LAND DOWNUNDER

[Chris & Mara 0]

Grats Annex!!!!

To say Im jealous atm the moment would be an understatement!

Anyhow hoping to get some advice here.

I know that I need to get a police check (Fingerprints thingy) and medical before I can get approved at my interview, and that they are both vaild for 12 months once they occur. I haven't gotten my NOA2 yet but if we have no more carrying on from USCIS and DISCO we should be on track to our notice in the next couple of weeks.

Should I head down to the local Police station next week and do the police check (should take 3 weeks for the results right) and then book the Medical once the NOA2 arrives?

I am really hoping on a quick turn around at this end of the scale because my current situation (living with my parents/sister, working in a job i should have been out of when I got my degree, having no car to go and visit mates or do anything and generally not being able to do anything thats helping me go forward) is driving me nuts.

I have a draw of stuff that I will take with me as proof to my interview, will be starting to print them off next week, what is the best way to display them? In a folder sorted into sections or just bundle them in groups with paper clips?

Also Chris is planning on Scanning me our orginal submited package (he has posted it 3 times to no advail) can he scan the documents I need to take with me to sydney as well or do they need to be posted/the orginal copies ?

Any suggestions?

- Mara (Stressing beyond belief down under )

Hang in there!!! You're on the home stretch!

I just rocked up to the Police Station and filled out the application for Police Cert. with fingerprint check. All you need is your Drivers License as I.D and $153.70. On the form it has capacity for the documents to be forwarded direclty to the relevant Embassy. In my case with the IR1/CR1 Visa, I need to post it back with my application to the NVC in the states, so I left that bit blank so they would mail it to my home address - At least they better! lol They said it will take 2-4 weeks so definitely apply now.

Thanks heaps whisper I think ill be much better once I hear word of that litttle piece of paper, USCIS has had the whole of our package back from DISCO since the 29th, thats more then ample time for them to hit it with the approval stamp and send it on its way....right?

Looks like ill be heading down to the local police station on Monday morning to see if I can get my fingers inky and spend some more money lol.

On the positive I feel like we are moving forward again in life today, Chris and I choose our reception venue and wedding date today, he is ringing Friday (US time) to book it and put forward the deposit, which is only $1000 and comes off the total bill, I was happily suprised that they didnt want my right arm and left leg at time of booking, apparently that just comes later... lol

[GNS 0]

Just a question regardiing the Interview letter, on mine on page 3 just below the Express Post 3kg Envelope Heading is another heading that has "Additional Comments"...to the far right of it is typed "FormDS194RefusalSupplemental 02/20/08"

Did anyone that went for interview have that on there letter?....asking real late here as my Interview is tommorrow morning....so not feeling the greatest seeing that.

Thanks

[Cham 3]

question as well anyone know how long it takes the embassy to send out pck 3 ONCE it reaches the embassy its been over a week so not sure

[GNS 0]

Approved today at Interview...outta here at end of April to my darling.

Like to thank all the people that have answered my dumb questions over the last few months...help is greatly appreciated.

WOOHOO

[kaffy 2]

Congrats!!!!

[densusan 0]

Approved today at Interview...outta here at end of April to my darling.

Like to thank all the people that have answered my dumb questions over the last few months...help is greatly appreciated.

WOOHOO

Congratulations Goonluka!!!!!!!! What part of the Usa will you be living in?

[GNS 0]

Approved today at Interview...outta here at end of April to my darling.

Like to thank all the people that have answered my dumb questions over the last few months...help is greatly appreciated.

WOOHOO

Congratulations Goonluka!!!!!!!! What part of the Usa will you be living in?

Thanks densusan....will be living in Western Maryland

[Chris & Mara 0]

Approved today at Interview...outta here at end of April to my darling.

Like to thank all the people that have answered my dumb questions over the last few months...help is greatly appreciated.

WOOHOO

Congratulations Goonluka!!!!!!!! What part of the Usa will you be living in?

Thanks densusan....will be living in Western Maryland

Serious? I'm heading to DC when I get my Visa wouldnt be half bad to have another Aussie close by, how far west in MD are you?

[Marty and Jamie 0]

I recieved my NOA2 on the 12th of Jan 09. I would like to know if I can go and get a police record check done now, so that when my Packet 3 arrives I am all organised and it wont hold my interview date up. The Consulate advised me NOT to aquire my Police check until I have Packet 3 in my hand with instructions of what to do. Does anyone know how long before the interview date you should get the Police check done, and if I do go ahead and get it now, will it still be valid depending on the interview date to be set?

[Chris & Mara 0]

I recieved my NOA2 on the 12th of Jan 09. I would like to know if I can go and get a police record check done now, so that when my Packet 3 arrives I am all organised and it wont hold my interview date up. The Consulate advised me NOT to aquire my Police check until I have Packet 3 in my hand with instructions of what to do. Does anyone know how long before the interview date you should get the Police check done, and if I do go ahead and get it now, will it still be valid depending on the interview date to be set?

Grats on your NOA2!!!!

However Marty and Jamie, please dont take this the wrong way but I am extremely jealous of your situation *sigh* I gotta stop reading approved people's time lines!

Anyhow Police Checks in Australia are valid for 6 months (might even be 12) from the date of issue so go on down to your Police station and get one sorted. You will need to do the the Fingerprint checks they cost about $154 and need to be done by a qualified officer, some stations (like my local one) don't conduct them, so ring ahead first and check you can do it there and dont need an appointment. They also take between 2 - 4 weeks to arrive back to you.

You can have it sent to you and then you take it with you, or if you have recieved packet 3 I believe that you can have it sent directly to the consulate.

Good luck I haven't got my NOA2 yet (and filled before you grrr!) but I will be heading to the town over from mine to get my police checks done and sent off next week. Might even be an idea to check out where in your state you can get your medical done and how far in advance you can make the appointment (some places it only has to be a few days, but it could be longer I don't know).

Hey Cham you got an interview date for Kai yet????

[Marty and Jamie 0]

Thanks Chris & Mara. Im sure that yours will be through soon. We were thinking that if we were lucky, we may have our NOA2 by early Feb but it suprised us coming when it did. Thanks alot for your advise and Ill hop on down to my Local Cop shop and pay them a visit. I just wasnt sure if the Police check had to be dated within a month of the interview, or after the date the Consulate sends out Packet 3. I wish you both well, and I hope they get that NOA2 out to you guys soon. As Im sure everyone who hasnt recieved one does. I guess we got lucky and our file was pulled. I wish you luck, and thanks again.

[kaffy 2]

Hey I noticed you're in Portland. It's nice to see more Aussies in the northwest We are probably moving down to Vancouver (Washington) later this year so it will be nice to be close to the tax free shopping u guys have

[Chris & Mara 0]

Thanks Chris & Mara. Im sure that yours will be through soon. We were thinking that if we were lucky, we may have our NOA2 by early Feb but it suprised us coming when it did. Thanks alot for your advise and Ill hop on down to my Local Cop shop and pay them a visit. I just wasnt sure if the Police check had to be dated within a month of the interview, or after the date the Consulate sends out Packet 3. I wish you both well, and I hope they get that NOA2 out to you guys soon. As Im sure everyone who hasnt recieved one does. I guess we got lucky and our file was pulled. I wish you luck, and thanks again.

Lol thanks, Chris is paying a visit to the USCIS people at the DC office on Wednesday so hopefully he will leave bearing good news, though if he doesnt call as soon as he gets out I know it wont be.

Part of me really wants him to go so we can find out, part of me doesnt because I dont really want to hear about anymore delays on our case.

Ill be honest, Im scared of the answer he's going to get.

[Cham 3]

HELP...Having a panic attack

okay I only have one crappy tax return

and as you know the embassy sent me the email saying with my ssi award letter of 606 a month PLUS my income of 16, 292 and the letter from boss saying she will give me overtime to meet the 125% requirement..should I be okay??

my sister has been living with me and since i made more and pay more of the bills I want to put my neice and nephew on my 2008 taxes I am filing in march. I did write them a letter explaining WHY it was low and that I am also attending school to gain better employment so i do not have to rely on ssi anymore and be able to make a better life for kai and I

I included THEIR email to me..the 2007 CRAPPY tax return (explaining WHY it was so low due to JUST going back to work last year froma car wreck.) my check stubs, including the new one with the overtime on it to show I am getting overtime.

I am also going to forward my bank info to him IF I file sooner...I am just worried. Even though theyh SAID i met the 125% WITH the ssi I am still freaking out..

I just want him home....I cry all the time now because its close and if they deny him I will be just peaved.

I am going to school starting monday for more courses then in may I have a new job that will make 11 an hour 40 to 45 hours a week...I just want a good life with him

sorry..I know I should not freak out..but I am.

this whole process is making me GRAY HAIRED!

Chris and mara..not yet..he did get his medical FAST though..its the 28th this month..they had a cancellation WOOT..but i sent all his visa stuff in to him so he can mail it off at the post.

His printer was down and his mom would NOT let him print the visa stuff off at all.so I just helped him and printed it..it will be there on the 21st because I sent it express LOL

THEN he will mail it off and get one! FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

he should be HOPEFULLY if all goes well..home next month..I PRAY!

Edited January 16, 2009 by Cham

[Philzor 0]

Hey everyone nice to see an Australian topic and congratz to all the lucky people who have moved to the USA, And its great to see how others have met online and make it work

Here goes:

Im 18 years old and fallen in love with someone in the USA who is 16 he lives in Michigan who i met online and have been courting for around 7 whole months which is only half the reason i want to go there the other half is iv always wanted to live and work in the USA for a long time, Also i have a friend who owns a company in Texas who would probably employ me if/when i am there *yay* the thing is i would like to move there this year but i have no idea how iv read endless forums and articles about it but hearing from Aussies who have done it would be perfect and get the info on how long and how much it generally takes and costs, Thanks