LAND DOWNUNDER

[vylex 0]

Hi All,

Love this thread. It's like the only one where I see lots of cheer.

Good luck on your second try Kath. I failed my first one back in the day and I live here! Granted, you did get blind-sided with that avoidance test. I think that's cool and want to try that hee hee. I'll fail for scaring the instructor (I participate in performance driving courses on race tracks).

I can't believe I fly in 8 days back to my wife! Before it felt like eternity. Right now it's coming a little too fast. I need to finalize a few more wedding tasks before I can pack it up. Wow, this has put immigration paperwork in perspective! In some ways I found doing this while visa process more relaxing LOL!

Have a great flight Sharyna and whoever else will be making the trip (either to or from Oz)!

Good luck to all you newlyweds and soon to be newlyweds! Those pictures are getting me even more pumped for the big celebration.

I can't wait to marry my wife again. I hope she still says yes after all the stress we've gone through with wedding planning between two continents.

[Kelli 0]

Kath-Good luck with everything! I can't wait till I am able to work again.....I have already been off for a month and it is killing me (I am not even in the US yet!)

Now just a quickie.....I am arriving in LA, and I was just wondering what line I have to stand in for them to look at my paperwork. Geez, I am soooo nervous about the whole thing. I have finished packing, weighed all my suitcases and I am ready to go!

Duke-I am soo cranky, I can't upgrade on my flight-oh well, its only a few hours of having dead legs!

Hope everyone is well.

Take care....

Kellie

[Kath 0]

hi ya vylex

lol mate what expect the aussie's are a happy bunch of people ...ohhhh mate i bet your excited at all heck.. you and your wife have been plannin this for like ages...i hope it is a lovely day for you both and you create happy memories..cant wait to see the pics ...

well work was good.. at least the training im getting i dont have to be on the register but i suppose that comes next week lol..were tereasa and i were trained security and manners were a must...i was a bit shocked at how the front end conducts themselves and customer focus is a bit lacking in some respects...so im at a quandry to what i should do about it...and yes i know im no one the "newbie" but hell we were taught not to interrupt another operator while serving a customer..!!!!! to me its a breaking of the kmart code of conduct...

any suggestions to what i should do if i get interrupted in serving a customer in the states..

teresa have a safe flight if i dont see ya in here..ohh and one of the aussies got her EAD a little over 2 months after being transferred to CSC......

talk to you all soon

kath

[jezz85 0]

Kellie ...

When you line up, you want to go to the Visitor line, NOT the US citizen/resident line.

I know this from personal experience

24 hours without sleep makes you do some crazy things, luckily the lines weren't too long and it only added about 5 minutes.

Oh, another word of advice, you want the white I-94 immigration slip they give you on the plane and I STRONGLY advise you fill it all out before you get there. It was a little confusing for me but I can't remember why (sorry). One thing I didn't put down was country of residence cos I didn't know whether to put Australia or USA. Well, I left it blank and no one seemed to know or mind what I should put, they just sort of said "don't worry about it" and hustled me through.

Edited August 4, 2007 by jezz85

[Kelli 0]

Thank you so much Jezz !!! I wrote all of that down and stuck it in with my passport and stuff!

Well, this will probably be the last time that I am on here until I land in the US! I am spending next week with my sister on the Gold Coast, and fly out on Saturday!

The nerves are starting to kick in, but I am sure that I will be fine.

I hope that everyone is well, and good luck with whatever stage you are going through!

I will pop back in here and let you guys know how everything went! Until then, take care!

Kellie!

[Kelli 0]

oOo Just another quickie!

I have filled all my prescriptions for the medication that I need to do me till I get into a doctor over there. I have a note from my dr stating what meds I am on....should this be ok?

Also, I have copied-burnt-alot of my dvds to take over there....should I leave these at home incase they go through my bags?

Thanks!

[Kath 0]

hi kelli

you have a safe journey..take heaps of pics when staying with ya sis an family...

i did the same as you with the cd's and dvd's..i just put them in my luggage not in my onboard luggage..got through with no hassles...

also i went through the u.s. citz line because i was with my hubsmister was fine...your tired at this stage of your journey just ask one of the security people directing things...

take care mate happy reunite with ya bestest mate of all...

edit cos i forgot...the prescritions should be fine put them in your luggage ..not in your hand luggage .. if they have anything to say keep your letter from your doctor in your passport but dont show it unless questioned about it...put it in a toilet bag...only take onboard what you need mate...ohh dont forget also if there is any other stuff from the chemist that you know works for you with you too..only because of some of the stuff over here is strong..if ya get me..

also while i think of it i found this website that might be of interest to those who are coming or been here about voting..i know its been posted before but quite a few are going to be newbies over here..

voting in aust.

later all

kath

Edited August 5, 2007 by Kath

[Kelli 0]

i don't know where the bloody edit button is!

I have had a look around and I am NOT taking any copied dvds to the US-it is too risky after everything I have been through!

[Kelli 0]

hi kelli

you have a safe journey..take heaps of pics when staying with ya sis an family...

i did the same as you with the cd's and dvd's..i just put them in my luggage not in my onboard luggage..got through with no hassles...

also i went through the u.s. citz line because i was with my hubsmister was fine...your tired at this stage of your journey just ask one of the security people directing things...

take care mate happy reunite with ya bestest mate of all...

also while i think of it i found this website that might be of interest to those who are coming or been here about voting..i know its been posted before but quite a few are going to be newbies over here..

voting in aust.

later all

kath

Thanks Kath.....I only have a few dvds, so I might just take them...

Take care!

[jodee 30]

JUst wanted to pop in and say quick hello to everyone,..Life is wonderful right now,..I am enjoying every last second of my hubby being home,..He has to leave again on the 19th,..but after that its only for 4 -5 more months,..then he'll be home for good from THAT place, and hopefully wont have to deploy again,..

We are busily packing, as we leave for Malta tomorrow,..

Thank you all for your support and wishes,..and my very best to all of you right now.

Hugs,..

Jodee

[SharynY 2]

put my flight booking thru yesterday - they have seats on hold for me.... with UNITED... Qantas was going to cost me too much since i have to fly to Ontario california (not canada)..........

and luggage is 23kgs - if i go over i have to pay an extra $50 for each bag (if both are over obviously)....

also... since i'm catching my connecting flight at San Francisco - i have to go thru customs - is customs and immigration th the same?....... or together? and who do i hand in my brown envelope to?

..........

its UNITED all the way.. from Sydney to San Francisco then to Ontario Airport California....

[SharynY 2]

put my flight booking thru yesterday - they have seats on hold for me.... with UNITED... Qantas was going to cost me too much since i have to fly to Ontario california (not canada)..........

and luggage is 23kgs - if i go over i have to pay an extra $50 for each bag (if both are over obviously)....

also... since i'm catching my connecting flight at San Francisco - i have to go thru customs - is customs and immigration th the same?....... or together? and who do i hand in my brown envelope to?

..........

its UNITED all the way.. from Sydney to San Francisco then to Ontario Airport California....

oh and also... i have a 3 hour window... from when i arrive in SAn Fran to fly to Ontario... will this give me enough time to see immigration and stuff? .......... apparently i have to check out my luggage at SAn Fran and recheck it in thru customs.... will i be going thru immigration then?.......... i'm so confused!!

i may have to ring united............

[Elle 0]

hey sharyna! i also flew w/ united... my POE was LAX. Basically from my experience w/ LAX (this should be quite similar with SF), before collecting your luggages, you clear immigration then you get ur luggages, clear customs and make your connecting flights. I posted my POE experience here -- http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=19229&hl= -- there should be a couple of POE experiences for SanFran there. You give the brown envelope to the immigration officer. I lined up at the Non US Citizen line, then the initial customs officer directed me to another area -- the secondary interview section and I have my brown envelope to the immigration officer there.

As you mentioned, with United you can pack up to 32kg for each bag and pay $50US. Also, additional luggage up to 23kg is $120 (or was it $129). Anyways, try not to worry about the POE, its one of the easier bits of this process. Goodluck!

[SharynY 2]

Elle you are a lifesaver... i was going to go to LAX .... but i would have to wait 6 hours between flights.... with San Fran its 3 hrs... much easier i think............

i'll go and read your experience now....................... huge hugs!!

[Kath 0]

hi ya sharyna

when you get off the plane you go down into the lines...you give all your paper work to the POE officer that you will be seeing...dont forget to fill out the white I-94 and hand that along with your passport and the brown envelope ..the officer will enter all your details into the system and send you on the way..

at the LAX airport after you get your luggage you go into another line to get out to your connecting flight.. there you will be asked what is in your case and anything to declare...

ENTER SAN FRAN FOR POE INFO

The above link will give you an idea of what others have gone through by entering san fran mate..hope that hleps..

take care

kath

edited: to say HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII to ELLLLLLLLLE

Edited August 6, 2007 by Kath