Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date

[alex and astrid 38]

I forgot to write this the other day when I was responding to Rosa....We tend to forget what strong people we are in terms of the relationship we are pursing. Not many people can handle having their partner on the other side of the world for months or years at a time. We have a lot of patience, trust and guts to make our relationships work. We put up with explaining to people why our partners aren't from here. We are a special type of person and sometimes there are days where we forget that. But all the doubt and pain and fear from separation is worth it when we walk into the arrivals hall and see them. What I felt when I saw Alex in January for the first time in seven months has only been topped by the pure awesomeness that was our wedding day. So, it's ok to feel crappy sometimes and worry and be a bit neurotic and have a cry. This is all a big deal. But it's worth it

[TerriandEric 4]

We got our interview date via email this morning -- April 6th at 10am WOOOOTTT!!!!!!! :dance: :dance:

[alex and astrid 38]

Woo hoooooo! Next tuesday, thats bloody quick! Normally it's the second tuesday away! Go Terri!

[Jaime and Melvin 0]

We got our interview date via email this morning -- April 6th at 10am WOOOOTTT!!!!!!! :dance: :dance:

YAYYYY *happy dance* hehe

[kaffy 2]

I emailed the Consulate to ask about the maiden v married name thing. Our petition was filed in my married name but because my passport is in my maiden name, that is the name they have used. By the time my file reaches the Consulate I will have legally changed my name and a new passport issued. For anyone else who is wondering - as long as ALL your Police Clearances are done in both your maiden and married names, they will do all the changes at interview time because the visa will be issued in the name that is in the passport.

Serious? Because when I filed my passport was (and still is) in my maiden name and they (the consulate) didn't have a problem processing my visa in my married name. They simply put an annotation "AKA: <maiden name>" on my visa which acted as a link back to my passport name

This was back in 2008 though so I guess the rules could have changed

[Deb+Steve 13]

Serious? Because when I filed my passport was (and still is) in my maiden name and they (the consulate) didn't have a problem processing my visa in my married name. They simply put an annotation "AKA: <maiden name>" on my visa which acted as a link back to my passport name

This was back in 2008 though so I guess the rules could have changed

I wish, kaffy. Petition lodged in married name with USCIS, gets to NVC and all correspondence is in my maiden name. PITA. Maybe it's because you DCF'd?

[alex and astrid 38]

Terri's interview should be all done by now....I want to hear the good news lol!

[TerriandEric 4]

APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED!!!! :dance: :dance:

I was asked a few questions and spent my time waiting talking to another lady who is married to the USC. They hired an Immigration Lawyer and she said they have given them nothing but grief & lots of misinformation. I told her about all you amazing people here on VJ and she said she had heard of this site but never came here.

I was asked:

Q. How did you meet?

A. We met in Second Life.

Q. Whats that?

A. An online game.

Q. When are you planning on travelling?

A. We are hoping for this weekend.

Q. What does he do for work?

A. He is a Windows System Administrator/Infastructure Analyst or I affectionately call him the IT Geek. (she laughed)

Q. How do you keep in touch?

A. We keep in touch via phone,email, msn, Skype whichever web cam program works best on the day really.

Q. DO you have any proof of the relationship?

A. (holding lime green folder full of it!) I said yes would you like to see the chat logs or the emails? She replied 'No its ok I found the photos and they are better'

Q. (She asked Rebekkah my daughter) Is that your brother?

A. Yes it is.

Q. Did he not want to go with you?

A. No he wanted to complete Years 11 & 12.

'Love the photos around Sydney...who took them?'

Oh a friend of mine who is from Seattle. We flew her in from Brisbane for the day to take our engagement photos.

'Ok everything is in order, your visa is approved. We will print out your visa & have everything mailed out to you in the satchel in the next 2-3 days. The yellow envelope you are not to open it, but keep it with you in your carry on and hand it over at the airport you come in to.'

[VanessaTony 3,567]

APPROVED APPROVED APPROVED!!!! :dance: :dance:

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTSSS!! Make sure you update your timeline and update us when you get your visa. POE so soon! Exciting!!

How is Reb about it all now? Feeling better?

[TerriandEric 4]

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTSSS!! Make sure you update your timeline and update us when you get your visa. POE so soon! Exciting!!

How is Reb about it all now? Feeling better?

Thank you thank you thank you!!! Timeline updated -- review done too!

Boo is doing ok with it all. The lady I was talking too while we waited has 2 children & they were over there for her work earlier...she said the schooling is much better there then here in her opinion. She said the teachers actually care, its not just a paycheck to them. It helps that we have been telling her all the things we want to do -- involving her in the process of living there. She is itching to get there now to explore LOL such a relief!!!

[alex and astrid 38]

Congratulations Terri and Bek!!

The woman who interviewed you, was she a blonde? And did you notice a Texas coffee cup with her at the desk? If so, she interviewed me too

[TerriandEric 4]

Congratulations Terri and Bek!!

The woman who interviewed you, was she a blonde? And did you notice a Texas coffee cup with her at the desk? If so, she interviewed me too

TY TY TY -- no was a dark haired lady who interviewed me...our package was in a pretty hot pink manila folder too LOL

[Giggles 1]

Congratulations Terri!!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! Timeline updated -- review done too!

Boo is doing ok with it all. The lady I was talking too while we waited has 2 children & they were over there for her work earlier...she said the schooling is much better there then here in her opinion. She said the teachers actually care, its not just a paycheck to them. It helps that we have been telling her all the things we want to do -- involving her in the process of living there. She is itching to get there now to explore LOL such a relief!!!

Aww! I'm happy she's feeling better about it. Ooo I just thought of something else, i know everyone emails but do you think she'd want to get a stationary set (a pretty one in her fave colour) and handwrite letters to her friends? Maybe she can get a disposable camera (or digital ) so she can takes pics of things she likes?

As for schooling... perhaps they care more but the UN education index has Australia as #1 and the US as #19... so maybe nicer but not smarter I honestly think it depends on the school though. Where i'm living i think the teachers are known to be nice, but I can't say I see a lot of "wow education is SO important to me!" etc etc.. oh well. My SIL is a lawyer in training.. maybe i should visit the school.. research you know

[Jaime and Melvin 0]

CONGRATULATIONS TEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance: