Thanks Pris for your vote of confidence on my upcoming Visa Interview in Sydney



Current time is 2007-03-13 10:29:16 CST(local time in Adelaide)

Woohoo. Lots of Congrats are in order! There are too many to list so I'll send a general one...



Hampster, I'm happy you're counting down. 31 days?? Wow! That's quick. I didn't realize it's coming so quickly. Exactly one week after your interview, I fly back to Oz to see the wifey for a few weeks. That's why I will gladly count down with you.

Hey Em,

Soz it's taken me so long to get back to you.

Here I'll just cut and paste what he told me as I'm not sure about it myself:

I called my district representative back in the States.

For instance, the person should call the district office that is covered by whatever Senator presides over that district.

They could just go online and google there zip code and type in District Senator to get contact info.

Like

85210 + District Senator

Get the contact info. and ask them whatever questions they have. In the end though they just need to mail it to the office that did their last tax return.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

Pris.

Question:

My dear SO is moving out of his place with his roommate in about 3 weeks will his packet be transferred to his new mail address? I read somewhere that on here that they don't forward that type of mail. Not sure if that is true.


I really don't trust his roommate to forward his mail.

I called the NVC and dialed the automated line and it says they show no record of our petition, I also sent an email. Perhaps I will check again Friday.

Kath,

Thanks so much for your reply and your PM- it's really great to have support in here...I will definitely look into that option...it's frustrating that W.A is the only state that doesn't let you go into your local police station for this!!

Thanks again all!

WOOT! Congratulations!!!
That's such exciting news! Reading your good news made me smile, especially since you've helped us (Cory&I)so much with our visa application (Thanks for that too!)

Congrats to everyone else who got their visas today too!

When are you leaving for the US & what state will you be invading

Awe YAY it is so good to see you get approved. I am so glad for you! I know that things will be wonderful when you two meet up again! Don't be strangers! *hugs*

I got my NOA in the mail today so I am beaming. I know it is a small step to the eyes of some, but I still kissed it lol

Congrats Rings, that is wonderful news....you are on your way!

Em, I don't think i wished you Congrats on the arrival of your baby so belated Congratulations. It's such a special time. I am surrounded by friends having babies at the moment, seems like a lot of people got up to some hanky panky around June - August last year!

Hi Kath, how are you going? Jake says it's warming up in his area what about where you live??

Serendip, thanks for the link to that website it's great! OH NO!!! They're out of stock in Twisties and my fav choccy Cadbury Hazelnut!!! Guess I'll have to take a stash with me. I can't go without choccy! I got a 4 bar a week habit!

Lyndel,

only a 4 bar a week habit.. quick i hear there's a opening,
In Cadbury's Rehab Centre.. all you get is the small party versions of Hazelnut's
And they get you to work for it too..





Hope all is well with everyone out there in VJ LAND
and hoping and wishing all your respective visa's come through soon,
so that once again you can be reunited with the ones you love
Haven't seen Lorelle of late hope all is well with her and her hubby Dan.

To all a god night.
p.s.

Hahahah!!! 4 bars a week, seriously?! I admit, Cadbury chocolate is really good. I love the triple decker ones with the different chocolates in the bar.

I love hazelnut chocolate too.. when you come over, you should try Lindt Hazelnut chocolates!! They're soooooooooooo good. I think Lindt is sold in Australia too, but like Cadbury is your big chocolate producer.

Simplyoz.com restocks pretty quickly, so you could just check back at that site once in a while The popular things get sold REALLY fast so you have to be quick hehe. You can get them to email you when new shipments of Aussie food arrives in the States so you can be on the ball.

What I miss the most from my visits to Australia are the fish and chips. No one in the states does em like an authentic Australian fish and chip shop. I really like Charcoal Chicken too.. haha. Man I'm getting hungry thinking about Aussie food.

Hey, you should bring me some gummies while you're stashing up chocolates for yourself

i miss all the good white chocolate and proper lollies....

musk sticks....mmmmmmm

lollies....mmmmmm



oh the cricket is in the west indies. I wish we were going back to Oz, bu sadly no

Offers to wear a TrenchCoat through CUSTOMS

LINED WITH TUBES OF VEGEMITE / CADBURY CHOCOLATES( ALL VARIETIES),
TIM TAM'S AND MINT SLICE BIKKIES

MUSK STICKS (ANYONE REMEMBER COBBLERS? )
AND A THERMAL VEST TO BRING SOME AUTHENTIC FISH AND CHIPS,
WITH A SIDE ODER OF CHARCOAL CHICKEN .
I REMEMBER HOADLEYS CHOCOLATE / NOW CADBURY'S,
THEY USE TO HAVE A MANUFACTURING PLANT HERE IN ADELAIDE
THEY USE TO DO PRODUCTION RUNS OF "CRUNHCIE BARS ( THE 500GRAM SIZE)
AND THEY SOME TIMES RAN OUT OF THE CHOCOLATE WHILST DOING PRODUCTION.
THEY USE TO BAG UP 20 KILO BAGS = 44 POUNDS OF THE UNCOVERED HONEYCOMB,
AND SELL IT AT THERE BACK DOOR IN THE WAREHOUSE FOR
$ 10.00 A BAG OMFG .

I USE TO WORK AT A REFRIDGERATED WAREHOUSE. A FEW YEARS AGO,
WE STOCKED ALL PERISHABLE GOODS..
CRAYFISH, LEG HAMS ICECREAM'S OF MANY DIFFERENT BRANDS
AND WE WHERE THE REFRIDGERATED DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSE,
THAT KEPT ALL THE FERRERO ROCHER HAZELNUT CHOCCIES.
A REP FROM THE COMPANY CAME IN THAT XMAS AND SAID,
AFTER CHECKING ALL THE USE BY DATES ON THE 45 PALLETS,
WELL THESE ARE NO GOOD TO SEND OUT TO SHOPS,
THERE IS ONLY A MONTH'S DATE LEFT ON THEM,
SO THEY HAVE TO BE EITHER THROWN OUT,
OR YOU CAN GIVE THEM TO YOUR WORKERS.

SO THAT XMAS I HAD 25 CARTONS OF CHOCOLATES THAT I GAVE AWAY FOR XMAS

OK ENOUGH WAFFLING ON FOM ME.. LYNDEL DID YOU SEE THE NEW GYM EQUIPMENT..
LOL OK I'M GONE CATCH YA ALL LATER

CHEERS

PAUL

mmmmm I should ask David to send me some cherry chocolate covered things that I couldn't stop eating when I was in Aussie... *sigh* I miss it there

Cherry Ripes?
I should get Corey to send me fish and chips haha!

hell bells you lot ya makin me home sick of all this talk about chocie and food...lol

there is nothing like our cadbury chocolate...even the cadbury that is made by hershey here aint the same..
ohh i would love some fish and chips with chicken salt all over them and the dimmies damm ..aint nothing here like the flake we get there robert has searched high an low for me hehehe

hammy...i use to work for Big W in the dock area..the reps would do the same thing with the chocy's....years ago when it was easter we were allowed to buy bags of it too..but then the health people said we couldnt so the policy changed it use to break my heart having to dump it all but the smell got me through the day lol

congrats on the NOA1 rings at least you now know they have your petition in their hands mate...and those chocy's ya love are called cherry ripes...i agree they are yummmmmmm!!!!!

lyndel we had 74f =23.3c toaday ..i tell ya it was lovely driving around with the sunroof open and the sun warming the arms...saw heaps of kids walkin around in shorts and singlets and summer dresses lol...it wasnt hot to me but damm those kids are gunna swealter if we get a hot summer here lol and the snow is almost melted just got the dirty piles to go around town and some of the small creeks and rivers are still partially frozen...

serendip if you think that the fish and chips from oz are fantastic you should taste the ones from england...i remember as a kid friday nights going up to the local fish and chippy having them wrapped up in newspaper and mmmmmmmmmm damm my parents always said the aussie's dont cook fish an chips like home lol...

tamzo i have emailed that bloke i was talking about for you just waiting for a reply...also i saw that there is another aussie from perth called michelle...if you go to the embassey info and click on all aussie members you will find her...maybe she will help you out too...also WA aint the only state that doesnt do anything at the police stations melbourne doesnt either...i had to go into the police headquarters in melbourne to get mine done and i also had a hell of a do getting it done by them..

ok now for what i did today with my hubby

with me getting my greencard and EAD i went into Social Security to get the notation of not eligible to work taken off my records with SSA....went in close to closing was in an out within 15mins...

i downloaded and filled out the form i needed which saved time she look at my cards and updated it for me..so now i just gotta wait for the new card to arrive and im all done with SSA...

my hubbs has the whole week off because of down time at jeep..
so he took me to a pie factory called Crikey pies authentic australian pies..
they had finished cooking for the day and were cleaning up ..we went in my hubby sez wanted to show your place to an aussie lol....

we were welcomed in had the tour of the place talked to the owners husband who is the american who went to oz years ago an met his wife..had a family then came back here 5 years ago and found there were no aussie meat pies here so they experimented with them marketed them and now they sell to the supermarkets here

had a lovely half an hour talking to the husband of the australian (am bad with names lol) i then asked if they thought of making sausage rolls .his eyes glowed lol he went to the freeze and got 2 pork and 2 chicken sausage rolls for us to take home...they are in experimental stage with them at the moment finding the closest ingredients to the aussie sausage rolls..well i tell ya when we got home i quickly popped them in the oven and we sat down to eat them...they were delish...never had a chicken one before though so it was a new taste for me but i reckon they have it very close to the original...so tomorrow im going to ring the wife up there and tell her what i thought of them..she was in new york for a meeting so i wasnt able to meet her...

so there ya go ..i have known about this place for 4 years robert got told off for not bringing me there sooner lol..so im rapt that i got to see the bakery...and hopefully i will get to meet an aussie in toledo whooo hoooo lol at the moment they are trying to get them into roberts work so when he goes back he is going to push for them too ..to get them sold at his work...

if you would like to look at their website the link is below...

AUSTRALIAN AUTHENTIC MEAT PIES BAKED IN TOLEDO OHIO

sorry for the long an outstretched post today but i thought you might like to hear about my day lol

ohh by the way on that site you can see where they are sold around the states...

talk to ya all soon
kath

The Journey is finally over...

I cannot begin to tell you how much of a relief this is.

My wife and I were caught between that Adam Walsh Act of Jan 2007 (added the date because that's when it affected us, but was actually passed last year) and had a fairly rough set back.

Due to the lack of knowledge and information Sydney had about this new legislation, my wife and I were in a state of limbo.

Yet, we kept our faith.

Sydney tells us that it may take months until they find out what they would do to the pending petitions. A few emails and all they can say is "please check back with the website or email us."

Luckily my wife kept her interview date in Sydney... and was allowed to submit her packets.

Upon her return home to a town called Adelaide... we decided that it be best to be together through this dilema. Since Sydney stated that it can take many months until this is resolved maybe even up to a year... I can't believe they said that!

It put a strain on both of us because we had our hopes up from the very beginning. So I bought her a plane ticket to stay with me in America for up to 90days. And yes, my wife did tell the POE Officer that she was visiting her husband and was still allowed entry. Why? Because she told the truth.

February 12th, my wife arrives in Florida!

February 22nd... Rose from the consulate apparently called my wife's cellphone and leaves a message stating that her visa had been approved. Mind you, my wife is here in the US. So we get no email, no other calls... they had my wife's home number where they could have left a message with her mother, and they also had mine in the US. That message would eventually be erased since my wife's prepaid plan expired.

I send an email on the 25th of February and get an email back on the 28th stating that they tried contacting us and that the visa is ready to be issued. Yes, they will try and contact you once... and that's about it. They will toss you aside... so always follow up in any situation!

If I didn't email them, I would have never known that my wife's visa had been approved. If this went into April, Sydney says that my wife would have had to resubmit all her forms to get revaluated. Which means even more delays.

My wife calls the consulate asking if she would have to return to Australia and they said yes, she physically has to to be in Australia to send off her passport.

So my wife flies back on March 5th, returns to Adelaide and immediately sends off her passport.

Wednesday the 7th... wife calls the Consulate. Oops! They are in conference for the next 3 days.

My wife leaves two messages with Rose asking her to call back.

Monday the 12th... my wife calls the Australia Post asking her if her passport made it to Sydney. She gives them the parcel number and guess what, there is no record of it. Apparently someone was too lazy to scan it into the system for tracking. Holy shiet... my wife and I go crazy! At this point we don't know what to do.

Finally, Rose calls my wife's home number on the 13th and tells her mom to tell Stephanie to call her as soon as possible. Stephanie was at Uni doing homework. Well my wife didn't have enough credit on her mobile to call Sydney since she's on prepaid and didn't have a place nearby to buy any credit.

So I call her myself that afternoon. Rose asks me if my wife is in Australia. And I said yes, she arrived last week and sent off her passport last week. I asked her if she recieved her passport because an overnight parcel would have been there by now... and guess what she tells me... "no, I have not recieved it yet... please have Stephanie call me as soon as possible..." If it was that important, why couldn't she just call her cellphone!

So my wife and I are freaking out... we had no idea where her passport is and the post says they'll return our inquiry within 10 days! Well, my wife doesn't have 10 days... we thought this would have been a flight home, and a quick return... so it doesn't totally disrupt her studies.

My wife calls this morning on the 14th and Rose is too busy to talk because she's conducting interviews...

1pm Adelaide time on the 14th guess what shows up on the door... yup... the parcel, my wife recieved her visa and passport.

Apparently Rose, had no idea somebody else over there was working on it, and apparently the people inside the consulate don't really communicate with each other.

So all I can say is, I'm done dealing with Sydney! We have the visa in hand!!! Wife is arriving here on Sunday... just as we expected.


Thank you to all who were there for me in the beginning... Aussiewench, Lunamel, CarolineM, Kath... and the list can go on and on...

If it weren't for visajourney, I would have been lost...

To everyone else who has started their journey recently... this definitely has been a place of support, friendship, and guidance. Use these people wisely, that's why we are all here.

Goodluck to everyone!

First off to David and Stephanie finally Congratulations,
from myself and Cheryl( wifee - northerngirl ) for finally getting Steph's Visa


I am so happy for you both finally being able to get on with your lives,
without waiting for paperwork international calls to Sydney Consulate and the like

THanks for that poi, it dosn't make sense but it might when i'm not reading it so late lol.

We still havn't found out where to send my application. Hubby is goin gto call the Texas place 2mrw, in the mean time i'm trying to do what i can to make it easier on us when it's time to submitt the paperwork.

I'm going to go get my criminal check 2mrw, does anyone know where the results get sent? Is it back to me?

OMG DAvid...what a story! I am so glad you all made it through...and technically it did still take shorter than a K1 route...WAY more stressful...but it's all over.

I'm not kidding about a meet up I hope we can work it out!

Awe David I am so happy for you and Steph. i hope that things go well and that you are so happy together *huges*

mmm Yes Cherry Ripes YES!!!!

CONGRATS DAVID AND STEPHANIE!!!

I can't believe the mixup with the Passport. That's crazy. I am glad it worked out in the end though!

As for this...

"Upon her return home to a town called Adelaide... we decided that it be best to be together through this dilema. Since Sydney stated that it can take many months until this is resolved maybe even up to a year... I can't believe they said that!"

I'm not sure which answer I'd rather hear from Sydney. It seems they had no idea so they took the extreme approach and gave you that answer. Better to under-commit and over-deliver I guess. If they said a few weeks and it kept getting stretched out I think I'd pull my hair out.

In any case, I'm glad you were able to get things done relatively quickly even with all the setbacks and inconveniences. Now that I started this process I get to wait and wait and wait for that touch and hopeful NOA2 before it gets to the NVC for another few months wait. Part of me would rather go through what you and Stephanie has gone through for 2 months and get the Visa rather than sit and wait for a potential 9-12 months.

May you and Stephanie have a long wonderful life together!!!

I think I heaved a sigh of relief with you, David.. felt so bad for all you all stuck in the middle with that. You handled everything so well, I'm not surprised at your outcome, just happy for you!

Thank you guys... I can't begin to say how much appreciation I have for people who keep their head up and give people realistic advice...

Vylex, hang in there. You know what... with this whole thing that happened, if I had just done it the way it's done now back in September... this would have been finished probably around the same time and we probably could have saved thousands of dollars. But that's just the way life is sometimes. You just deal with the situation and move on. But hang in there... you'll get through it. Believe me.






Yes, I told my wife about you... and how you followed my journey since I joined this thing. If we ever come by Jacksonville, which I'm sure we will, if not this year, at least by next, we'll ring you up.

congrats to David and Steph

so happy everything got sorted out for you in the end...was a long and frustrating journey for you both..but your will power and determination was there from the start and now you can start your lives together as man and wife..
may you have a long and happy life together filled with joy and less trials and tribulations...this journey will slowly fade from your minds but will have made you stronger as a couple

take care and good luck for the future

kath

Your hubby's the USC yeah? If so, he'll understand it. You get your police check sent back to you as you're the one going to the interview...I think the only reason they ask that is cos most people get it for their job and it gets sent back to the employer.

Well I got my police check back and it's only been a couple weeks; way shorter than I expected but they have mixed up my new name and my old so I have to ask for it to be fixed up..! The dopes.... I just hope they don't expect another $120 for another piece of paper

Congrates David & Stephanie..!!! Must be a huge relief...may you have a wonderful life together..

That's wonderful news Kath about the aussie living in your town, I sense a good relationship forming here as well as a good supply of good aussie food lol..


And still we wait.....

Thanks David. Yeah, I'll get through this because of all the folks here. I just hope there are no long delays due to process error. Oh well, like you said, that's the way life is sometimes. We just roll with the punches.

The one good thing is that since we weren't planning on the migration until late September there is hope that things will work themselves out for us. Right now, I am focusing on my upcoming visit in April and our Church wedding which is going to be in Sydney come August. The only thing worrying me is the chance that the paperwork will start showing up while I am in Sydney. I hope that I get the NOA2 by late April / early May and the NVC process begins the same time or at least by June. That way, any remaining paperwork will be sent to the wife in Sydney. The state of the Vermont Service Center is what scares me right now. I read about a few people having problems getting their paperwork processed due to back-ups. It was historically the fastest SC but my confidence in them is low right now. I hope I am wrong. Oh, well I guess there isn't much else for me to do but wait and be ready should the VSC need anything else from me.

Anyway, I am so happy for you! I used to read up on your posts and questions regarding the process back then since I was following essentially the same path. Glad the worst is over and now you get to welcome your wife again, but this time as a PR.

I am almost in shock...but I have the visa in my hand as well as the secret brown envelope!!!

The same person who worked on David & Stephanie's visa must have done mine too as I received it yesterday - March 14th 2007.

Our visa journey is almost complete. I am planning to leave the country in June. So hopefully POE goes without a hitch!!! But I have already learned that in situations like this, you expect the worse and hope for the best.

We first met in May '01, married in '02...and here we are almost 6 years of doing the long distance thing, we can finally start and build our life together. My goodness I was only 18 when we met and here I am about to turn 25 later this year!

Thank you to everyone - for all the support and encouragement. Lorelle, Chris, Kath and Lyndel - you guys were right, it would all make sense at the end.

My petition in Vermont (over 6 months later) is still pending - so I sincerely hope all those with petitions in USCIS offices will get their NOA2s a LOT quicker.

Thank GOD we found out about DCF - or I really do not know what we would do. Though that wasn't without a hitch either lol. I did end up contacting Bangkok and they were aiming for I-130s to be readjudicated within 2 weeks. It was a nice surprise that my final interview was not cancelled and since the Consulate was closed, they had already taken the intiative to send our files to be re-adjudicated (kudos to Sydney Consulate).

My interview was surprisingly easy. The same consulate officer was the one who conducted our I-130 interview. A young American man, Walter was his name. He actually recognized me and said oh I did your I-130 interview! So he asked me a couple of questions, where did you meet, then he asked 'How long have you and your fiancee - i mean husband - been together'. Not sure if he was trying to trick me but he corrected himself anyways lol. Asked if I been in the hospital and then the oath, took my fingerprints and that was it. He just mentioned the changing my name thing -- I basically was dumbfounded and asked "So thats it?"

The hiccup at the end was my name lol.

Vylex - depending on what your wife would like to use as her name, essentially what I have done is match my name to the name I have used in forms - which is First Middle and Maiden Name. I did this by first going to NSW Birth, Death and Marriage Registry (cost me $155 for next day change) http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/changeName/changeName.htm, I went to my local RTA, filled out a form then changed my licence to include my middle name (you have to show your name change certificate from NSW BDM - licence name change http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/gettin...ml?llid=12 didnt cost me anything), then I changed my passport - go to your local post office and get a form, passport change was $193 + 73 priority processing. The passport office was brilliant - they received it on Wednesday and Thursday arvo I received an e-mail stating it was ready to be collected.

OOh I did all that last week and I was a stresshead. I just wanted to get it over and done with.

I collected it Friday morning, sent it to the Consulate via Express Post, then Tuesday they sent my visa out!

I still can't believe it...I guess it will all finally sink in when I am in Bmore with Eric, and we are sitting on the couch and its like *breathes a sigh of relief* we've come a long way...and now we start the new chapter of our lives **together**.

Lyndel - how are you shipping all your shoes? lol I doubt United will be as nice as Thai Airways. I have the same problem with my shoes and handbags (well I have an excuse, I have been working for Oroton for over 3 yrs, you build a nice collection lol).

How did you guys ship your goodies to the States? How much does it usually cost roughly? I dont have any furniture to ship out, just the usual stuff and lots of books.

BTW, Sere - great link! I've already book marked it! Eric likes his Imperial Leather soap so he was glad he found it in there lol.

Congrats Elle.. How exciting, am so pleased for you, what patience you have shown...may you have an enjoyeable next journey (marriage)..!!!

I will be reading in on the answers to those excellent questions for when my turn comes.

But also: I was going to wait till I was in the States to change my name on everything do you think it's best I do it here though?

Cheers,

Pris.

I'm glad you found it useful!
My fiance had a ball over that site too! He says that the aussie goodies will definitely help the transition to living in the US!

I've used that soap before too! It is pretty nice.. haha!

simplyoz.com frigging rocks...

and

Congratulations David & Steph!! I hope you have a wonderful journey with each other

Thanks Priscilla!!

About the name change, I dont have any intentions of changing my name (i had to change it to include my middle name in my passport)so I'm not sure on that one to be honest. I know when aussiewench did her name change, it was so she can get the visa and the lot in her married name. Does anyone have any other ideas?

Oh when I was at the NSW BDM Registry -- the man who processed my name change turned out to be my neighbour! How random was that lol.

so much good news around here lately!!!

Keep it coming.

Wow! Congrats Elle! That's wonderful news!

Thanks so much for the info links and process! I am going to have my wife add the middle name so it matches with the application. So it will be First, Middle, and Last (Maiden) Name like yours. I think the most important thing they needed to see was the Middle name in the Name Change Certificate so we will do that when I visit in April. I think we will also have it added to her Driver's License. I need to figure out what to do about the Passport though because if they issue the Visa in our married name it could make it troublesome at the POE. I've read we can do it that way as long as we have the Marriage Certificate but I'll see. If it's a hassle, I'll pay again to have it changed to our Married name before she flies out. So many little annoying details LOL.

I also emailed the Sydney Consulate and they told me they need it the same way it is filed. However, they said they can issue it in our married (my last) name during the interview so that's cool.

Wow! Baltimore? Sweet! I go down there a lot (from NJ) and hangout with friends. Beautiful area! I love hearing all this good news! It's going to be beautiful down there in June. Happy Travels!

Vylex - Actually I think the issue with my name was it should have matched my birth certificate - which was First, Middle and Maiden Name. It just so happened that I did fill out the forms including my middlename.

My middle name is my mums maiden name - I was blaming her last week for the extra stuff I had to do lol. I was being a real brat! Didnt you mention that your wifes middle name is also her mother's maiden name? Shes not of Filipino descent by any chance?

Yup - Bmore! This is why I am RAVENS fan! Since we've been together, I go there every June/July for the summer! Eric is actually thinking of flying here in May -- I think he doesnt want me to up him in visits lol. Hope it all works out.

Still cant believe it. Im expecting for another bombshell to hit us...ahhh, I should just try and enjoy the moment. Wish I could fly out now! I was supposed to fly out March 21st, but had it changed.

Not sure if this is correct - But I have a IR1 visa and would ultimately get issued a 10yr greencard - is it true I have to leave the US once a year?

Now I'm trying to find out info if I can get my superannuation before I leave! Let you guys know how it goes.

Congratulations Elle,

You're right, the same person must have been working on our visa's because Rose had no idea what was going on. As far as Walter was concerned. He did the same thing to my wife during her interview, tried to trip her up, but my wife kept correcting him... So ya, same ease as yours. I'm glad it's all over. You have been waiting this long, you guys deserve it.

Ooh funny you should mention that, I was just asking Kath the same thing of what happens to that.

I'll be interested in the answer to that one too.

Thanks David! Congrats to you & Stephanie too!!! It's been really good to have you guys lead the DCF while we were doing it, and we were able to learn from you guys. So big thanks!

Walter actually corrected himself tho, he said it once - but I didnt have to correct him lol. I do remember you said on here Stephanie had to correct him during her interview, so when he corrected himself I just kinda looked weirdly at him lol. I didnt get much sleep the night before so I was a zombie. I cant even really remember what else happened day to be honest.

How is Steph getting all her stuff over there in the States?

Hey guys!

Congrats to all who have been approved...and good luck to those who are still waiting in bated breath...the waiting game, kills...just hang in there!


Elle asked this question recently, but no-one answered so I am going to ask again- how did you guys ship your stuff from Australia --> US?? What's the cheapest and quickest way??

Any input/advice???

I called the NVC and found out our petition was sent off to Sydney yesterday...cool. I don't have a DHL number but he told me I should be receiving a letter shortly. When I think about everything I will have to do before he comes I am like


Congrats on all the good news I have been seeing on the thread.

hi elle...
congrats to you on getting your passport with your visa enclosed great news

elle you must be so happy about all this horrid process that you have gone through has ended mate..good luck to you and take care and happy life together....

pris and elle...i looked on the australian tax website..for the information about superannuation...not sure if it aplies to ya but its about leaving australia and your superannuation...

Departing Aust and your superannuation

other superannuation-scroll down the page

(edited to put in the second link) hope its some help...

thing is with me i was a part timer so there wasnt but a few hundrered in there...when an if i go back to oz i will find it if i need it...

moonie thats great news...i had a look on DHL for it but couldnt find it ..just remember its at the end of the week an might sit in the mail room waiting...ours did for a few days even when they told me it had left lol...

tamzo.....if you look at some of the other pages in this thread there are people who have listed how they got their valuables over here...(u.s.) glad you got the police check thing sorted out too...fingers crossed for ya

take care
kath

Well I am super excited:

We placed an order from simplyoz...

4 boxes tic tocs
4 boxes choclate ripples (bc Stew's going to make me a chocolate ripple cake...my favorite)
10 cans Solo
10 cans Schweppes




SUPER excited

Hi all..

Here are a few links to International Moving Companies,



http://www.ossworldwidemovers.com.au/welcome.php


If you are looking for an international removalist, are migrating to or emigrating from Australia, or even if you are leaving Australia temporarily, OSS World Wide Movers will provide comprehensive overseas shipping, airfreight and related relocation services to the highest international standards.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and elsewhere throughout Australia and with carefully selected local and global shipping partners, OSS World Wide Movers has established a comprehensive global network of professional relocation associates with the capability of servicing the smallest domestic personal effects shipment up to complete management of more complex corporate relocation assignments.

With regular shipments to all countries including England (UK), America (USA) New Zealand (NZ), South Africa and China, and regions such as the Middle East and South East Asia, OSS World Wide Movers can quickly and efficiently pack, move and unpack your valued personal belongings anywhere in the World.

OSS World Wide Movers, the trusted name in 'International Relocation Services".


http://www.kingandwilson.com.au/index.php?...amp;pageID=6835

King & Wilson's services include:

Australia-Wide Interstate Removals <LI>International Moving <LI>Employee Relocation Services <LI>Local Moving (Sydney & Melbourne) <LI>Office Moving (Sydney & Melbourne) <LI>Furniture Removalists <LI>Relocation Services <LI>International Baggage Service <LI>Licenced Bonded Importation Services <LI>Packing <LI>Custom Crating <LI>Valet Unpacking <LI>Long & Short Term Storage <LI>Commercial Fine Art Transportation <LI>High-Security Fine Art Storage <LI>Insurance


and here is a link for insurance of your goods whilst in transit



http://www.luggageline.com.au/index.php?se...amp;pageID=3238

Transit Insurance is an important part of any international move.

Your household belongings are usually insured at home through a Home Contents policy. This policy is based on a low risk situation. However these policies generally do not apply to the goods when they are in transit.

All LuggageLine affliate companies are ASIC accreditated representatives of their licenced insurance broker. They are qualified to provide you with factual insurance information on our insurance product, which has been specifically designed to protect your goods during transit and/or storage in our warehouses.





Recent changes to the Commonwealth Financial Services Act mean that only selected removal companies, who hold AFRA membership are eligible to arrange insurance for their customers. All Luggage Line affiliate companies hold AFRA membership. Click here for more information from ASIC.

To give you piece of mind Luggage Line recommends that you take out transit insurance during the move and also for any period your effects are stored. A Luggage Line Moving Consultant will be pleased to discuss the insurance options available to you.

For more insurance information, download your closest Luggage Line affiliate's registered Insurance Documentation Booklet which contains a Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, and Insurance Policy Wording.

• Insurance Documentation for NSW
• Insurance Documentation for Victoria
• Insurance Documentation for Qld
• Insurance Documentation for SA & NT
• Insurance Documentation for WA

You can download the Luggage Line Insurance Declaration applicable for all states.





Transit Insurance is an important part of any international move.

Your household belongings are usually insured at home through a Home Contents policy. This policy is based on a low risk situation. However these policies generally do not apply to the goods when they are in transit.

All LuggageLine affliate companies are ASIC accreditated representatives of their licenced insurance broker. They are qualified to provide you with factual insurance information on our insurance product, which has been specifically designed to protect your goods during transit and/or storage in our warehouses.





Recent changes to the Commonwealth Financial Services Act mean that only selected removal companies, who hold AFRA membership are eligible to arrange insurance for their customers. All Luggage Line affiliate companies hold AFRA membership. Click here for more information from ASIC.

To give you piece of mind Luggage Line recommends that you take out transit insurance during the move and also for any period your effects are stored. A Luggage Line Moving Consultant will be pleased to discuss the insurance options available to you.

For more insurance information, download your closest Luggage Line affiliate's registered Insurance Documentation Booklet which contains a Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, and Insurance Policy Wording.

• Insurance Documentation for NSW
• Insurance Documentation for Victoria
• Insurance Documentation for Qld
• Insurance Documentation for SA & NT
• Insurance Documentation for WA

You can download the Luggage Line Insurance Declaration applicable for all states.

Cheers....Hope this helps anyone looking for Movers and ( Shakers ) Insurance

Paul

hi Elle,
Any Permanent Resident (anyone with a Green Card, CR, IR etc) has all the same rules & responsibilities applied to them. There is NO requirement to leave the US each year; we certainly went a couple of years without leaving the US before Naturalization with no trouble.

You can read more about your new status here:
Now That You Are A Permanent Resident

There is also a good document on this page called Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants
Resources for New Immigrants

Hi Elle,

Yep, the wifey and I are both of Filipino descent. Her mom decided to migrate to Oz while mine went to the US. Damned if I knew I'd meet her one day and fall in love.

Vy is in the same situation as you. Her (Filipino) Birth certificate states her First, Middle (Mother's Maiden) and Last name. However, all her Aussie docs are just First and Last. I filled out the I-130 and G-325A with her First Middle (Mother's Maiden) and Last (her Maiden) name. Now she is in the same boat. However, we have the fortunate (or unfortunate) case of having time to take care of this. When IV Sydney wrote back, they said they only needed to see the Name Change Certificate. Is this true?

As for having to leave the US on a CR-1/IR-1, that is not true. You can sit yourself at the Raven's stadium for years if you want.

Thanks Mo Last night I was reading about the POE thread ya started. It was very useful. I wish more people would post their experiences on there. Doubt Eric will be with me when I enter the States. He might be visiting late May then I follow like 2 weeks laters, so Im a bit nervous with that.

Vylex - IV Sydney gave me a visa denial form and I had to get either a name change certificate so it shows my First and Last name (so it matches my passport and explains the change in my birth cert). OR I could change my passport so it showed my First Middle and Maiden Name.

The latter had more changes to be made but I wanted to keep my middle name and I wanted it to match to my forms. Although again, name change certificate would have fixed that. Since IV is saying they will issue her visa in her married name and if at the POE she can just show her marriage cert for why her passport dont have her married name but her visa does, then ya guys should be right with just a name change cert to First and Maiden Name.

Hope I made some sense lol.

WOOT WOOT i'll be in the States for training camp.

Thanks for the moving links Paul

OOh Caroline...let us know when ya get your goodies. Chocolate ripple cake sounds delish!

It isn't possible for Eric to time it with you? Unless Vy gets her Visa while I am there for a month in August, she will be flying in alone as well. I think you'll be fine. Treat it like just another trip to the US.


Thanks again Elle! You made plenty of sense. I think we will do the additional work and have Vy add her middle name to them. It will make it plain and simple come interview time.



LOL! Good luck to the Raven's this year!

Congratulations Elle!!!! sorry for the delay in replying I've been a bit busy and haven't been online for a couple of days.

As for my shoes....my thoughts were to take two suitcases (32kg) with clothes and paperwork, and an extra sports bag for my shoes. I thought even if I have to pay some excess it won't be much surely if its just continental airlines in the USA and the international flight is already covered. I will ring up and check though and I will let you know how I go.

I also checked out shipping some time ago. I will get you the link later, for some reason yahoo is playing up for me tonight and I can't get into my email.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Cheers
Lyndel

Hey Lyndel..
i posted some links below in a earlier posting re moving /packing/ sending stuff over..

Here are a few links to International Moving Companies,



http://www.ossworldwidemovers.com.au/welcome.php


If you are looking for an international removalist, are migrating to or emigrating from Australia, or even if you are leaving Australia temporarily, OSS World Wide Movers will provide comprehensive overseas shipping, airfreight and related relocation services to the highest international standards.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and elsewhere throughout Australia and with carefully selected local and global shipping partners, OSS World Wide Movers has established a comprehensive global network of professional relocation associates with the capability of servicing the smallest domestic personal effects shipment up to complete management of more complex corporate relocation assignments.

With regular shipments to all countries including England (UK), America (USA) New Zealand (NZ), South Africa and China, and regions such as the Middle East and South East Asia, OSS World Wide Movers can quickly and efficiently pack, move and unpack your valued personal belongings anywhere in the World.

OSS World Wide Movers, the trusted name in 'International Relocation Services".


http://www.kingandwilson.com.au/index.php?...amp;pageID=6835

King & Wilson's services include:

Australia-Wide Interstate Removals <LI>International Moving <LI>Employee Relocation Services <LI>Local Moving (Sydney & Melbourne) <LI>Office Moving (Sydney & Melbourne) <LI>Furniture Removalists <LI>Relocation Services <LI>International Baggage Service <LI>Licenced Bonded Importation Services <LI>Packing <LI>Custom Crating <LI>Valet Unpacking <LI>Long & Short Term Storage <LI>Commercial Fine Art Transportation <LI>High-Security Fine Art Storage <LI>Insurance


and here is a link for insurance of your goods whilst in transit



http://www.luggageline.com.au/index.php?se...amp;pageID=3238

Transit Insurance is an important part of any international move.

Your household belongings are usually insured at home through a Home Contents policy. This policy is based on a low risk situation. However these policies generally do not apply to the goods when they are in transit.

All LuggageLine affliate companies are ASIC accreditated representatives of their licenced insurance broker. They are qualified to provide you with factual insurance information on our insurance product, which has been specifically designed to protect your goods during transit and/or storage in our warehouses.





Recent changes to the Commonwealth Financial Services Act mean that only selected removal companies, who hold AFRA membership are eligible to arrange insurance for their customers. All Luggage Line affiliate companies hold AFRA membership. Click here for more information from ASIC.

To give you piece of mind Luggage Line recommends that you take out transit insurance during the move and also for any period your effects are stored. A Luggage Line Moving Consultant will be pleased to discuss the insurance options available to you.

For more insurance information, download your closest Luggage Line affiliate's registered Insurance Documentation Booklet which contains a Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, and Insurance Policy Wording.

• Insurance Documentation for NSW
• Insurance Documentation for Victoria
• Insurance Documentation for Qld
• Insurance Documentation for SA & NT
• Insurance Documentation for WA

You can download the Luggage Line Insurance Declaration applicable for all states.





Transit Insurance is an important part of any international move.

Your household belongings are usually insured at home through a Home Contents policy. This policy is based on a low risk situation. However these policies generally do not apply to the goods when they are in transit.

All LuggageLine affliate companies are ASIC accreditated representatives of their licenced insurance broker. They are qualified to provide you with factual insurance information on our insurance product, which has been specifically designed to protect your goods during transit and/or storage in our warehouses.





Recent changes to the Commonwealth Financial Services Act mean that only selected removal companies, who hold AFRA membership are eligible to arrange insurance for their customers. All Luggage Line affiliate companies hold AFRA membership. Click here for more information from ASIC.

To give you piece of mind Luggage Line recommends that you take out transit insurance during the move and also for any period your effects are stored. A Luggage Line Moving Consultant will be pleased to discuss the insurance options available to you.

For more insurance information, download your closest Luggage Line affiliate's registered Insurance Documentation Booklet which contains a Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement, and Insurance Policy Wording.

• Insurance Documentation for NSW
• Insurance Documentation for Victoria
• Insurance Documentation for Qld
• Insurance Documentation for SA & NT
• Insurance Documentation for WA

You can download the Luggage Line Insurance Declaration applicable for all states.

Cheers....Hope this helps anyone looking for Movers and ( Shakers ) Insurance

Paul

I've never had chocolate ripple cake before, but it sounds really yum! Can you send me a slice

Wooah, I was just going to ask about the whole international moving thing, and there you guys are one step ahead of me

Thanks much hampster for all the information, although my fiance doesn't have too much, he says he's going to leave somethings or sell off things, but I figure having that information anyways will be very helpful.