Congrats Rissa! That's great news! So they didn't even ask for proof of relationship? Only took the forms and documents they asked for on the DS2001? That's good to know. I won't stress so much about getting together tons of supporting docs then. So how long did it take you to get an appointment after filing the DS2001? Kaffy said it is currently taking 2-3 weeks, but I'm hoping we'll get lucky. Thanks for the heads up on the extra fees.

Thanks! They didn't ask for any relationship evidence at all at any point during our process, but I'm not sure if that's because we've been married for two years now or they were just so backed up that day or what. We didn't have much anyhow, just a year or so's worth of bank statements, our lease, some old pics, and cards/notes from the duration of our relationship. As far as I remember, 2-3 weeks sounds just about right, since we sent off our final package and DS2001 in early-mid June and received our interview date by email on July 1st.

Congrats on the visa Rissa! It's great to see good news on the forum.

Here's some heads-up on my Packet 3 progress:

I've scheduled an appointment for my medical exam on Monday, July 14, and glad that it's with a lady doctor.

Getting fingerprints in PERTH is close to impossible!!! It's been such a miserable day : As I posted earlier, my appointment to get fingerprints at the AFP office in Perth is not until August 11! When asked if there's a way to speed it up for me, we were advised to go to our local police station, explain our situation and maybe they will help us. So we went to our local police station today, but were told they don't provide fingerprints anymore. The officer said metropolitan stations don't do it anymore, but some of the country stations might be able to help us. So we went home and made our calls. Yes, we are willing to drive even up to 5 hours just to get fingerprints. Soooo...we made several calls, and none of them were able to help us. One officer even said that the only way they'll take my fingerprints is if I get apprehended for some crime or offense. Duh!?

We called AFP again today (hoping for some miracle), but we were told that if we were just now scheduling an appointment we would have to have waited till mid-September!!!

We really cannot afford to wait 4 weeks just to get a fingerprint and another 3 weeks to process the police check. Coz once my medical exam is done, the police check is the only one that's holding us up. My husband would've been long gone by the time I turn in my DS-2001 if we wait that long. SO, we have decided that if no one in WA can help us, then we'll try to get fingerprints from a different state (provided that they process it for non-local residents). I know that South Australia police will only provide it to SA residents. But I wonder if any of you is aware if, say, Melbourne or Sydney police will provide it to interstate residents? I am really hoping they will . It's worth spending on the airfare, just so we can get the police check going asap.

Anyway, that's all the news I can provide for now. Hopefully this helps future DCF filers from Perth. Maybe eventually the AFP will change their fingerprinting procedures.

Sorry for the not so good, and somewhat whiney, post. Hope to give some good news soon, though.

ohhh noo! I can't believe how long they are going to make you wait! I hope you guys can find a solution soon..

Yikes, that sounds terrible! The police check here in Melbourne for my husband was so easy - one morning on his day off we just showed up at the place we were told to in our instructions and they took us right away. Why would they need appointments anyway?! The whole process took less than ten minutes. I don't know myself whether they'll process out of state fingerprints here, but I hope for the best for you!

Am so frustrated with the WA Police and AFP offices for not offering any help at all.

Luckily, I just had a positive email reply from the VIC police that they can take my prints there. So I may have to fly to Melbourne JUST to get my fingerprints. This is gonna be a very expensive Police Check!!!

Feels like I'll be moving forward after all. Have my medical appointment on Monday. In your experience, how long did the medical exam take?

The actual medical exam itself only took about 30 mins, but I spent about 3 hrs total downtown because I had to get my x-ray and blood tests done at a different location and then had to wait for my x-ray results.

Wow that's gotta be so frustrating! I hope you can get it sorted out quickly. It's a shame that the Perth police aren't helping you. It took my husband 5-10 minutes to get his done. Let us know what you end up doing.

The medical took around 2 hours for my husband. He had to walk up a couple of blocks to get the blood work and xray done, so i guess it would depend on if you had to travel to a separate place for that or not. They also told him that he needed to get a dyptheria, tetanus and pertussis booster shot before they would release his results. He went and got the shot the same day and had the GP fax through confirmation to the visa physician.

Good luck!

That's pretty much exactly how it went for us; we had to go to one place for the check-up, where he had to get some vaccinations and such, as well as blood taken, and another for the x-rays. The whole process took us between two and three hours.

Oh, and I meant to post here to say that the package from the consulate with my hubby's passport (with the visa inside) arrived yesterday! It only took two days between the interview and it's arrival (probably had something to do with the fact that we gave them an express envelope ) Anyway, with the visa in our hands, we've booked our tickets and we leave on August 13th!

That's awesome Rissa! Congratulations! I can't wait for that to be us.

Hey do you guys know if it's required for both people to go up for the interview or just the non-USC? I'm a bit worried b/c I was told when we filed our I-130 that my husband didn't need to be there when he actually did. Because I'm going back to school I have to leave on August 3rd, which will most likely be before he can get an appointment. I don't want to have to fly back or anything..I can always rebook if necessary, but I don't want him to go all the way up there just to be turned away.

Congratulations!!! So happy for you guys!!! Have a good trip

Congrats again!!!

In my news we got us an apartment! and husband's tickets are booked and he will fly back on the Aug 20th (or 21st if a seat opens up), move into our apartment on Aug 29 then start school on Sept 2. I can't book my tix until I get my visa sorted but I hope it's around the same time

Kaffy, what's packet 4. Did I miss something?

It will be all of you soon! It's a good feeling.

I've also read/been told that the non-USC is the only one who needs to be there, but after your experience with the petition, I understand that you'd be wary about that! My husband and I discussed his going on his own so we could save money on airfare, but in the end I went so we could spend the day in Sydney together, and also "just in case." I suppose that doesn't help you much.

Thanks for all the congrats and my own congrats to you, kaffy, for getting the apartment. Things are moving right along for you!

I think it's the interview letter

Phew! I thought I was having a 'how could I have overlooked this?!' moment. haha

Congrats on the apartment!


We got our joint sponsor's I-864 in the mail yesterday. As soon as we get the police check we're good to go! I am so excited to go to Bali tomorrow, but part of me kind of wishes I'd be here in case the police check comes in..that way we could file and get an appointment a bit faster.

Hi guys just need some clarification. Getting overwhelmed again.

I'll be sending DS-230 Part I and II tomorrow. Did you send the application fee with it? Was it 400 in US dollars? I have to ask b/c when we filed our I-130, we had a cheque in USD400 and they didn't accept it (we were just following instructions on their website). Or was the fee we paid with I-130 all we have to pay? Thanks!

Congrats on the apartment kaffy! Enjoy Bali, loz!

um.. I'm unsure about the charges. I thought it was only the one-off $355 filing fee but after Rissa said she had to pay 2 separate fees - one for the petition and another for the interview I am now uncertain. I did not send any application fee with my DS-230. Perhaps Rissa or any other VJ member who has successfully DCF'ed in Australia could clarify?

Ok thanks. I think I'll send off the forms without any fees as well. If it's needed, I'm sure they'll contact us.

I just found this link from the US Embassy website (it's not easy to find information from their website).

[i]"There are separate fees for filing the petition and for processing the application and issuing the immigrant visa..."

we'd be broke by the time I get my visa!

You have a good eye! I never noticed that on their website. I too will be broke by the time we get my visa... petition fee + police certificate + medical + airfares + visa fee =

Are you going to be flying to Melbourne for your fingerprints?

I came across the link by chance. I'd have to say the Aus Immigration website is far better and easier to navigate around.

Fortunately I don't have to fly to Melbourne to get my fingerprints. We had overlooked that our landlord is actually a police officer. So my husband emailed him and he agreed to take my fingerprints on Tuesday. So thankful for that. I'm gonna buy him a cake! He just saved us $600 and a whole lot of stress and frustration!!!

that's great news!!

That's so good to hear!

As for the interview fee, we paid ours the day of the final interview. It was very easy; the lady at the window just sent us a few windows down to the cashier, we paid in cash, got a receipt, and returned it right away to the lady in window number one. Simple!

Just got back from my medical appointment. Went pretty well. Quite expensive, but then that's expected. In addition to the general routine blood test for HIV, I had to be tested for varicella and MMR antibodies, since I didn't have my complete vaccination history with me. I will only need the MMR boster and 2nd shot of varicella if the test was negative. Then after all the basic medical exams and interview are done, had to go to a different suburb for my chest x-ray. This is my 2nd chest x-ray this year, and the 4th since 2005. Im TB free, but if I have to do anymore xrays, who knows what I would get?!

LOL you and me both

Glad to hear your medical went well! Did you get fingerprinted yet?

Thanks kaffy. No, I haven't been fingerprinted yet. Our landlord (police officer) asked us to email him back tonight. Dont know why but last week he said he'd be able to do it Tuesday, which is tomorrow. Hope he doesn't back out. Once I'm fingerprinted, we're basically ready, it's just a matter of waiting for all the paperwork to get back to us. Cheers!

Got an email from the Consulate just then



Now I'm just praying that my Japanese police check shows up soon

That's good news Kaffy! Hope your Japanese police certificate arrives soon.

As for me, I haven't been fingerprinted yet. For a moment I was able to relax, but now am starting to get anx'd again. Not heard back from my landlord yet, hopefully he hasn't been told off by any of his superiors at the WA Police.

Good luck and keep us posted!

I just received an email from the Consulate which states that my DS-230 indicates that I have lived in another country for more than 6 months and they have asked me to obtain a police certificate (which I have already done and noted on my DS-2001 checklist which they also have). I sent my DS-230 to them on July 3 (received on July 7) but it seems they are only processing it now...? I dont know if this is a good thing or not

Finally sent my application for Australian police check!!!

Landlord (police officer) was good enough to stop by and take my fingerprints at home. Hopefully there won't be any problem once AFP receives my prints.

One more thing out of the way! Very slowly making progress, but glad to be moving forward.

Good luck Faith! glad you finally got your fingerprints taken

Is Loz back from Bali yet? wonder how her husband's DCF is going...

OMG I got my interview date!!!! Tues Aug 12 !!!!

going to book my flights now

Hi Guys! Glad to hear everyone is plugging along. We got back from Bali this morning. Had a great time. Now to get back to business!

Dave's police check came in while we were gone. All we have to do now is go pick up the medical results. We called this morning to make sure Dave's doctor called the examining physician about a pre-existing condition and he hasn't! grr! So we are going to call again tomorrow and hopefully be able to go pick things up and send off packet 3 tomorrow!

I leave Auastralia in 11 days!

Congrats! Congrats! Congrats!!! That's really quick!

So excited for you guys!!!

Kaffy that's great!!! Congratulations!!! That was pretty quick. Hopefully we can get an interview date that quickly.

My OCD-ness pays off

Not sure if my husband can come with me though.. right now he's booked to fly out onthe 10th and wait listed for the 15th. Praying that a seat opens up on the 15th!!

Hopefully he can go with you.


Well we called the doctor's office again today and no luck. Now Dave's other doctor wants to see him before he'll contact the examining physician. They've had 2 weeks to sort this out (while we were away) and haven't. I hate depending on other people to do things..you just can't count on it happening. Especially with doctors.

So we have an appointment on Monday afternoon. HOPEFULLY we can get the doctor to fax a report over to the examining physician the same day and pick up the medical results on Tuesday and send out packet 3 then. This is frustrating. I thought we'd be able to send everything out on Wednesday (as in yesterday). I just feel like every day makes a difference and we're losing valuable time.

Hopefully he'll be in the states by the end of August, but at this rate who knows!

Oh that must be frustrating! I hope you can get it sorted out soon

Forgot to say earlier - welcome back!! How was your trip?

Sorry to hear your troubles with your doctors loz. Am sort of going through the same frustration (specifically with my examining physician). It was initially my police certificate that's slowing us down, but now it's my medical results.

Hope you can sort it out soon! Good luck!

Oh yeah, how was Bali?

Bali was great! We saw and did a lot of stuff. I did a mountain climb on Sunday and am STILL sore lol. Unfortunately, my husband was sick for a couple of days and I got (and still have) a really bad cold...must have been going from cold to hot. But we still had a great time. A break from the cold Melbourne weather was much needed. Maybe I'll post a couple of pics later after my bball practice.

Faith, what is holding your med results up?? I hope they can sort it out quickly. We're in the same situation though..I thought the police cert was going to hold us up. ha.

We're about to head off for an appointment with Dave's doctor. Hopefully we will get his medical results tomorrow early afternoon and be able to send off packet 3! *Fingers crossed*

In other news..I'm moving back to the US in 6 days!! Today we've done some yard work and cleaning around the house and tonight we'll pack some more. We move out on Thursday (we're staying at his parent's place in the meantime). So much to do. So little time!

Any news from you guys?

oh wow that's quick! My husband will fly back next Sunday (I am coming to terms with having to go to my interview alone ). We have sent back 2 boxes of stuff already and have each packed up a suitcase. I am still waiting for my Japanese police certificate but they said it should come either this week or next week. Fingers crossed!

Good luck with the doctor's appointment tomorrow!

Long story short - still no medical results. It's getting ridiculous.

oh no, howcome?

There is some good news, but here's the back story.

My H has a preexisting condition (very minor) and his doctor for it had to contact the examining physician or vice versa, but of course this wasn't done while we were in Bali like it was supposed to have. So we followed up again. Then the doctor for the preexisting condition said "oh well it's been a while since I've seen Dave, so before I contact this other doctor I want to see him." So we had to get an appointment (and couldn't get in same day - the appt was this past Monday). We go to that. He says he'll call first thing the next morning. Doesn't. So still no medical results.

BUT the good news is that we got a call this morning saying he could finally come get his medical results! So that means our packet 3 will be sent off today!

Ok I have to go catch a train in to the city and then do some errands. We move out of our unit tomorrow!!

Yay congrats!! Hope his interview date comes in shortly!

ps- I have worked for doctors before - I know how forgetful/slack they can me sometimes!!

Packet 3 has been sent! FINALLY! Hopefully they have all they need and can give us an appointment quickly!

Great!! Keep us updated with how it goes!

Any news Faith?

I'm moving back to the US today! I'm excited, but just feel like I'm going on a vacation.

Aaaand I'm going to miss my husband like crazy.