LAND DOWNUNDER

[vylex 0]

HAMMMMMMMY.......post the good news already!! We are all waiting in anticipation!

Ditto that! I look forward to his review!

BTW Paul, you are moving to Marlborough? LOL, I went there for business twice the last 6 months. I also drive by there everytime I visit the family up in Nashua. It's only another 45 minutes from Marlborough.

Hurry up with the news already!

[Rings 10]

23 DAYS!!!!! <---- okay I know that's annoying now, but I can't help it lol

[Kath 0]

well we got two VJ'ers MIA ...tamzo and hamster..

come on you two give us a hint lol

ohhh rings you are as bad as my husband use to be ...his first words on msn use to be how many days left to go before i get there lol....why dont you get one of the tickers will take ya right down to the hour and minutes lol

take care

kath

[hampster 0]

Please call off the Bounty Hunters and the National Guard.. please lol

I'm back from Sydney and .....

[girlfrmoz 1]

Jeeeze Paul...bout time so??? stop being a tease and tell us how you went!!!!

[Moonie 0]

No chocolate for Hampster.

[Kath 0]

thats mean of ya paul lol ...is everything ok...

[hampster 0]

Lets start from the beginning shall we..

Well flew into Sydney Thursday Morning arriving at 8.40am..

Got a train from the Airport to Central Station,

then a Tram to Haymarket, cost $15.20

where my Hotel was........ ,

can pre-pay tram and bus and train tickets at the station,

through a ticket vending machine.

Then got to my Hotel.. Aarons on Ultimo Rd.around 10.00am

Dropped of my Luggage there,

as my room wouldn't be ready till 12.00pm Midday.

So I walked all around ChinaTown where Haymarket is.

Across the road was "Paddy's Market"

where you could buy anything, for a price.

They even sold wigs there and I thought..

should I buy one for the interview nooooooo I didn't lol.

They also do sorta like Henna Tattooing there as well...

I though hmmm......

(remembering the day before I shaved my Head )

Wouldn't it be funny to have 2 eyes,

tattooed on the back of my head lol hehehe.

For a Aussie in Chinatown do you think I could find a place,

that sold Fish and Chips nooooooooooooooooooo.

Anyways Got back to my Hotel went upstairs and got into my room.

Basic room.. with tv, kettle, mini bar fridge..(no Alcohol)

and a double bed that was hard but comfortable..

Was a 1st floor room with a alleyway outside my window where,

in chinatown they prepare all sorts of food... nuff said

Slept that night for about ohhhhhh 3 hours...

woke up made a cuppa tea at 6.30am..

Then showered, shaved and dressed and took my stuff downstairs,

they allowed me to keep my luggage there till I returned.

So..... around 8.30 am I walked to George Street..

about 3 streets away to catch a bus that went to Martin Place.

FYI all buses that go down George street Goes past Martin Place.

Its about a 7 Minute ride,

from George street to CONSULATE...cost $1.20 1 way.

So I got into the Consulate(10th floor security)

had to take off my belt shoes,

and my rings and empty out my pockets of change,

as well as turning of my Mobile Phone.

They Keep Mobile and give you a plactic card,

with the logo of the consulate and when you come back down,

to go out after interview just give them the card and they will,

in turn give you back what they kept .. mobile phone or any other bags.

So I get to the 59th floor..

take my Immigration # number from the machine.

Number # 14.. time stamped 9.47am...

there where about 30 people in there when I arrived.

So I sat at the window overlooking Sydney Harbor Bridge..

then walked around awhile.

Sat down again then got up for another walk.

There was a few couples thre applying for visa's. omg!!

They had arrived at the Consulate with no $$$ to pay their fee.

They arrived at the consulate had their numbers called,

Some didn't have their affidavid of support..

or tax returns or other stuff that put them in hot water.

By this time it was 12.50pm..

Considering My Interview was scheduled for 10.00am...

And once the Consulate Officer (Dragon Lady),

had their file in front of her and they where at the window,

she had to follow up on their case till they returned,

with their information or cash or whatever they needed to get this done.

By this time.. I was really hanging out for a Smoke

so i was waiting there nearly 4 hours past my interview time..

there was another lady in window 2 Amber doing Cr1 interviews as well.

So I got called to Window 2 FINALLY @ 3.30pm

She was very pleasant and Apologies profusely about the delays..

So she checked all my paperwork,

she commented that if other people going for visa's,

was as organised as My Papework was done,

People wouldn't have to wait around for 4 + hours for their Interview.

She looked at everything and said ok Paul,

take a seat and you will be called to Window # 6,

by the Consular Officer doing your Interview.

I said thankyou and sat down by the window again.

Waited till around 4.10pm and was called to Window #2.

Nice guy around 30ish and said hello Paul,

I said G'day lol...

He said so Paul what is your reason for your Visa.

I said well My Wife and I got Married last year,

In Adelaide and she had to go back to work

a couple days, after we got married,

and I wanted to move overseas to be with her.

He said oh ok ( playing dumb lol)

He then asked how long had we known each other for,

how did we meet, what does Cheryl Do for a Job,

I told him and he said oh ok..

Then he said Have you checked the box for a SS #,

I said yes I did request a SS# On my DS 230.

He goes ok no worries.

Then he asked did I bring a 3kg parcel express bag,

with my return address on it.

I said yes it is under the next page that you are looking at ..lol

He checked and laughed oh ok lol

And then he said well take these paper with you.. and it said..

WELCOME TO AMERICA

He said Congratulations Paul your Visa has been APPROVED.

I said gimme a Low 5 lol he said what?

I said it was a version of high 5 slap

I then proceeded to slide my fingers under the glass partion,

and he oblidged and gave me a low 5 by touching my fingers with his.

He and I just cracked up laughing..

He said that is the 1st time he has ever heard of that happening lol.

so I walked out of the 59th floor @ 4.30pm,

went down to the 10th and the Guard asked

do I need to pick anything up from security.

I said nope with a big Sh_t Eating grin on my face

So I walked out of the MLC Building and instead of catching the bus back,

to my Hotel I decided to walk back.

I got a Kilometre away and realised omfg I left my phone,

at security on the 10th floor. so i ran back and got to the 10th floor,

security check point.. and the guards said...

Wondered how long you would take to realise you left it here lol.

So all in all it was a great day.

As soon as I got back to my hotel I rang and left a Voicemail,

On Cheryls Cell phone and said we got the visa!!!!!!!.

So we caught up on the phone before I left Sydney,

and she was sooooo happy and said,

well we knew we where gonna get it.

So to all tht are going through Sydney Consulate..

Make sure you take water ( have some in front of Security)

And take a Magazine or a paper be prepared for a wait..

Hopefully not as long as Mine was..

Remember to take a number as soon as you walk in,

and be patient as it's all you can do.

Thank you all that have been curious about how I went.

Any word from Tamzo?

Ok hope everyone is well and are happy.

Cheers

Paul

[hampster 0]

OOPS I forgot I will recieve my Visa by Post..

If my INTERVIEW was ON TIME @10.00am,

I would have had it in Hand that day.. ffs.

But main thing is that it has been APPROVED,

and will get it by Wednesday by the latest.

Cheers

Paul

[girlfrmoz 1]

CONGRATULATIONS PAUL AND CHERYL!!!!!

So happy for you folks its wonderful news!!!!!

Jeeze you had to wait a long time though! Are you feeling the relief yet? Isn't it the most brilliant feeling.

Now where is tamzo???? Hope everything is ok.

[hampster 0]

CONGRATULATIONS PAUL AND CHERYL!!!!!

So happy for you folks its wonderful news!!!!!

Jeeze you had to wait a long time though! Are you feeling the relief yet? Isn't it the most brilliant feeling.

Now where is tamzo???? Hope everything is ok.

Hi Lyndel

Wait was unbearable yes but well worth it

Thankyou for your help and support through this as well as everyone,

else that has helped along the way.

Has sunk in yes

But next hurdle is to try sell my car.. will be making a super extra effort,

to do that in the next week.

Have dropped the asking price... cutting my nose to spite my face lol

So will keep you and everyone posted.

So not long for you now to fly out Lyndel

Will be back online later on tonight or tomorrow.

Gotta go and ajust the asking price,

on all the flyers i have put out there.

A few different Suburbs. to get the beigger exposure lol.

ok be back later.

Cheers

Paul

P.S

TAMZO TAMZO, COME OUT COME OUT FROM WHEREEVER YOU ARE

Edited April 14, 2007 by hampster

[Kath 0]

time to do the dance of joy for hampster

fantastic news hammy... how come ya didnt say anything in your first post..ya damm sh.t strirer you lol

no word from tamzo shame ya couldnt of met up with her after her interview .....

how come you would of got your visa that day...they stopped doing that just before i went for mine...

i bet ya wifey is gunna be smiling from ear to ear just like you for ages...

so when you going to be flying out paul...

and great review ya should copy and paste that into the embassey review section mate...

take care glad you got home safely and found your way around sydney ok

kath

[hampster 0]

time to do the dance of joy for hampster

fantastic news hammy... how come ya didnt say anything in your first post..ya damm sh.t strirer you lol

no word from tamzo shame ya couldnt of met up with her after her interview .....

how come you would of got your visa that day...they stopped doing that just before i went for mine...

i bet ya wifey is gunna be smiling from ear to ear just like you for ages...

so when you going to be flying out paul...

and great review ya should copy and paste that into the embassey review section mate...

take care glad you got home safely and found your way around sydney ok

kath

Hey Kath thank you as well for your help and support,

and directions in Sydney lol.

Regarding same day visa..

I am only going by what the guy doing,

my interview had said to me on the day.

Yes Wifee Cheryl is

as we knew she would be aas i am smiling too.

Well gotta sell my car as i stated in post prior Kath..

But not stressing about it yet,

Have to go around and ajust asking price today

on the flyers i have put out in different suburbs.

I will do a review for the consulate tomorrow

when i have had some more sleep.

Hope all is well with Tamzo..

Cheers

Paul

[Rings 10]

YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAMMY!!!!!! I am so glad for you two!!!!!

[Loke 0]

I don't post here a lot but I come every day to read. Congratulations guys, I am so happy for you that you have made it through the process. Wishing you every happiness in your life together