LAND DOWNUNDER

[patriciaofoz 0]

Happy Sunday Aussie VJ-ers!

All this talk of driving and licenses makes me assume that my Aussie drivers license is not going to be valid in the US? I still have a year before it expires. What exactly did you guys do to be able to drive in the US? (And it may be different state by state?) Zach's really keen for me to start driving when I get to the US (he even specifically bought an Automatic car 2 weeks ago because he knew I wouldn't be inclined to drive a stick! Haha).

Plus he is also starting to look at apartments for us! Right now he's living with his parents and we'll be doing that until we get married in April. But I'm very excited he's establishing our life in the US - but really sad I wasn't there to choose an apartment, choose a car, choose ANYTHING with him for that matter.

Oh, and on Friday I bought my ticket! I leave Adelaide on Feb. 25th and arrive in the afternoon of Feb. 25th in St. Louis. I have a 4-hour layover in LA (apparently this is now a Mandatory thing that the Travel Agency needs to follow).

So I guess it's all real, I'm actually going to the US now!!!!

[SharynY 2]

i checked the dmv here in california and you can drive with your aussie license however once you get your green card you have to get a us license...

oh guys question...

i'm going to file for my AOS on monday and need this clarified...

the I-693 form medical examination of aliens seeking AOS - i dont have this form from my medical examination as the doctor sent everything himself ot the consulate and i'm guessing immigration has it now?

what do i have to do? or not do?

[TracyOz 0]

Hidie Ho fellow Aussies...

hey Patricia... COOL on getting your ticket (ummm what is this about the mandatory 4 hour layover???) is that only when you are entering on the actual K-1 visa (in case of questioning time etc)..

I have never heard of that, all I know is that normally coming in from Australia via LAX ongoing to other cities you do have to allow plenty of time between connections just because there can be delays, but I am totally unaware of the 4 hour timeframe.

and HEY I hear you on all the stuff that you are missing out on being there for... I am just so glad that I was in the USA last September when Steve and I purchased a house together (YAY our closing date on that is on February 18th) - and I will be over there for it... <grin> and while there we are trading in his car (jeep wrangler LOL) to purchase a larger vehicle to seat our new blended family... I CANNOT wait to see him (LOL - even though he only left here like 3 weeks ago)... I'm flying over on the 7th Feb and staying for about 8 weeks - through our settlement and also to do some of the organising of our wedding (which we HOPE at this stage will take place at the end of MAY - as long as our NOA2 arrives sometime in Feb/March and then all the papers get to Sydney for a late April interview... SO keep your fingers crossed for us).. Actually this week my children and I have our X-Rays and Blood tests to be done, and then have an appt. with Dr. Miller on the 4th Feb for the medical..

Another question for you Patricia - when you had your medical with Dr. Miller, did you ask for an extra copy of the medical report to be given to you?? I am thinking that I will (for our own records - especially the vaccination stuff, as I will need all of that information to enroll my kidlets in school over there)..

have a GREAT day guys - me - WELL my house here in ADL actually "finally" settles this coming friday - so it is ACTION stations at the final packing & moving for us now over into our "temporary" accomodation - which we didn't think we would have to do - however the delays have caused us to have to ... darn frustrating really...

Tracy

:-)

[patriciaofoz 0]

i checked the dmv here in california and you can drive with your aussie license however once you get your green card you have to get a us license...

Thanks, sharyna. I'll have to find out what the rules are for Missouri also. Not that I'm itching to drive anyway, but I know that it will give me greater independence if I did encourage myself to do so...

hey Patricia... COOL on getting your ticket (ummm what is this about the mandatory 4 hour layover???) is that only when you are entering on the actual K-1 visa (in case of questioning time etc)..

I'm not sure it's just for K-1. My travel agent mentioned this and she didn't know I was going there with a K-1 Visa. She just said that "We've been advised we have to give everybody a 4-hour layover". I was going to ask for it anyway, especially if they gave me anything less than a 2-hour layover because Zach said it'll take a while. So best to ask your travel agent if this is indeed a new "rule" imposed to everybody. Besides, I wanted to make sure I had enough time because last time Zach missed his connection because his flight from Melbourne was super delayed.

I have never heard of that, all I know is that normally coming in from Australia via LAX ongoing to other cities you do have to allow plenty of time between connections just because there can be delays, but I am totally unaware of the 4 hour timeframe.

and HEY I hear you on all the stuff that you are missing out on being there for...

I'm glad I'll be there sharing stuff with him soon enough though! Yay! And good luck with the closing of your houses!

Another question for you Patricia - when you had your medical with Dr. Miller, did you ask for an extra copy of the medical report to be given to you?? I am thinking that I will (for our own records - especially the vaccination stuff, as I will need all of that information to enroll my kidlets in school over there)..

I didn't get any of my vaccinations with Dr. Miller but yeah, definitely ask for it. I'll be going to my own GP and asking for my records because I'm sure I'll need it along the way. It's an easy print out anyway and I'm sure Joan can help you with that - she's a gem Good luck with the medicals, it's a breeze.

Well, in other news, I'm at the airport flying to Sydney for work. I may just drop my favourite Consulate in the world I'm on a hunt for a little Melbourne tram (in Sydney, I know, makes sense hey?) - Zach & I decided that we'll be using that as our cake topper for our MO wedding in April. We love Melbourne - it was the first ever place we went on a holiday together and also where he proposed to me EXACTLY ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR

Plus yesterday, I bought a whole heap of Australian stuff. My "Something Blue" for the wedding is a patch of the Aussie flag, most probably sewn into my dress somewhere, or pinned to my bouquet. I'm such a geek I know this isn't a Wedding Thread, but what kind of Aussie elements did you guys bring into your American weddings? We're a couple of months away and the only thing we've got is our church and our priest. No dress, no reception place, no cake, no nothing else

P.S. Hawaiiandreams, have a safe flight to Sydney tonight and hopefully we can catch up sometime tomorrow after your interview!!!! All the best.

[hawaiiandreams 0]

A few little attempts at posting on here today but no luck. Not sure what's going on, a slight technical hitch on my end I think!

Patricia - Thanks for remembering my interview! I am really excited and VERY nervous. Just trying to stay calm and tell myself that ALL will be fine. It should be with all of the luck and kind words I have had from you all! They say you should check your paperwork two and three times. i think I have well exceeded that, like I think my marriage certificate is going to get up and take a little walk while I'm sleeping!

Oh and Patricia, Beautiful idea about your cake. You could also top it with a little motif of the two of you on the tram! You can get these little icing people that are made to look just like you both. So cute!

TracyOz... on the medical forms, the panel physician I saw here in Melbourne gave me a copy of Appendix C and the vaccination grid "for my own records". If he doesn't give you a copy, I'm sure you can ask. It's handy info to have for the future. Especially for your little kiddies who will need to have certain boosters as they grow up!

Have a great day!

[vylex 0]

Good luck on tomorrow's interview HD!

Things will be fine! Looking forward to good news at the end of the day!

[Kelli 0]

Hey guys! Well, I might have a job!!!! I went to Walmart last week and filled out an application form, they called me back, said that they will schedule me an interview after they get in contact with my references back home, and I will be working 2pm-11pm!!!! I hope that I get an interview!

[Niphredil 0]

Patricia: We're in the same boat, but got set back. My husband has been living with his 'rents for a while because of his cancer and just to get back on his feet. Last week though, he was in a car accident and the car got totaled (He only had it a year and it was a 96 dodge neon, good little car, but any accident would have totaled it). He's fine, just another bump to the head (seriously, this is the 3rd head accident he's had and he's fine x.X), but, no car :\

The day we were going to start looking at apartments, was spent looking at cars :\ but we got a new one on Friday (new = used, but it's nice!), so back again behind the eight ball. Might help if I was settling in nicely, but his brother seems determined to make my stay as miserable as possible. Just got to love the hypocrisy of a strict southern baptist family who allow stealing (he went into my room and ate half a pack of cookies I bought), but saying 'damn' is just horrible (I'm Australian! Where do you think sailors got their colourful language from? x.X)

I only got my Social on Friday as well, so haven't really looked at jobs, but like Kelli, it'll probably be Walmart too I just have very little experience (Only job I did was working for my mum's craft shop, and we didn't even have a till , I suppose this is one part where 'ignorant foreigner' will work. Love my friends, but I wish they'd stop asking me if we have cars and houses)

[ausqueen 0]

TracyOz... on the medical forms, the panel physician I saw here in Melbourne gave me a copy of Appendix C and the vaccination grid "for my own records". If he doesn't give you a copy, I'm sure you can ask. It's handy info to have for the future. Especially for your little kiddies who will need to have certain boosters as they grow up!

On top of that... for us who enter US on K-1 visa... that vaccination supplement is a MUST for AOS application later on. If you apply for AOS within 12 months of the medical - you will not need the costly, full medical here - only vaccine supplement sheet transcribed by Civil Surgeon to the form... I-693A I think. But it is a compulsory part of AOS filing package. So... make sure you do get the copy or ask for it if not given to you.

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Another Aussie has been approved!!

Good morning everyone! I returned to Melbourne just before midnight last night and was awake again at 6am for work this morning! Feeling exhausted... but this has all been over ruled by the fact that I FINALLY have approval on my visa and I can now live with my husband! HOOORAY!!

I had a good experience at the consulate yesterday. My interview was at 11am, so on the advice of my dear visa journey friends I arrived 45 mins early! I was checked through the security section on level 10. At first the security guard told me that I wasn’t allowed to take the 2 large "green bags” of evidence I bought along with me. Once I explained that this might be required for my interview she double checked on this with a colleague and I was given the wave through...(maybe it was her first day on the job?)

I was told to sit down and wait for the security guard to take me to the elevator. As the security guard prompted me to follow, he kind of chuckled.. when I asked what he was laughing at, he pointed at my bags. I said "oh, you must see this every day". He shrugged and said "yes, but that's a little more excessive!".. I laughed!

Once I got to level 59 I was greeted by a rather unfriendly lady who also looked at my bags before I walked through the second metal detector. She asked "what's all this?".. (I wondered if she was new to the job too!?)

From there on in it was one window to the next. By the time I saw the visa officer, he said my paperwork looked good. He made a comment that he hadn’t processed too many Cr1 visa’s but usually they had all kinds of letters and wedding photographs attached to the petition. He made a comment that my petition didn’t have any of that attached. At that point I said “I have 2 bags of it if you’d like to have a look”. He laughed and said “no, that’s fine”. He asked me a few simple questions:

-Who is petitioning for you? What is his full name?

-Where did you meet?

-When did you get married?

-Where in the US are you planning on living?

After a few stamps and signatures, he said "congratulations, your visa will be mailed out tomorrow". That was it!! The consular officer was very pleasant and I was out of there in just over 2 hours.

Thanks so much everyone for all of the advice and kind words over the past few months. It’s really helped me to keep my sanity at times so thanks again!

Niphredil – sorry to hear about your hubby and his accident. Although that was rather unlucky, it’s good to know he came out of it okay. Don’t worry about the questions from back home too much, they know no better and mean no harm. It’s never going to be easy living with the parents but you’ll have your own place soon no doubt! You’re still in the transition phase, hang in there.

Kelli, best of luck with your job application. Hope it all works out well for you!

Have a great day all.. HD.

[SharynY 2]

TracyOz... on the medical forms, the panel physician I saw here in Melbourne gave me a copy of Appendix C and the vaccination grid "for my own records". If he doesn't give you a copy, I'm sure you can ask. It's handy info to have for the future. Especially for your little kiddies who will need to have certain boosters as they grow up!

On top of that... for us who enter US on K-1 visa... that vaccination supplement is a MUST for AOS application later on. If you apply for AOS within 12 months of the medical - you will not need the costly, full medical here - only vaccine supplement sheet transcribed by Civil Surgeon to the form... I-693A I think. But it is a compulsory part of AOS filing package. So... make sure you do get the copy or ask for it if not given to you.

the doctor for me sent everything to the embassy then immigration i'm guessing has everything that the embassy had.... but i do have the copy of the vaccinations he gave me and checked me for.... so hopefully that should be enough....

we'll see...

our cat has been sick so tomorrow we're doing the social security number thing then applying for the AOS - luckily my adorable husband has already added me to his insurance, electric bill etc so my name is on those... and will further add to proof .....

[ausqueen 0]

the doctor for me sent everything to the embassy then immigration i'm guessing has everything that the embassy had.... but i do have the copy of the vaccinations he gave me and checked me for.... so hopefully that should be enough....

we'll see...

our cat has been sick so tomorrow we're doing the social security number thing then applying for the AOS - luckily my adorable husband has already added me to his insurance, electric bill etc so my name is on those... and will further add to proof .....

Well, when we were at visa stage back home we were told that medical was valid for 12 months. Also, we were told that if you file for AOS within those 12 months you do not need another medical but only vacc sheet to be transcribed officially (by Civil Surgeon) on AOS form. Although, you hear from people about CSs saying they need full medical (very expensive !!!) - but you have to insist on needing only vacc sheet transcribed (minimal charge).

[ausqueen 0]

Oops... double post!

Edited January 22, 2008 by ausqueen

[SharynY 2]

AOS form? meaning the supplement form?

[ausqueen 0]

AOS form? meaning the supplement form?

Yes, sorry sharyna (didn't mean to confuse you) - whatever the number of that form is for medical. I think I-693 is full medical and I-693A is just the supplement i.e. vaccine record.

I myself haven't used the form, never went to CS for that, just filed the copy from Sydney that I was given at the medical and USCIS accepted it... no one ever asked for the proper form. I guess whoever processed my paperwork somehow missed it