LAND DOWNUNDER

[Kath 0]

whoo hooo rings thats one worry off your mind that it actually arrived....

now ya can start your timeline good an proper huh...and elle is right wait till ya get your case number and you can start cheching USCIS website for status updates...dont forget tick yes for emails...good luck to you..

hi valky welcome the thread ...which state ya in..i havent checked out about the bushfires for awhile an none of my chat mates in oz have mentioned to me ..if you wanna check out a melbourne paper on line its www.heraldsun.com.au should find out there..which part of melbourne is your fiance...ya lucky thing going over in july..im starting now to get itchy to go for a visit...this year vacation is set for robbie to show me some more of the states...from what he is planning were going all over lol...i wanna go to hershey for a room meet thats for sure..gunna be a few overseas chat mates coming over and im hoping for an aussie to visit us too...

im gunna have to make a map so ya can all put where ya gunna be at i reckon... lol

all the good news in here sounds great good luck to you ...its hard on the heart but the time apart makes you grow stronger together as a couple..

take care

kath

ps just tried to look at your timeline valky...dont forget to fill it in mate ...its not only a record for vj its yours also..

Edited February 17, 2007 by kath&rob

[Rings 10]

I know that we are just beginning, but god I feel so much happiness to finally say that we have started something. David is hopefully going to come visit me soon. Do you guys think thats a bad idea? I think he should just come on a visitors pass and see me and fly back, but I don't want to hurt our chances at being together forever. I am totally paranoid.

[Loke 0]

The big bushfires were "contained" earlier this month, but lightning strikes have started new ones in the last few days and Victoria isn't out of danger yet, although the worst of the fires seems to be past.

Melbourne might sometimes get hotter than Sydney but my impression is that there is more moisture in Sydney, meaning more humidity when it does heat up.

Thanks to all for the support you are showing Rings and myself, this is so hard and we are going to need support. It is comforting to know there are people who have made it and who are taking this journey with us. Already you guys have helped us to make sense of things more than we could before and that means so much. Thank you.

[Kath 0]

hi ya rings

heaps of us have visited the states and got through with no problems..the only tip i can give ya is get loke to get a letter from his employer stating he is starting work again at such an such a date...bank account statements...rent statements if he rents anything to say hey i am still living in australia...although i got all these examples i wasnt asked but i had them just in case they did...these are to prove he is not intending to stay...i just stated i was visiting my fiance an that was it...

i was over here visiting when my packet 3 arrived in oz...so had to wait a till i got back to start with the blood tests and police an medical things...

take care

kath

[Kath 0]

hi ya

while some of you guys are in here.. i just created a map of the states to show each other where we are at...

all ya have to do is right click on the map save as...then go into paint and put a line where you are on the map then click on text and add your name...

ohh i hope this works...

kath

ps whooo whoo just editing to say that it worked lol

Edited February 17, 2007 by kath&rob

[girlfrmoz 1]

Rings, Kath's right, I had a letter from my employer and a letter from my parents cause I was staying with them and bank account statements with my current address when I travelled under VWP to visit my fiance and had no probs.

Kath I am going to have a go at doing the map...crossed fingers it works, if it doesn't you can all laugh at me cause I work in IT.

[girlfrmoz 1]

Nup I couldn't do the map. Couldn't get it to zoom in without it being blurry now if it was in photoshop i could.

[Rings 10]

I think I got it...

[girlfrmoz 1]

Rings are you going to Colorado? So am I! Colorado Springs what about you guys, where will you be?

[Rings 10]

Actually I am a Colorado Native. Loke is the Melbourne man.

I am in Denver, Colorado

[valkyrieshewee 0]

Thanks for the welcome, Kath!! I know I went into my timeline yesterday, but I may not have pressed submit, oops! IT's fixed now though

I'm in Utah, just north of Salt Lake City. My fiance had just mentioned the lightning strikes last night. I'm really hoping this means easy burn years for a while since so much has been burned and it should take longer to grow back with the drought.

My fiance is currently in Box Hill in an apartment, though once the lease is up he'll be moving back in with his parents who are in Donvale to save some money.

I'm actually grateful for the distance in ways because we talk a lot more than most couples do and appreciate the time we do get to spend with one another LOADS more. My fiance, Rob, is coming over at the end of March for a couple weeks, and I told him to make SURE that he had a copy of his lease and statement from his employer because I'd be absolutely crushed if he was turned back at the border! Last saw each other in December after living together for 5 months while I studied and it's harder to be apart now we've lived with each other but we've got to do this legally.

By the way... does anyone know if EAD and AOS approval is effected by the immigrant's country at all? That's one thing we're very concerned about since I haven't finished school yet and he does want to work here. I was wondering if there were countries that got EAD approvals more quickly than others (he's a dual Aussie/Brit citizenship)

[Kath 0]

hi ya all

Valky your most welcome...i am also a birt/aus and if you take a look at my timeline i got mine pretty quick..I was transferred to California it was pretty fast for me compared to others..what you could do is take a look at timelines of the office your going to be applying with....how old was he when he immigrated to oz...i was 8 back in 1969...i added you to the map if is not in the right place let me know lol took a wild guess after looking at msn maps..

ohh you girls are close to each other your about an hour apart in colarado how cool is that ....

i have added you girlfromoz...i didnt know ya worked in IT mate...

take care

kath

ohh forgot we got more snow here today another inch lol

[Moonie 0]

I am seeing November filers getting approved and I am starting to get antsy. We know once this first hump is over the rest should be fairly smooth sailing. I miss him terribly.

I hope that everyone is well.

[girlfrmoz 1]

Thanks Kath for adding me, I am actually a IT technical analyst wth Centrelink at the moment. Was able to get a temp transfer up from Melbourne until I leave which was really lucky.

I have a question if anyone can answer....OK I am organised to ship stuff. I am taking minimal household contents, just my stereo amp and speakers (I'm also a muso), some crystal glassware that is sentimental, IT books and my 2 fav sheridan doona sets and clothes. So that will be about 6 boxes for shipping. It's just what do i take to the CO initially that is causing me brain damage. I am thinking 2 suitcases for clothes and any documents I need initially and maybe excess baggage eg, an extra bag for shoes. Girls I know you will understand this, but the guys may have trouble! lol

It's just that CO weather is so changeable and at the moment is freezing and I will be leaving between seasons so it is doing my head in!!! I also need my suits for work and that includes boots and overcoat plus wedding dress which are all bulky.

Anyway, now that I have vented about my trivial little problem, any advice on what you did would be good especially if you have made any mistakes that you have learnt from.

Thanks

Lyndel

[Rings 10]

YAY I can actually help someone!

I am in Colorado and a Denver Native. Now if you are going to the Springs, the you should bring winter clothes, but Colorado demands layers. One day it will be 30 degrees and that same afternoon can warm up to 75 degrees and then drop to below freezing. Bring things that are easy to wear in layers so that you can peel off and add when you need to do so. One of the wonderful things about Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak. It is huge and beautiful and one of the most amazing mountains in Colorado. The good thing is the beauty, but it snows onto it and the wind blows cold air off the top of that. If you hate to be cold then I would make sure to pack some warm stuff.

I am so glad that you will get to experience the beauty of it, but if you are from Australia just take note that your cold and our cold are very very different. I hope this helps some.