LAND DOWNUNDER

[Kath 0]

hi all

how are you all going...congrats to all those who are advancing towards interviews and those who have their dates set...great to see...

well my news i have been sick since just after chrissy...i have been popping in to read but couldnt be bothered to be typing anything..but it was good to see all the good news that has been happening to my aussie mates...

i caught a cold off robbie his didnt last long but when it hit me damm it knocked me for a six ... lost my smell my taste and all round terrible i have only just this week started not to cough so much...it went to my chest...so i wasnt a happy chappy that with robbie's 3 weeks off we were sick...

robbie was a great nurse...kept waking me up cos he was scared i would go into a phynemonia (i know spelling is off) coma...he is such a worry wart worse than me...but looked after me fantastically never ever have i been looked after like that...usually i do this on me own ...i fought his fussing then i got really bad so i just gave into him lol...

i even went for my test while i was sick...didnt pass ..was 6 hours an boy my butt muscles ached climbing up those stairs to the apartment...when robbie went back to work he complained about the length of it an he wasnt the only one either and apparently no one on the date that i sat for it got through ...so were thinking that they got their 300 people from the 1st 2 sittings which is so unfair but it did make me feel better within myself...

we had snow here today not much but it did look lovely ..its nearly all gone now but i got pics lol

will post a few in my next post cos i gotta shrink them

you lot take care

kath

[David A. 0]

Hey Paul, wifey lives in Ethelton... near the beach. Probably not the cleanest beach since there's plenty of dogs leaving "landmines". She's not too happy about the big changes too much either, but at the same time, we know that because of it, the two properties she owns and rents out will just grow in equity. We're hoping in a few years time, we'll be able to sell those two properties including mine here in the USA and build our dream home.

[girlfrmoz 1]

Hi Kath,

Sorry to hear you have been so sick especially when it's so cold over there at the moment. Sounds like your hubby has been really sweet looking after you. Are you feeling better? Also sorry to hear about the test not going too well, but you were sick and that always makes it harder plus nobody else got through anyway. Sounds like it was really tough and 6 hours that's ridiculously long.

Well at the moment I am trying to sell my car and just waiting for this damn interview to be over. I keep thinking jeeze Colorado will be cold when I get there and it's 38C here in Canberra today mmmm will be interesting to see how I adjust to the climate change.

[hampster 0]

Hey Paul, wifey lives in Ethelton... near the beach. Probably not the cleanest beach since there's plenty of dogs leaving "landmines". She's not too happy about the big changes too much either, but at the same time, we know that because of it, the two properties she owns and rents out will just grow in equity. We're hoping in a few years time, we'll be able to sell those two properties including mine here in the USA and build our dream home.

Hey Dave & Wifee

Well Ethelton isn't a bad place to live .. I know of worse places lol

Well it's always nice to have Equity especially in Real Estate.

And I know when the time is right to Sell Everything to build,

Your Dream Home..

It will be spectacular and a nice place to be with your Wife.

I be just as happy To just be with Cheryl (NorthernGirl),

My Beautiful Bride.. soon I will be across "The Big Puddle",

Sharing in the day to day life of Being Married,

And Being in the Same Hemisphere

I know it's a big move for anyone ,

to leave their "respective countries"

To be with the person they love..

But the new life we all will share,

Being with the ones we Cherish & Love the Most (Husband's & Wife's)

I am so looking forward to being in the U.S.A.

With Cheryl,

Being her Loving & Devoted Husband, Best Friend, Lover,Protector

And Life Long Partner, To share the highs and lows,

Of Whatever Life throws at us.

Well hope your wife has got a good supply of Vegemite

I'll be sending Cheryl home after her visit here next month,

With a Carry on bag full of the Black Gold

Cheers

Paul

It is 19 days, 13 hours, 36 minutes and 8 seconds until Friday, 9 February 2007 at 10:30:00 AM (Adelaide time)

Till I see My Beautiful Bride Cheryl In Adelaide Again

<H2 align=center>Current time is</H2>

2007-01-20 20:53:52

CST(local time in Adelaide)

[David A. 0]

Hey Hamster... I'd probably give anything to be in Adelaide right now with the wifey. But hopefully by the time your significant other comes to see you, Stephanie will be headed to America... so good things come to those who wait. =)

[David A. 0]

Attention Aussies in the US with GREENCARDS/Permanent Residency Status...

I know immigrants in the US can travel abroad as long as they have their greencard and passport of their respective country, is their any other things I need to know about? Is there anything special someone has to do, like request permission, etc?

My wife and I are planning a trip next year, by then she'll be here and will have her Greencard. I know some of you Aussie's have already traveled back to Oz, can you give me any details on how it works, if there is anything special to do?

Thanks,

David.

Edited January 21, 2007 by David A.

[CarolineM 0]

David....nope! It's easy as pie. We just travelled back to AUstralia. In America, going out, he showed both his green card and his AUS Passport - no worries...and on the way back - he waited in the US CITIZEN line with me, we went up together as a family with his passport, green card and it was all good

EAsy!!!

Just make sure she takes both...but nope - for once...NO FORMS to fill out

[David A. 0]

David....nope! It's easy as pie. We just travelled back to AUstralia. In America, going out, he showed both his green card and his AUS Passport - no worries...and on the way back - he waited in the US CITIZEN line with me, we went up together as a family with his passport, green card and it was all good

EAsy!!!

Just make sure she takes both...but nope - for once...NO FORMS to fill out

Sweet!

Ok, next question. When she finally enters the US for the first time through LAX. Will she go through the Foreign Visitors line or the US Citizens line? Or is there a separate line dealing with US visas? Because I never really paid attention.

[jodee 30]

David,...I went through LAX at the end of 2003 to activate a K1 visa. I went through the US Citizens line,..well more specifically, they had a line sign posted for new immigrant/non-immigrant visas.(k1, K3 etc.) I simply asked a Immigration officer that stands near the front of the lines where I should be,..he asked me what I had, and directed me accordingly...All up I was in/out of customs in less then 15 minutes, and that included the wait, and the Customs officer going through the envelope etc...

Jodee

Edited January 21, 2007 by jodee

[David A. 0]

David,...I went through LAX at the end of 2003 to activate a K1 visa. I went through the US Citizens line,..well more specifically, they had a line sign posted for new immigrant/non-immigrant visas.(k1, K3 etc.) I simply asked a Immigration officer that stands near the front of the lines where I should be,..he asked me what I had, and directed me accordingly...All up I was in/out of customs in less then 15 minutes, and that included the wait, and the Customs officer going through the envelope etc...

Jodee

Thanks Jodee!

[Elle 0]

Hi ALL!

Just a quick update, we mailed the DS 230 Part I&II and the DS2001 form on the 16th Jan and hopefully they send an interview date soon! I received the results of my medical last week after having to get a MMR shot. I never had mumps as a kid and my GP didnt administer any shots as there was no one vaccine for the mumps. So even though I had already had the others, I still needed the MMR. Just a tip for those who will need to do their medical!

Eric's only got a week left till he flies back to Balto BUT hopefully, I will be able to move by the end of March!

Travelling was also a concern. I'd like to visit my family and friends every year and its good to hear there are no special forms to fill out (cuz Im all form-ed out) when ya want to travel.

Hope everyone is doing well!

[David A. 0]

Anybody have any information regarding DCF no longer possible in Australia? I heard I-130s can no longer be approved at US Consulates abroad. I'm not sure if this affects my wife and others who's final interviews are coming up. I tried calling the consulate in Sydney, but as you know, you can only email them, walk-in, or send a letter by post.

Edited January 24, 2007 by David A.

[Lunamel 0]

Anybody have any information regarding DCF no longer possible in Australia? I heard I-130s can no longer be approved at US Consulates abroad. I'm not sure if this affects my wife and others who's final interviews are coming up. I tried calling the consulate in Sydney, but as you know, you can only email them, walk-in, or send a letter by post.

Hi everyone. I've been out of the loop for a little while, as I've been busy with my new job. But I logged back on today and saw David's post, and the discussion of DCF changes in the DCF section here

That post explains that some embassies that have previously allowed DCF are now posting notices that effective from Jan 23, 2007, US embassies/consulates can no longer adjudicate I-130 petitions, only the USCIS. Unlike some places like London, as far as I understand Sydney does not have a USCIS office on-site, which suggests that I-130s will have to go to the US for approval.

It looks like this is all legit, and has happened in light of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Basically, the issue is that as a result of this Act, US citizens who are child sex offenders can no longer petition for relatives to come to the US. Embassies don't have the capacity to do police checks of US citizen-petitioners to determine if they are a child sex offender, so petitions have to be sent to USCIS which can do this.

I don't know what to suggest for you folks caught in the middle of this at the moment. The embassies that have posted information (including Ukraine and Canada) say that where an I-130 petition has already been approved by the embassy but the visa hasn't yet been approved, the I-130 will still need to be sent to USCIS for re-approval.

Sydney hasn't posted any information about this, however. I wonder if it's a good idea to ask, as if the memo hasn't filtered through yet, and this does in fact check out, you might get lucky if your interview is really soon. On the other hand, if you bring it to their attention, then they might do some more research that could work against you. I'd probably hedge my bets and wait, given it's such a short time until your wife's interview.

God, I really really hope for your sakes that you don't get caught up in this mess, given the hassles of getting this far. Let us know if you hear anything, and I'll let you know if I can come up with any more information in the interim....

[Poi_n_J 0]

We did it! We did it!!!

Photos on the way...!!!

Soz I don't get to keep up with everyones news, I'm at work and have only just recently connected at home to Joshua's LT.

We will be booking in for the first interview in Melbourne end of February...Yay!!

[David A. 0]

We did it! We did it!!!

Photos on the way...!!!

Soz I don't get to keep up with everyones news, I'm at work and have only just recently connected at home to Joshua's LT.

We will be booking in for the first interview in Melbourne end of February...Yay!!

Sorry to break your heart, but I'm caught in the middle of this. This is what I got from the Australia Consulate Website.

"— Notice —

Recent legislation has led to changes in the procedures American citizens resident abroad will follow if they wish to sponsor an immediate relative (spouse, parent or minor child) for an immigrant visa. Effective immediately, the immediate relative petition (I-130) must be filed with the USCIS office responsible for the petitioner’s place of residence (that is, the place of residence of the American citizen who is filing the petition). Consular offices at U.S. embassies and consulates are no longer authorized to accept I-130s, although they will continue to provide guidance to American citizen petitioners and their family members. Responsibility for acceptance and approval of immigrant visa petitions rests solely with USCIS. American citizens should submit their I-130 at the CIS office responsible for their place of residence.

This procedural change may result in a processing delay for some applicants. The Department of State recognizes and sincerely regrets the inconvenience this may cause."

I don't know what will happen now since my I-130 had already been approved. They haven't informed my wife about the change but I am assuming that they might take everything from her on her final interview and send it off to a USCIS to get the final approval, this might take another month or so... I'm so pissed off right now, I just don't know what to do. For all those planning DCF... Unfortunately you won't be able to do it anymore. DCF is over.

Edited January 24, 2007 by David A.