LAND DOWNUNDER

[Rings 10]

I called USCIS and talked to an immigration officer and asked if I can process the I-130 and they told me that I couldn't because the I-129F was already issed a visa number. They said that they only issue a certain number of visa numbers per year and that is why when someone is declined, the petition goes back to the NVC so the visa number can be reused.

She said that because our I-129F petition was approved 1st, then we will have to process that case and if we stopped it now then we would have to wait for the Embassy to send our petition back to NVC in order to change the visa number for the I-130. Because he already has packet 3 in hand, she does not think it is the wisest choice for us.

She also said that processing the I-130 would cost us $200.00 and more time apart whereas the I-129F would get him here sooner and the cost difference would not be extreme. She said that the cost to change status seems more inflated than it really is because they have consolidated the services together as opposed to filling out various forms separately with separate fees. The cost has only actually chaged by $300.00 or so and she said that it really would only save us approximately $100.00 and we would have to spend more time apart.

It actaully sorta makes sense I don't know

[SharynY 2]

wow rings..

i thin its good you got someone who was helpful in some shape or form....

Kath did you have a minute to read my post? i just want to make sure i havent missed anything...

oh and i got the police certificate on friday!! yay!!!!

medical on tuesday (calling in sick to work)....

[meowgirl 0]

TIM TAM FIX...

Cravings can be sated through visits to your local Cost Plus World Market, who stock Tim Tams. http://www.worldmarket.com/custserv/store_locator.cmd

Of course, they're called Arnott's, not Tim Tams, but the rest of the packaging is the same. They carry Original, Chewy Caramel, and Double Coated.

You can also find Violet Crumble at World Market! Happy shopping!

I'm going to nibble on an double coated biscuit while I read VJ. YUM!!!

[SharynY 2]

ok this is a important question...

on one of the papers that lists what requirements you need to give them - ie birth certificate, police check etc etc...

someone wrote on there - deed poll, -my first surname-, to the surname i am using now...

i dont understand what this means - what do they need? my birth certificate states clearly both - the one i had when i was borne and the one i am using now (i'm not using my dad's surname anymore...- long story) when they were changed - and to the one i am using now - its from the Births deaths and marriages registry where i changed it and they mailed me the new certificate...

so do i need anything else?....

if anyone cna answer this it would be great!!

[Moonie 0]

G'Day Folks

My sweetie bear is here! He has been here a little over a week and it is going good. Seems like he was always here which is strange because he has never been to America or my place.

He helps me lots and lots and even brought me breakfast in bed this morning. A girl can get use to this for sure! I love him lots and lots and I am so happy that he is here with me!

[Loke 0]

Hi all,

it's been a while since I posted, life has been kind of hectic here lately.

Had my medical this morning. Poked and prodded and measured and weighed and answered a whole bunch of questions about illness, operations, my lifestyle and my family medical history. Got vampired (blood test) and x-rayed (twice, he didn't get my whole chest in the first one).

I wasn't done filling in the paperwork when he wanted to to the medical so he gave it back to me to complete after he had done the exam and I had a quick flick through looking at his notes...all the right boxes seemed to be ticked (or not ticked, in the places where you don't want ticks). At the end he noted "a nromal examination". So that seems to be good news as far as I can tell.

Have to go back this arvo because I didn't have my "baby nook" with me but he said if that looks okay when he sights it then I seem to have all the vaccinations I need (and I suspect a couple of others I didn't need too).

Congrats to everyone who seems to have things happening for them on the visa and job fronts, I have skimmed through but I don't have time to read properly because I have to head back out to the doctor before I go to work.

Sharyna - if you have a certificate stating that you changed the surname you use then I would suggest its a good idea to try to get a copy of it....if the certificate doesn't exist then you can't get it though, but I have been of the opinion all the way through this that if paperwork exists for something it's a good idea to have it, just in case.

Cheerio all and I hope you are all well and happy. Will be back later this week when the document-chasing process slows down a little.

[SharynY 2]

hey loke!

thanks for your reply - yeah my birth certificate from the registry states everything and its signed for by some high dude there...

my medical is tomorrow..... i'm nervous.... 10.15am with Dr Waks.

nervous... very nervous.. i dont like doctors at all...

[Loke 0]

hey loke!

thanks for your reply - yeah my birth certificate from the registry states everything and its signed for by some high dude there...

my medical is tomorrow..... i'm nervous.... 10.15am with Dr Waks.

nervous... very nervous.. i dont like doctors at all...

I can't speak for your individual doctor because I went to see Dr Okraglik, but my feeling was that he seemed to want to okay me. He went through all the questions about medical history etc very quickly and I almost felt silly say 'no' so many times so quickly haha. He was fairly thorough with the physical side of things but I just made sure I co-operated with everything he wanted and he seemed satisfied. All the people I spoke to were pretty nice and helpful with any questions I had. It did feel at times that I was being rushed through the process, but I guess that can be the experience with any doctor you don't know personally.

I discovered a way to see the medical form after he had filled it out by mistake, and I'm not necessarily recommending you do this, but I turned up at 9am on the dot (traffic killed me on the way in) and so he was ready to see me before I had the name and visa details filled in at the top of the sheets. So we did the exam and then he gave me back the paperwork to finish filling in (so of course I had a quick peek at what he wrote). I also forgot to take my photos with me so they gave the form back to me AGAIN this afternoon when I returned with my photos. It was actually reassuring to see all the boxes ticked in my favour and the normal examination comment at the bottom.

Again, not recommending it as a course of action and it may not be the same with all cases but it was pretty easy for me to look at the forms after the exam.

Good luck with it all Sharyna, I am sure it will all go well. I was really quite nervous leading up to it as well but once you get in there it is pretty much just a case of following instructions and there's nothing too scary about it (unless you count having another man check your testicles for lumps as scary...but you'll escape that one luckily )

[Kath 0]

hi sharyna

yeah i did answer your questions about your check list mate lol ...also a question for ya ..

when you got your name changed did you get a name change certficate..maybe thats what they are going on about...

here is the link for nsw change of name registry..

nsw name change

if that is what you have i think you should be right mate.. there is a section of a replacement of the certificate in that link also..you could always email the sydney embassey and tell them what you have and if that is good enough ...

dont be nervous mate about the medical its not too bad...

hi loke

whoo hoo on getting the medical completed... i know it must be such a hectic time for you right now.. but hang in there will get easier..

saturday was a year ago we were in sydney doing our interview wow where oh where did that year go..next anni is 25th june for a year being in the states then the big one on 1st july our wedding day...damm its flown by...

hi ya moonie

aint it a great feeling when your loved one is finally here...wow this must be a big change for him to be living here .. i think all of us may of been over here at least once.. how is he settling in...does he complain about the food yet lol..send him our regards and tell him welcome to america...

still no word from k mart.. i bet you 2 days before we leave on hols i get the phone call...lol..hell hammy i cant believe you dont get a discount that really isnt good... (i think i have said that before as well lol)

catch ya all later tc u lot

kath

ps loke did you get a copy of the full examination.. eg what he will be sending with you to the consulate..cos you will need the vaccination sheet for the AOS...ohhh by the way .. with Dr Poppenbeck i didnt escape that examination you were talking about lol

Edited June 18, 2007 by Kath

[SharynY 2]

you mean they check your privates?.... are you kidding me?

even less reason for me to like them!!!

kath - i emailed the embassy - if i dont hear from them tomorrow (i emailed them yesterday).... i'll call them.... and talk to someone...

[Loke 0]

I had thought that as a girl you'd escape that little unpleasantry, but Kath would know better than me about that.

It really was pretty impersonal though...I know I worried more than I needed to about the whole thing and I know it's pretty pointless trying to get you to worry less if you're anything like me, but the upside - if there is one - is that the whole thing is over in half an hour or so and it just flies by, things happened so fast that I didn't have time to think about one thing before it was on to the next thing.

You'll be okay.

[SharynY 2]

well i guess i better make sure i shave my legs then huh? rofl...

i think i'm glad i'm going alone to the medical....just me to be embaressed for lol...

i guess they need to be thorough.... Dr Waks is a guy right?... lol....

[Loke 0]

lol, I have no idea if Dr Waks is guy or girl, but I'm sure if it's a him he'll be respectful of your modesty (actually I have no idea but I hope he will).

I'll spare a though for you in the morning while I nurse my bruised inner elbow from my blood test. She said she thought it might bruise and she was right. I liked my previous blood test a lot better than this one. 9 o'clock appointment?

[SharynY 2]

yeah the receptionist told me i'd have to have another blood test.... i hate needles i really do lol!! nothing i like as far as you can see.

my appt is at 10.15am - calling in sick to work so i can go do this.

some people know how to take blood - others dont.... i hope whoever takes my blood doesnt leave a bruise.... :-)

[Loke 0]

Kath - I didn't get anything except receipts from them yet but he has gone through all my vaccination records and it is all written there in the forms...due my my inadequately filled out baby vaccination book (damn those Pascoe Vale nurses in the 1970s! lol)I will need one more tetanus shot in september which he told me I can get in the States so it won't hinder my visa application but everything else is up to date. I don't pick up the results until next week though, and as I understand they will be sealed and I won't be able to see them until the interview.

Good luck with K Mart, it seems like you have been waiting forever to hear from them - I hope it comes soon for you.

Sharyna - I don't hate needles but after the last couple of months I think I have had enough to do me for a long time...still 2 due for tetanus and hep but at least those aren't for a few months. I'm sick of aching shoulders haha. You will be fine, I completely understand your dislike of the medical aspect but I am sure you will get through it okay.