LAND DOWNUNDER

[TracyOz 0]

Thanks for that Pat, I could read it all perfectly... GOOD luck, keep us posted

hey Jennibenni - good to meet you on the board, and keep letting us know how things are going for you too..

and HD - yes isn't my dress stunning... I am SO excited it isn't funny and seriously with all the stress and frustration of this "waiting waiting waiting" game LOL.. just knowing that my dress is on its way has put a wonderful spring and bounce in my step and voice in the last day or so.... OH AND I AM JUST ABOUT BESIDE myself getting ready for my darling fiance to arrive here in a little over 2 weeks... I CANNOT wait (having him here for my birthday and Xmas - what a wonderful gift)... and he finally gets the opportunity to meet the rest of "his new family"... LOL...

have a GREAT day folks

Tracy

[patriciaofoz 0]

What's the difference between the AUS size and the US size passport photos? When I was visiting in Aus in June my fiance and I got passport photos taken (I'm assuming AUS-type photos), and I handed them in with my I-129F petition so they were ok for that. Now online I'm seeing huge square pictures as US style passport photos...so I held up one of the photos I had taken in AUS to my U.S. passport, and they are the same exact size! I'm confused...

Hi jennybeni

I got my passport photos (for my medical) last night and asked the lady at the picture place what the difference was. She said that US passport photos are SQUARE and it requires more of your head showing (I don't exactly know what that meant though, all photos require my head to be shown!). With Australian photos it cost $9.95 for 4. The US photos costs $9.95 for only 2. So here's hoping my medicals require Aussie ones because that's what I got...

Speaking of medicals...I have arranged to go into Dr. Miller's office tomorrow morning to pick up my request forms for my X-Ray and Blood Test. I have an appointment at the X-Ray place at 9.15am and I will get my blood test at IMVS the same time. Then on Thursday night I get my Tetanus and Hep B jab.

And this morning, the police station called me saying my police check was done. Yay!

So I think we'll be doing the Interview Request Form soon-ish. Yay! I'm still aiming for a mid-January interview date and an early February departure to the US. Fingers crossed!

[Katz 0]

katz congrats to you on your approval..thats awesome news...things will sure start moving along for you now...

Thanks, Kath! It's starting to get a bit more exciting now.

[Kath 0]

hi ya katz

your welcome..i bet your get excited...i know i did...dont be too overwhelmed with packet 3 and you will do fine...

hi jennybenni

good to see you welcome to the thread mate..i printed the below instructions and took them with me when i got my passport photo's done so they knew exactly how they wanted it...they can be fussy if they want to be...

as for the american sizing for the passport photo's here are a few links for you to look at

U.S. SIZE PASSPORT PHOTO'S (1)

U.S. PASSPORT PHOTO'S (2)

Hi Tracy

you chose a gorgeous dress mate...looks lovely and good on ya for getting it cheaper way to go...i made my wedding dress in a gold colour...and it is exciting when your man is coming into town...i bet your smiling big time...

hi pat

i do hope the passport photo's you got are ok..im sure on the medical letter they said to get american size passport photo's..fingers crossed for you mate..

no news here...car is in the shop again..gawd we just got it back...the heating went in the jeep and robbie started to fix it and a damm bolt broke off and he couldnt get it out so back to the shop ..geez ....so without a car again.. at least last time we had a hire car that we didnt have to pay for..fingers crossed it dont take too long.

anyone got snow yet...we had a dusting saturday night and gone the next day...

take care

kath

[densusan 0]

Hey Kath,

It's been SNOWING here since friday!!!!!!!!! About a foot altogether I guess, so if you like maybe I can send some your way.....lol. I think I have cabin fever already and it's not even officialy winter yet!

Tracey,

Your dress is lovely.....congrats. I posted some info on one of the topics you started. It was regarding removalists & also some info on moving your 4 legged friends here. I know you said that you were leaving them in Australia but thought maybe you might have a change of heart if you knew my dogs story. There is no quarantine at the USA end.....you pick them up straight off the plane. Anyway if you would like any more info just post here and I will get back to you. I am an Adelaide girl too (now living upstate New York). I used Allied Pickfords and found them to be very professional ( I filled a shipping container....which is LOTS! Lotsa money too!)

Hi to eveyone else.

Susan

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Hey Pat - can you let us know how you go with the pics for your medical? I guess I assumed they needed the US size so me being over zelous (once again) already went and got them taken. Paid $30 for 6 US sized pics so i'll be filthy if I don't even need the US size! Well one thing is for sure, you will definitely need tyo US size for the final interview, according to this link

All of these stories about snow.. must be so wonderful.. :-) Christmas here we come! I just love this time of the year!! ;-))

Hey I have an AOS question that kept me awake last night.. wondering if anyone can help.

As my hubby and I are filing CR1, we already submitted the AOS to the NVC. The letter we got from the NCV yesterday saying our case has now been closed (YAY) and forwarded to Sydney asks that you bring "the tax infromation from the most recent tax year" to the interview. I think I will probably end up with an early to mid Feb interview..

Here is my issue - my hubby says he doesnt even get his tax return until the 3rd week in Jan and probably by the time he files it ands gets all of the paperwork it will be LATE Feb. So if my intreview is in early Feb, how do I lob up to the interview without the tax info from 2007?

Here we are.. so close.. but there always seems to be SOMETHING to worry about!

[TracyOz 0]

just a quickie...

re: the passport photos...

and yes aren't they exxie...

BUT when you get the first set done and paid for... scan them into your computer and then print out extras yourself on photo paper

AND/Or - go to one of the kiosks and set up the "image" to print a few onto one sheet of photo paper (way way less expensive) than getting more printed by the person doing the passport photos... (LOL - oh BELIEVE me - with 4 of us having to do this) and the way I see it - we need 2 or 3 for the medical - plus I think we need a couple more around the interview and then we need a few for the AOS forms (G325 again) .... I think I have totalled it that we will be needing somewhere around 12-15 EACH between now and filing all the paperwork for AOS... and I believe that as long as the photos have been taken somewhere in the previous 6 months or so they are fine (or as long as there is no dramatic change to appearance)... kwim? and at $30 (Aus) for 4 piccies and needing around 12+ (that is like $100 per person - sheesh we'd be up for about $400+ .... ummmm that is like ridiculous kwim?)

thanks guys for your comments about the dress and stuff - it has left the USA and should be here late this week or early next week (before my fiance arrives) LOL... so I have a few girlfriends coming over for drinks on the night that it arrives so they can give me their honest to goodness opinion <grin - get em drunk first>... and yep Kath I agree, keeping the cost down was really what I was after, we are having a relatively smallish wedding/reception - just Steve's family (although he is one of 7 siblings - so SMALL is not totally true <grin> - with them, their partners & their kids suddenly we have a mini party happening LOL... ) and a few of our friends from over there - and now with the fact that it looks to be a (almost summer) late May wedding, we will be having the ceremony and the reception at the house that we have purchased over there (there is a lake out in the backyard that will make a perfect background) so our costs are being cut left right and centre (I am even thinking McDonalds happy meals LOLOL)

and yes thanks Susan for your thoughts on our 4 legged friends... and while I would love to take them - I am also thinking about my (eldest) who is staying here with my ex. my "girls" love them both to pieces and having the "girls" around will help allieviate them missing (my 2 kiddos) that are moving with me...

have a GREAT day guys

Tracy

[Kath 0]

hi ya all

nice to see ya susan. ya sent us some snow mate..woke up to a white blanket of snow...and i thought i would post some pics for you all especially those aussie's who are heading over here to the winter months ahead

i had never shovelled snow before so had to get hubby to take a pic for me lol..

with the house being white it looks awesome i reckon...hopefully the pics turned out ok...

hi HD

you will have to provide the latest tax transcripts...if your husband hasnt got his return by the time you go for interview get him to send his W2's and anything else that his employer gives him for the years income..dont forget to get a letter also stating his income on works letterhead....hope that helps..

take care

kath

Edited December 6, 2007 by Kath

[jodee 30]

Awesome Pics Kath,....Most parts of Germany, have received some snow recently,...but where we are, we have received only a light dusting one night, which was gone by morning,..*sigh*

[Katz 0]

Love the pictures, Kath!

[Kath 0]

thanks jodee and katz...my hubby cant understand my fascination with the stuff....snow just looks lovely to me...lol

kath

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I remember being in Germany during an evening snowfall and exclaiming that it was 'so quiet!'. which my German friends found highly amusing... I kept going from room to room to look out all the windows

[Poi_n_J 0]

hi ya all

nice to see ya susan. ya sent us some snow mate..woke up to a white blanket of snow...and i thought i would post some pics for you all especially those aussie's who are heading over here to the winter months ahead

i had never shovelled snow before so had to get hubby to take a pic for me lol..

with the house being white it looks awesome i reckon...hopefully the pics turned out ok...

hi HD

you will have to provide the latest tax transcripts...if your husband hasnt got his return by the time you go for interview get him to send his W2's and anything else that his employer gives him for the years income..dont forget to get a letter also stating his income on works letterhead....hope that helps..

take care

kath

Haha...so pretty.....I can't wait to experience it!

Yes, a friend told me about the quietness of when it snows; it sounds magical.......

[densusan 0]

Hey Kath,

Glad you got some of our snow because it's less for me to shovel! The pics are great and the house looks lovely. I see what you mean about your blue spruce..............they are huge. The snow is beautiful but the shoveling is no fun at all, especially when it gets to be a foot deep. I have a snow-blower on my christmas list!

Enjoy the warmth and sunshine all of you that are in Australia.

Take care everyone and hope your journeys go smoothly.

Susan

[patriciaofoz 0]

Hi everyone

Had my pre-medical on Wednesday morning. Went up to Dr. Miller’s office right at 9am and got all my paperwork done. Joan gave me the forms, told me where to go, etc, etc. Went very smoothly and I was done at the Radiology place (just downstairs from Dr. Miller’s) in time for my 9.15am appointment. Got that done, waited for the doctor to confirm my X-Ray was OK and then we walked over to the IMVS to get my blood taken. They were pretty busy but we were out of there by 10.15am and I was at work by 10.30am

All in all, a very painless experience. The size of my passports weren’t questioned. I wasn’t too fussed about this one because (I feel) that these passports are more to ensure that I am in actual fact the person getting the test in the eye of the X-Ray and blood people. I’ll be making sure that the passport photos I produce at the interview are American ones – though, from what the camera place lady told me, the US photos are 5x5 – definitely boxier. Oh, who knows! I’ll double check one more time.

Joan also booked my physical examination with Dr. Miller next week – so here’s hoping that before the end of the week I’ll have my interview form sent off to Sydney!

Also got my last few shots done last night at an Immunisation Clinic. I got Diptheria and Tetanus plus Hep B. For those living in SA, the Holdfast Community Centre runs a clinic for free. They gave me a Vaccination Card which includes where and when I got my vaccine done. If interested, their website with dates and times they run the clinic is here: http://www.tourism.holdfast.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=998 I go back in the new year to get my second dose of Hep B. And I’m hoping that my last dose will be given when I get to the US (6 months from yesterday).

There you have it! My experience organising my medicals.

BTW, Dr. Miller seems to be a very busy man – I was lucky to get the last appointment for next week!