LAND DOWNUNDER

[hawaiiandreams 0]

Hi there..

There are so many new people here since I was approved and moved to the US 7 months ago! How times flys by once you are no longer waiting for little bits and pieces to show up in the mail and the separation is finally over!!

I just thought I'd drop by to say hello and see how my fellow visa jouneyers are doing!

Also, I received an auto email from VJ recently about updating timelines. It also mentioned there are meetings held in certain cities throughout the US now and then where one would have the opportunity to meet other VJ members. Does anyone know where I can find info on this? My husband and I moved from Hawaii to Chicago last week and I would love to be in touch with fellow VJ members or aussies in this town..

I hope all your journeys are going well and those who are waiting are reunited with their loved ones soon.

Take care & good luck. HD.

[Cham 3]

Hi all!

Kai and I been so stressed and fighting the last few days...its because we are stressed over the interview questions and when he gets nervous he forgets easily.

He does okay when we practice on most SO I have a few questions to ask you all

How long after you all got the NOA2 did they schedule your interview?? OR do we scedule it ourselves and if so how???

number two questions

I been divorced 3 times (oh yes I knew how to pick abusers or cheaters...thank god for good intense counceling!!) will this affect it??? I seen where someone got a visa from OZ who was divorced 4 times! sooooo I think it is okay just a worry wart

number 3 question

We have an age gap of 21 years..I hope and pray they do not judge us on this...He said if they ask he will tell them our relationship works just like any other and you are welcome to see others just like us at a support group we are in if you would like...OR what should he say???

number 4..I see the list of questions they might ask BUT what questions did they ask you all???

Number 5 How are the interview folks??? Nice?? jerks??? do they truly listen???

Sorry to ask SOOOO many questions. I just want to ease HIS mind and mine that we will be okay. We miss each other so madly and the last few days has been horribly stressful on us.

It has been 1.5 years since he was here for those 3 amazing months and We would go insane if it was not for the webcam OR voice chat..however I miss just holding his hand and same with him.

I would give 10 years of my life just to be in the same room with him.

HUGS all and thanks so much you all are the best!!

Meri and Kai

[kaffy 2]

Hi all! What's everyone got planned for Thanksgiving?

[Kath 0]

hiya h.dreams

so ya made it to chicago .. how you liking it...im in Toledo Ohio..not seen anything about a meet up..maybe do a search for vj meets and it might come up with something for ya...are you working..

cham

when you get the noa2 your file has one more stop in the states then it gets sent to sydney..they look over it and post out what they call packet 4 which has more forms to fill out and instructions on what to do...he send back the readiness form.. they set the interview..your fiance has to organise the medical and the police check..

at the interview ... if you have all the paperwork in the correct sequence the desire he will be fine...there is one lady there that has been named the 'dragonlady' but from what i gather she gets annoyed if people are not prepared and can be a very helpful and nice lady...everyone at the consulate is very helpful and nice...

if i were in your shoes i wouldnt worry about what the consulate might think about the age difference and the divorces dont dwell on these things .. you have a legit relationship and that will show in your paperwork and evidence...my hubby was divorced twice we just showed the decree's ...

take a look at the embassey reviews read all of them ..they are very informative..some even put in the questions they were asked...

the stress of this journey can be a very good test for a relationship...just hang in there take one day at a time...take a few days out with nothing to do with the process...

cham he doesnt need to mention the support group...that i dont think will be asked about...all they are interested in is if you can support him ... where you met..when did you meet in person...the medical was passed .. police check came back with no convictions...when you will be getting married...where in the states he will be living...

where in australia is he from...and which state you in..get kia to read some the reviews of the embassey when he has time ... reading it himself might put his mind to rest ...

we all know here how stressful this can be and it is the toughest time being apart..but rest asured that the interview is painless and the easiest part of this whole thing...take care ...

hi ya kaffy

well im working on thanksgiving...6.45am to 1pm then when i get home we are going out for thanksgiving this year...its just the two of us ..we probably get invited next door again so will go over for a drink and thats about it..

christmas is the big one and that will be different...

take care all

kath

[Cham 3]

thanks you are a awesome person..you asked all of it!!

thanksgiving?? Well I am making Lambingtons so my family can try them. I made them when Kai was here (was scared I would screw it up but I love baking!!) He loved them so much and so did my son and his gal...gone in 60 sec!! HAHA

We are doing the traditional turkey and that but adding some culture as well

When Christmas time comes we put different countries in a hat..we all draw two countries...each of us have to make one side dish and one dessert from that country! IT IS FUN AND it teaches the younger ones about different cultures

We make little name cards with what is and the country so folks can see!

Its so fun!

[Chris & Mara 0]

Lol you can't stuff up lamingtons, one of the easiest (and best) treats. Just don't call them LAMBingtons, or your family might be a little scared and confused.... lol

[kaffy 2]

ohh lamingtons are YUM!! do you have a recipe?

Day before Thanksgiving I work till 3 and then we're going to drive down to Vancouver. I am hoping/praying that we don't get stuck in traffic but chances are we probably will.. blah! Gonna spend Thanksgiving down there with his family for a few days. I'm REALLY excited cos it's going to be my first American thanksgiving

[Cham 3]

Yes He gave me his grandmothers recipe and WOW so good

HAHA the first time I said LAMBingtons my son goes WHAT LAMB cake with chocolate..you pregant mom?? I could have slapped the boy!

[Chris0608 0]

G'Day Everyone,

I've got my interview at the US Consulate next Tuesday which I'm slightly nervous about. I guess I'm more nervous about the unknown more than anything. Just to give you guys a short background on me and my wife. We met online in 1999 and had an online friendship first that blossomed into a relationship in 2002. I flew to the US and met her December 20, 2002. Proposed Xmas day and we married in the US January 6, 2003. I flew home and 6 months later I went back to the US to bring her to Australia. She was granted a bridging and work visa and we lived together for 2 years when she got pregant with our first child. She was granted perminant residency here in Australia shortly after that. Today we have 2 kids together and now we want to move back to the US. All our paperwork has been filed and accepted by the US Consulate in Sydney and all I have left to do is just my interview at the Consulate on Tuesday. Does anyone have any advice they could share with me with their own experiences of an interview at the US Consulate in Sydney?

Much appreciated,

Chris.

[kaffy 2]

Don't stress about it. Everyone at the Consulate is really lovely. The questions they ask aren't even really questions, more like chit chat. Also, during my interview they didn't ask to see a single bit of supporting evidence that we were a genuine married couple - I was a bit disappointed after I had spent hours gathering documents and photos together and carrying them all the way to Sydney (twice! once when we filed the I-130 and a second time when we had my interview) but it doesn't matter, it just goes to show that they Australia isn't a high fraud country and because of that they aren't a difficult Consulate to deal with.

If you click on the 'My Timeline' link under my name it should take you to a review of my interview.

Have fun in Sydney!

[Chris0608 0]

Much appreciated, thank you!

[Kath 0]

hiya chris

welcome ...

as kaffy said the interview is painless..just make sure everything is there that they asked for and in order they want it...

have you done your medical and police check...

have a read of the embassey reviews they will help greatly ..and enjoy the view its amazing..did you register your children as american citz..

when you go for the interview..be last into the elevator..saves time..take something to read and munch on...

good luck to you and your family...everything will work out as long as you have everything in check...

kath

[densusan 0]

Just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING Enjoy!

Susan

[Kath 0]

hiya susan

happy thanks giving to you too mate..hope you have a good one..take it easy on the roads if your travelling ..

HAPPY THANKS GIVING TO ALL THE AUSSIE'S IN HERE...TAKE CARE ON THE ROADS PLEASE..

KATH

[GNS 0]

Just a question regarding the DS-230 form where it asks for spouses name in Q14.

I have been previously married do I put my former wife's name there or just answer it with "None"

Appreciate any help with this.

Thanks