First I want to thank everyone so much for all of your help, and for calming me down when I had no need to worry and for keeping me grounded. We could NEVER have done this without ya'll - esp. Sean and Mellie and Lorelle I woulnd't have even KNOWN about DCF without ya'll.
I only hope I can now help someone else get through this! Ok onto the good stuff,.


So. We get up at 6:30, shower and leave the hotel. We were within walking distance. I'm sure we looked funny carrying a huge bag and a box of letters...but we had all of our evidence. We had spent the night before in the hotel room going over all of our stuff over and over to make sure we had everything in place. With all the warning to BE PREPARED I didn't want to take any chances.

We got to the consulate at about 7:10. There was a mother/daughter pair there ahead of us so we went and sat in the chairs in the lobby. Hint: Don't. At about 7:25 this Aussie/American couple rolls and sits RIGHT at the elevator...they totally janked our spot...(not sure if that's a word) and then this other guy came and started talking to them ...and also skipped us. GO SIT BY THE ELEVATORS as people are CUTTHROAT! We get on the elevator finally at 7:30 as you can't go up any earlier...and were shoved to the BACK...so at this point, while we were there FIRST (for immigration visas) we were relegated to third because we weren't pushy enough. This sounds retarded but get in the elevator either last, or stand right by the door.

We got off at the 10th floor and waited some more. Now we formed a line outside the reception. The single guy who had gotten ahead of us realized he forgot to get cash. The other couple said, no worries, leave your bag here, we'll save your spot. Whatever.

Long story short we get through that screening and sit in the seats waiting to head up to the 59th floor. Well, the other couple had come for their interview on Wednesday but had forgotten a form, or someone had forgotten to send it so because their interview letter wasn't the right day, they had to sit in the back and wait. We were at the front meaning now the single guy was fist, and we were second. Just as we were getting on the elevator, they allowed the other couple to get on ...they got in front of us on the elevator meaning they were the first off...making THEM 2 and us number 3. I was peeved...see what I mean? Cutthroat!

Ok so we get through the second screening, take our number and wait. We got in to the main room at almost exactly 8 am. Took a while to get started, then even longer to get to #3 and the #1 guy was NOT organized at all. Didn't know WHAT was going on...It took ages. They called us up, took our stuff...we had Rose. She was abrupt, but nice. Just very no nonsence, which at this point I appreciated. She went through to make sure we had all the things in order JUST as we were told to in the instructions. Guy #1 didn't - he had to wait....we did...no worries. Organization =good. We were told to sit. Waited. Called up again...

Stewart had a DUi in the states. Rose took the paper work for that and said it MAY be a problem. If it was she said we'd have to wait to get the visa because he'd have to have another security check. Needless to say we are now FREAKING out. I'm almost in tears...bad scene. She sends us back down and says wait to go to window 4 and he'll let you know.

We wait. Finally we get called up - WHAT a nice guy! The first thing I see him do is write "Not a CMT" next to where we said he had a DUI and I could breathe again. I was so happy. He asked us:
1. How did you meet?
2. When did you get married?
3. What do you do? (to me)
4. What's the longest you were in the states on anything other than a J-1 visa (Since he had had five J1 visas)
5. Have you been in any other trouble OTHER than the DUI?

That was it As we speak i'm at the airport flying home and Stewart is at the consulate getting the visa. He's flying to the states on Thursday YTAYAYAY

My only advice *As I can now give it* BE ORGANIZED, stand in the strategic places to go first.

be prepared to wait. We walked OUT at 10:30. In that time (2.5 hours) only THREE immigrant visas were processed...only ONE window was working immigrant visas (poor Rose...) But all in all it was great, it was fine, it was easy and it's done

thank you for sharing

Caroline

congratulations Sydney are really good Now you both can get on with life

angela

I'm so glad everything went well Karo and I am 100% sure that your account of the day will help others too! And here's to yours and Stwart's new life together...no more Saturday nights alone!! Yay!!

I know I called you and gave my congrats but I gotta do it here too........




YEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Congratulations on your approval and have a safe trip home. Your posting should help others that are going thru the consulate, too.

Mary

Congrats, karo!! I'm glad that DCF was a good option for you two

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy for you!

I had to laugh, we probably passed each other in the airport.

I'm in Sydney and we're getting ready to go through all our stuff this morning. Tomorrow morning I'll be handing in my forms and we'll be able to hand in my husband's DS2001. We still don't have a case number so he hasn't sent that in yet, although we're ready. It's all good!

Thank you so much for the description of your experience, definitely helpful as we will be there at the MLC Center tomorrow bright and early. I'll be sure to bring out my pushy American side for that elevator. Not that I'm ever a pushy American. hehehe

Congrats, again! I hope your flight was as empty as mine was!

Congratulations . . . sorry you had the DUI scare. Sydney was a great experience for us as well.

Glad to hear you had such a positive experience

karo!
*hugs*
so glad that things went well... other than those little bumps, your stewart will be with you soon!!! yayyyyyyyyyyyyy
happy for ya girl! you deserve it!

AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME. This had be gripping my seat for a minute, even though I already knew you were approved from other threads. It was almost like a mystery novel. With a fantastic ending!

Congrats again and again and again. Welcome to happiness.

lmao sean, maybe I should be a mystery immigration writer.