DCF In Australia- New Changes

[Lunamel 0]

Just a quick question as we are about to start DCF in Sydney. Can someone help me out here?

I reckon two months is about all the time you need if you're organized before filing the I-130. (And do make sure you're organized -- it makes the process with the Consulate so much easier if you know what you're doing).

What can we be doing and getting organised b4 filing the I-130? Is there something i can be working on now?

Thanks

EM

Hi Emerald

You can apply for your Australian police check before filing the I-130, as sometimes this can take a little while to arrive. (If you've lived in any other country for 12 months or more, you'll also need a police check from there.) You can also make sure that your vaccinations are up to date and you have a record of them, so that this doesn't delay your medical if you need any extras or need to get your immunity tested. From memory, you need to have tetanus, MMR and varicella (chicken pox).

If you know the date you're filing the I-130, you could also try to contact the relevant doctor/s in your state to get an appointment for your medical. You won't be able to actually have the medical until you receive the medical forms in packet 3, which you'll receive upon filing the I-130. But in some states there is a bit of a wait for a medical appointment (I had to wait about 4 weeks), so it might pay to book it in advance. I haven't got the list of doctors on me right now, but let me know what state you're in and I'll get you the information.

Finally, you should download the I-864 form and make sure your husband satisfies all the sponsorship requirements, get copies of his last tax return ready etc. You could also download the G-325A and DS-230 parts 1 and 2 to check you have all that information (though it's pretty easy though, mostly your old addresses and jobs and things). That way, when you receive the forms from the embassy, you'll be all set!

[Elle 0]

Hey Chris!

Again...big congrats! I bet you cant wait to go back to school..hehehe

Another q is regarding your passport and SSN and greencard...did you file using your married name? Or is your passport in you maiden name? Will these docs have your maiden or married name? Thanks!

aussiewench sent me copies for medical and police certificate, let me find it and i'll post it asap.

[aussiewench 9]

List of Doctors in Australia can be found HERE

Vaccination requirements can be found HERE

If in NSW, you will find the P799 for National Police Check HERE

[Elle 0]

Lorelle! Your too goood!

[Poi_n_J 0]

However, we weren’t savvy enough to take the DS-230 Parts I&II and DS-2001 with us and posted them back the next week.

Just a quick question: Where should you have taken those forms...?

[claireybearyloo 0]

When my husband filed the I-130 at the consulate, he was asked if he had the DS-230, DS-2001 and I-864. It seems we could have had the interview date set (presumably for an earlier date) instead of having to post the forms back.

[Lunamel 0]

Hi all. Thanks for putting all that info up Lorelle -- I was wondering about the easiest way to do it, but you beat me to it!

And hi again Elle -- thanks for the congrats! I'm keeping my name, so I'm not sure about the answer to your question. Perhaps someone else knows?

Poi_n_J, don't worry about claireybearyloo's experience with the DS-230 and DS2001. She only had those forms because, like me, they were caught between the old and the new systems and already had the documents in packet 3. In your case, you won't receive these documents until the day you file the I-130, so you'll have to send them back to the Consulate at a later date.

[Poi_n_J 0]

Ok, thanks Lunamel.

Thanks for that information Lorelle, I may as well go ahead and start getting the police check. Although there was two types of checks you can get - one of you name and date of birth for $50 and the other was your name, date of birth and your fingerprints for $170 was wondering which one we had to get....?

[Lunamel 0]

Ok, thanks Lunamel.

Thanks for that information Lorelle, I may as well go ahead and start getting the police check. Although there was two types of checks you can get - one of you name and date of birth for $50 and the other was your name, date of birth and your fingerprints for $170 was wondering which one we had to get....?

You've got the get the one with fingerprints.

By the way, you may find you can't get a Victorian police certificate now. I was told both on the phone and in person that they don't do them anymore for overseas immigrant visa applications, and I'd have to get one through the AFP instead. I emailed the Consulate to check that this was alright, and they said it was fine. I still got my fingerprints done by the Victoria Police, though, and then sent the relevant form off to the AFP. It only took about 2 and a half weeks to arrive, so it was all good in the end.

You could also get your fingerprints taken by the AFP, but the wait for an appointment was a lot longer than with the Victoria Police -- even with them I had to wait over 3 weeks for an appointment! Apparently some local police stations will still take fingerprints for you, but I rang and bunch and none of them would, so I had to make an appointment with the central fingerprinting division in 637 Flinders St. Their number is here: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274

This is the AFP website with the relevant form: http://www.afp.gov.au/business/criminal_history_checks

It's $103 if you supply fingerprints, and $130 if the AFP do the fingerprints (another reason to get the Vic police to do them, as there it's free!).

[claireybearyloo 0]

YAY!!! Our Visa was approved on 14 November!

Our appointment was for 8am, so we aimed to be at Level 10 by about 7:30, so we were able to get through security and beat the rush. We went through the security there (giving them our appointment letter and identification) and sat down (we were in the first row). We didn’t have to wait too long until our row was called to go up to the 59th floor. We waited in another line on Level 59 for security. We had to present them with our ID again, turn off mobile phones and put everything in the bins to be scanned and we had to walk through another security gate. The consulate does not allow cameras or camera phones to be taken in so if you have one they hold them until you come out.

We entered the consulate at about 8:15am and took a ticket for immigrant visas. We sat down until our number was called and we went to the first window. The lady checked that we had everything in order, we had everything out of sleeves (as requested) and held together with a bulldog clip. While the lady was going over the paperwork I went to another window to pay the fee. She also asked us that if our visa was approved, if we would like to pick it up the next day or have it sent to us in the mail (we said we would pick it up the next day if we were approved). We had to sit down and wait again for a little while until we were called to window three. There was a different lady this time, she said everything looked great and she was going to ask another person and if they thought everything was fine too...if they both agreed our visa was going to be approved! It was very exciting. We had to sit down again and wait to be called to window 4. We didn’t have to wait very long that time and we were called again. A man looked through our paperwork and got my fingerprints. He asked us a few questions such as, How long have you been married?, What do you do for a living? Where we met? etc etc... just basic questions. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear everything was true and correct to my knowledge and then asked me to sign one of the forms we had already submitted. He then told us our visa was approved and that we could pick it up the next day from 3:30 to 4pm. We got out of the consulate at 10:30am – VISA APPROVED!!

The next day we went to pick up our visa, we got there about 3:15 and I was only one allowed up as it would only take about 15 mins. I went through the security at Level 10 and then again at Level 59 and entered the consulate. There was no one at the delegated window and I was able to simply walk up and collect my visa. I was in the actual consulate for possibly 1 minute. The security is what takes up the time.

My husband had tickets to leave Australia on the 23 November and thankfully, after our visa was approved we were able to get tickets on all the same flights. We both leave tomorrow! How exciting!

This website has been soooo helpful and without it our process would not have been as smooth as it was. Thank you to everyone who has posted and shared their experiences – we couldn’t have done it without you!

[CarolineM 0]

YAY what wonderful news!! It sounds like DCF is still the easist option for AUssies

Congrats and have a safe trip home.

[Lunamel 0]

Big congrats, claireybearyloo -- I'm glad it was as easy for you as it was for us!

Have a safe trip!

[koukla07 0]

Hi All

I received a 'courtesy' phone from Sydney consul today, updating me on this new legislation.

My interview date is next friday!

I was given the choice of waiting or still going ahead to the interview,

I chose to keep the interview appt.

I was told that ALL applications filed at Sydney would be forwarded on to Bangkok, as they have jurisdiction over Australia.

This is not good news, as they are a very tough consulate to deal with.

As I have had to deal with them before.

Sydney does not know how long the process will take,once they send the applications to Bangkok.

They are still pretty much in the dark on this.

I am trying to remain hopeful,

If anyone needs support or advice, plz email me , wentworthie@hotmail.com

Ange

[Lunamel 0]

Hi All

I received a 'courtesy' phone from Sydney consul today, updating me on this new legislation.

My interview date is next friday!

I was given the choice of waiting or still going ahead to the interview,

I chose to keep the interview appt.

I was told that ALL applications filed at Sydney would be forwarded on to Bangkok, as they have jurisdiction over Australia.

This is not good news, as they are a very tough consulate to deal with.

As I have had to deal with them before.

Sydney does not know how long the process will take,once they send the applications to Bangkok.

They are still pretty much in the dark on this.

I am trying to remain hopeful,

If anyone needs support or advice, plz email me , wentworthie@hotmail.com

Ange

Hi koukla07

Sorry to hear you've got caught up in this unexpected mess. There's a few other aussies who are in the same boat -- a few have been posting in the australian forum: here.

It sounds like a good idea to go ahead with the appointment and give them all your paperwork -- that way, once the I-130 is finally approved, they'll have all your information on file to approve the visa. Who knows how long it will take in Bangkok -- I hope not too long, for your sake. It seems everyone is in the dark, including the embassy folks.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Emerald 0]

I am totally confused now. My husband and I were about to do DCF in Sydney this month.....He is living here with me and has for the past 5yrs....how do we go about a visa now?

Hi All

I received a 'courtesy' phone from Sydney consul today, updating me on this new legislation.

My interview date is next friday!

I was given the choice of waiting or still going ahead to the interview,

I chose to keep the interview appt.

I was told that ALL applications filed at Sydney would be forwarded on to Bangkok, as they have jurisdiction over Australia.

This is not good news, as they are a very tough consulate to deal with.

As I have had to deal with them before.

Sydney does not know how long the process will take,once they send the applications to Bangkok.

They are still pretty much in the dark on this.

I am trying to remain hopeful,

If anyone needs support or advice, plz email me , wentworthie@hotmail.com

Ange

Hi koukla07

Sorry to hear you've got caught up in this unexpected mess. There's a few other aussies who are in the same boat -- a few have been posting in the australian forum: here.

It sounds like a good idea to go ahead with the appointment and give them all your paperwork -- that way, once the I-130 is finally approved, they'll have all your information on file to approve the visa. Who knows how long it will take in Bangkok -- I hope not too long, for your sake. It seems everyone is in the dark, including the embassy folks.

Good luck, and keep us posted.