I wonder why they can't just pick up the phone and call my wife to say... "you forgot to select an answer for prior military service. Have you had prior military service?" I mean, how simple can that be? What's more annoying is that you can't even call them to answer the question, like everything is asked and answered through email. And sometimes they won't even return a reply.

Hi David,

Sorry to hear about the RFE that really sux and over something so trivial. I agree why couldn't they just pick up the phone and call. I hope they respond quickly.

I haven't heard anything yet about my interview date.

I'm sure you'll hear from them soon. When you get your final interview date, it will give me an idea when my wife gets hers. They said upon return of the form, her final interview will be issued. Well, from the looks of their response times, it might not be another two weeks, and if she was given an interview date, it probably won't be for another two weeks from the time we recieve that final letter. Anyway, it's only been a month since my I-130 interview in Sydney, so I guess we're still making good time.

hi caroline

good to hear you got there safely and i do hope your feeling a whole lot better ...

HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY TOO HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT DAY AND NIGHT FOR THAT SPECIAL OCCASSION

did you enjoy the cricket..my niece was there too she lives in eng but is in oz visiting family an friends...hope you are enjoying the summer there what there is of it at the moment...

i have an ability test on the 9th jan for a job at jeep (my husband's work) i havent had a damm test like this since i was 17 lol...so i hope i can pass it lol
talk to you all soon
take care
kath
ps no damm snow yet either all were getting is rain lol typical melbourne weather here at the moment lol

David sorry to hear about the RFE.......hopefully the wait won't be too much longer for you.....fingersx'd for ya.

Hope everyone had a great xmas......unfortunately I came down with the flu but am feeling a lot better than I did. My boys are now inflight and heading for New York city and we will be picking them up friday night Makes me smile thinking about it!

Kath goodluck on the 9th., but I'm sure you will be just fine.No snow here either...... Everytime we get snow the dam sun comes out and melts it next day! Usually at this time of year we have at least a foot on the ground. Oh well.....less to shovel I guess.

We are headed to Vegas & Florida for 10days so Happy New Year to all of you in the USA & in Oz and hopefully there will be good news posted here by the time I get back.

bye for now,
Susan

Finally got an email back from the consulate. I assume someone was on holiday/vacation because they replied to my last email within 3 days. But they said as soon as they recieve the RFE that they sent out, that my wife will be given her final visa interview.

most excellent that they replied to your email david...

susan have a wonderful time with your kids and enjoy every single moment they are there with you...thanks for the good wish for the test..

take care
kath

Awesome news David! Let us know when you get the date. I am till waiting to hear...no mail today

with the holidays and all... it might be safe to say that you'll recieve a letter by the end of next week. keep fingers crossed!

Hope that everyone had a Merry Christmas!! Ours was ok, aside from our middle child having the stomach flu. Man this thing is going around like wild fire!!

We are beginning to make plans to go back to OZ for a visit!! WAHHHOOOOO!!! I think Im more excited about it than hubby is, and HE is the one that used to live there!! Cant wait cant wait!!!

Next up, our first anniversary is just a few weeks away.... I cant believe that this year went so fast.

Happy new year to everyone if I dont pop in before hand!!

WoooooHooooo Someone Else from Adelaide Apart from me.

I here in Adelaide, waiting for my Wifee (NorthernGirl)
To fly in to Adelaide 9th February 2007
40 days, 9 hours, 37 minutes and 47 seconds until,
Friday, 9 February 2007 at 10:30:00 AM (Adelaide time)

She can only stay for 10 days but better than i could wish for!!

Waiting on Police Clearance & Fingerprints to come back..
was told be available 2nd January 07
(Gotta Pick it up at Para Hills Police Station)

Our 1 Year Wedding Anniverary ( May 13th--- Mothers Day )
Hoping to be over and living with My Wifee In Massachusetts by Easter 07 at the latest.. .



Glenelg Beach has changed something ..
My Favorite Yiros Place has gone ( The Lamb Spit )
Next to the Jetty Hotel.. Best Yiros's this side of the Black Stump!!

They forecast 32C / 90F TODAY(New Years Eve)..

Wishing all Aussies and Everyone else,

A Safe, Brighter, Happier and Brilliant New Year 2007
And too all the peeps that have helped Myself & NorthernGirl,
Out this year A BIG THANKYOU TO YOU ALL..(you know who you are)

Cheers
Paul

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Wherever you are!

Remember.....life is short so, this year....

break the rules,

forgive quickly,

kiss slowly,

love truly,

laugh uncontrollably,

....and never regret anything that made you smile!

hi everyone,

just wanted to pop in and say happy new year. hope everything goes well for you all. we should find out next week when chanin is going to have the baby. she has to have a c-section cause the boy is growing too big. i'll let you know the outcome.

matt

Good luck!!! My thoughts are with you and Im sure that everything will turn out great!! Super!! Another VJ baby!!!




You have no idea how distressed my husband was to hear this!! He wants to know what they put there instead... lol

Hiya's..
Well found out the Lamb Spit went BANKRUPT about 7 months ago ,

then a chinese couple took it over and tried to do the yiros's..
what i hear they lasted 10 days.. then they pulled the plug as well..
so the actual shop is now vacant
And that was the first place I took my wifee (NorthernGirl) for a chicken yiros,
as we got married next to the big anchor in front of the Shark place.

Hi everyone!

I've just finished putting together all my paperwork in the correct order - I have my interview on Monday YAYYY!!

I've read the embassy reviews and people state paying the fee. Does anyone know what the fee is?

I'm fed up with fees! I have to fly my daughter and I from Perth to Sydney for this interview (school holidays aren't cheap)! Our medicals cost $600 (seems a bit on the high side to me!). Just paid our 2x $130 at the post office. What's next??!! I sound like the Mastercard ad!

Hi Michelle,

Good luck for your interview. The medical cost about the same for me here in Canberra and as I hope to have an interview soon I was reading up on the US Consulate Sydney site that the fee for immigration visas is around $480 AUD but I am not sure that applies to K1 or 3s. It wasn't clear.

Sorry I can't help any further, wish you all the best for Monday.
Lyndel

Hi All!

Hope everyone had a great Chrissy & New Year!!!

Eric is flying out very soon...and we will be doing the walk-in DCF @ Sydney -- does anybody have any last minute tricks and tips?

I've been advised to do a dry run to the consulate, the elevator trick - be at the front...hmm wha else...bring a bit of supporting evidence as David mentioned they were asked for pictures...

You can pay the DCF fee by credit card right?

Hope it all goes well!!!

Thanks for any help!

Yes, I paid with credit card. Looks like you got the idea already. You can submit the affidavit of support the same day. I couldn't because apparently I printed out the wrong one online. So they gave me a new one and said that I can hand write it in. One more thing... once you get packet 3 in hand. Fill it out and send it off by post right away. I made the mistake of waiting a few days which sort of set us back some, because they ended up sending us an RFE that was easily resolved. But if I only had sent the forms out straight away, then we would have recieve the RFE much sooner, therefore taken care of much sooner too. Be very thorough when filling out those forms because we missed one small question and that was our RFE, if we read it a bit closer there would have been no problem. So just be sure you take extra care when filling out the forms. You should have no problem.

Thanks

The affidavit of support...did you print out the I-864 from the USCIS website?

I'll make sure to fill out the forms very careful, thanks for the tips!

WERE HOME

hope everyone had a happy new year!

David - hope you have good new soon.

Elle - GOOD LUCK _ you'll be brillian

Poi - Isn't your wedding fast approaching??

Mellie - got your Cherry Ripes. PM me your addy so I can send them off

Cheers everyone!

There you are! I was asking everyone what happened to you but I didn't know you went to Australia! Jenn filled me in. I hope you had fun! Happy New Year to you two.

Thanks Sarah! I'm totally jetlagged and super tired - but it was a really nice trip Hope you had a great new year as well!

See you around, !!

Hi everyone

Hope you all had a great Christmas and happy New Year! David, sorry you've been held up a bit with the RFE -- hope it all gets sorted out soon. And welcome back Caroline -- did you make it to the cricket? (We've been watching a bit, but it's been a drag that it's so one-sided).

Elle, you can pay the fee by credit card. And I don't know if you need to do a dry-run. Just make sure you try to go up the first set of elevators as close past 7.30 as you can, and then that you get in last for the second set of elevators (so you can get out first). If you do all that you'll be fine! And even if you don't, the worst that can happen is a bit of extra waiting time. Have a look at the reviews under the "Embassy/USCIS Reviews" tab above, there's lots of helpful hints there.

I've just started a new job so I'm crazy busy, but I'll try to drop by again sometime soon...

Hello again everyone!

Another quick question for those who have already been interviewed at Sydney.

I have attached my 2 photos to the 2 DS-156 forms in the place indicated. Is this wrong? Just noticed in the embassy review page that several members have said they were given separate and the consular officer attached them. I know emphasis is placed on putting things in the right order and following the instructions.

Will I be getting off to a bad start?

Probably a silly question but getting really nervous for Monday!

Welcome back CarolineM

Paul

Ohhhhh... i guess its too late to answer the questions for those with interviews today!! Am I reading this wrong or are there TWO of you going today?? Hmmm...

Anyways, I think the DCF fees amounted something around 500USD and yes you can pay by credit card.

No need to do the dry run, just show up nice and early and make sure that all your paperwork is in exact order as specified on the letter you got stating the interview date.

We did NOT attach the pictures, but its been a while so I dont remember if you were supposed to or not. Id say if it doesnt say to attach them, then dont. They can be VERY picky about where things go. And if I remember rightly, you need those pictures because thats what they do the actual visa with.

Good luck to all!

HAPPY NEW YEAR GUYS N GALS !!!!

Thanks for the tips David. Hope yours gets sorted asap.

Hey Caroline, glad ur home safe. My fiance is finally here and getting over the jet-lag himself. Now he realises why I fell asleep on him early so many nights lol..

Yes, we get married in less than two weeks; scary, scary...lol. Is just so nice to have him here at last.

Really love that quote Paul!

Hey Michelle, The suspense is killing me...how did you go with your interview today???

David, have you heard anything yet? I am still waiting..sent the consulate an email today asking about the interview date. It took them 9days to reply to that last email i sent.

Hiya Poi_n_J
Yes I love the Quote as well it's a Quote,
that my wifee (NorthernGirl) share and i share.

Hey Paul,

It was so appropriate.

Awww.....not too much longer now. Will that be the last time you're apart? That was the most comforting knowledge for us.

Cheers,

Priscilla

P.S. Go easy on those ciggs..

Hey All,

I found out my interview date today, it's 2 February YAY!!! We are so excited. I got a reply to my email but still haven't received packet 4.

I can't believe it's nearly all over. Can't wait to be with my baby again....it's been a long road!

Hi everyone!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all - BELATED :-)

Took me forever to read up all the news while I was unable to come in here. Happy for those who spent holidays together, incl. me as well :-) I hope everyone is back to healthy, happy selves. A lot is happening these days... interviews, weddings, walk ins, job tests, packing... May we all get what we wish for much sooner than we expect!!!

Thanks again all for help and info re: police check. Did it at Parramatta PS 10pm Thur 14/12. Flew to San Francisco Fri 15/12. No problems at the airport, actually the guy was joking abt me coming this time as fiancee and not just a girlfriend :-) had a fabulous 3 weeks with Aaron and his family. When I got back to Syd a few days ago Police check was in mail. Waiting for Packet 3 now.

Looking forward to reading Interview reviews from yesterday, and hope to start signing in more regularly to keep up with all the good news shared in this cozy place :-)

Special congratulations to girlfrmoz on interview date! I'm trailing after you about a month or so... your joy gives me hope as well.

xoxo
vik

Hey Priscilla,
Thanks for your kind words.. and comments.
Well Cheryl (wifee) is still waiting for IV BILL AND DS-230 2 BE SENT OUT.
WE CALLED AND THEY SAID OH YES IT WAS "POSTED ON 11TH DECEMBER.
SO WE CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND THEY SAID WELL WE SENT,
ANOTHER FORM OUT ON THE 30TH DECEMBER 06.. AND STILL NOTHING.
I WAS HOPING TO GO BACK WITH CHERYL WHEN SHE GOES BACK
TO USA (MASSACHUSETTS) ON 20TH FEBRUARY..
BUT LOOKS LIKE THEY WAY THE GOVERNMENT PAPER TRAIL IS HEADING..
MAY HAVE INTWERVIEW BY EASTER


IR-1 / CR-1 Visa
EventDateService Center :Vermont Service CenterConsulate :Sydney, AustraliaMarriage :2006-05-13I-130 Sent :2006-06-14I-130 NOA1 :2006-06-20I-130 Approved :2006-08-21NVC Received :2006-09-05Received DS-3032 / I-864 Bill :2006-09-26Pay I-864 Bill 2006-09-27Receive I-864 Package :2006-10-23Return Completed DS-3032 :2006-12-04Receive IV Bill :2006-10-12Pay IV Bill :2006-12-02Receive Instruction Package :Case Completed at NVC :NVC Left :


Another update re my "FUBAR"
NATIONAL POLICE CLEARANCE & FINGERPRINTS.

NOW I'M TOLD THEY CAN CHANGE THE ACTUAL NATION POLICE CHECK,
FORM.. BUT THEY CAN'T CHANGE THE FINGERPRINT FORM,
ADDRESS WISE. AS THEY PUT THE WRONG,
DANGNABBIT HOUSE # NUMBER ON IT.
SO NOW TOMORROW I HAVE TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES,
IN 104 F TEMPERATURE TO GO HAVE MY PALM/FINGER/ AND SIDE PRINTS,
DONE ALL OVER AGAIN FFS. BUT AT LEAST THEY'RE NOT CHARGING ME,
TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.
THEY SAID AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR ORIGINAL RECIEPT.. NO CHARGE
THE SAGA WILL CONTINUE I WILL DO UPDATES AS THEY COME IN...
CHEERS

PAUL

Congratulations, no we haven't heard yet, I emailed them but they haven't responded yet.

hi everyone

congratulations to those with up coming interviews you have finally got there

On another note i had the pleasure of meeting another visa journey member form Australia ( Jodee ) and her daughters who were here in town visiting family over xmas so we caught up with eacher and it was wonderful to hear an aussie again. We had a good old chat. Hope you had a safe trip back to Germany

angela

Hi David, you should hear any day now. I wrote an email saying i needed to know for work reasons to arrange leave and I got an answer straight away. Still no packet 4 though.

Ausqueen, thank you for your kind thoughts. You should hear soon too. It is definitely a relief once you get an interview date.

To everyone else in here that I haven't met yet...HELLO!!! I am currently in Canberra staying with parents (used to live in Melbourne) until the big move to Colorado Springs.

Cheers
Lyndel

Congratulations on your interview date Lyndel!

I just got back from Sydney - K1 AND K2 APPROVED!!!!!

Flights are booked - leaving Australia for Los Angeles on 26 January - I feel like a bit of traitor to be leaving on Australia Day!!

Thanks everyone for your support and advice. I read and re-read the Sydney consulate reviews so I knew what to expect. That was a huge help.

CONGRATS MICHELLE! I know this has been a long time coming! Have a very safe trip and enjoy your reunion!!

To everyone else - hang in there!!! (Esp. David). You'll hear any day now I'm sure!

Not much news here. Will post a photo of Stewart in his new truck at some point...he goes and sits in it during his lunch break he loves it so much.

Well I got an email from the Consulate and they said that they were replying to letters recieved by the 5th of January. My wife sent off the forms on the 27th of December, so it doesn't make any sense that they haven't recieved our forms yet? I'm trying to stay calm about things but it's really irritating when you get one line answers from the consulate.

Anyway, I guess I'll just try to keep my hopes up.

UPDATE...

FINALLY
THE NATIONAL POLICE CHECK AND FINGERPRINTS,
ARE IN MY POSSESSION

ONLY TOOK 6 WEEKS AND 3 FAILED ATTEMPTS FOR THEM TO,
FINALLY GET MY ADDRESS CORRECT ON BOTH THE,
NATIONAL POLICE CLEARANCE AND FINGERPRINTS.
AND HAVING TO DO THE FINGERPRINTS DIGITALLY 3 TIMES FFS!!
WELL THERE YA GO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE ALL DETAILS,
THAT ARE ON ALL LEGAL DOCUMENTS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT.
OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

OK MY RANT IS DONE..( ON THIS SUBJECT ANYWAYS )
CHEERS

PAUL

It is 27 days, 16 hours, 3 minutes and 27 seconds until Friday, 9 February 2007 at 10:30:00 AM (Adelaide time) TILL I SEE MY WIFEE HERE IN PERSON.

Hi Paul, Sorry to hear about your police certificate stuff up, hope it's all sorted soon. Hey at least you are doing your fingerprints electronically, I had to do my with ink in Canberra...took half an hour to scrub it off!

David, I can't believe the letter you got from the consulate. It sounds a bit weird. Hope you get news soon, hang in there.

Cheers
Lyndel

Hi Lyndel,

I actually picked up my National Police Clearance & Fingerprints today,
at the Netley Police Complex here in Adelaide.
And now addresses on both Clearance and Fingerprint forms are the same.
Now we got a letter from NVC FOR RFE WAS POSTMARKED 10TH JANUARY,
AND IT TOOK ONLY 2 DAYS TO GET IT FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.. WTF
AND BEEN WAITING 4 WEEKS FOR THE SAID FORM,
THEY ARE ASKING ABOUT,FOR RFE.. GO FIGURE EH!!
Funny thing is they asking for our DS - 230,
WHICH WE ARE WAITING ON FOR THEM TO SEND OUT
SUPPOSEDLY THEY SENT IT OUT ON THE 11TH DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

OH WELL WIFEE (CHERYL - NORTHERNGIRL) WILL SCAN IT AND SEND IT TO ME AND SEND THE RFE LETTER WITH ACCOMPANING BARCODED,
LETTER WITH OUR DS-20 TO THEM.
SHE SAID (CHERYL) THAT SHE GOT A KNOW IT ALL B***H ON THE PHONE WHEN SHE RANG NVC AND SHE WAS ONE OF THESE OPERATORS THAT,
TRIED TO TALK OVER HER.. AND WOULDN'T LET CHERYL,
ASK QUESTIONS, RE THE RFE.
BUT CHERYL SAID TO THE OPERATOR... LET ME FINISH MY QUESTIONS,
BEFORE YOU TALK OVER ME AND MAYBE WE CAN WORK THIS OUT FFS!!
SO SHE WILL SEND IT ALL OFF TODAY TO THEM..
AND GET THE BALL ROLLING AGAIN

CHEERS
PAUL

I forgot to say Congratulations Michellek! Wonderful News You must be so excited, not long to go now and you will be reunited. Wishing you the best of luck.

Paul, what a saga. Jeeze...I hope they don't hold you up too long. We got RFE'd for the K1 in addition to the IMBRA RFE but they were pretty quick at responding once we submitted the evidence so I hope yours is processed fast too. I know it's frustrating waiting though. Good luck and don't let the stress make you hit the cigs more!

David... could consulate be saying that they have a bit of a back log? If yesterday they were answering letters received "by the 5th of January" then yours might be in cue after that!
Also... when your wife sent the forms it was still kind of Christmas/New Year rush with mail, so it probably didn't get there before 5th. Hey... I'm just trying to find some "excuse" behind it, hopefully to make your wait easier! But, seriously, I had some mail (bank statement, phone bill) posted to me end Dec - got them only yesterday!
Hang in there!

Hi Paul,
glad your police check soapie is over
It was their fault so just as well they didn't charge you again. And good thing you didn't have ink all over your hands like girl
Mine was digital as well. I had a bit of problem getting them to take me in without letter from the consulate, but that was sorted out thanks to help from everyone here and all was ok after that. What I've noticed though - certificate is issued by NSW Criminal Records Section, with no reference to AFP. Not sure if they sent request to Canberra at all, since they can do national check here anyway. As if I care! I got the paper saying I am "a good guy" nationally. LOL

And - it's cute to see how excited you are and counting down to your wife's arrival! I was doing same kind of thing when I was MUCH younger!

PS: What happened to this last emote? I was winking! But it looks funny for a wink! Ohh... cyber talk!!!

Hi All!

Just a quick update...

Eric arrived on Monday 8th, we did the walk-in on Thursday 11th and it got approved! We were both blown away with the ease of it (but I know its just the start...but considering we have been waiting since September 06 for this first form to be approved we are ecstatic!). You guys weren't kidding!! I'll post a more detailed review of the embassy etc tomorrow.

Question regarding the medical, I tried ringing Dr. Miller (NSW Macquarie St office) but they are closed until Mon 15th which is when I scheduled my medical, but having read Packet 3 -- it states something about Dose 2 and 3...do I have to get my vacinnation twice even three times prior to the medical? I received one shot for TD and that was it.

Congrats girlfrmoz with your interview date!

Hope you hear something soon from the consulate David!

Big hello to everyone!

Ya, I was feeling the same way... with the holiday and the rush... but the wife thinks otherwise, I told her to just wait til they respond to my email asking if they've even recieved the forms. I'm sure they have, I'll have to wait and see. Thanks for letting me know about the mail, this should give my wife some hope.