LAND DOWNUNDER

[David A. 0]

Anybody know the best place to stay in Darling Harbour, my wife wants to do some sight seeing after the interview... and does anybody know how far Darling Harbour is from Martin Place (US Consulate)

[CarolineM 0]

Hi David!!

We stayed in the Marriot Sydney HArbor - right by Darling Harbour. (the second provided link) It was great. A TAD further away from the Consulate - the other Sydney Marriot is closer - and the aforementioned travelodge is even CLOSER.

This...is where we stayed before the interview. We got it for 149 a night on hotels.com. It was a REALLY nice hotel and TOTALLY worth it. We turned our trip to Sydney into a pseydo "second" honeymoon so it was nice.

The next night we switched hotel...(long story short here. We had planned to go to Sydney for a friend's wedding...and booked the hotel at the harbor as we took a ferry to her wedding. We LATER decided to file the same trip - tried to book extra nights in that hotel and it was full so we switched to the first one I linked you to.

THIS... hotel was REALLY nice and also about 150 a night per hotels.com. It was HEAPS nicer than the first one -but further from the consulate. This is the one at Darling Harbor) Most the hotels arond that area are dearer because of the location. Try priceline or hotel.com for cheaper rates. I did priceline, requested my own price and requested a 4 or 5 star hotel!

Hope this helps. I can verify that BOTH of these are super nice. i'm kinda a hotel snob (much to Stewart's dismay).

Edited October 8, 2006 by CarolineM

[Lunamel 0]

Hi all

Just got back from our honeymoon in sunny Queensland, after my boy Toby and I got married in Melbourne two weeks ago (I'll have to stick a photo up soon, I'm on a borrowed computer at the moment). Sounds like we got married at about the same time David -- congrats to you too!

I've got my medical and police check sorted out, and we're heading to Sydney this Wednesday for Toby to do a Thursday walk-in and file the I-130. As I've got my medical and police check done, I'm going to see if they'll let me file my forms then too so I can get an interview date ASAP. I guess we're the first ones to be doing the new DCF there, so I'll post more info about how it goes. I've been re-reading the posts about people's Sydney consulate experiences, but does anyone have any specific advice/hints you think is worth knowing before we head in??

Chris

[CarolineM 0]

What you read is pretty much spot on.

We got there about 7:15 - real early - and hung out in the lobby. (As you can't go up til 7:30...). People are cut throat!! It's crazy! We got jostled around.

Definitely pee before you go up...and don't drink anything once you get up there.

Only take what you need - they take your cell phones, cameras etc...

Be TOTALLY prepared. Have ALL your docs in order. Don't worry....even if you get "Rose" which when I was going through all the talk was how tough she was...she's great - just be prepared.

Other than that - it's a piece of cake Oh and also TAKE ALL YOUR PROOF - pics, emails, whatever. We took ours and they didn't even ASK For them. I said, "Aren't you going to look at my photos?" and they said...if you bring 'em - we don't ask for them.

Someone who had gone through before me HADNT brought ANY proof and sure enough -they asked.

I'm so excited to see how it goes for you! I know it will be "Easy peasy" as Sean says!! GOOD LUCK and keep us posted

[Kath 0]

hi there lunamel

good to hear from you..glad all the medical an police check worked out for you...

i didnt put in a review of the experience cos to me an my hubby it seemed a waste of time and money...

but one thing i would keep an eye on is the way they do the call numbers... if i remember rightly it was window number then you number prob wasnt confusing for anyone else but it was for me lol i read it the wrong way once and i went to the window an it wasnt even me...also take some lollies with you and something to read..

where abouts in melb did you get married ..an do post some pics in the gallery too would love to check um out mate..

well on thurs i go do my biometrics thingy...so will be glad to get that over an done with...

well good luck in sydney mate an let us know how u went...

take care and enjoy oz

kath

p.s. forgot this...when u go into the elevator wait till last to enter cos you will be getting out first an your then first in line..although we were first to sit down we got to the back of the elevator an i was so annoyed about it...hell i arrived earlier than these lot i should be first inline to get a number kinda attitude i had...i know i was bad that day ...im not usually that way inclined lol

Edited October 9, 2006 by kath&rob

[Kath 0]

hi ya all

was checking the status online checking today and i got a notification that our case for the I-485 was transferred to California...

on the 5th October..took um 4 days to let me know lol

so now just another waiting time...hopefully this means i dont have to have an interview..

take care

kath

Edited October 10, 2006 by kath&rob

[David A. 0]

Congrats Lunamel my wife and I just set up our hotel. We'll be staying at 4 Points by Sheraton on the Business District side, only minutes away from the MLC Centre, with a harbor view. Kind of costly but my wife wants my first time experience in Sydney to be worth while and memorable.

Lunamel, keep my updated on the things we might need to submit the I-130. Since I wasn't able to get my hands on all the forms before the new changes, I'll have to wait until Sydney sends them to my wife.

As far as proof of relationship, let me know how much of that proof I would need just to submit an I-130 or is that something (proof) my wife will have to bring when she goes for her final interview?

[Lunamel 0]

Thanks for all the hints guys. And good luck with everything Kath -- hope everything gets finalised for you soon!

David, I'll let you know what they ask for in terms of proof. The checklist for filing the I-130 says to bring proof of the relationship, so looks like we have to do it both then, and when I have my interview. We're taking in photos, wedding photos, our lease, bank account statements etc. Wish us luck!

[CarolineM 0]

It may have changed now. Stewart and I took a HUGE box of our letters over the past 5 years. We took hotel receipts, photos with date stamps (only had about five of those...the rest had no date but we took them anyway), wedding photos, emails, call logs...

and they didn't ask for a single piece!

David - we saw that hotel and it looked really nice - we even commented we should stay there next visit!! It's worth the extra money in my mind - cause we wanted our trip to be special too!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE I am so excited for everyone!!!!

[Kath 0]

hi there

well completed the bio appt today..arrived 8.50am out by 9.12am

got hoem received NOA that CSC received our case and emails also..

and today we had our first snow flurries i thought it was hail stones until i opened the sliding door an it didnt hurt lol...so took some pics to send home i just stood at the window watching the flurries and got caught up in watching the different air drifts of the snow falling down....arhhhhhhhhhh sighhhhhhhhhhhhh winter is coming....

so thats my update for the day now we will just sit tight an wait for news from them...

take care

kath

[kaffykat 0]

Heya Ppls,

Okay Kath, warnin ya right now. If you jump ahead of me again in this visa debarkle I will screeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmm. hehehehe j/k

You are already ahead of me, you got your SSN, where I got a dumba$$ who didn't know her job.

And, this really bites, CSC actually let you know they got your file. No touches on either the EAD or AOS since September 9th now for me. hmmmmm The CSC and I just don't mix well, me thinks. They were the ones that held us up big time for the K1.

Oh well, Sh!t happens.

[Kath 0]

hi mate

if i send ya a sweet email would that help ya lol....an u are right ya know i have been ahead of ya for the whole process mate...but u beat me on getting here an getting married lol

i cant understand how they cant tell ya over the phone that they have it ...this reminds me of the melly debarkel ..remember...

god i hope ya hear something soon even if it was a damm touch it would tell ya something huh ...we will send some postiive thoughts your way mate..

you take care mate an fingers crossed

kath

[kaffykat 0]

Mojo Mojo Mojo

Toucha Toucha Toucha Touch me, I wanna feel diiiirrrrtttyyyy.

hehehehe I am loooosing my mind...

[CarolineM 0]

hey guys

just booked this for our one year anny

Sooo excited.

[Kath 0]

hi there

ohh that looks so nice caroline....i remember those wine tours in vic ...the sipping the tasting the spitting lol...enjoy mate an take plenty of pics so ya can make me homesick for melb lol

hi kaffykat

your not loosing it ya lost it in the K1 journey lol..(jk) im not at that stage yet...wish there was something else we all could do to help this process easier for us all ...

ok hands in....sing approval .. approval.. approval...yaaaaaaaaaa aussies!!!!

now see what ya done kaffy...im taking your loosing it side lol...

you keep ya chin up mate ...

ohh by the way we were touched for AOS today (13th)

take care

kath