DCF In Australia- New Changes

[sadie33138 0]

Have y'all seen this? :

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/Pet...nstructions.pdf

Yep that is new.....wow. Good news now for those that live interstate for filing of the I-130...even if we lose same day filing. I will edit the pinned Australia DCF post to show the new guidelines. Will also include the Q & A's from tuttobella post. Is that now the concensus after reading the link?????

Also I would like to know where the information that the I-864 doesn't need to be notarized came from?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12007

Wenchie, looking through the Sydney site there seems to be conflicting info on there too. For instance, under the FAQ:

"For family-based (spousal or children - unmarried & under 21 years of age) applications, the U.S. citizen spouse/parent is required to attend if filing the petition on the day of the interview and/or if the affidavit of support form I-864 needs to be notarized."

In other places they say you have to file the I-130 first and then an interview letter will be sent out after you mail the DS-2001.

It is confusing to say the least at first read. It looks like they are in transition at the moment and they do have contact numbers for those folks caught in the middle of it.

Maybe you can ask after your interview? LOL, that is if you can still talk

[aussiewench 9]

Have y'all seen this? :

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/Pet...nstructions.pdf

Yep that is new.....wow. Good news now for those that live interstate for filing of the I-130...even if we lose same day filing. I will edit the pinned Australia DCF post to show the new guidelines. Will also include the Q & A's from tuttobella post. Is that now the concensus after reading the link?????

Also I would like to know where the information that the I-864 doesn't need to be notarized came from?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=12007

Wenchie, looking through the Sydney site there seems to be conflicting info on there too. For instance, under the FAQ:

"For family-based (spousal or children - unmarried & under 21 years of age) applications, the U.S. citizen spouse/parent is required to attend if filing the petition on the day of the interview and/or if the affidavit of support form I-864 needs to be notarized."

In other places they say you have to file the I-130 first and then an interview letter will be sent out after you mail the DS-2001.

It is confusing to say the least at first read. It looks like they are in transition at the moment and they do have contact numbers for those folks caught in the middle of it.

Maybe you can ask after your interview? LOL, that is if you can still talk

The FAQ and other sections haven't been updated forever I dont think. I would be inclined to go with this new information that has been posted. I only checked there a few days ago and it wasnt there then.

Have y'all seen this? :

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/Pet...nstructions.pdf

Hmm, technically this means that we are not supposed to have a packet 3 in our hands before we get married (as it says that an I-130 cannot be put in until we are married and packet 3 will only be mailed out after the I-130 petition is put in). I guess they've streamlined the process which makes it easier to follow but longer to deal with. Oh well.

So I technically shouldn't have the packet 3 that I have now since I'm not getting married until August (we obtained it in December directly from the embassy).

I wonder if I should go ahead and do my medical check now anyway even though I'm not supposed to have these forms?

AussieDude

I dont 'think' that would be any harm. At least you would have it out of the way. I can see a mad rush for July interviews lol

[sadie33138 0]

I can see a mad rush for July interviews lol

[David A. 0]

Time to redo my checklist!

[David A. 0]

Wenchie, looking through the Sydney site there seems to be conflicting info on there too. For instance, under the FAQ:

"For family-based (spousal or children - unmarried & under 21 years of age) applications, the U.S. citizen spouse/parent is required to attend if filing the petition on the day of the interview and/or if the affidavit of support form I-864 needs to be notarized."

In other places they say you have to file the I-130 first and then an interview letter will be sent out after you mail the DS-2001.

It is confusing to say the least at first read. It looks like they are in transition at the moment and they do have contact numbers for those folks caught in the middle of it.

Maybe you can ask after your interview? LOL, that is if you can still talk

After a long look at the website, Sadie is right, there are some conflicting info. I wonder if the petition instructions have always been there and were just overlooked? I think I'm going to take my chances and email them requesting the I-130 and packet 3. We'll see what happens. If I have to do it this so called "new way" then I will, it's still faster than filing a K-1 in the US.

[Lunamel 0]

We sent an email to the Sydney consulate in mid-May requesting packet 3 and the I-130 form, AND telling them that we were planning to file through an appointment after our wedding on 23 September... We received the packet just fine, and no information about anything changing. Seems they might not be sure about what's going on either?

I wonder what would happen if I sent in the DS-230 now, given we've got the forms already, to open up our file?

I'm going to email them tomorrow and see if I can get some clearer answers. I'll let you know what I hear back!

Chris

[David A. 0]

We sent an email to the Sydney consulate in mid-May requesting packet 3 and the I-130 form, AND telling them that we were planning to file through an appointment after our wedding on 23 September... We received the packet just fine, and no information about anything changing. Seems they might not be sure about what's going on either?

I wonder what would happen if I sent in the DS-230 now, given we've got the forms already, to open up our file?

I'm going to email them tomorrow and see if I can get some clearer answers. I'll let you know what I hear back!

Chris

I suggest just go ahead and get started with your original plan. If they haven't figured it out yet, you might as well get your foot in the door before they close it.

[Lunamel 0]

We sent an email to the Sydney consulate in mid-May requesting packet 3 and the I-130 form, AND telling them that we were planning to file through an appointment after our wedding on 23 September... We received the packet just fine, and no information about anything changing. Seems they might not be sure about what's going on either?

I wonder what would happen if I sent in the DS-230 now, given we've got the forms already, to open up our file?

I'm going to email them tomorrow and see if I can get some clearer answers. I'll let you know what I hear back!

Chris

I suggest just go ahead and get started with your original plan. If they haven't figured it out yet, you might as well get your foot in the door before they close it.

I've been thinking about that, but I don't want the time to roll around and then be told that we have to start all over again because we followed the wrong process! I'm in the US right now (I'm the australian citizen - on a student visa), and if the new system means I'm going to have to be in Australia for longer than I'd originally planned, I need to change some of my work and study plans here. I'm at least hoping that if the system has changed, I can use the forms I already have to get my medical before our wedding, so once my partner submits the I-130 I'll be set to request an interview.

As for your situation, why don't you go ahead and try requesting an I-130 and packet 3 by email, and see what happens? Here's the email we sent (copied shamelessly from others found here):

****

Dear Sir/Madam

Will you allow me, a US Citizen not resident in Australia, to file a petition I-130 for my (future) wife who is a citizen of Australia? We will be married in Melbourne on 23 September 2006 and hope to file the I-130 petition after that date.

I am requesting packet 3 and the I-130 form so that we may begin the process. We plan on filing directly through the consulate with an appointment, not on walk-in Thursdays.

Please send the packet to...

[David A. 0]

I've been thinking about that, but I don't want the time to roll around and then be told that we have to start all over again because we followed the wrong process! I'm in the US right now (I'm the australian citizen - on a student visa), and if the new system means I'm going to have to be in Australia for longer than I'd originally planned, I need to change some of my work and study plans here. I'm at least hoping that if the system has changed, I can use the forms I already have to get my medical before our wedding, so once my partner submits the I-130 I'll be set to request an interview.

I guess you're right. If you're about to get married that soon, it's best to get confirmation. I won't be married until later this year or early next year, so I've got plenty of time ahead of me to sort this all out . In the meantime, I hope everything works out for you and be sure to post what you were told by the consulate on VJ to assist everybody in the future.

Good luck!

[CarolineM 0]

I swear it may just be me, but I don't see ANY differences at all.

Was this posted on the consulate website as "updated" or am I just totally daft!

dur. I see it now - so if you are in Victoria, you file in VIC...but the iunterview is still in Sydney? hmm This is still WAY easier than other ways...imho.

Edited June 4, 2006 by karo112

[sadie33138 0]

I swear it may just be me, but I don't see ANY differences at all.

Was this posted on the consulate website as "updated" or am I just totally daft!

dur. I see it now - so if you are in Victoria, you file in VIC...but the iunterview is still in Sydney? hmm This is still WAY easier than other ways...imho.

Karo, to me it looks like the biggest change is that you no longer will be able to do it all in one day, file all the forms and have the interview and be approved all at the same time. Another change is that now you can file the I-130 at other Consulates not just Sydney, although the interviews are only at Sydney.

Edited June 4, 2006 by sadie33138

[CarolineM 0]

I see...again though - still easier than other places we should count our blessings.

[sadie33138 0]

I see...again though - still easier than other places we should count our blessings.

So true, same here in New Zealand BTW how did y'all fly home? I'm like Lorelle, trying to decide how to go, it's hard finding a domestic flight that gives you time at LAX to clear Immigration, change terminals and get a flight that gets into Palm Beach before midnight.

[BigAussieZee 0]

Something else that is also new... the I-864 no longer has to be notarised. Just signed by the sponsor.

Where did that information come from?

The information came directly from the IV Consular Officer at the US Consulate in Sydney when I went in last week for a walkin. I don't know if it is writing anywhere yet though. I'd say it will take them time to put it on the "packet three" forms, as when I recieved my packet, there were hand written ammendments and highlightings on the forms to state the need for only the most recent tax returns for the I-864.

[CarolineM 0]

Hmm Stewart flew United to LAX - cleared immigration and made a connecting USAirways flight in UNDER two hours. We booked a flight that cut it close...the airline said if he didn't make it they'd reschedule.