LAND DOWNUNDER

[patriciaofoz 0]

Joan is LOVELY isn't she!! I met her a couple of years ago now

She is! But she is soooooo flat out and I can sense how stressed out she gets sometimes. But she NEVER shows it. I was observing her as I was waiting to see Dr. Miller and whenever the phone rang, she would run to it, check the clock (I suppose to see if it's morning or afternoon) and then answer so nicely even though she's got her hand on her forehead and she's looking down. She never shows it in her voice that she's under the pump.

And she's so reassurring. She kept saying "Everything will be fine". I hope so, Joan!

[hawaiiandreams 0]

So the drama continues..

Packet 3 and 4 are on their way back to me from my husband the US, I'm still waiting. I'm pretty sure I'll need to get myself in for a medical before they close over the Christmas break (20th December) in order to receive the report back in time for my interview on Jan 22nd.

I emailed the US consulate asking what I should do in that case that my medical is not ready in time for my appointment (due to Xmas etc).

They said I can still go to the interview and they will "temporarily refuse" me. They said I can then send the medical report once its ready and they will then "process to conclusion", and that I "would not need to attend another interview".

Has anyone heard of this? Why wouldn't they just reschedule my interview?

Edited December 17, 2007 by hawaiiandreams

[sugarbob 0]

So the drama continues..

Packet 3 and 4 are on their way back to me from my husband the US, I'm still waiting. I'm pretty sure I'll need to get myself in for a medical before they close over the Christmas break (20th December) in order to receive the report back in time for my interview on Jan 22nd.

I emailed the US consulate asking what I should do in that case that my medical is not ready in time for my appointment (due to Xmas etc).

They said I can still go to the interview and they will "temporarily refuse" me. They said I can then send the medical report once its ready and they will then "process to conclusion", and that I "would not need to attend another interview".

Has anyone heard of this? Why wouldn't they just reschedule my interview?

lawd....because they don't need to reschedule it and push you further down the line (something which I'm sure you'd be screaming about if they did). for them the medical is just paperwork. they can view it when you're not there.

[AussieAmerican 0]

So the drama continues..

Packet 3 and 4 are on their way back to me from my husband the US, I'm still waiting. I'm pretty sure I'll need to get myself in for a medical before they close over the Christmas break (20th December) in order to receive the report back in time for my interview on Jan 22nd.

I emailed the US consulate asking what I should do in that case that my medical is not ready in time for my appointment (due to Xmas etc).

They said I can still go to the interview and they will "temporarily refuse" me. They said I can then send the medical report once its ready and they will then "process to conclusion", and that I "would not need to attend another interview".

Has anyone heard of this? Why wouldn't they just reschedule my interview?

lawd....because they don't need to reschedule it and push you further down the line (something which I'm sure you'd be screaming about if they did). for them the medical is just paperwork. they can view it when you're not there.

Ditto that.

RELAX MATE!! I was stressing like you a couple of years ago, when there were a few loose ends that I could not tie up before our interview date. We just went forth and had our interview, and when I finally had the information they needed a few weeks later I merely mailed it in, and the passports and Visa's were mailed back to me in a very short time

Just stick with your interview and get the medical scheduled for when you can It will ALL work out - I promise~~!!

[hawaiiandreams 0]

I suppose you're right Sugarbob! I would be screaming! Well I guess they have seen it all before and know what they are doing..

Thanks a million aussieamerican.. that gives me some comfort... I had this awful vision of going back to the bottom of the pile again. Almost 2 years of seperation is wearing thin. LOL. We've all been there....

I hope everyone is gearing up for a nice Christmas.. where ever you may be!

We certainally are! I feel lucky to be able to share it with my husband.

Edited December 17, 2007 by hawaiiandreams

[Kelli 0]

Hey guys!

Well, I have an update on my AOS...it has been transferred to the Califonia Service Centre.....am not quite sure if I should be worried.

[Katz 0]

Called the NVC last night to find out that they received our case on the 17th! It should be on its way to Sydney as I type this.

YAY!

[vylex 0]

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I have checked in. I have a few pages back to eventually catch up on.

I hope everyone is doing well and is getting ready to enjoy upcoming holidays!

To recap on our events...

Everything up to the interview and granted IR-1 visa was fine. However there was a little drama leading up to our 11/18 flight. Apparently the clerk that initially reviewed the paperwork typed an annotation at the bottom of the visa where she had some second alias. She put in her middle name as her last name. I had emailed the Consulate twice and 2 days before our Sat flight they finally send an email stating that they might have made a mistake. Yikes. I read the email Friday morning before we were flying out so off we went to the Sydney consulate (luckily just an hour train ride away). We had to wait for 3 hours until we were called. They were extra busy that day. Anyway once we got to the clerk, (the same one that screwed it up) was a little rude saying that they only accept appts. I shoved the paperwork through the window along with the printed email asking us to bring it back. I was ready to punch a hole through the glass and ask her why she is being annoying.

She took it and then had the folks review it. They were huddled up for 10 minutes and came to the conclusion that "it should be fine". All the paperwork inside the sealed envelope read correctly. It was just the annotation area (some type of extra notes section) on the visa stamp in her passport that had that extra alias listing. I was a little annoyed that we wasted half the day to hear this. They would change it for us but it required 24 hours to reprocess due to the computer image security procedure and we were flying the next day (Sat). I wasn't as worried but didn't want to run into any issues at the POE.

We stayed up the whole night finishing packing. The flight was fine and we slept through most of it. Once we arrived at LAX we had to go to the visitor line (I thought it was suposed to be th ePR / USC line). The officer took the paperwork and processed some of it. He then led us to an open seating area where we waited for about 15 min. One other girl was also getting her paperwork processed. I was going to ask if she was a VJ member.

An officer came out and then called my wife up to the counter so she could sign some more docs and they were small talking with her. They were very nice to her. It worked out well because once she was done some lady in baggage came out asking if there was anyone waiting for luggage (everyone but a handful of people were left). I went over to the baggage and all our stuff was there waiting. How convenient. We then went through the luggage customs and the guys teased me about having to follow my wife's orders from now on.

We were welcomed to the US and then connected to our NY destination flight shortly after. It was a pretty uneventful trip. All the drama was the extra visit to the Consulate. At least I knew the visa was fine, we just didn't want my wife to be aliased with an incorrect name.

A few weeks later she received her SSN. Last week we received a USCIS welcome letter telling us they would be in touch within 30 days. I hope that means her green card should be arriving.

Now I've had my wife studying for her driver's permit. I wish we could just go and trade her license in for a New Jersey one without going through the entire process over again.

Oh well, at least we're together now.

Congrats to the couples reunited and well wishes for a speedy reunion for the ones still waiting. Hang in there!

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Nice to hear your news vylex! Sounds like thing are all falling into place for you both - this is excellent news!

Well i am finally done with my medical appointment.. it took 3 hours in total by the time I filled in some forms at the doctors office, had my examination, went to the hospital for the x-ray, waited an hour and a half to get the film and report back, and then returned the x-ray report to the doctors office!

Thankfully my employer was very understanding about me not reaching work until midday!

By the way, they only used one passort pic for the front of the medical form. Any other idea what the other 2 pics were supposed to be for!?

Well at least I am one step closer to being ready for my interview. I should have the medical report in my hand by 10th Jan!

As for right now, I'm off to Hawaii for 3 weeks! I can't wait to see my husband!

Aloha & best wishes for Christmas. May the new year bring great things for all of us!

HD.

[whisper2me 0]

Nice to hear your news vylex! Sounds like thing are all falling into place for you both - this is excellent news!

Well i am finally done with my medical appointment.. it took 3 hours in total by the time I filled in some forms at the doctors office, had my examination, went to the hospital for the x-ray, waited an hour and a half to get the film and report back, and then returned the x-ray report to the doctors office!

Thankfully my employer was very understanding about me not reaching work until midday!

By the way, they only used one passort pic for the front of the medical form. Any other idea what the other 2 pics were supposed to be for!?

Well at least I am one step closer to being ready for my interview. I should have the medical report in my hand by 10th Jan!

As for right now, I'm off to Hawaii for 3 weeks! I can't wait to see my husband!

Aloha & best wishes for Christmas. May the new year bring great things for all of us!

HD.

Can you still enter the U.S while a K3 or IR1/CR1 Visa is being processed? I thought that if you had immigration intent they would refuse entry? Do they still let you through if you show you have a legitamate visa application in place?

Cheers

[vylex 0]

Can you still enter the U.S while a K3 or IR1/CR1 Visa is being processed? I thought that if you had immigration intent they would refuse entry? Do they still let you through if you show you have a legitamate visa application in place?

Cheers

Technically you can. Some people just don't recommend it in fear of having an issue during interview time should they be turned away by the border officer. However, I believe that as long as you have ties to your current home country you'll be fine. You can also explain that you have a visa in place and it is current, etc. should you be questioned.

If you don't have any marks against you as far as traveling illegally, my experience is that immigration doesn't pry too hard if you have a return ticket. One thing I do recommend is to answer short and sweet. Don't talk yourself into trouble but don't like either.

Oh as far as immigration intent, I believe it is more of what I call," shady immigration intent" (i.e. adjusting status after entering the country because I have seen that recommendation before).

Edited December 20, 2007 by vylex

[whisper2me 0]

Can you still enter the U.S while a K3 or IR1/CR1 Visa is being processed? I thought that if you had immigration intent they would refuse entry? Do they still let you through if you show you have a legitamate visa application in place?

Cheers

Technically you can. Some people just don't recommend it in fear of having an issue during interview time should they be turned away by the border officer. However, I believe that as long as you have ties to your current home country you'll be fine. You can also explain that you have a visa in place and it is current, etc. should you be questioned.

If you don't have any marks against you as far as traveling illegally, my experience is that immigration doesn't pry too hard if you have a return ticket. One thing I do recommend is to answer short and sweet. Don't talk yourself into trouble but don't like either.

Oh as far as immigration intent, I believe it is more of what I call," shady immigration intent" (i.e. adjusting status after entering the country because I have seen that recommendation before).

Hmmm interesting, didn't know that. Maybe I can plan another trip after all.......

Thanks for the reply....

[Katz 0]

Hey guys!

On average... How long does Sydney take to mail out packet three?

[vylex 0]

Hey guys!

On average... How long does Sydney take to mail out packet three?

It took about 8 days for us. I'd say give it a week or two.

[Katz 0]

Hey guys!

On average... How long does Sydney take to mail out packet three?

It took about 8 days for us. I'd say give it a week or two.

Ahh, sweet. Thanks.

Uhm... One more question... Sorry...

The "sponsor's financial responsibility under the social security act." thingy, do we get a copy of that form in package three? I saw a pdf of it, but it seemed blurred. What exactly do I do with it? Just send the form off to my fiance so he can sign it, and then send it back to me?