no, i don't have a life either...but i'm going to my first golf lesson shortly.

matt

I SUCK at golf. When we go I get REALLY frustrated and throw clubs and stuff. I've been banned from doing anything but driving the cart.

Good luck though! Hey did you see my happy bday wish? Did you have a good bday???

Hi all. Busy as well. Nothing amazing to report here. My dog has a limp. That's all I know.

[[/quote]

I SUCK at golf. When we go I get REALLY frustrated and throw clubs and stuff. I've been banned from doing anything but driving the cart.

Good luck though! Hey did you see my happy bday wish? Did you have a good bday???
[/quote]

yes i did thank you.

i got some good pressies too...the lessons i'm taking are courtesy of my in-laws.

gotta go.

matt

I hate work. I really really do.

Hey Sean, how long did it take before Natalia got her SSN??

pssst, mellie, come over here....


(If I hear you ask this before three weeks have passed, I'm coming over there with a willow switch!)


There is a recent thread with interesting info about this from mdyoung--this week. You can search on EAA (Ennumeration At Entry) or MES (forget what that's for).

Thanks dear!! Im not being angsty about it, was just curious!!! We're more than prepared to wait for it, just wasnt sure how long it actually took!! Im not stressing at the mailbox for QUITE a while yet!!!

Here you go Mellie.....just in case you get angsty

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2500




If she does...can I watch...can I I not seen a good woopin' in ever so long

HAHAHA!!! Id let you watch.

Thanks for the link!! Will read it later!

And I didnt get the pictures in my email!! Im sorry it took me so long to answer your question!

yayyyyyyy I get to watch

awwwwwwww wonder what happen with the pics. Can you PM me your email addy just in case I got it wrong and some stranger got em instead. If its hotmail I should probably send you only couple at a time....wait for you to download it....delete the email then so I can send more????? They are big pics.....left em like that cause you can do photo prints off them then without losing any quality.

No worries Mellie (See, I'm practicing!)

NO news here. I was late to work today - but I came in with Starbucks coffee in my hand - i'm sure they did NOT appreciate that I couldn't make it to work on time, but I had time to stop for coffee.

Oh well.

Mellie - I know you are SUPER swamped but will you let us know when you post your experience or...if you don't do that...when you get a chance (ANY time....no rush for 21 days ) let me know those details!

I'm nervous too - even though I KNOW KNOW KNOW I shouldn't be!!

Thank you so much!

No worries!!!

Well... it was all very simple and straightforward really! Our appointment was at 8am, so we got there at about 7:15ish.... lol. You cant go up to the 10th floor until 7:30 (the elevator wont let you). Once you get up there, you sit in front of the door for about 10 minutes and wait till they open and then you go through round one of security. Then you sit in these chairs and wait until the 59th floor opens up. Go to the bathroom before you go up if you have to because there are no bathrooms on the consulate floor. Then they let groups of about 5-8 people go up at a time, and right after you get off the elevator you go through security again. If you have a cell phone or a camera with you, they take it and hold it until you are finished with your "interview." Then you go through a metal detector, very much like you were at an airport, and are directed to the consulate room. When you walk in, you walk straight ahead to the machine, push the "immigrant visa" button, and sit down and wait for your number to be called. We were number 001. Hehehehehe.....

Anyways, it took Rose about 10 minutes before she was actually AT that window. Then the little screen said it was our turn. Now, having read stories about Rose, I was a little scared at first when I saw her. And I cant explain why, but I just KNEW it was here. She does look kinda scary.... but she is actually VERY sweet!!! As long as you have all the paperwork that you need, its all in order, have copies of everything underneath the original, and nothing is in plastic sleeves or binders when you go up there, you will be fine!! Make sure when you see her, your wearing your happy face!! Also, make sure that as soon as you sit down, you have your papers out, in hand, and ready to go. While your doing that if you have time, catch the view out the window in the back. BEAUT!!!

She called us up, and first we had to give her the I130 and I864 (thus sealing that we did NOT have to send it in before hand .. whew!) Then she took the rest of the documentation. Make sure its all in the exact order as it says on the instructions that it tells you on the sheet they send with the interview letter!! If not, she may send you back to your seat (it happened to the guy behind us, he was NOT happy, and then had to pick a new number and start all over again.) Then told us to go and pay the visa fees at another window, and then sit down and wait while she went through our paperwork. She would call us back and we would show her our reciept saying we paid and then she would let us know about the paperwork. So, my checking account took a US$570 wallop and we went and sat down. And we sat. And sat. And sat some more. And I was seriously starting to think that something was wrong when our number was called again. It took about 20 minutes in between the time that we sat down to when we were called again.

She said that everything was in order, filled out correctly, and that I didnt even NEED the cosponser paperwork that I had. Though she commended me for having it along just in case, because she said that you never know what might happen and you can NEVER be too prepared!! She then actually launched into about a 15 minute conversation with us about the teaching system in America and how it all works compared to the Australian system. She said she was just curious, wanted to know, and then wished us luck and sent us to sit down and wait to be called for our interview. She assured us she thought that there would be no problems. So we sat for about 5/10 minutes and we were called up to a WINDOW (I thought it would be all scary and across a desk or whatever for some reason) for our interview. First Scotts finerprints were scanned. Then he had to swear to the oath on the bottom of the second DS form that had to be signed. Then came the interview....

1. When were you married?
2. Where did you get married?
3. What type of work do you do sir?
4. And ma'am, what do you do?

He then said.. "Well, everything looks fine here. You can come pick your Visa up between 3:30 and 4 tomorrow afternoon."

Mellie: "Thats it?"
Consulate: "Yep, we will see you tomorrow."
Mellie: "So its approved?"
Consulate : "Yes, everything was perfect"

Mellie turns away stunned.

We left the building at 9:10am. And returned the next day to pick up our very expensive, well earned, hard to get sticker in Scotts passport.

As far as POE goes, we went through LA. We went through the American Citizen line, and when we handed him the big brown envelope, we were directed to some chairs in a waiting area. We were called up and the officer started going through our paperwork and told us to go get our luggage and then come back. We got our luggage, I went to the loo, (heehee) and then we went back. Scott had to sign a form, we were given some instructions on lifting conditions in two years, and then Scott was told "Welcome to America Sir. Your wife is beautiful and I wish the two of you the best of luck. You are a very great couple".

The end!!!

Trust me Caroline, you have NOTHING to worry about!!! Its a piece of cake!! Though I DID feel like I was going to vomit that morning and was shaking harder than I ever have before!! Its like everyone says. After its all said and done, you sit there and wonder why you worried so much!!

Tonight I will post up some wedding pics!! Probably in off topic though, so watch for them!

Hey Mellie, what we did for our SSN was check the box on that one form, which says it will automatically be generated...but I didn't trust that, and so we went to the local office one week after Natalia arrived, and had a nice chat with the lady and got a number ordered through her. She was able to give us the number the next day, and then in one week the card showed up. Soooooo, if you're really anxious, go to your local office and see if they can expedite the process.

Thanks for the info!! I might try that, so that we can get Scott on the bank accounts and such. Theres so much you CANT do without a ssn.... uugghh....

I loved that part! I too just stood there for a minute, as the young fella was writing stuff down on our forms, and I ask him, so, are we, um, approved? And he says yeah congrats. Then you just kinda stand there stunned. You at least turned away and walked off. I stood there for like twenty minutes, just stunned. Ok maybe 20 seconds. Anyways, it was great. When he says that you get to act all excited in front of the other people and give your spouse a big hug and kiss. Fun times!

Congrats Mellie. Tell Scott welcome to America, and it's time for him to start watching some Packers football!

OMG ok - that's good.

Sounds so much less traumatizing then I feel it is

I hope stewart didn't lose that "instruction" letter....you never know.

I have all the paperwork ready - just have to make copies and have my 1-864 notarized but that's all

You are the best mellie - thank you SO SO MUCH

Your very very welcome ma'am!! It was a breeze. I know how you feel though, I was REALLY worried till we were done!

Sean... the packers are done for a while now!! Its time to start Aussie Rules!! SO SO EXCITED!!!!

I reckon he will get into the Packers though once that starts. And my dads out to get him stuck into baseball... ugh...

OOoh yeah AFL starts now. Stewart is going to a game on Saturday I think...Geelong vs. ?? someone I don't know.


Who does Scott cheer for? Stewart is a DIEHARD Essendon fan

Port Power, all the way baby!! Going for the Crows in that family is like having a deathwish.. lol

First game is on Saturday!!! Im so excited!! I love watching AFL. If you go to AFL.com.au you can get a season pass for about 60 bucks I think it is, and you can watch all the games. They put them online 24 hours after the final siren, and you can watch any game from the last 3 years, each game thats been played for all of the seasons. Kick butt stuff really!

And just as a sidenote, im trying to change my name on everything to my married name... WHAT A PAIN IN THE ARSE!!!

OMG I'll have to tell him that - he'll die We always watch the grande final together (cause he's always in the states) but I USED to have digital cable. Fox Sports aired it. We don't have the money for that now.


ANY questions about changing your name - i can answer. I've finally changed it on EVERYTHING. Let me know if I can help YOU with something for once

Its just frustrating because until I get my new SSN card, I cant do any of the IMPORTANT stuff really, like the bank accounts and drivers licence. Thats the part Im worried about finishing, and then getting Scott on everything. We have to wait for his number as well. Its another one of those sit and wait things, I think... lol

The picture streaming it off the web is pretty good!! And Scott figured out how to connect the laptop to the TV so we can watch on a bigger screen in surround sound!! Its a good deal really!

I wish he could come hook mine up like that - Stewart would literally die. I might surprise him with that.

yeah SSN is a pain - BUT mine took 5 mins to change and 5 days to get to me

Well, I just did it yesterday, and everythings on hold till I get the actual card. I hope mine comes as fast as yours did!!!

We made our first major household purchase the other day. A Sony Surround Sound System for the lounge. Its so fun!

that is so exciting

our first major purchase...and of course this was done without him here...was our condo

I can't wait for our "normal" life to begin

The best parts for me so far..

NOT having to deal with timezone differences or dial a long distance number. I can call him whenever I want!!

Not waking up alone.

Having him make me a cuppa at night and sitting on the couch and not saying a word, but knowing he is there.

Life is freaking blissful right now.

When we're together, he always makes me breakfast. i can't wait for that.

I love waking up next to him. I can't wait for that.

I love just sitting with him watching tv...just knowing he's there. I can't wait for that.

I just can't wait to be with him without the impending sense of..."how many more days til he leaves..."

I know it will be pure bliss. I'm so glad you are happy Mellie - you desreve it. Hey are the kids ecstatic? I bet they're loving having him home.

The kids.... geez... bringing them together with him was an AMAZING thing... and the only other thing I can say is that Im really glad that I had him to myself for three weeks or I would be having some SERIOUS sharing him with them issues right now... LOL.

I know what you mean about being with him without the impending sense of "when is he leaving" or "how many more days do we have left." Everything just relaxes. Theres no pressure to do everything in a certain amount of time, and life takes on a sense of just... comfort...

You will get there girl.... SO soon!! Keep your chin up!!

You guys are so cute. Newlyweds, geez!

So does that mean your all cold and clammy with Natalia now?? I BET NOT!!!!

Ha, no everything is still hot and steamy. Whoa, too many details! Ha.

I'm just glad to see my fellow aussie friends getting their dreams answered.

Okay, I've been reading all of these posts and my heart is getting more and more hopeful.

Thank you for sharing your stories. I've just posted some questions about DCF on a different topic and I'm really hoping this can happen. It seems like if you've married an Aussie, this is the way to bring them home!

Thanks for giving me hope. It's a pleasure to cyber-meet you!

It is the way to go!! Seems from your signature though you have already filed for a K3??? Is this the same person who emailed me today?? lol.

I dont know if you can cancel the K3 and then do the DCF?? Im sure that someone will answer that question and I wouldnt see why you couldnt. You would do all of the filing of paperwork through the consulate in Sydney. It is MUCH faster to DCF than it is to do a K3!!

And it nice to cyber-meet you as well!!

mellie's the old timer, expert now

I definitely agree DCF is so much faster. If you can do it, and in Australia we can, then DO IT!

Mellie talked me into it, I talkked her into it...it's all good.

where is your husband from?

Sorry I've been MIA for a little while, but things have been soooo HECTIC!!

Update: Only 2 more weeks or so until our interview @ Sydney and we finally almost have all our paperwork together. I won one family court case, and only have one more to win now! So we're going ahead with all 3 DCF's as planned, and just waiting on permission to take my eldest to the US. Oh, and some more happy news... WE"RE PREGNANT!!!!!

WOW congrats! that's so great!! Good luck with everything

My husband's from Sydney. (Took me a bit to respond, still getting used to the new posts being at the bottom of the forum list . . . )

We filed the I-130 only so far, haven't been able to start the K3 yet. It seems like we can go ahead with the DCF and cancel whatever we have started here at the last minute, if need be.

I've already got lots done on this side of the ocean! Now to get my sweetie started!!

Cool! My husband is from Melbourne I can't wait to get back over there....ask any questions you have - everyone here is super helpful

How long did it take for you to get your interview date? Did you request it to be on the 24th or was that the one assigned? If we started to get the ball rolling quickly now, do you think it possible to request a date around the last week of March/ beginning of April?

I bet you must be so excited!

Generally, if you request an interview date several months in advance you should be fine. From what I've seen and done myself, two or so months should be ok...you will request three dates that would work for you, and then out of those three dates they assign whichever one is still available. You hear back from them in a couple weeks after you request. Or from what I recall. If I were you, and it sounds like this may be a possibility....request a few days in end of March and then one day in April...assuming you will be in Sydney that entire amount of time.

Good luck!



That's an awesome reason to not be around lately! Congratulations, are the kids getting excited? First a big move and now another sibling! Wowsers. Good on ya mate!

we sent in our request on Jan 3rd...requesting three daysin march. The day we got was our last choice, but at least we got it.

Giving the FCAT today (Standardized high stakes test) - really busy

Thanks for the tips on the interview requesting. I'll keep it in mind. I haven't bought plane tickets or anything yet, I was just so hoping to bring him home for his birthday . . . If it's not till after Easter, that's fine, though. Gives him more time to get work done, right?

FCAT? You mentioned you were giving it, are you a teacher, if you don't mind my asking?

karo,

I just saw that you got married on the 28th of December -- so did we! Too funny!

Are you planning on filing everything in one day? The email I got from the consulate today said that I would need to file the I-130 and I-864 in person the Thursday before the interview is scheduled. I thought we could file it all at once on the same day? Has something changed about that? (I wish I had a thousand vacation days I could take from work!!!) Do you have your plane ticket yet? I'm so excited for you!

Thanks mate, who knew we'd get pregnant within 1 day of being back together! crazy stuff! The kids are excited about the new baby and its hilarious to see them fight over whether it will be a boy or a girl. My daughter says "GIRL" and my son says "BOY" and they go back and forth in an argument, its too funny to watch! About the move they are both looking forward to being able to live as a proper family with a dad, although my daughter (who still doesn't have permission) occasionally gets weepy because we dont know when we can move because the decision is ultimately up to her dad to let us go. There is no way I would leave her behind. I am remaining as positive as I can for her, but breaking down on the inside knowing how much of a numbnut he is and how hard it's going to be to get his permission. Urggh. Oh yeah, and if we can't change his mind the trial wont be until August now Waaaaaaaaa CRIKEY BUGGAH & sooo many other expletives!

Oh yeah I got the kids medicals done yesterday too and a note for anyone that the costs of medicals went up on the 1st of February All up their medicals and immunizations cost about $350. Hmmm, time to win lotto I think!

I posted in your other thread but yeah we are doing it all in ONE day. If you did the Thurs walk - in the only difference is you wouldn't need to be at his actual interview.

I am a guidance counselor, ex teacher what about you? I leave in 16 days, so yeah ticket has been purchased for a while. We had been planning this trip for ages because my friend is getting married in Sydney so we were going to go anyway.

We are ALSO going back again next xmas for his sister's wedding. Exy...but fun!

oooohhh... I cant remember that stupid I864 rule. Which state was it that HAD to file the I864?? hmmmm....

There were two, I think it was NSW and TAS. Not sure!!

Though we didnt do that, so Im not sure why they would tell you that. Id just go with it!

I feel like garbage today. I have the cold from hell.

The consulate probably dind't understand what your plans were. They do NOT use the term dcf and you have to be careful in regards to how to ask about it.

i'm not worried

Dude - check this out. I just posted this in OT. I called my insurance people to get stewart put on my insurance. Turned out I only had 30 days after the marriage to add him - then I have to wait for open enrollment in SEPTEMBER! WTF? I told them he wasn't even in the country yet and wouldnt be until april, essentially...and she's like, "Uh let me talk to my supervisor..."

I hate insurance. now what

User chalagafamilia just had a thread on this topic yesterday. I think it was their result.. was someone's.. that the *entry with the visa* became a "qualifying event" (like marriage) that allowed the USC to add the newcomer on to the policy. Find that thread.. there were a number of good solutions posted, but be prepared to persuade!

Here's what I sent them, which is what I cut and pasted from an earlier post:

Will you allow me, a US Citizen not resident in your country, to file a petition I-130 for my husband who is a citizen of your country?

I am requesting PACKET THREE and the I-130 form be sent to my husband so that we may begin the process. We plan on filing directly through the consulate with an appointment, not on WALK-IN thursdays.

Please send the packet to

Husband's Name
address in Aus

Please let me know if there is a problem

Thank you,
My Name
Aus Phone Number
US Phone Number
personal email


So, I'm thinking either they're changing their policy up a bit, or someone just sent me a random email about it. Either way, it will work.





Lemon and ginger tea! Huge cure-all! I highly recommend it. Actual real lemon, sliced with actual real ginger root, also sliced. Dump them into boiling water. If you like it, add honey. Drink till you feel better. It kicks colds pretty well. Get some rest, too.