Help with filing in Australia

[kaffy 2]

Good luck with your move!!

My Japanese police check still hasnt arrived yet and my interview is in a week.. aaahh

[faith0922 0]

hi guys, glad to see your both moving forward in the application.

Sorry to hear you had to go back to the US without your hubby Loz, hope he joins you real soon. It will be a nightmare for us if my hubby has to leave for the US before my visa is approved, coz once he goes, my Aus visa will be gone too. Fortunately, it doesn't seem like he's needed in the US by early September.

Kaffy, hope your japanese certificate arrives soon.

Update on my application: Finally got my medical results on Friday. Unfortunately, my Aus police clearance hasn't arrived yet. Like kaffy, I also emailed Sydney and asked permission to send DS-2001 (minus the Aus police check), and they were quick in responding and gave me a go-ahead. So I'll be posting DS-2001 tomorrow!!!

One question though, the checklist in DS-2001 did not ask for proof of bonafide marriage. Did you send proof of bona fide marriage with your DS-2001? Or are those documents to be presented on the day of the interview?

[kaffy 2]

No need to send those documents with the DS-2001. At the I-130 interview they asked us to bring all those evidence of relationship documents to my second/proper interview. But the strange thing is, it's not on the Packet 4 Interview date/checklist but I will bring them anyway just in case!

Hope you get your Aussie police check and interview date soon!

When is your hubby scheduled to move back?

[faith0922 0]

Thanks kaffy. I was starting to worry whether I got enough proof and how I was going to send a thick stack of documents. I'll just bring them on my interview as well.

Still no definite date as to when he needs to go. It seems like our move is moved to sometime in October or even January.

[kaffy 2]

that's good you guys arent in a rush then

[loz9 0]

Hey Kaffy, are you ready for your interview? Almost time! Has your Japanese police clearance come in? Is it going to be a problem without it?

We still haven't received anything from the consulate...that can't be good. Hopefully we'll hear something by the end of this week.

[kaffy 2]

Hey Loz, how are you settling back into life in the US? my husband flew our yesterday and should be arriving soon after a loong day of travelling.

No Japanese police certificate yet But I am otherwise ready for my interview. I know it's going to delay my visa issuance which sucks but there's nothing I can do about it. (It's been smooth sailing so far, and I was bound to run into a hiccup somewhere along the line)

Hope you guys hear from the Consulate soon!

[kaffy 2]

hooray I got my Japanese Police Certificate! The date stamped on the envelope is 2008.7.7 so who knows it could've been there the whole time yay it means I am all set and provided my interview goes well tomorrow I should be flying out on the 22nd

[faith0922 0]

hooray I got my Japanese Police Certificate! The date stamped on the envelope is 2008.7.7 so who knows it could've been there the whole time yay it means I am all set and provided my interview goes well tomorrow I should be flying out on the 22nd

Congrats Kaffy!!! :dance: Hope your interview goes well today. Let us know how it goes,,,and perhaps some tips, too. ;)

I got my Aus police certificate yesterday as well. So really the only thing to wait for/look forward to is the visa interview.

Loz, hope you're settling fine in the US. Any updates on your hubby's application?

Good luck!

[Davis 0]

Wow this thread has been pretty inspiring I am gearing up to have my wife file the I-130 form here in Sydney

I have 2 question at what stage do I need to provide my birth certificate as I am having to get a new birth certificate from the Uk and worried that it could delay things.

My wife has been over here from 2002 and as such never files her US taxes I have spoken to 3 different tax agents in the US and as she earns less than 85.700 and does not have any earning in the US I have been told she does not need to fill her taxes is this correct.

Lets hope my Petition is approved as fast as yours :-)

[faith0922 0]

Wow this thread has been pretty inspiring I am gearing up to have my wife file the I-130 form here in Sydney

I have 2 question at what stage do I need to provide my birth certificate as I am having to get a new birth certificate from the Uk and worried that it could delay things.

My wife has been over here from 2002 and as such never files her US taxes I have spoken to 3 different tax agents in the US and as she earns less than 85.700 and does not have any earning in the US I have been told she does not need to fill her taxes is this correct.

Lets hope my Petition is approved as fast as yours :-)

Welcome to the thread Davis!

I didn't provide my birth certificate when we filed for the petition. I just presented my passport as proof of identity. But once your petition is approved you will need to provide it with the Packet 3 documents.

Your wife will need to back file her previous years' taxes even if her income here is not taxable in the US. My husband (USC) did not file his taxes for several years either, but eventually we had to do it this year for my US visa application. We had a tax agent do this for us. He was very helpful in clearing up our confusion regarding taxes and US migration. I suggest you consult with a US tax consultant here in Australia, as they would be more familiar with tax issues/questions in relation to US migration. There is a list of tax agents from the US Embassy website, or if you want I can give you the contact details of the consultant we used. My husband only filed for the 3 most recent years (as advised by the tax consultant), because this is all that's needed in the I-864 (Affidavit of Support).

We also had to have a co-sponsor since his Australian income is not recognized as continuing income once we move back to the US.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

[kaffy 2]

I passed!!

My appointment was scheduled for 9am and so I got to the Consulate at about 8.30am. There was a minor hiccup at the security check since my interview letter was in my married name and all my ID was in my maiden name. But in the end she let me in and I made my way up to level 59(?). I took a ticket (#11 and it was only 8.35 - busy day there), sat down and waited. It took about an hour before I was called (the other IV applicants there seemed to have some problems with their paperwork and so it was taking a while to process theirs). Anyway I eventually got called to Window 3- friendly lady. I handed over the documents that my Packet 4 asked me to bring (marriage cert, passport, one photograph, Japanese police check). She took them, and asked me to head over to window 8 to pay the fee. The Packet 4 letter said it was $AUD460 but when I got to the window the lady asked for just $440 so I happily paid that and walked away with an extra 20 bucks in my pocket. I returned to Window 3 and the lady returned some of my original documents to me and handed me a 4-page "Pre-Departure Notice for Conditional Permanent Residents" document which she asked me to read. She said it looks like everything is in order and asked me to sit down and wait to be fingerprinted. I sat back down and waited.. she spent about 10mins or so reviewing my documents and making sure everything was in order before passing my file onto Window 5. Lady in widow 5 was busy juggling IV fingerprinting and NIV applications so I had a 10 min or so wait before I was called. Fingerprint was easy and she asked me to sit down and wait for my interview. Another 10min or so wait, then I got called to Window 6. Friendly officer, he asked a few general questions.. if I can remember they were:

1. How long have you been married for? almost 2 yrs (haha I made a mistake.. it's actually 1.5yrs)

2. Where is your husband? flew back to the States on Sunday

3. Where are you intending on moving to? Seattle

Is your husband from Washington? yes, he was born in Port Angeles

4. Have you been to the US before? yes, twice

5. Did you study there? no

6. How long have you been in Australia? been back for less than a year

7. Where were you before that? Japan

8. Did you get married in Japan? yes

um.. I think that's it. I was all prepared with my supporting documents (which I brought for the second time to Sydney!) but he didnt ask to see anything. I even offered to show him my photos but he said no, he didn't need to see them because it sounds like we have a genuine relationship. Anyway I wasn't going to argue with him on that and he handed me the 'Instructions for Receiving Your Immigrant Visa' letter, congratulated me and said my visa will be issued in a few days (I heard 24-48working hours from the other Consular officers).

[faith0922 0]

Wooohooo!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :dance: So happy for you!!!

Seems like a pretty smooth interview. Hopefully mine will be as smooth as yours. We've been married for almost 3 years now... so hope they don't give me a hard time.

Congratulations again...and have a safe trip to the US of A.

[kaffy 2]

Thank you! It's such a relief that it's over (until I have to file to remove conditions.. but I won't worry about that until the time comes)

I still can't believe they didnt ask to see any supporting documents. No leases, joint account info, affidavits, photos, nothing! It feel like it's such a waste because I spent so much time getting things together

Hope you get your Interview date soon!!

[loz9 0]

Congrats Kaffy!!!! How exciting! you must be so relieved. Thanks for posting a recap.

I don't have any news to report. July 30th we sent off Packet 3 and have had no confirmation or anything. I just e-mailed the consulate to confirm that they got everything ok..maybe that will speed it along? I miss my husband and it's only been (roughly) 10 days.

Other than that, things are good. I've just been very busy getting things set up and ready to move up to where we'll be living for the next couple of years. Hopefully I'll be getting a car tomorrow. I have to have it taken to a mechanic to be checked out and then we'll see. Things are coming together slowly but surely. I just wish the hubs were here to help me. Oh well..hopefully I'll get an e-mail back here soon.

Congrats again Kaffy!

Faith, have you received any confirmation that they've received your packet 3 yet? I'm a bit worried about ours.

Edited August 13, 2008 by loz9