Packet 4 Request List

[Mike & B 0]

Well I'm very excited to say that we just received our packet 4 today which brings my fiance and I closer to being together again...FINALLY lol! I have questions about what they are asking for in Packet 4. Here is what they have requested-

( 1 ) CHILD CUSTODY for Child 1 and Child 2: Any minor child immigrating with a parent or who has been petitioned for on his or her own must submit custody information.

1Submit the original and one photocopy

( 2 ) PASSPORT: ( A passport must have at least 8 months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa.).

( 3 ) FEES: This fee can only be paid at an Australia Post outlet and prior to attending the visa interview.

1K Visa applicants (click on link to the left to refer to our website regarding the fees)

( 4 ) EXPRESS POST 3KG ENVELOPE: To be used to mail your visa to you when issued. Please ensure the

envelope contains your name and the address where you would like us to mail the visa.

With request (1) (and this is the main concern I have...so here's my background story) My sons live with me full time and have always done so before and since after their father and I separated almost 7 years ago. He was off the scene for many years until 2008 when he decided that he wanted to have visitation with them. We went through mediation and agreed upon a 'Parenting Order' which is now lodged at the Australia Queensland Family Courts. Basically it just states that the children live with me their mother and he can see them on school holidays, and for any long term care and welfare both parents will share equally decision making. At the beginnin of this year when i first got engaged, I need permission off their father to take the children with me to the States which he agreed upon. It said in Packet 3 that "Any minor child applying with a parent must submit custody information. This may include a court “Order of Residence” & “Relocation Order” verifying sole custody to the immigrating parent or a signed and dated affidavit from the child’s other parent advising of his/her knowledge and consent for the child to live in the United States which should include a copy of a photo ID of that parent". I don't know if our "Parenting Order" is the same thing as a "Order of Residence" and we don't have a "Relocation Order" so we went with the affidavit. So I created a document in the format of an affidavit myself stating those things which were mentioned and had their father sign it in front of a 'Justice of the Peace' to notorize the document and took a photocopy of his drivers licence and sent it off in Packet 3 to the consulate. I did not send a copy of the "parenting order lodged in 2008" though. My 'Parenting Order' is not custody papers as such but it does state clearly in point number (1) the children live with their mother. QUESTION- Is this what the consulate wants me to bring? Is it sufficent to proof of custody and is the "Parenting Order" and the "Affidavit" together enough to have the visa's approved???

Request (2) Do they just want me to bring my passport to the interview? In packet 3 I sent photocopies of the bio page of our passports so I'm presuming that they just want me to phyiscally bring the passport to the interview...???

Request (3) What.. there's another FEE?? We already paid a fee when my fiance lodged it in America, is this another fee? And if I just go into any Australian Post Office, will they know what I'm talking about when i say i need to pay for the K1 visa fee?

Request (4) I'm good with this one...lol

So VJ Family.....please share some of your wisdom with me..especially the Aussies that may have experienced something similar from the Sydney Consulate. Thank you SO SO much!!!!!

[CareBear 18]

Hey B Awesome news re your interview date - when is it?

With response to your questions - # 1) I'm not sure of the answer of. #2 - yes you have to take passports of all visa applicants to the embassy as if you are approved they will be left there and returned to you within the week in the express post envelope you also provide. #3 there is a A$420 visa fee per applicant to be paid at Australia Post. Yes I just rocked up to the counter and said I had to pay a US Visa fee and they looked it up on the computer. The receipt from Australia Post has to be taken to the interview and handed over

Hope someone can help you with the question 1 query.

Regards

Carey

[Barbara J 115]

Well I'm very excited to say that we just received our packet 4 today which brings my fiance and I closer to being together again...FINALLY lol! I have questions about what they are asking for in Packet 4. Here is what they have requested-

( 1 ) CHILD CUSTODY for Child 1 and Child 2: Any minor child immigrating with a parent or who has been petitioned for on his or her own must submit custody information.

1Submit the original and one photocopy

( 2 ) PASSPORT: ( A passport must have at least 8 months validity beyond the issuance date of the visa.).

( 3 ) FEES: This fee can only be paid at an Australia Post outlet and prior to attending the visa interview.

1K Visa applicants (click on link to the left to refer to our website regarding the fees)

( 4 ) EXPRESS POST 3KG ENVELOPE: To be used to mail your visa to you when issued. Please ensure the

envelope contains your name and the address where you would like us to mail the visa.

With request (1) (and this is the main concern I have...so here's my background story) My sons live with me full time and have always done so before and since after their father and I separated almost 7 years ago. He was off the scene for many years until 2008 when he decided that he wanted to have visitation with them. We went through mediation and agreed upon a 'Parenting Order' which is now lodged at the Australia Queensland Family Courts. Basically it just states that the children live with me their mother and he can see them on school holidays, and for any long term care and welfare both parents will share equally decision making. At the beginnin of this year when i first got engaged, I need permission off their father to take the children with me to the States which he agreed upon. It said in Packet 3 that "Any minor child applying with a parent must submit custody information. This may include a court “Order of Residence” & “Relocation Order” verifying sole custody to the immigrating parent or a signed and dated affidavit from the child’s other parent advising of his/her knowledge and consent for the child to live in the United States which should include a copy of a photo ID of that parent". I don't know if our "Parenting Order" is the same thing as a "Order of Residence" and we don't have a "Relocation Order" so we went with the affidavit. So I created a document in the format of an affidavit myself stating those things which were mentioned and had their father sign it in front of a 'Justice of the Peace' to notorize the document and took a photocopy of his drivers licence and sent it off in Packet 3 to the consulate. I did not send a copy of the "parenting order lodged in 2008" though. My 'Parenting Order' is not custody papers as such but it does state clearly in point number (1) the children live with their mother. QUESTION- Is this what the consulate wants me to bring? Is it sufficent to proof of custody and is the "Parenting Order" and the "Affidavit" together enough to have the visa's approved???

Request (2) Do they just want me to bring my passport to the interview? In packet 3 I sent photocopies of the bio page of our passports so I'm presuming that they just want me to phyiscally bring the passport to the interview...???

Request (3) What.. there's another FEE?? We already paid a fee when my fiance lodged it in America, is this another fee? And if I just go into any Australian Post Office, will they know what I'm talking about when i say i need to pay for the K1 visa fee?

Request (4) I'm good with this one...lol

So VJ Family.....please share some of your wisdom with me..especially the Aussies that may have experienced something similar from the Sydney Consulate. Thank you SO SO much!!!!!

Brodie I would say that you need that Parenting Oder and have it notarised as they want to know that you have the Fathers full permission to take them to the states and also hun I would get a professional affadavit done by a JP

as Sydney consulate want all the I's dotted and the T's crossed. Also get your ex to do one too and send it to you then you are fully covered.

Yes take your passports with you as they keep them to put your visa in and will send back to you in the yellow 3kg express post envelope you supply, don't forget to address with your address before you give it to them lol.

And yup go to any post office and tell them you want to pay for K1 visa and for the kids and they will print you off a docket and you take that as well.

So happy for you that you got a date so tell us when is it? lol

[Mike & B 0]

Thanks so much Carey, can always rely on you! I hope someone can help me with question (1) too!!! Fingers crossed!!

Carey, you mentioned that visa fee is applicable to all applicants, does that include my children? Will I need 2 pay that amount for each of them?

[Mike & B 0]

Sorry Barb, just saw u'r message now, that's really good advice. The parenting order is already notorised so I'm covered there. I'll look into getting a JP to do that for me too! I'm not real sure whether my ex would be willing 2 go out of his way to help me though. He's actually getting married himself this weekend so who knows how willing he'll be any time soon! I just feel like whatever I do, I need to do it soon, my interview date is in 10 days! It's on the 19th of October!

[Cathey & Paul 0]

Way to go Brodi! I am so happy for you two... I am coming out on Nov. 2 - 21 (2 weeks working out of our offices there) wish we were in the same boat and going to the consulate so Paul can come home!!!

[CareBear 18]

Thanks so much Carey, can always rely on you! I hope someone can help me with question (1) too!!! Fingers crossed!!

Carey, you mentioned that visa fee is applicable to all applicants, does that include my children? Will I need 2 pay that amount for each of them?

No worries B And yeah unforunately its $420 per applicant so that will be for each of the children too Very ouch!

[CareBear 18]

I got this off the Canberra US Embassy site....

K1, K2, K3 & K4 Applicants

K visa applicants pay an application fee (also known as the Machine Readable Visa Fee) like any other nonimmigrant visa applicant. The current application fee for the K visa is USD $350.00. (The AUD equivalent is $420.00).

Way to go Brodi! I am so happy for you two... I am coming out on Nov. 2 - 21 (2 weeks working out of our offices there) wish we were in the same boat and going to the consulate so Paul can come home!!!

Hey Cathey was just looking at your timeline - I see you filed about a month after us but you dont have your NOA2 yet? Wow that must be getting really frustrating!!!

[Mike & B 0]

I just thought of another question that concerns me. Do my children HAVE to attend the interview too? When I sent the Packet 3 to the consulate, on the DSL-1076 "Readiness to be interviewed" it asked if I'm attending the interview alone or with my children....I ticked alone. It didn't mention in Packet 4 that they must attend but it does have theirs and my names listed as Traveling Applicants in packet 4? I'm getting really stressed about all this now...not a nice feeling I appreciate your help my new friends....Thank you!

[Kimchimex 8]

I just thought of another question that concerns me. Do my children HAVE to attend the interview too? When I sent the Packet 3 to the consulate, on the DSL-1076 "Readiness to be interviewed" it asked if I'm attending the interview alone or with my children....I ticked alone. It didn't mention in Packet 4 that they must attend but it does have theirs and my names listed as Traveling Applicants in packet 4? I'm getting really stressed about all this now...not a nice feeling I appreciate your help my new friends....Thank you!

I believe they need to travel with you & each have a passport so a visa can be attached. We are doing this as well, (2 kids) however it is Mexico so I am not sure if the regulations are the same. It is a giant expense I know, & then $1070 USD each to adjust status in the USA...be prepared!

[Mike & B 0]

Thanks for your reply Kim, every comment is so helpful...

I just got this off the Canberra Us Embassy (regarding children attending the interview)and thought Id just post it incase someone is wanting to know this also

**Do my children have to attend the interview?

Yes, unless your children are already U.S. citizens. Children, regardless of age, who are applying for immigrant or derivative fiancé(e) visas, must attend the interview.

So now that means I need to spend MORE money on flying ALL of us down there to Syndey. I think I was truly ignorant to exactly HOW MUCH this whole process was going to cost. That might be why it takes month to sort out, so we have time to save our pennies...lol! Thanks guys!

[payxibka 10,045]

moving thread to:

US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

This is the place to post your experiences or questions related to this last step before moving to the US. Topics relating to I-134's, packets sent from consulate and medical & police certificates should be posted here.

[Mike & B 0]

I requested a personal response from the Sydney Consulate with the answers to my questions. Here is the email.

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

(1) It is essential that your children attend a personal interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney to be eligible for the K2 visa.

(2) The “affidavit” provided with the Packet 3 documents regarding the custody information and signed by your children’s father; unfortunately the signature on the affidavit and his divers license (which has expired) does not match. Please have the children’s father provide current photo ID, along with child custody information (he may wish to provide a statutory declaration (http://www.ag.gov.au/statdec)

(3) Each person eligible for a K visa must pay this application fee at Australia Post.

Well there you go VJ family...they do reply and I'm SO SO grateful!!!!!

[Barbara J 115]

I requested a personal response from the Sydney Consulate with the answers to my questions. Here is the email.

Thank you for your recent inquiry.

(1) It is essential that your children attend a personal interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney to be eligible for the K2 visa.

(2) The “affidavit” provided with the Packet 3 documents regarding the custody information and signed by your children’s father; unfortunately the signature on the affidavit and his divers license (which has expired) does not match. Please have the children’s father provide current photo ID, along with child custody information (he may wish to provide a statutory declaration (http://www.ag.gov.au/statdec)

(3) Each person eligible for a K visa must pay this application fee at Australia Post.

Well there you go VJ family...they do reply and I'm SO SO grateful!!!!!

Oh yeah they do reply darl , I always got a response back from them, Good luck and happy travels. Keep us informed ok