New 2011 LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

[Deb+Steve 13]

A note on the voting, I opted out 'forever'. Received a fine from the Qld govt for not voting in the last election ... it went to my old address in Bris and the tenant sent it to me! Nice, now I have to call and try and sort it out. This happen to anyone else??

[CareBear 18]

Great news! I was back there for 2 weeks over Sept 13-27. It was so weird hearing Aussie accents. Glad to hear you had a good visit!

OMG seriously Vanessa? We were there 12-26 September lol - small world! When I heard all the Aussie accents when we were waiting for our connecting flight at LAX I burst into tears! Hope you had a good visit too

[Athena13 10]

for voting i also opted out 'forever' i sent that form (federal voting) 3 days after the voting date (but it's dated before the voting day), but my mum went to talk to them on the voting day about my situation (state voting it is, i think)

so far no fines yet.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

A note on the voting, I opted out 'forever'. Received a fine from the Qld govt for not voting in the last election ... it went to my old address in Bris and the tenant sent it to me! Nice, now I have to call and try and sort it out. This happen to anyone else??

I also opted out "forever" and have never received a fine. Hope you sort it out!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Not sure it's really something to be "proud of" but I am Today I received my first, unsecured credit card (with a decent credit limit).

My husband does not believe in credit cards so he doesn't have one (he used to work for a credit card collection company and knows how bad it can be). It meant that i didn't have anyone to "piggy back" off and I needed to build my history and score myself.

When we bought our house my lack of credit meant putting me on the mortgage = high interest rate, so I am not on the mortgage.

So after being denied a Kohl's card (I buy my jeans there ) for no credit history, I realised I needed to start "becoming more American"... i.e. I needed credit history and a score, without it I couldn't do much. I started with a $200 limit on a secured Capital One credit card ($49 to open) that I got last year (2011) in July. I didn't use it a lot, but I used it occasionally. After a couple of months my credit score was up in the 700's but with such a short history, and with only that credit card as history, I was denied a store card again, this time for for "not enough lines of credit".

So after much research, I decided I needed to up my credit card usage to build my score higher, so I could start getting more lines of credit (much as I hate credit you "need" it here). I called Capital One about increasing my limit. They'd sent me an offer a month or so ago but with mum visiting and dad passing away i didn't have time to deal with it. They told me that I couldn't request an increase, I had to wait until they offered it to me.

So I decided ####### it, I would apply for an unsecured card with Wells Fargo, the bank I've been with since I arrived in Sept 2009.. and I was APPROVED! Turns out my score is/was 756 at the time they approved that card. It'll go up more now I start using this card. But anyway there you go, another milestone

Also hope this reminds you all to work on this as well, if you haven't already. You never know when you mind need a bank loan to return to Australia for an emergency, or for that new fridge when yours breaks down in the middle of summer and fridge full of food (just happened to a girl back in Aus). I hope I never need to, but its good to feel a little more secure in life here, and little more like everyone else

[SweetDelish 38]

Thats on my to-do list when I get to the US, is start figuring out how to get a credit score. starting with a secured credit card, seems to be the way to go.

[Austramerican 83]

I hate credit, you mean to tell me in Australia I don't to worry about credit? OMG why didn't we go there lol (I have NO credit which somehow is worse than having bad credit...I just like paying things off completely without making payments!)

I do have a car payment now which isn't bad I guess...that will help to build it too

How do you opt out of voting forever? Ben hasn't done anything of that sort, should we be expecting a fine? His parents haven't said anything about it.

Good news is though, we finally got his paperwork sent off! That fine is such a ###### and a half! I can't wait until he can work so he can help me out hehe (he can't wait either, its killing him to not be working!)

[Lainie B 465]

Before I left Australia I picked up a form (I think from the post office) to say I was no longer a resident and asked to be removed from the electoral roll.

If Ben hasn't done that yet, he can have someone send him the form, and just fill it out and send it back.

If there's an election in the meantime, he will get a fine in the mail sent to whichever address he is registered at (hopefully that is his parents' address), but there will be a checklist on the back for reasons he didn't vote, he just has to tick "I was overseas at the time" and send it back and he'll be OK.

[Travis and Meghan 24]

Here is the linkn for the form he will need to dis-enroll. This is what I did. If you ever move back all he has to do is enroll again. http://www.aec.gov.au/Enrolling_to_vote/pdf/forms/overseas/ER022Nw_0212.pdf

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I hate credit, you mean to tell me in Australia I don't to worry about credit? OMG why didn't we go there lol (I have NO credit which somehow is worse than having bad credit...I just like paying things off completely without making payments!)

I do have a car payment now which isn't bad I guess...that will help to build it too

How do you opt out of voting forever? Ben hasn't done anything of that sort, should we be expecting a fine? His parents haven't said anything about it.

Good news is though, we finally got his paperwork sent off! That fine is such a ###### and a half! I can't wait until he can work so he can help me out hehe (he can't wait either, its killing him to not be working!)

Well we have credit history, and without some sort of credit history (say a phone contract) then they can't tell you're a good person to lend to. But there is no "score" in the same manner there is here. You don't NEED a credit card to help build a score. You don't need to make sure you use it often to show that you're actually using that credit. Entirely different!

Re the opting out forever, other people address that.

Congrats on filing! Should be able 60-90 days till he gets the work permit. I suggest he take the time to work on his resume (some Australia rules aren't the same as US rules), and look at jobs he might be interested in, find out what income he should expect.. stuff like that. You also might want to introduce him to what a W4 is and how to fill one out (first time someone asked me I was like... ummm?? 0 or 1??). If he has a SSN start working on his credit score as well by getting a secured card (Capital One is where I got mine). It's not really needed for working (though some places do check history), but it'll be good to get a head start on it

[Dave and Shannon 9]

hey all

been awhile since ive been here! hope all is good with everyone.. life has been crazy here in the south... we have bought a house, been doing things like crazy around it, been working, going to college at night so havent had too much time to myself! but i thought id just pop in and say gday and try make some time to get on here.. and having no credit sucks ####### here! so when you do get over here and can start getting credit then i would be doing it otherwise getting things can be difficult...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Any CR-1 filers able to assist a fellow Aussie here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/398126-interview-tomorrow-do-i-need-an-aus-post-envelope-and-passport-photos/

[Breezie54 2]

Hi Everyone,

Has been ages since i posted, but have been enjoying the 18 months of not having to file anything, we are leaving to go back to Australia on the 13th for six weeks, so have to have my I-751 ready to post by mother in law as date for submission will be Christmas Day.

Have it all filled out and supporting documents ready for photo copying, getting some photos done at Walmart today just sending a few as i have copies of medical bills, power bills, donations and letters and cards from friends sent here, plus two affidavits so just getting it all sorted and ready for copying then will type the Cover Letter and attach my check and put in a US Priority Post Pack all ready for Momma to mail a week before Christmas. Will mention that we are going to be visiting family back in Australia for Christmas and wont be back until January 4th just in case they try to schedule my biometrics but am doubting my application will get much attention over the holidays.

I am still unsure if you do not become an American Citizen during this 10 year period what you have to do at the end of 10 years does anybody know? As i really do not want to give up my Aussie Citizenship and am hoping that the US during this time will come to recognize dual citizenship.

Vanessa as far as i can see from the link you sent me about your submission the I-751 is done in my name and not spouse? but we submit as a join application in the cover letters?

Anyway need to get a wriggle on and get things sorted so we can get into town and use the Pastor's Photo Copier instead of running all the ink out of our printer.

Take it easy everyone and good luck with all submissions.

Cheers Kaye and Leo

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I am still unsure if you do not become an American Citizen during this 10 year period what you have to do at the end of 10 years does anybody know? As i really do not want to give up my Aussie Citizenship and am hoping that the US during this time will come to recognize dual citizenship.

Vanessa as far as i can see from the link you sent me about your submission the I-751 is done in my name and not spouse? but we submit as a join application in the cover letters?

First, you don't lose Aussie by becoming an American as well. The US does NOT prevent you from becoming dual, they just don't recognise you as dual. You will always only be "American" to them but that doesn't stop you having more passports/nationalities. I will be filing when the time comes, 5 months from now.

Re the ROC stuff yep You're filing as a "joint application" so he signs the letter, and there's also a spot on the form that he should sign as well. http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-751.pdf Part 7, page 3 It almost feels like you're forgetting something the form is so simple.

Also, for N-400 (filing for USC) make sure you keep a note of the dates you're outside the US because you have to put those on the form.

Congrats on filing soon and enjoy your trip home! I just had my ROC approved yesterday (through CSC) after 7 months

[Lainie B 465]

Does anyone have experience using their Medicare card when visiting Australia, after receiving their green card? My Medicare card is still valid but has my old name. Should I update it to my new name? Can I even use it any more, now that I'm not a resident?