Idiot's guide to DCF (Australia)

[AussieDude 0]

Hi all,

I'm one of these people that likes step by step instructions on bureaucratic stuff, so I decided to write down a good order to follow to go through the whole DCF process. I'm putting it up here so that everybody has something to follow thats (fairly!) simple and concise. Also, if I've made any errors, please point them out. My DCF process is based on a couple who aren't married yet, and are planning to fly one of the partners in to Australia to get married and then do DCF (interview and file petition at the same time). Also, I live in Sydney, so that varies it a little bit if you live in another state.

1. Obtain forms/packet 3 from embassy

* Either directly at embassy on a Thursday or email them

2. Set a wedding date

* This needs to be done by the Australian partner at least a month before your wedding if you plan on getting married in Oz

* You will also need this date for your DS-230. Remember, as most people have pointed out, even though its a date in the future when you mail it in, it will be correct at the time of your interview (Incidentally, anyone ever say one date on their DS-230 and then had to change it?)

* If like us, you have family in a number of countries and want to do the legal part the easy way and have a number of receptions afterwards, you can do a registry marriage

3. Fill out your DS-230 and mail it in

* Fill out both parts I and II, but remember NOT to sign the end of part II, that's done at the interview

* Doing this opens up a file for you so that you can get your medicals done

4. Collect all the relevant documents together

* Birth certificate

* Police check WITH fingerprints (You can actually get this done at any time, they're valid for up to a year, they don't need a case number from the embassy or anything)

* Medical check (once your DS-230 is sent it, book a check up with one of the listed panel doctors)

5. Fill out the rest of the forms

* I-130

- Your US Citizen partner fills this one out (at least signs it if you fill it out for them!)

- As proof of citizenship, they will need their passport or birth certificate or similar

* I-864

- US Citizen partner fill it out mostly

- Last 3 year's tax returns

- According to a post I read yesterday, the tax returns may themselves be sufficient, ie no need for

an employment letter anymore, though please correct me. (I like this because my partner is a free

lancer and usually works for someone new every 2 or 3 months)

- A bank statement might be nice to take as evidence though even that might not be necessary

anymore

* G-325A - Fairly straight forward

* A bunch of US style passport photos. Check the packet, it has details of the size and specs (2in by 2in etc)

6. Get married!

* I think this step is straight forward! And yes its scary for all of us, but we all love our partners hence moving halfway round the world!

7. Send in DS-2001

* This can be done at any point once the DS-230 has been filled out. You can send them together if you wish, but make sure you leave yourself enough time to get all your paperwork done, get married and appear at the interview. They're usually booked ahead 3-5 weeks or so in Sydney I've been told, and doing medical/police/birth certificate stuff takes some time.

8. Go to interview!

* Take all your forms, photos, documents

* Make a copy of EVERYTHING, in fact make two so that you can keep another copy at home just in case

* Take all your evidence stuff

I'm personally about to start this process, planning on getting married around the beginning of August. I'm hoping everything goes well, I'll try to point out anything that others should watch out for. You all might see some silly questions from me in the next few months so thanks in advance to those who put time into answering them.

AussieDude

[CarolineM 0]

You can send in the paperwork to start your process before you get married...that way you can get married on say, Monday and have your interview...say Tuesday.

Also they only require ONE years tax returns now. I had all this paperwork and just gave it all back to me EXCEPT last years...just FYI.