LAND DOWNUNDER

[Chris0608 0]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update on what's going on with me. I had my interview at the Sydney US Consulate last Tuesday and I was there for about 50 minutes the entire process. First I had to deal with a guy who asked for documents that they didn't realise we had already sent them. He was frustrating because he wouldn't listen to what I had to say but I managed to eventually get through to him. About 10 minutes later I was asked to give some finger prints then told to sit in the middle section and wait for a case officer to call me. I waited 10 minutes and he called me to the window for my interview. The entire interview took less than 5 minutes which totally surprised me. I thought I was going to be interigated FBI style but after being married to my American wife for nearly 6 years and having 2 kids with her, I guess they realised we had a genuine relationship. The guy told me my Visa had been approved and they would be sending it in the mail by the end of the week. That was on Tuesday, I came home yesterday from work and my visa had already arrived, i couldn't believe that I had received it in 24hrs. I must admit, when we first started this whole process last August I thought this would still be going well into next year, the US Consulate were extremely fast with everything. It was me who took my time in organising things such as my police records, medical etc etc. We've now booked flights to Idaho for 3rd February! :-D

[GNS 0]

Well all cool went for medical today with Dr Waks at George St Medical Center....appointment was 9am, got to see him about 9.30am did the medical he filled in forms while asking me questions, presented my vaccinations I had done with doctor (went and had a Tetanus shot the week prior and got letter from doctor saying I had and that I was going to get another in 4 weeks, also had an ammunity test done for MMR so had the results of that with me as well). He asked if I have had chicken pox, stated I did when I was 10 and that was good enough for him.

Then did the normal medical procedures regarding medical test with the eyes throat reflexes etc.

He was really good explained things that I had to do and what he was going to send back to me, told me not to open the letter but just send it to consulate. Then directed me to the X-ray clinic and the Blood testing place told me what to expect there....siad go and get x-ray first then go to blood test while x-ray was being processed (was handy the x-ray clinic is on first floor, blood test on second floor of same builiding in Macquarie Street opposite Parliament House)

Got to X-ray clinic they told me to do the same as he had said about goign to have bloodtest while x-ray been processed, so all cool in that respect.

Got all done and was back at Dr Waks at approx 11.40am....he came out looked at x-ray in reception area and said no problems will ring when all is ready and I could go and pick up the letter etc from him.

All up ended up costing me this :-

Dr Waks = $176

X-ray = $60.50

Blood Test = $43.20

Total = $279.70

I paid cash for all of it, you can use Eftpos or credit card though.

Rating = Not a problem

[Cham 3]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick update on what's going on with me. I had my interview at the Sydney US Consulate last Tuesday and I was there for about 50 minutes the entire process. First I had to deal with a guy who asked for documents that they didn't realise we had already sent them. He was frustrating because he wouldn't listen to what I had to say but I managed to eventually get through to him. About 10 minutes later I was asked to give some finger prints then told to sit in the middle section and wait for a case officer to call me. I waited 10 minutes and he called me to the window for my interview. The entire interview took less than 5 minutes which totally surprised me. I thought I was going to be interigated FBI style but after being married to my American wife for nearly 6 years and having 2 kids with her, I guess they realised we had a genuine relationship. The guy told me my Visa had been approved and they would be sending it in the mail by the end of the week. That was on Tuesday, I came home yesterday from work and my visa had already arrived, i couldn't believe that I had received it in 24hrs. I must admit, when we first started this whole process last August I thought this would still be going well into next year, the US Consulate were extremely fast with everything. It was me who took my time in organising things such as my police records, medical etc etc. We've now booked flights to Idaho for 3rd February! :-D

WELCOME TO IDAHO!! I live there and that is where Kai will be coming (I PRAY AND HOPE!!)

Goon...THANK YOU for update on medicals...good info on what to expect

[Kath 0]

hiya jayde

thanks for the congrats...i am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys that vermont will pull their fingers out and approval faster this month..cos ya know how departments feel about unfinished business at the end of a finacial year.....

hiya chris0608

congrats on your visa approval and on the quick arrival of it also...alot of us know how you feel about the interview time...just amazes you dont it that it took so long to get all this together and they only give you 5 mins with you to meet you and see your approval quality lol...enjoy your last few months with family and friends ... take plenty of photo's buy heaps of phone cards for relatives to keep in contact with you..(good chrissie pressie i reckon)...

hiya goonluka

whoo hoo for that part of the journey over and done with mate...question though...if you had all your ammunity tests done..as you said .. how come you had to have blood tests done...or did i read it wrongly...your post will be a good reference for those living in sydney...

good luck to you all that are still waiting .. keep your spirits up ...

kath

[GNS 0]

hiya jayde

thanks for the congrats...i am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys that vermont will pull their fingers out and approval faster this month..cos ya know how departments feel about unfinished business at the end of a finacial year.....

hiya chris0608

congrats on your visa approval and on the quick arrival of it also...alot of us know how you feel about the interview time...just amazes you dont it that it took so long to get all this together and they only give you 5 mins with you to meet you and see your approval quality lol...enjoy your last few months with family and friends ... take plenty of photo's buy heaps of phone cards for relatives to keep in contact with you..(good chrissie pressie i reckon)...

hiya goonluka

whoo hoo for that part of the journey over and done with mate...question though...if you had all your ammunity tests done..as you said .. how come you had to have blood tests done...or did i read it wrongly...your post will be a good reference for those living in sydney...

good luck to you all that are still waiting .. keep your spirits up ...

kath

Blood tests were for HIV and Syphillus

[Kath 0]

arrrhhh goon

i had those done at my local doc too put on medicare...i wonder if you put in a claim with medicare would they pay up...

ohhh just a thought..get the medical examiner to send you a copy of your medical for your own records...it will come in handy for the doctor over here and if you want to do any volunteer work..but dont let them have your copy..

also get a photo copy of your police certificate ...

kath

[Chris0608 0]

WELCOME TO IDAHO!! I live there and that is where Kai will be coming (I PRAY AND HOPE!!)

WHere abouts in Idaho are you? I'll be living in Murphy.

[GNS 0]

arrrhhh goon

i had those done at my local doc too put on medicare...i wonder if you put in a claim with medicare would they pay up...

ohhh just a thought..get the medical examiner to send you a copy of your medical for your own records...it will come in handy for the doctor over here and if you want to do any volunteer work..but dont let them have your copy..

also get a photo copy of your police certificate ...

kath

Not too sure how I will get copy of police certificate...here in NSW they send directly to Consulate.

[myperfectflaw 11]

WELCOME TO IDAHO!! I live there and that is where Kai will be coming (I PRAY AND HOPE!!)

WHere abouts in Idaho are you? I'll be living in Murphy.

And hello from a neighbor, I'm in Spokane, Washington, right on the Idaho border just outside of Couer d' Alene Nice to see some people closer to me!! Where in Queensland are ya from? My other half is from Toowoomba

Cheers!

Char

[kaffy 2]

Congratulations Chris!!! Told ya it would be easy They didn't question the genuine-ness (sp?) of our relationship either and we had only been married 1.5 yrs. I was totally expecting to be interrogated but o well

If Idaho borders Washington (my geography sucks) then I'm your neighbour too.. but am out in western Washington. Good luck with your move

[Cham 3]

WELCOME TO IDAHO!! I live there and that is where Kai will be coming (I PRAY AND HOPE!!)

WHere abouts in Idaho are you? I'll be living in Murphy.

Im in Lewiston about 3 hours from you all!

SMALL WORLD MATE!!!!

kaffy..THATS COOL! My daughter is in Yakima Washington and I am about two hours from Spokane Washington

we so need to get together once Kai gets home! I would adore that!

(PS I can bring vegemite!! Lord knows I have heaps! LOL)

my perfect WOW 2 hours from me!!

Edited December 4, 2008 by Cham

[myperfectflaw 11]

Im in Lewiston about 3 hours from you all!

SMALL WORLD MATE!!!!

kaffy..THATS COOL! My daughter is in Yakima Washington and I am about two hours from Spokane Washington

we so need to get together once Kai gets home! I would adore that!

(PS I can bring vegemite!! Lord knows I have heaps! LOL)

my perfect WOW 2 hours from me!!

Haven't been down to Lewiston in a while...although, I guess that's understandable when you realize what little is down there Do you get up to Spokane often? Would be fun to get together at some point! I don't think we're too far off one another in this process, so our other halfs should be getting here at around the same time as each other Saw your posts on the co-sponsor stuff...I second e-mailing the consulate and checking with them, they have been very very helpful with answering questions and relieving worries for me. I hope you manage to slide through! Good luck!

Char

Congratulations Chris!!! Told ya it would be easy They didn't question the genuine-ness (sp?) of our relationship either and we had only been married 1.5 yrs. I was totally expecting to be interrogated but o well

If Idaho borders Washington (my geography sucks) then I'm your neighbour too.. but am out in western Washington. Good luck with your move

It does border it, but over here on the eastern side You must be in the Seattle area?

[kaffy 2]

Yup! I am just across Lake Washington in Kirkland. Love it here I havent met any other Aussies around here though so I am totally up for a meet as long as someone can bring Monte Carlo biccies and BBQ shapes!

[Cham 3]

Yup! I am just across Lake Washington in Kirkland. Love it here I havent met any other Aussies around here though so I am totally up for a meet as long as someone can bring Monte Carlo biccies and BBQ shapes!

WHAT NO COOPERS PALE ALE!!!???!!!

Here in Lewiston I can buy it...(figure THAT one out LOL)

I get to spokane about 3 times a year so when he gets home we will have to meet up!!

[kaffy 2]

haha I don't drink beer. How un-Aussie like of me