LAND DOWNUNDER

[patriciaofoz 0]

I'm 90% there collating all of my stuff for my interview on Wednesday. Just rounding up a few more examples of our relationship and I think I can do one last check tomorrow with Zach (via the beauty of the Internet) and I can confidently fly to Sydney.

I did hit a glitch yesterday. I went to Australia Post to pay for my visa processing fee and get my 3kg envelope. Envelope was fine. Visa processing fee not so much. The lady said $120 please and I said, the fee has gone up to $157.20. She then gave me the bad news that unfortunately she wouldn't be able to give it to me for $157.20 because they can't change the amount that's on the computer system. Grrrrr. Panic sets in and I didn't know what to do. A few hours and another Australia Post shop later, I just decided to pay for the NON-REFUNDABLE $120.00. Because it's a public holiday on the 1st and my interview is at 8am on the 2nd, I can't get the fee before my interview and in the letter that the Consulate sent me informing me of the increase in fees they did mention that if you've paid and your interview is after 1st Jan then you just need to pay the difference - they just didn't stipulate HOW one does this. So fingers crossed all goes well in that department. I can either give them cash or another form, they just need to tell me HOW!

So, any pointers on how I can survive the anxiety between now and Wednesday?

[Rings 10]

Buy two of the $120.00 receipts... it will cost you more, but you will be covered. They will not accept the lesser receipt if the fees have increased. I would take all caution and buy two if you can afford it.

[patriciaofoz 0]

Buy two of the $120.00 receipts... it will cost you more, but you will be covered. They will not accept the lesser receipt if the fees have increased. I would take all caution and buy two if you can afford it.

Thanks for the advise, we may just go that way.

But my plan of attack is call the Australia Post at the MLC Centre first thing tomorrow morning and ask them how they would go about it (if anyone outside of the Consulate would know, I would think/hope they would). I have also emailed the Consulate for an answer but I highly doubt they'll get back to me by COB tomorrow. I think to just cover my bases, I may just get a money order for the difference (at least that's refundable).

Grrr. If only I had taken care of this before Saturday, at least I wouldn't be so anxious! I think I'll go veg out and watch some DVDs to force myself to chill out

[patriciaofoz 0]

I have another question, does the Consulate NEED/LOOK AT my Medical X-Ray? Is this something I need to bring along to the interview?

[whisper2me 0]

Merry Xmas everyone....

H.D glad to see you made it safe and sound over there and that customs gave you no strife! I was wondering how all that would go.

Patriciaofoz, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that you only need to take the medical report of the X-ray to the consulate appt. but that you have to take the physical X-rays with you when you move to the states. Will definitely be thinking of you on Wednesday!!!

Rings, your AOS interview is on my daughters bday! All the best with that.

Jennybeni, your wedding day looks to be one week after ours! We are waiting until after that to file for the K3.

[Kath 0]

hi patrica

as to your dilema mate...dont get a postal order they wont accept it...i remember a post from someone who had a similar situation but it was about a perth post office giving her the wrong kind of receipt...

gawd i hope im not wrong in this one but i think the outcome at her interview was that she had to go downstairs to get the correct receipt and go back up and hand it in...for the life of me i cant remember the username of this person..try checking the aussie embassey reviews think she might of put something about it in there...

good idea about contacting the mlc post office im sure they will be able to help you bet they get heaps of people going in there for just this kinda thing...and no they dont need to see your x-rays mate just your medical...it is a stressful time mate you will do fine im sure...good luck to you for your interview...

hope everyone had a lovely christmas and here's to a fantastic 2008 of many reunions and for those here a great and happy 2008 to be in store for you all..

take care

kath

[Rings 10]

Kath is right. This happened to one of our very own Aussie couples early on. Please get the second receipt! They will not accept a money order. They will send you away. Please hear us hun *hugs*

You should bring the X-ray with you as well.

In fact, put it this way... if there is a question in your mind on if you should bring something, the answer is always YES. It hurts more not to have something than to bring it needlessly.

The best of luck.

~Rings

[Kath 0]

money order receipt rejected embassey review

hey pat

i found who it was..take a look at the above link and read Tamazo's review hope it helps settle your nerves a bit.. i'm wondering if you should take the receipt in that you have..explain it to them..and if you can afford it pay for the total amount then get a refund from the post office you got it from..who knows MLC might be able to advise you on it also..

take care

kath

[patriciaofoz 0]

Hi lovely people

Thank you so much for all your posts of concern but it turns out I'M A BIT DYSLEXIC because the letter and the website actually said "January 31, 2008" and here I was thinking that any interviews after "DECEMBER 31". I think because of my anxiousness it kept making me think I needed to pay the new fee (and also the fact that they wrote it on my sheet that I needed to pay $157.20 (so it wasn't entirely my fault)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So at the end of it all I'm covered. Phew. BUT THANKS for all your advice. I would go insane without you guys!

BTW, my email to the Consulate was answered first thing this morning and they pointed out my BIG mistake at reading

I've just photocopied all my documents three times over. I'm going to check it once, twice, three times more between now and my 7.20am flight out to Sydney tomorrow morning.

This may well be my last post until I come home Wednesday. Send me good vibes for Wednesday morning!!!

P.S. Have a lovely New Year's Eve festivities this evening/tomorrow evening (wherever you may be!)

xx

[Rings 10]

YAY GREAT NEWS !!! GOOD LUCK DOLL!!!!

[jennybeni 0]

Hi lovely people

Thank you so much for all your posts of concern but it turns out I'M A BIT DYSLEXIC because the letter and the website actually said "January 31, 2008" and here I was thinking that any interviews after "DECEMBER 31". I think because of my anxiousness it kept making me think I needed to pay the new fee (and also the fact that they wrote it on my sheet that I needed to pay $157.20 (so it wasn't entirely my fault)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So at the end of it all I'm covered. Phew. BUT THANKS for all your advice. I would go insane without you guys!

BTW, my email to the Consulate was answered first thing this morning and they pointed out my BIG mistake at reading

I've just photocopied all my documents three times over. I'm going to check it once, twice, three times more between now and my 7.20am flight out to Sydney tomorrow morning.

This may well be my last post until I come home Wednesday. Send me good vibes for Wednesday morning!!!

P.S. Have a lovely New Year's Eve festivities this evening/tomorrow evening (wherever you may be!)

xx

Good luck Pat! We'll be thinking of you!

Happy New Years to all

[patriciaofoz 0]

I'm in Sydney! I just checked in at my hotel (Radisson Plaza - 2 minutes away from the Consulate apparently - according to google maps anyway!) and this hotel is really good at keeping my mind off things. I'm just going to chill out all of today, check out early tommorow morning, get in line nice and early and get it over and done with as soon as humanly possible. I'm generally a very anxious person so getting out of the Consulate is my Number ONE goal

Thanks for everybody's best wishes. Great to know that others have gone through this before me and have come out unscathed. I'm not even really sure why I'm so anxious. I guess because here I am laying it all out there and at the end of the day it's up to a person (or two) to determine whether Zach and I get to spend our lives together in the US. It's so daunting even though it seems like the most natural thing to do - to be together - only there's a Government process in the way

But rules are rules and this one isn't made for breaking

Signing off...I know I won't get told that I'm approved tomorrow because the Affidavit of Support Notarized forms didn't reach me in time. But at least if there's anything wrong with our paperwork, I can be told tomorrow and it can be dealt with. I am praying I come out of the Consulate really happy - and at least be told that as long as I get those I-134's in, then it's all good for us to start planning our lives in the US.

here's hoping I've crossed my t's and dotted all my i's!

Take care everybody, send me good vibes remember

P.s. Hope you all had a smashing New Year's! I can't believe I fly into Sydney a day AFTER the fireworks spectacular!!!!

Edited January 1, 2008 by patriciaofoz

[Rings 10]

Awe Patricia! I hope it all goes well. Loke and I wish you the best of luck! We went through this and I know how nerve wrecking it is *hugs*

You will do great! Let us know how it goes!

[patriciaofoz 0]

I'm home! I got home on the last flight out of Sydney last night. Relieved that it's all over and done with.

A summary:

Got to the Consulate just before 7.30am, waited for about 10 minutes and then they'll let us up. There were about 10 of us who went up in one batch and then surely but surely more and more people kept coming through even before the security guards arrived. In the end, I was third in line for security checks and first as an "IV" applicant and got to sit in the "special row" . At just after 8am they let us "IV" applicants up the elevator (there were 4 of us) and as luck would have it, I got into the elevator first so I got out last meaning I was last in line when we went in to Level 59.

The first couple (they were K1 too) had the wrong visa processing fee so the fiancee had to go to the post office to get the right one. That held up the proceedings quite a bit. The other guy in line was an American citizen that just needed a visa so he was in and out. Then up went the second guy (he was a young guy and he probably wasn't a K1). Then me! I got up there just after 9am, gave the lovely lady all my paperwork, she told me to sit down (and admire the view from L59) while she looked over my stuff. I pointed out the I-134s for Zach and his parents aren't there but all the supporting evidence were (plus I put unsigned copies of the I-134s so she could see exactly what she'll be eventually getting). About 20 minutes later she was all done and told me to wait for the interviewer. She even wished me "Good Luck!". She was lovely and really put me at ease.

Then 10 minutes later, I got called up to the next window and the Consulate guy and I just started having a "casual chat". He asked the mandatory "So, you're engaged?" and then it went on from there. He made a comment that I will love Missouri (they had a massive poster of the Gateway Arch by the computers so that was a good omen for me). Chat, chat, chat and then a couple of minutes later he told me I was approved PENDING I get the signed I-134s in. I told him it is definitely on its way (and when I got home last night, one set of it was waiting on my bed!). I left my passport with them (he offered to give it back but I knew I had to just give it back anyway so I thought they might aswell keep it) and then we said our pleasantries goodbye and I got out of there!

So there you have it! Conditionally approved! Yay! Now we can start planning our Missouri wedding, look at one way flights and go from there - I just realised there's sooooooooooooooo much to do between now and when I eventually leave. Tomorrow I put in my resignation at work and now seriously preparing for the big move. Any pointers?

At the end of the day, I didn't need to freak out and I did calm down as soon as I got there and waiting (as impatient it got at times) really helped me out. And I truly believe that without you guys and the abundant knowledge out here on VJ, I would have been more nervous - because after reading reviews and getting your comments and advice, it really helped to know how the day was going to go so there was no "surprises". So everybody, THANK YOU!

P.S. As I took the shuttle to the airport from my hotel, I had a lovely couple from LA who also stayed at the Radisson with me. And get this, when we started conversing and I told them I was moving to Missouri and just had my Consulate appointment today, the guy is actually an IMMIGRATION AGENT/LAWYER - so he helps out people like me/us! Talk about small world, hey?

[jennybeni 0]

I'm home! I got home on the last flight out of Sydney last night. Relieved that it's all over and done with.

A summary:

Got to the Consulate just before 7.30am, waited for about 10 minutes and then they'll let us up. There were about 10 of us who went up in one batch and then surely but surely more and more people kept coming through even before the security guards arrived. In the end, I was third in line for security checks and first as an "IV" applicant and got to sit in the "special row" . At just after 8am they let us "IV" applicants up the elevator (there were 4 of us) and as luck would have it, I got into the elevator first so I got out last meaning I was last in line when we went in to Level 59.

The first couple (they were K1 too) had the wrong visa processing fee so the fiancee had to go to the post office to get the right one. That held up the proceedings quite a bit. The other guy in line was an American citizen that just needed a visa so he was in and out. Then up went the second guy (he was a young guy and he probably wasn't a K1). Then me! I got up there just after 9am, gave the lovely lady all my paperwork, she told me to sit down (and admire the view from L59) while she looked over my stuff. I pointed out the I-134s for Zach and his parents aren't there but all the supporting evidence were (plus I put unsigned copies of the I-134s so she could see exactly what she'll be eventually getting). About 20 minutes later she was all done and told me to wait for the interviewer. She even wished me "Good Luck!". She was lovely and really put me at ease.

Then 10 minutes later, I got called up to the next window and the Consulate guy and I just started having a "casual chat". He asked the mandatory "So, you're engaged?" and then it went on from there. He made a comment that I will love Missouri (they had a massive poster of the Gateway Arch by the computers so that was a good omen for me). Chat, chat, chat and then a couple of minutes later he told me I was approved PENDING I get the signed I-134s in. I told him it is definitely on its way (and when I got home last night, one set of it was waiting on my bed!). I left my passport with them (he offered to give it back but I knew I had to just give it back anyway so I thought they might aswell keep it) and then we said our pleasantries goodbye and I got out of there!

So there you have it! Conditionally approved! Yay! Now we can start planning our Missouri wedding, look at one way flights and go from there - I just realised there's sooooooooooooooo much to do between now and when I eventually leave. Tomorrow I put in my resignation at work and now seriously preparing for the big move. Any pointers?

At the end of the day, I didn't need to freak out and I did calm down as soon as I got there and waiting (as impatient it got at times) really helped me out. And I truly believe that without you guys and the abundant knowledge out here on VJ, I would have been more nervous - because after reading reviews and getting your comments and advice, it really helped to know how the day was going to go so there was no "surprises". So everybody, THANK YOU!

P.S. As I took the shuttle to the airport from my hotel, I had a lovely couple from LA who also stayed at the Radisson with me. And get this, when we started conversing and I told them I was moving to Missouri and just had my Consulate appointment today, the guy is actually an IMMIGRATION AGENT/LAWYER - so he helps out people like me/us! Talk about small world, hey?

Aw Pat that is awesome!! Congrats!!!!! When are you going to leave?