yay!!
i can breathe now!!!

Thanks for the info! I'm organizing paperwork as I type!

I may be way off on this...but maybe this is what it was pertaining to? This is from the instructions from the I-134 that was sent in Darryl's packet 3.

And yes, that is what I did...I estimated. But would be able to back up if needed..value of cars, personal property, etc.

Ok damn! Can we not insert pics that is saved on our own computer...looks as if we can only link to a web address. That sucks. Or am I doing something wrong?

Anyway, it talks about the social security act and it is all related to AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Food Stamps.

You only need the I-134 for the interview in Sydney, when you adjust status then you will have to fill out the I-864 and that is a lot more detailed. I recommend that you provide backup for any finances that you claim because they will need that. Here is a breakdown on what I did and this will help you:

I printed out a years worth of bank statements to prove the total amount deposited within a year because my bank would not provide that information, if your bank does provide it, then stop in the bank and ask them for a letter of verification (They will only do this for you if you have the I-134 instructions with you so you can show them the reason that you need it) They should list the following details on your letter:

1. Current amount in the bank (Good to this this right after you get paid for added advantage)
2. Total amount deposited within a year
3. Approximate monthly amount deposited
4. How long you have been with the bank (Do not have the bank add this if it has been under a year because it may look as if you opened the account for the purpose of immigration fraud)
5. have the bank manager or representitive sign it and tell them you need it on bonded paper.
6. Get the business card of the person who wrote the statement (I attached this card to the statement when i submitted the affidavit and after I made copies of both the letter and the business card)
7. Your account number, the banks address, etc...

On the I-134 it asks for bank statements from a financial institution... this is what it means. they are actually looking for bank statement to prove income so you can support your spouse, but the more that you can provide for them the better.

I also submitted an entire years worth of my paycheck stubs

You can claim assets such as cars and property, but if you are doing this, then you will have to provide the billing stubs and proof of what is still currently due if you are paying a loan.
For Example:

I have a home that I pay a mortgage on so I had to provide the property value declaration to prove that the value of the property is what I said it was, then I had to prove the amount still due to the financial institution (mortgage holder) so they can see what it is worth and compare it to what I still owe (This is for the I-864 mainly)

I own my car so I have the title, if I want to use this car as an asset that can be sold in an effort to support my spouse, then I will provide the title of the car along with a Kelly Blue Book value of what the car in its current condition can sell for in case of an event that I need to sell it for money. Asset mean jack crap without backup and supporting documents.

Now just FYI... You do not need to use assets if you already meet 125% of the poverty guidelines. you only need assets if you are trying to reach the poverty guideline. So what I am saying here is that you do not even have to claim you assets if you already make enough money.

THE RUNDOWN- Do not worry about anything but the I-134 for the interview, but make sure that you make enough. If you don't, then start adding assets (if you do not make enough, then start reading the I-864 because you will have to read that anyway and fill that out when you adjust status)

If you do not make enough - Get a co-sponsor ASAP because they will also have to fill out the I-134 for your interview

Many thanks, Rings! That is super helpful!!

I don't think I will submit information on my assets. I am planning on sending:
-the form itself
-a letter from my employer
-a letter from my bank (using the guidelines you suggested). At 9 tomorrow morning, I'll be in front of my bank with a year's worth of statements in hand!

That will be good as long as you meet the poverty guidelines then you shouldn't have a problem. They do not care about anything except numbers that you can prove in black and white. If you meet guidlines then just follow the instructions closely on the I-134 and it will be okay.

The I-864 is the pain in the arse one. Start looking at that right away when you can because that one sucks and requires more and you will have to do that for adjustment of status if you are a K1 or a K3

Now if you are going for CR1, then you will submit the I-864 to the NVC only, but do yourself a favor and make copies of it. One for your foreign spouse to take to the interview and one for you in case it gets lost or something crazy.

MAKE COPIES OF EVERYTHING ALWAYS - ESPECIALLY THE POLICE CLEARANCE AND MEDICAL (or else they may make you redo it when you adjust status)SAVE YOURSELF TIME BY HAVING IT ON HAND - BE READY TO ROCK AND ROLL!!!

YELLING ROCKS.. I SHOULD TOTALLY KEEP DOING IT

haha I wish I was packing. Trying to get rid of stuff by selling, giving or throwing away. It's amazing how much crap you can accumulate in your time on this earth.

Can't stay, must keep working...hope all are well or at least manging to put a positive spin on a difficult time. My thoughts are with you all.

I'm with you on that one LOKE! Heres me, leaving in 20 hours and still... crap everywhere. At least I have the luxury of leaving stuff here for my loving family to deal with/send over to me (when I cry into the phone that I neeeeeed my X Y Z item of useless crap)

Just wanted to drop by...

Jezz - goodluck on the fun fun packing and the flight and the wedding!

Loke - goodluck on your trip too! I know you guys cant wait!!

For those who have their interviews pushed back - just think this is the final hurdle that stands between you and your loved one (and really, as long as you are organized, it really is as easy as they say it is). And just really make the use of that time to spend time w/ family & friends! Go to your fave pub and hangout and just really cherish it. I wish I had more down time in the crazy 2 weeks before I flew so I could have just chilled w/ f&f some more.

3 weeks of being here -- boy do I miss my family!! I love that there is no more timelimits on the hugs & kisses -- but I do miss seeing my family. I especially miss my mums home cooking! lol.

Still havent unpacked most of my stuff as we are still getting our house ready but at least we have the trip to Daytona Beach later this month to look forward to yAy

2.5 months - not going fast enough............

Jezz and Loke- wishing you safe flights and magical reunions with the ones you love

just thinking ahead.....
if you get married 3 days before your 3 month window is up.... how long do you have to file for the AOS?
....

i'm just gathering info........ to be ready...........

Have a safe flight dear! Let us know about your point of entry!




So glad to see you settling in hun. I hope that you love it despite the homesickness. I worry so much about Loke getting homesick. Any pointers on how to make him feel any better are greatly appreciated.




Awe we wish the same for you too! *hugs* I hope your flight goes okay!




I would personally file immediately. You have 90 days, but really you should marry and submit the AOS within that 90 day window. You are cutting it close there. I personally recommend that you do it sooner if you can (at least legally) by going to a justice of the peace and filing the paperwork in order to obtain the marriage certificate. You can have a ceremony any day, but filing the paperwork within that 90 window should be priority number 1.
This is just a personal opinion really.

yeah we changed the date... so we have 1 month or so up our sleeve lol....

Have a safe flight Jezz.

Loke, back so soon? LOL awesome man. I know Rings will be more than happy to welcome you back.

Sharyna, time seems to slow down when you want it to speed up and at the same time, speeds up when you want it to slow down. Father time is a cruel man sometimes.

Elle, how are you liking this East coast heat wave? How does it compare to Oz?

NVC, hurry up and process our paperwork!

Hope everyone is else is doing well.

Oh I am all too happy to welcome him back lol... a month is still a month too long.

Anyone seen Kath? I am woried sick about her. I am going to send her a PM or something and see if she is okay.

Jezz and Loke, I hope you both have safe and wonderful flights! Lucky buggers!

Rings,..
ummmm Kath is on her camping holiday and said in one of her posts she probably wouldnt have much computer access,...I thought she left like around July !st,..Im sure shes gone for about a month,..

in fact i found this in her last post in July 1,..



Jodee

I will check in with you all soon I promise. I am exhausted from working all day to try to be ready to leave on Sunday. Just wanted to let you all know that my thoughts are with you, particularly Sharyna and Kym - I know your time right now is difficult and the days ahead seem to drag on and last a week each. I know you will get there, and i also know that's not great consolation right at the moment. If I could speed your time up I would. Hang in there guys, you are closer to the end of the fight than the beginning and the result wil lbe worth the struggle.

I hope everyone is doing okay, and that you are all finding reasons to smile in your day.

From wenchie's FBI: re homesickness....

"1. The honeymoon period when all seems new and interesting; very exciting time.

2. A period of weariness from the adaptation to a new environment. During this phase you start to understand that you must work to adapt to a new life. You feel pressure, isolation, irritation, disorientation, and depression or apathy. You can start to eat and sleep too much. You can become upset over trifles. You, at times, feel ill.

3. Period of non-acceptance and resistance of the culture of the new country. You suddenly feel animosity to the USA and are surprised, how Americans can live how they live. You begin to question why you have come to America.

4. New culture starts to make sense; you acquire new knowledge and skills. As you gain confidence, you become more sociable. You start to feel satisfaction that you begin to understand the American culture.

5. Adaptation to new the culture. There is a feeling of comfort. You begin to feel and seek interaction with the new cultural environment. You accept life and conditions of American culture and take pleasure in making the distinctions between your new culture and the old.

The times spent in each stage varies widely among everyone. It has been said that stage 5 probably won't be reached for 5-7 years for most and that stages can overlap each other."

I think I am in stage 2... stage 1 didnt last long I guess cuz I have been here so many times before and for good lengths of time.

One of the things I would have loved is if Eric could have taken a week vacation from work so maybe then I wouldnt have felt so homesick right off the bat (circumstances prior to me leaving my fam didnt help any). Ive had a few bad nights of crying and stuff...I know it will take some time, and not to sound like a Kelly Clarkson song but...I miss my independence.

So if you can take a few days off work from when Loke first arrives, help him settle and maybe that will help some. Im sure Loke drives and it seems almost all Americans have at least two vehicles lol so maybe he wont feel so couped up in the house if he can be out and about when you are at work. Like Erics parents are really nice in taking me to stores but I wish I could go to the store without what I feel is pestering them. Eric works the 2nd shift so we dont really get much done before or after work and not like I expect him to either as he's on the 8th day of his 9 straight days of working. On his days off, Eric takes me to Filipino stores so I can buy snacks and stuff. So maybe look out for Aussie snacks and things of that nature? I know I'll be ordering stuff from http://www.simplyoz.com/ very soon

Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt trade being here w/ Eric for anything but for the USC, dont take it personal if your SO does feel some homesickness. Some ppl adjust very quickly, this has just been my experience thus far.

thankyou Loke!!
i'm happy but depressed..... i'm no good with waiting lol...............

This was a good read...thanks! That's something I have been thinking about...helping Darryl anyway I can to prevent homesickness...or at least lessen it. (once he gets here that is...IF he ever gets here... )

Good link! He loves his vegemite (sorry, but eewwww ) I've heard tons about Tim Tams...never had any...now I can order some and try them!

yeah i dont like vegemite lol...
i'm a peanut butter fan and thankfully so is my Fiance - he loves the stuff almost as much as i do............

Darryl thinks peanut butter is disgusting...WHAT?!? How can anyone not love peanut butter. And when I speak of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...he thinks I am absolutely nuts. Oh wait...I think our jelly is your jello...or something like that. OMG and he doesn't like Reeces peanut butter cups. HELLO??? Peanut butter and chocolate? Need I say more???

I guess peanut butter is not very common in Aussieland?

its common... but you have your vegemiters and your peanut butters....
if you eat one you most likely wont eat the other.

and i love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...... yummmo!!..... if you want me to give that up then you better shave your head lol... cause i aint giving it up.... its heaven.....

LOL Loke hates peanut butter and vegemite both hahaha... I love my picky man

Hi Elle,

I hope you get over the homesickness sooner rather than later. Are you working going to get your driver's license anytime soon? I am already thinking about getting some lessons for Vy so she can get around. You are right about homesickness, it's a rare thing for the SO not to feel that at one point or another.

It's cool that Eric brings you to Filipno stores when hes's free. If you two ever go to the NY/NJ area, visit Jersey City. It's little Manila over there LOL.

Heya Tony. I see your local office is Jacksonville Florida...that's where Stewart and I are!!! Woo!!

Congrats to all the recent approvals and reunions!

I would like to let all of you know that if you are Adjusting Status or getting your medical done, there is a new requirement for the TB Skin test. When you do your medical oversea's the doctor only does the X-Ray and not the actual TB Skin Test. This is because the oversea's doctors have not all been made aware of the new requirement which has only recently gone into effect.


PLEASE NOTE AND BE AWARE
Because of that dude that came back to America with TB, the National Center for Disease Control has issued a new medical requirement for all immigrants that have to submit an Adjustment of Status. When you submit your medical information, you will get an RFE for the TB Skin Test. I called and confirmed this with both the USCIS today as well as the local USCIS Civil Surgeons here in Colorado (I called 7 of them)

The X-Ray is not enough so if you can get back to your doctor before your interview for the TB Skin Test, then I recommend it. You will definately need a copy of that for your Adjustment of Status when you are in the states.


HOW WE ARE FIXING OUR PROBLEM
I called so many because I was having trouble finding a USCIS Civil Surgeon here in Colorado that would only do the TB Test alone (Other states may not have this issue) Most of them stated that Loke will have to do the entire medical again. I finally found one doctor who may meet with us on Monday to see if she can transcribe our DD-3025 medical report onto the I-693 that is required for the AOS. She is going to give him the TB Skin Test either way.

There has been a ton of RFE's for this so if you can keep a step ahead on it then you will be okay, but trust me on this one.

Jezz, you should probably take the steps Loke and I have taken if you can.

The TB Skin Test is not painful, but it is a 3-4 day process.

So can Darryl get the TB Skin Test before he leaves Australia and we use it for the Adjustment of Status???

BTW, he rec'd his packet 4 today. He did get his interview date before all this APEC mess and I'm sure that is because we had a Congressional Inquiry in place already....we've run into heaps of problems already. I was so happy when he called I cried! We may get to have our Oct. 6 wedding afterall!!! I'm just happy.

I hesitated to say anything...I don't want to seem as gloating...I know there are others that have to wait for a ridiculous amount of time and I am so sorry for that.

I'm sure I will have some interview questions...but for now, I am going to read up on every little thing on the interviews in Sydney. (I'm still quite paranoid). Any suggestions?

According to my timeline...the interview ONLY took 383 days from filing

First off... CONGRATULATIONS and you were all worried

Yes he should get the TB Skin Test if he can. He really needs to try to get a copy or keep a copy of all the medical documents and the vaccinations for use in the Adjustment of Status. Loke's doctor gave him copies willingly, but he did have to ask for them. If Daryl can get the TB Test done and get copies of it, then it will prevent you from going through what Loke and I will have to deal with when he gets here. He MUST get it done at a USCIS Civil Surgeon though.

If you do not have copies, then you may have to redo the medical when he is here in order to Adjust Status and that will be another pain in the arse and additional costs.

damn...
so i should give Dr waks a call.............

Yes, I was all worried. I honestly didn't know that a congressional inquiry went to the Embassy's as well. I thought they stopped once the I-129F petition was approved. I contacted the congressional aid that I had been dealing with the other day and she was going to send an email to the Embassy. Which did give me a glimmer of hope! In the meantime, I've just NOT been sleeping.

I would call him and try to get the copies of your medical and the TB Skin Test. He may argue that he already did they X-Ray, but you should explain that it is not enough and that they are requiring the Skin Test in conjunction with the X-Ray.

he sent all my medical stuff directly to the consulate and gave me a copy of my vaccination sheet that he signed off on for the AOS...
now i just have to find his phone number..........

kym i'm glad you got your interview early............ mine is definately 10th october as per the consulate email..... bugga........oh well...

There ya go dear
Dr Joseph N. Waks, George Street Sydney, 02 9239 1677

i just called them and the receptionist/nurse lady told me that as far as their aware this is not a requirement, they didnt even know about it and thats what the xray was for - for tuberculosis....
she told me to call the consulate............ so i might do that and see if they know any better.........

Yup I already did that and the USCIS confirmed it... check out some of these threads here

LINK

LINK2

LINK3

ok i've emailed the consulate and asked...
once they tell me yes or no i'll do it or not do it...........

i mean if they dont inform their own consulates then they should be yelled at.

Haha well they haven't informed them yet as far as I know. See the dude who brough TB into America is currently in National Jewish Hospital in Colorado where I am. So the story has just begun and just read those threads because they will confirm what I am saying. People are getting the RFE's now.

i just got a reply back from the consulate - fast reply...
this was my question:
"hi there.
i was told by other visa members that there is a new test requirement?,, TB Skin test?
i asked the doctor i went to - Dr Waks - and his receptionist had no idea what i was talking about and said that as far as she knew the only test required was the xray to check for tuberculosis...

are you able to shed any new light on this for me? - or will this test be needed to be done when i file for AOS?.

thanks in advance"


their reply
"The panel physician will advise you of all the required tests to take. You only need to make your appointment with the panel physician and when you are seen to by him/her you’ll be given the letters of referral for all tests required"

so i guess we'll have to wait....... i mean i've already got my appt - and yeah as you said they havent been told, maybe its from a specific date they're doing it?

i'll worry about it when i go to the AOS stage....
got plenty of other things on my mind for now....

If you're REALLY that worried about it, just go ahead and have it done. That way, if they suddenly spring on you that you need it, it's done!

*shrugs* I'd rather have a small needle prick then that stress on my mind. You probably can get it done at any doctors, have them sign and give you the original, take it with you to Dr. Waks, and bobsyauncle

Eeek. Where did you find that info at?

I gave you all links and then I made the calls

Fly To AUSTRALIA LOL

HAMMY !!! *hugs*

RINGA DING DING IN CHAT COME SEE

Awe I would love too, but Java and my computer don't get along
I have IM though

Yahoo: Ringsfan1
MSN: Thankeru4peace@hotmail.com

Helllo everybody...I am Moonies husband to be!!! (in 30 and a half hours teehee)


I am excited to finally be tying the knot (interesting phrase for marriage) to my beautiful girl, tho sometimes I wish this fee increase thing wasn't happening right now so we didn't have to rush and feel all this pressure to save some moneys, albeit not all that bad as it is making us get things done, we're mighty good at procrastinating (however Moonie will say it's all me).


Anyhow everything here is cool, I am finally with the person I want to spend the rest of my life with so it really can't get much better can it?