to Australia for to "re-activate" it. Hoping you have more details!

Nope! Not tons of paperwork. They sent me the notification and forms I think in late Dec./early January, so that's 18 months in to my 2 year stay. I'm not too sure about applying while off-shore. I was in Australia when I sent in my final paperwork. They said if I moved or planned to leave the country that I would need to notify them. That's on my list of things to do. I've forwarded my mail to my in-laws' house so I'm not too worried.

I'd say that your husband should contact his case officer and let them know that he's living in the US now, but would still like to pursue PR and give them a new address. I don't think it would be a problem for your husband though.

[kaffy 2]

We don't have a case officer - we did "DCF" for his spousal visa. And we have no correspondance at all from them - just a visa in his passport and an emails from the Embassy in Tokyo notifying him of his approval.

I think I'll need to do some more research and email some people..

In the meantime I'll ask my parents to keep an eye out on any mail that may come

thanks!!