LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[CareBear 18]

LOL the roadtrip comment was definitely tongue in cheek - we're flying with Virgin and training it to the hotel - there will be no cars in sight near us

As for Sunrise - well emmmm watch this space as stranger things have happened

[TJ2010 5]

Congrats on your imminent visa interview CareBear!

Still no news on our side of things... still waiting for NOA2

[bextavaz 4]

LOL the roadtrip comment was definitely tongue in cheek - we're flying with Virgin and training it to the hotel - there will be no cars in sight near us

As for Sunrise - well emmmm watch this space as stranger things have happened

hahahah - good... a friend parked there (she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer) and ended up paying $72 to see me for 3hrs whilst I was there...

this weekend I'm devoting to packing 2 boxes and measuring/weighing them to call the freight guys next week.

Today is Aug 13, I leave on Sept 13, that makes it exactly one month right? :freakingout: hahah

[CareBear 18]

Hey Jess - the waiting with nothing happening is the hardest part - I'm sure in the 91 days between NOA1 and 2 I stressed more than I've done in years. Massive hugs that something will happen for you soon.

LOL Nick I've just had visions of you with a tape measure and a lot of under breath muttering! Good luck with that and OMG only a month? Wow that's going quick mate!

[bextavaz 4]

Hey Jess - the waiting with nothing happening is the hardest part - I'm sure in the 91 days between NOA1 and 2 I stressed more than I've done in years. Massive hugs that something will happen for you soon.

LOL Nick I've just had visions of you with a tape measure and a lot of under breath muttering! Good luck with that and OMG only a month? Wow that's going quick mate!

Very fast. 1wk 3days of work to go... Then 2weeks til my flight.

Unlike waiting for my interview, time is flying now... Lol

[VanessaTony 3,567]

RELATIVELY URGENT INFO REQUESTED

Guys quick qn... there's lots of topics on this site discussing how to book flights (under which name) when your passport is in your maiden name, but your GC or AP document is in your married name.... my qn is related but I needed Aussie specific confirmation.

In a couple of weeks it appears I'm going back to Australia for family reasons. Anyway, every bit of ID I have, except for my Wells Fargo bank card and my GC, are in my maiden name. I have my wedding certificate that lists both my maiden AND my married names (for ID reasons I thought this was especially good).

So, here's the deal, in order to get my name changed for free on my Aussie passport, I need to change it before the 12 month anniversary of my wedding. I would be returning to the US in November which is the 12th month so I've decided that it's much easier just to do the name change stuff in Aus, which causes a little issue...

This means flying back to Australia on my MAIDEN name passport, and re-entering the US on my MARRIED name passport. So, do i book tickets in married name (makes the most sense to me) or maiden seeing the passport I'm leaving on is my maiden name. I've heard people have no issues entering the US with their passport being in maiden and GC in married as long as they show marriage certificate, but does anyone have experience entering AUSTRALIA in maiden name passport but ticket in married name? Have you been given issues?

I'm going to fly "United" if that makes a difference. I've called them and the woman on the phone was pretty useless. She basically said that UNITED would let me fly in whatever name I had ID for, but that immigration might give me issues.

My sister has a friend who used to be a manager at Flight Centre who suggested I book two separate tickets OR change my passport another time. She said she often got calls from people having issues, but then VJ has lots of people NOT having issues.

If you were me... what would you do? Book in married, or maiden?

[CareBear 18]

As far as I was aware your ticket name has to match your passport so I would book 2 separate tickets as suggested - maiden going over and married coming back (if you're intending to change your passport whilst here).

I had an issue flying out of the States when the airline entered my boarding pass reversing my names - so my surname was showing as my maiden name.

Even though it was the same 2 names but reversed as my passport security wouldnt let me go through into the gate lounges, they made me return to the ticket counter and have it amended.

Not the same situation but my 2 cents worth

[bextavaz 4]

I had an issue flying out of the States when the airline entered my boarding pass reversing my names - so my surname was showing as my maiden name.

That'll teach you for having a first name that should be a last name :whistle:

[CareBear 18]

Oi cheeky brat Carey is quite common as a first name too - just normally for a boy

How did you go with the packing and measuring on the weekend?

[Breezie54 2]

RELATIVELY URGENT INFO REQUESTED

Guys quick qn... there's lots of topics on this site discussing how to book flights (under which name) when your passport is in your maiden name, but your GC or AP document is in your married name.... my qn is related but I needed Aussie specific confirmation.

In a couple of weeks it appears I'm going back to Australia for family reasons. Anyway, every bit of ID I have, except for my Wells Fargo bank card and my GC, are in my maiden name. I have my wedding certificate that lists both my maiden AND my married names (for ID reasons I thought this was especially good).

So, here's the deal, in order to get my name changed for free on my Aussie passport, I need to change it before the 12 month anniversary of my wedding. I would be returning to the US in November which is the 12th month so I've decided that it's much easier just to do the name change stuff in Aus, which causes a little issue...

This means flying back to Australia on my MAIDEN name passport, and re-entering the US on my MARRIED name passport. So, do i book tickets in married name (makes the most sense to me) or maiden seeing the passport I'm leaving on is my maiden name. I've heard people have no issues entering the US with their passport being in maiden and GC in married as long as they show marriage certificate, but does anyone have experience entering AUSTRALIA in maiden name passport but ticket in married name? Have you been given issues?

I'm going to fly "United" if that makes a difference. I've called them and the woman on the phone was pretty useless. She basically said that UNITED would let me fly in whatever name I had ID for, but that immigration might give me issues.

My sister has a friend who used to be a manager at Flight Centre who suggested I book two separate tickets OR change my passport another time. She said she often got calls from people having issues, but then VJ has lots of people NOT having issues.

If you were me... what would you do? Book in married, or maiden?

Vanessa,

Ive had friends flying on their honeymoon to destinations within Australia and Internationally, tickets were booked in her married name, she just carried her aussie passport in maiden name, and marriage certificate and had no issue, however if you want to be sure then call the Aussie Embassy in New York, if u need a calling card go to Walmart and buy an AT & T International Calling card (that way u can use it to call aussie) i bought a $30 card to call the Gold Coast and it gave me 422 minutes to call Australia.. good deal i had thought.

I have had to delay submitting my AOS, EAD and PA due to Leonard having left his Lever Arch file with all his copy of our documents back in the shipment coming over in the container (he said i needed the space in the suitcase) and i dont have a copy of the NOA1 Receipt or NOA2 Approval, so weve had to send in today and I-824 Application for Duplicate at a cost of $340.. Hopefully it will be back by the time we get back from our Honeymoon, we are in Charlotte NC Heading for The Outer Banks tomorrow then we may mosey up to visit friends in New York will be gone about a week to 10 days, my 90 days is not up until 9th September, we married July 31st all my AOS stuff is ready to go we just need the copy of the NOA2 and we are good to go, sadly my Dad's cancer has come back, he now has spots on the liver (12 months since his stomach was removed) but my Mum said when i called her this morning, that as yet the scans show his liver function is not affected so we are praying its a very slow moving cancer, so i may have to fly home before the end of the year is up myself, but hopefully by then will have my passport amended to my married name, as that will be the next thing i get done after all the rounds of the AOS, EAD and AP.

How did the settlement on your house go and have u gotten your AOS AND AP YET? I know a friend of a friends daughter had trouble getting back into the US, she left after verbally advising USCIS that her mother was dying and she had to fly home, obviously she didnt have her AP anyway, she made it home before her mother passed, but when she flew back to the States they wouldnt let her in.. shes been stuck back in Sydney now for nearly 9 months.

Hope all goes well.. cheers Kaye

[Tristan n Isolde 2]

Thank you Kaye - hope you have the loveliest honeymoon and look forward to hearing from you when you return

LOL Nick I already have an airline ticket - I booked it while it was on sale figuring worse case scenario I would change the flight date if needed. My POE (fingers crossed) will be LAX on 29 October 2010. Once I have the visa in my hand I just have to book in the freight and dog and I'm good to go - it will be chill and relax time the last 2 months (and a few parties to boot )

Speaking of which my 2 best friends are coming to Sydney with me - their final hurrah road trip if you will I know they cant come with me to the consulate but after we'll be hitting the town for lunch and shopping before flying back to the coast that night. Is a great day today indeedy

My man is gonna bring his dog too, did you have to get the rabies shot for your dog? I thought aus was a rabies free country but wasnt sure if they still need it. Other then that did you have to do anything special?

[bextavaz 4]

Oi cheeky brat Carey is quite common as a first name too - just normally for a boy

How did you go with the packing and measuring on the weekend?

I think I've succesfully isolated everything I want to take, I just have to put it in the boxes... Haha... I'm so screwed if I keep this up though... Lol

[CareBear 18]

My man is gonna bring his dog too, did you have to get the rabies shot for your dog? I thought aus was a rabies free country but wasnt sure if they still need it. Other then that did you have to do anything special?

Aus is a rabies free country but its a requirement that Texas (dont die laughing but my dog is called Texas, is 7 1/2 years old and now I'm marrying a Texan - oh the irony) has a rabies shot before he enters the US. That and proof that he has had his annual vaccinations was the only thing needed for him.

The pet handler that is transporting him is attending to the shot prior to him flying - they pick him up from mums house 2 days after I fly out, transport him to Brisbane, fly him to Sydney where he overnights, has the rabies shot and a final health check over, next day he flies to San Francisco where he clears customs and dependent on the time of day will either fly straight through to Dallas that night or the next morning. Not a cheap exercise @ A$2400 but I've had him since he was 8 weeks old and just cannot bear to be parted from him.

[CareBear 18]

Have a fantastic honeymoon Kaye - enjoy all the new sights and relax

Sorry to hear about your Dad's cancer coming back - fingers crossed its a very slow mover and you have many years together yet *hugs*

Wow re your friend of a friends daughter - that would truly suck!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Vanessa,

Ive had friends flying on their honeymoon to destinations within Australia and Internationally, tickets were booked in her married name, she just carried her aussie passport in maiden name, and marriage certificate and had no issue, however if you want to be sure then call the Aussie Embassy in New York, if u need a calling card go to Walmart and buy an AT & T International Calling card (that way u can use it to call aussie) i bought a $30 card to call the Gold Coast and it gave me 422 minutes to call Australia.. good deal i had thought.

I have had to delay submitting my AOS, EAD and PA due to Leonard having left his Lever Arch file with all his copy of our documents back in the shipment coming over in the container (he said i needed the space in the suitcase) and i dont have a copy of the NOA1 Receipt or NOA2 Approval, so weve had to send in today and I-824 Application for Duplicate at a cost of $340.. Hopefully it will be back by the time we get back from our Honeymoon, we are in Charlotte NC Heading for The Outer Banks tomorrow then we may mosey up to visit friends in New York will be gone about a week to 10 days, my 90 days is not up until 9th September, we married July 31st all my AOS stuff is ready to go we just need the copy of the NOA2 and we are good to go, sadly my Dad's cancer has come back, he now has spots on the liver (12 months since his stomach was removed) but my Mum said when i called her this morning, that as yet the scans show his liver function is not affected so we are praying its a very slow moving cancer, so i may have to fly home before the end of the year is up myself, but hopefully by then will have my passport amended to my married name, as that will be the next thing i get done after all the rounds of the AOS, EAD and AP.

How did the settlement on your house go and have u gotten your AOS AND AP YET? I know a friend of a friends daughter had trouble getting back into the US, she left after verbally advising USCIS that her mother was dying and she had to fly home, obviously she didnt have her AP anyway, she made it home before her mother passed, but when she flew back to the States they wouldnt let her in.. shes been stuck back in Sydney now for nearly 9 months.

Hope all goes well.. cheers Kaye

If I were you, I'd call tomorrow and cancel the cheque. You can AOS without the NOA2 and I know I'd appreciate the saving. Cancelling the cheque will only result in your parcel being returned, it will not adversely affect your AOS process at all. I sent you a PM with some links to help you out. Read those first before cancelling the cheque just in case you decide that's the route you wanna go anyway.

I have my greencard so leaving and getting back in isn't an issue on that front, it's accepting my ID that is. Thanks for your post on it though, makes me feel a bit better. The United website (the airline im flying) as well as the TSA site say that your ticket needs to "match government issued ID" and gives a list which include the GC (and passport of course) but also drivers licence (mentions US licences specifically being a US site I assume being the point ) so I am getting more confident as the day passes... Just in case though, I'm taking my entire immigration folder, including my birth certificate and marriage certificate. I also have my US bank account card in my married name... not that it really counts as ID but yeah I'll definitely let you all know how I go. Just cross all fingers and toes for me on the 1st Sept

I'm sorry to read about your father but I feel I definitely know how you feel. The whole purpose of my trip is it appears my father may have vascular dementia. This means that he's been having "mini-stroke" like things in his brain which has been causing all sorts of issues. He seems most badly affected at night time so the nurse that helps mum out has said she thinks he has "sundowners syndrome". It's important to note that while I'm only 27, and I have younger siblings, my father turned 91 this year. It's not unexpected that he have some form of dementia or senility given his age, but the latest developments were so sudden that vascular dementia (the strokes that is) make the most sense. Diagnosis requires an MRI which he has yet to have. Sadly due to his age most people (doctors included) keep saying "this is normal for his age" which ticks me off because SUDDEN changes (like not recognising his wife of 28 years some mornings, or what room in the house is what, or how to make tea/coffee) are not "normal for his age". He also suffers from Idiopathis-myelofibrosis which is a form of leukaemia. He was diagnosed in 2007 and is on chemo tablets but has been fine since he started the regime... now his health is rapidly declining and I along with my other siblings (and of course my mother) need to sit down and discuss what we need to do, such as selling the house and helping her prepare the house for sale. It sounds rather morbid and I suppose even this post seems cold... I dread going home as I'm not sure exactly what i'm walking into, no amount of "dad did this" or "dad did that" I think can prepare you to deal with it yourself. It's not going to be a nice trip and that makes me sad too I always thought my next trip to Aus would be happy, with me taking Tony home to meet my friends and family, and now, unless he can get his passport really quickly (quickest is 4-6 weeks), may never meet my father in person. Extremely sad but I'm trying not to dwell. I'm trying to stay positive and I'm hoping positivity is what my trip will bring for my family. Hope that there's a plan and that he's not leaving us physically anytime soon (my mother is distraught)... always hope.

Edited August 17, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony