LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[CareBear 18]

Thanks Breezie - I filled out all the DS forms today so apart from arranging the medical and getting the official packet 3 letter I'm good to go

How are the wedding plans coming along?

[bextavaz 4]

Exactly 2 weeks til I fly to Sydney

[CareBear 18]

Getting excited yet Bex? When are you planning on leaving after visa approval?

[CareBear 18]

Ohhh have a little shipping news to pass on. I'm taking 4 boxes and one duffel bag of personal effects over. Total weight is 100kgs. Got the price in today. For Brisbane to Dallas Fort Worth airport (I have to deliver to Eagle Farm in Brisbane and collect at the DFW Aiport) is $690. I can have insurance for an additional $115 but wont bother since they are items of sentimental value as opposed to expensive effects. I need to drop the stuff off a week before sending (they sit in a holding warehouse for 7 days for security reasons) and transit time is only 2-3 days after that so way better than shipping. If anyone needs the guys contact name and number at a future date let me know. The dog however is costing $2400 (ouch) but I cant bear to be parted from him so he's coming too

[bextavaz 4]

Ohhh have a little shipping news to pass on. I'm taking 4 boxes and one duffel bag of personal effects over. Total weight is 100kgs. Got the price in today. For Brisbane to Dallas Fort Worth airport (I have to deliver to Eagle Farm in Brisbane and collect at the DFW Aiport) is $690. I can have insurance for an additional $115 but wont bother since they are items of sentimental value as opposed to expensive effects. I need to drop the stuff off a week before sending (they sit in a holding warehouse for 7 days for security reasons) and transit time is only 2-3 days after that so way better than shipping. If anyone needs the guys contact name and number at a future date let me know. The dog however is costing $2400 (ouch) but I cant bear to be parted from him so he's coming too

Interesting. I'll probably have to send a couple of boxes from BNE -> Denver so i'll be looking at shipping shortly... I'm guessing its Air Cargo?

oh, and yes I'm getting excited... mum told me that she's so excited she's going to buy my plane tickets, so its just a matter of getting the approval, and finding out what dates my flights can be booked. The moment I know those dates, is when everything else is in motion and then I'll be off...

At this stage I'm planning POE @ LAX in September...

Edited July 19, 2010 by bextavaz

[CareBear 18]

Yeah is air cargo - shipping cost was $3000 for the same amount of stuff due to "minimum" size requirements I'd be charged for.

Awesome re POE in September. I'm aiming for LAX also but on 29 October

[Bacon 0]

Finally!!!! We're married!! Few days late in the notice since we did have a honeymoon and all. But July 10th I finally got to marry my Sweetie. Here's a pic my cousin took and made for us.

Now, one question/problem I am having is that Ham didn't get his SSN before we got married. So they're telling us that we can't apply for his EAD until after we've applied for the AOS which will then change his status in the system to allow for him to get an SSN that will then allow him to apply for an EAD.

Has anyone ever heard of that?

[Matt & Zoe 0]

Approved approved approved! Bit of a whirlwind trip to Sydney but I was in and out of the consulate in less than an hour - up to security at 7.30 and out by 8.15. I will write up a proper review when I'm home, but it is such a great feeling and really, once you're in Sydney it feels like there's very little between you and that visa in your passport. No requests for any supporting evidence, about four or so questions and that's it! I used Astrid's trick and got in the elevator last.. so I got ticket 001, haha. I was a little surprised at how easy it all was even though we had a cosponsor.. being in college doesn't seem to bother anybody too much in Sydney.

Matt and I booked tickets last week, so POE is August 4th. I'll be resigning from work tomorrow and finishing up next Friday - I think that time is just going to fly. Couldn't be here without all the helpful tips and support from my fellow Aussies.. thank you so much guys!

[CareBear 18]

Congratulations Bacon - that's a lovely photo Sorry dont know the answer to the SS# question but wanted to pass on my best wishes for married life

And fantastic news Matt & Zoe - its all over until the wedding and AOS.

Brilliant to see 2 happy stories today

[bextavaz 4]

Yeah is air cargo - shipping cost was $3000 for the same amount of stuff due to "minimum" size requirements I'd be charged for.

Awesome re POE in September. I'm aiming for LAX also but on 29 October

How much cover does the $115 insurance provide?

Also congrats bacon & matt&zoe...

My time is counting down quickly, so I am starting to get excited for those final words of the process...

[CareBear 18]

How much cover does the $115 insurance provide?

Up to $6,000 but from memory is loss only

[bextavaz 4]

Up to $6,000 but from memory is loss only

Awesome, I'll get more details in the near future

[CareBear 18]

No worries - he's a really friendly guy and you only need to sort it about 2 weeks before you want it flown

[bextavaz 4]

ok, so I have a little bit of a predicament...

My interview is August 3... so pending the obvious approval, I intend on getting my departing flights for the US shortly after (when they are cheapest again)... regardless of the answer at the interview, I plan on leaving the Gold Coast permanently (choice is either USA or Perth)...

My problem is currently with my full time job... Now I work in a small team of 5 people, and I'm the 2IC and have been there for 3.5years... The boss is essentially away from the office on work and leave for the latter half of August and the start of September. I originally just planned on giving 1 mths notice shortly after my interview (because well, I'm so awesome and incredibly difficult to replace (lol) - plus that gives them time to train a new person if necessary, and gives me extra time to wrap my Australian life up) but I'm starting to think that I should give them a "soft" resignation heads up now so that the boss can start preparing an action plan, and then I'll hand in the official paperwork after my interview.

I should also mention that the industry I'm in has pretty much "died in the ####" and we are seemingly quite quiet at the moment... In recent performance reviews (apparently it will be a great loss if I ever leave) the boss was giving us the heads up that its entirely possible that positions could be made redundant due to the current state of business... I'd love it if they could just make my position redundant, but I'm not sure I can really go asking for that... I also don't want them to make someone else redundant and then have me quit shortly after...

I have asked a few friends/associates, and so far the majority response has been that I should wait til something is set in stone, then take action... but the more I think about it, if I'm leaving regardless of my interview answer, perhaps I should start letting them know of my intentions now...

What are your thoughts on this, because I'm sort of torn as to what I should do... ARGH?!

[AUS2USA 0]

Approved approved approved! Bit of a whirlwind trip to Sydney but I was in and out of the consulate in less than an hour - up to security at 7.30 and out by 8.15. I will write up a proper review when I'm home, but it is such a great feeling and really, once you're in Sydney it feels like there's very little between you and that visa in your passport. No requests for any supporting evidence, about four or so questions and that's it! I used Astrid's trick and got in the elevator last.. so I got ticket 001, haha. I was a little surprised at how easy it all was even though we had a cosponsor.. being in college doesn't seem to bother anybody too much in Sydney.

Matt and I booked tickets last week, so POE is August 4th. I'll be resigning from work tomorrow and finishing up next Friday - I think that time is just going to fly. Couldn't be here without all the helpful tips and support from my fellow Aussies.. thank you so much guys!

Hahaha, I didn't know about "Astrid's trick", but I thought I'd let the family with the pram on first. I was going to let you on too, but meh, I'm happy with ticket #003

Congrats on the approval. Unfortunately, my medical had not arrived at the consulate yet, so I'm approved but waiting for the medical to turn up. I called australia post today and it was supposed to be delivered some time today.

I only just stumbled on this australian section haha

Oh, and you're studying law? haha yes, I was eavesdropping to see what kind of questions were being asked. Hope you don't mind

Edited July 20, 2010 by AUS2USA