LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[KLS2010 30]

Washington State has no reciprocal arrangement with any other countries except Germany and BC, Canada. Go figure. My clean 10 year Australian drivers license doesn't mean a thing here. So I have to apply for my license as a learner! haha. This will be fun - reverse parallel parking on the opposite side of the road - uh oh! Maybe this is a blessing in disguise??!

Oh, I also cannot apply without my Green Card. BOO!!!!

Ohhhh yay!!! Great...something else to look forward to! That makes no sense...its so much harder to get a license here...well it was when I got mine...doesn't seem like it now the way some of these P-Plater's drive!!

My step-daughter just got her permit in December...all she had to do was get I think 70% or 75% on the written test...and her driving test only took about 5mins (almost failed...got the reverse parking on her third and final attempt)!

I better pass first go...otherwise that will just be embarrassing!!!

[bextavaz 4]

Ooo Best Buy would be great!! You can hook me up with more Wii games Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great :DI've heard about this three interview thing and I kinda understand having 2 (one to get rid of the bad people and the second to be sure) but three?!I personally have had one interview with a job (best not mention actually what I do ) and the second was only because the guy I would be working for directly was unavailable that particular day (otherwise it just would have been the one). They're hiring me through an Agency so the agency already kinda "vetted" me I suppose, and then forward them my resume which they then carefully assess (as well as my skill test results and written references) and THEN they interview. I really thought I'd hear yesterday (he told me I'd hear in 24 hours and that it should be good news and that I would probably start next week) but NOTHING!! OMG I hate waiting. It's stressing me out! I kinda wanna call and be all "sooo?!" but I'm trying to play it cool when really I want to know at least by tomorrow because I need to go buy more work attire if I'm starting next week (just work shirts really and possibly a jacket) and lets be honest... the monies would be good!

Pending the drug test I'm now employed! Hooray! I have no doubt that I'll pass the drug test though, because all I have the cleanest diet in the world and the only things that might show up are coffee, work out supps and steak+veges... HAHAHA

BB's three is:

#1: HR

#2: Dept Supervisor

#3: GM of Store

I guess it makes sense to help the GM weed out all the ####### so he doesn't have to sit there with 20billion interviews, but man, it's just a retail job lol.

Question for those that are already in the US....how has everyone gone getting a US driver's license?I know it probably varies from state to state but I was just curious to see what other ppl have experienced. I've looked at the Texas state DMV website, but it really doesn't tell you anything if you have an international driver's license..only what to do if you have one from another US state.Sorry if this question has been asked before .

CO Drivers licence was simple for me:

Few days practice driving on the road, read the book, do the learners written test, book practical driving test, drive around for 20mins in practical test, get licence! (Note: this process took ~1mth from start to finish)

I'm not on a fiance type greencard though, so I don't know if that made my licence process easier

[CareBear 18]

Congrats on the job Nick

I'd like to know where on earth the last 7 months went. I landed end October and now it's June??? What the??? lol

I have a work at home job that's giving us some extra funds and the tasks vary every day. I'm now 7 months pregnant with a little girl due in about 9 weeks. Is getting very warm in Texas - thank goodness for air conditioning!!

Only thing I have left to do is deal with the Texas drivers license but haven't got that far yet. I know I had to wait for my green card which is now to hand. I think now I can just go down (reading from the website) and do a eyesight exam and that's it but could be wrong there. Am aiming for the motivation to deal with that one this month sometime. Have been driving on an Intl drivers license, been pulled up once and had no issues but now the green card has arrived I need to get my butt into gear.

Congrats to everyone on your recent approvals - great to see

[bextavaz 4]

Congrats on the job Nick

I'd like to know where on earth the last 7 months went. I landed end October and now it's June??? What the??? lol

I have a work at home job that's giving us some extra funds and the tasks vary every day. I'm now 7 months pregnant with a little girl due in about 9 weeks. Is getting very warm in Texas - thank goodness for air conditioning!!

Only thing I have left to do is deal with the Texas drivers license but haven't got that far yet. I know I had to wait for my green card which is now to hand. I think now I can just go down (reading from the website) and do a eyesight exam and that's it but could be wrong there. Am aiming for the motivation to deal with that one this month sometime. Have been driving on an Intl drivers license, been pulled up once and had no issues but now the green card has arrived I need to get my butt into gear.

Congrats to everyone on your recent approvals - great to see

Tell me about it, I landed mid september but then again, I also spent 5 months playing around in the snow, and that went super fast...

I was actually getting a bit worried about unemployment, but the funny thing is, I've only been unemployed for 1mth 1wk... ahahahah.

How silly of me.

Good luck with the bub and the DL... Going to buy a Grand Caravan to store all the kids?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Pending the drug test I'm now employed! Hooray! I have no doubt that I'll pass the drug test though, because all I have the cleanest diet in the world and the only things that might show up are coffee, work out supps and steak+veges... HAHAHA

BB's three is:

#1: HR

#2: Dept Supervisor

#3: GM of Store

I guess it makes sense to help the GM weed out all the ####### so he doesn't have to sit there with 20billion interviews, but man, it's just a retail job lol

Congrats on the prospective new job!! I got news I was hired as well! Finally heard on Friday afternoon that I'm starting on Wednesday 8th June at 9am. My concern now is what do I do for a first work lunch? I don't know about fridges or what not.. time will tell!

[Dave and Shannon 9]

hey

just a question with Health Care over there... what has everyone done/doing over there when it comes to health... im hoping to be over there by the end of this month.. interview in 9 days ooooo haha scary.. but anyways yeh been thinking about what i should be doing.. travel insurance like i did last time i was there visiting or can i get health care when im over there... just not sure if ill need a greencard or sn number before i can get it there.... whats everyone done?

[TheSahlis 10]

hey

just a question with Health Care over there... what has everyone done/doing over there when it comes to health... I'm hoping to be over there by the end of this month.. interview in 9 days ooooo haha scary.. but anyways yeh been thinking about what i should be doing.. travel insurance like i did last time i was there visiting or can i get health care when I'm over there... just not sure if ill need a greencard or sn number before i can get it there.... whats everyone done?

My wife and stepson have been on my health plan since the 1st of the year, they are still in Australia waiting for case to be sent to consulate, but they stayed with me from Dec till March and my step son got sick and I used the insurance gave me no hassles and paid the bills only thing was I had to call them and tell them that he didn't have a SSN and they said ok well process the claim which they did. Also my wife ran out of a medicine that she takes and I scheduled an appointment with the Dr paid the $20 co-pay and she got a scrip for her medicine and that was even free because it was covered by the insurance.

If your married you should be able to go on your partners insurance, though that may have some rules to follow, I could only add my wife and stepson during open enrollment because I hadn't added them right after we got married.

If your not married then you can either just wait till your married and go on partners plan if they have on o buy your own which can be a tax deduction in some cases. I'm not sure about travel insurance though it may cover you for awhile but you'll have to read their rules to find that out.

hope this answers some of you question.

[CareBear 18]

Congrats on the new job Vanessa that's fantastic for you

LOL Nick emmmm no this is a one time one baby only deal - she'll fit just fine in our existing car

I was able to go straight onto hubby's health insurance the minute we were married even though I didn't have a social security number and since we married 2 weeks after my arrival it wasn't too long a wait. And it's a dang good thing too since our upcoming bubs was a wedding night blessing

[Dave and Shannon 9]

haha awesome.. I will look into it, I dont think we will be getting married for a couple months after I get into the country so I was just thinking of doing something while it was all pending, so I will have to look into it more... thanks for the reply guys... another question... I have read here somewhere theres a fee I have to pay at the Consulate on Tuesday when I go for my interview.. something like $131 or something... does it have to be paid in cash? or visa ok? The information they sent me in P4 never stated anything apart from the fee I had to pay at the post office...

Thanks alot ppl

[VanessaTony 3,567]

haha awesome.. I will look into it, I dont think we will be getting married for a couple months after I get into the country so I was just thinking of doing something while it was all pending, so I will have to look into it more... thanks for the reply guys... another question... I have read here somewhere theres a fee I have to pay at the Consulate on Tuesday when I go for my interview.. something like $131 or something... does it have to be paid in cash? or visa ok? The information they sent me in P4 never stated anything apart from the fee I had to pay at the post office...

Thanks alot ppl

No fee paid at the consulate, the fee is paid at the post office. It's mentioned in the P4 interview letter (there's an attachment to the email that includes the envelope, passport and anything else they thought you forgot) the fee is listed as "non-immigrant visa fee". The amount is US$350 but they will have listed it in AUD at whatever the exchange rate was when they sent the letter.

[Dave and Shannon 9]

No fee paid at the consulate, the fee is paid at the post office. It's mentioned in the P4 interview letter (there's an attachment to the email that includes the envelope, passport and anything else they thought you forgot) the fee is listed as "non-immigrant visa fee". The amount is US$350 but they will have listed it in AUD at whatever the exchange rate was when they sent the letter.

oh thank you, yeh I have paid that one and got the reciept for it.. I thought there was a fee I had to pay at the consulate.. sweeet! thank you, im glad i dont have to pay anything else until my AOS.. happy about that! I got my envelope already and i think thats all that i will need.. the receipt, proof of relationship and receipt cos they have everything else from the P3.. not gonna go buy myself a nice shirt and start being nervous for next week cheers for your reply

[bextavaz 4]

Boooo @ health insurance.

I'm currently screwed if anything happens (and I definitely tried hard whilst up in the snow for the season!).

Unfortunately, I can't sneak in on my mums, and well, I'm not "currently" employed... sooo I'm in the "you're f$&ked" bracket.

Thankfully I'm soon to be employed, so I can actually consider insurance etc (if not supplied by the company) haha.

[TheSahlis 10]

Boooo @ health insurance.

I'm currently screwed if anything happens (and I definitely tried hard whilst up in the snow for the season!).

Unfortunately, I can't sneak in on my mums, and well, I'm not "currently" employed... sooo I'm in the "you're f$&ked" bracket.

Thankfully I'm soon to be employed, so I can actually consider insurance etc (if not supplied by the company) haha.

if you dont mind me asking. I will be applying for a visa for my step daughter after she finishes UNI, at which time she will be right around 21. Why did your visa take so long at USCIS, from your time line it looks like it took 4 years from NOA1 till NOA 2, did they realy take that long to process the forms at USCIS ?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

if you dont mind me asking. I will be applying for a visa for my step daughter after she finishes UNI, at which time she will be right around 21. Why did your visa take so long at USCIS, from your time line it looks like it took 4 years from NOA1 till NOA 2, did they realy take that long to process the forms at USCIS ?

I advise you to ask a question about this for everyone else on VJ to read. If she's 21 it's going to get HARD and the wait time (according to the 2009 thread I was reading is 11 years)! Here's the thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/211956-bring-stepdaughter-to-us/

You should ask whether it would be a better choice to do the visa now and have her "activate" it and return to Uni. I know that at least 1 person (Gary and Alla) had her son do something similar and he has retained his GC while still attending Uni overseas.

You should also ask if it's the time you filed the petition as long as she's under 21 it's okay, or the time that the petition is approved that matters OR the time the visa is actually approved.

Edited June 6, 2011 by Vanessa&Tony

[bextavaz 4]

if you dont mind me asking. I will be applying for a visa for my step daughter after she finishes UNI, at which time she will be right around 21. Why did your visa take so long at USCIS, from your time line it looks like it took 4 years from NOA1 till NOA 2, did they realy take that long to process the forms at USCIS ?

Not sure about "step" relatives - I'd say follow Vanessa's hints...

As for mine, the NOA1 -> NOA2 wait time is actually USCIS waiting for a visa number. When I received the NOA2 it actually said I would receive further paperwork regarding my visa app within 90days... and well, as you can see, that didn't happen until 13mths later

A side note to this: my mother filed the original petition as an LPR, and immediately after becoming a US Citizen, upgraded the status of my petition to be filed "as a citizen" which dropped the wait time significantly...