Help with filing in Australia

[faith0922 0]

Glad to hear from you kaffy. We had basically the same experience, and was also concerned that they didn't look at our supporting documents. Was worried that we'll get a RFE, but I guess it's good to know that it will be used on the 2nd interview.

Loz, hope you'll hear from them soon. It can be pretty frustrating not having direct access to telephone support.

Hope we'll hear from them soon too! We're now going on the 3rd week since we filed our I-130.

Well, nothing else to do but patiently wait, and hope that good luck is on our side. Have a great week!

[kaffy 2]

What does RFE stand for?

[jodee 30]

Request for (further) Evidence,...

[kaffy 2]

adding: I rang the panel doctor in Brisbane today to enquire about the medical exam and fees. Would you believe the exam is going to cost more than the actual visa I also enquired about the required vaccinations and the receptionist said I should obtain my vaccination record from my GP and discuss further with the doctor on the day of my exam. I wanted to learn more about the vaccine schedule and found this online: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/pdf/ti_vacc.pdf Luckily I have a good GP and I'm pretty sure I have all the required vaccinations.

But if any of you guys are 26 and under and havent had your cervical cancer vaccinations yet - get it now. It's required for female immigrants between the age of 11-26 years of age. There are 3 doses and the wait time between dose 1-2 and 2-3 is 2 months and 4 months respectively

Request for (further) Evidence,...

thanks!

[faith0922 0]

Thanks for the info. How much did they say is the cost for the medical exam? I think I'm only lacking one vaccine. Shouldn't be a problem having it administered soon (I hope).

Just curious. Does it mean that I'll have to get all the required doses before you get approved? So if the required vaccine takes 1 year to complete, I will have to wait a year before my medical exam is completed?

[kaffy 2]

^ I'm not sure about that one.. would assume so?

The medical exam is $235, then an extra $100 for the blood test and another $100 for the xray. Might be different for different doctors though

[kaffy 2]

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES

LEVEL 59 MLC CENTRE 19-29 MARTIN PLACE SYDNEY NSW 2000

61-2-9373-9200 sydney.usconsulate.gov/sydney

NEXT STEPS FOR PROCESSING YOUR I-130 PETITION

Name of Visa Applicant: Faith xxxxxxxxx Date: June 23, 2008

Case number: SYD2008xxxxxx

Please refer to the paragraph(s) checked below in regard to the immigrant visa petition (Form I-130) you filed with this office. Please disregard unchecked paragraph(s).

They gave us the same letter at our appointment last Thursday, obviously the name and date is different but the same boxes are ticked.

I wonder how close our case numbers are..

[loz9 0]

Glad to hear your appointment went well kaffy!

I e-mailed the Consulate again to see if they could give me a timeframe on the Adam Walsh check. It's been almost 3 weeks since I originally e-mailed them to follow up and 7 weeks since we filed our I-130.

Good to know about the medical appointment. I need to go look at the list of vaccinations for my husband. Hopefully none that will force him to stay here longer than necessary!

Hope everyone's having a good week!

[loz9 0]

Hey Guys! GOOD NEWS! I got home from work today and checked my e-mail. The Packet 3 was sent 1 day shy of 7 weeks after our I-130 filing.

Here is the e-mail I was sent (all form names, ie Form DS-230 etc, are clickable and take you to the forms)..

Name: David XXXX

Case Number: SYD2008XXXXXX

The National Visa Center (NVC) has returned the results of the Adam Walsh name check to the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney. The petition has been approved and the immigrant visa process may begin.

The initial set of instructions (“Packet 3”) may be downloaded from the following website:

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/iv/family.html

Forms required

Form DS-230 Parts I&II — Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

Form DS-2001 — Notification of Applicant Readiness

Form I-864 — Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act

Form I-864A — Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member

Form I-864EZ — Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act

Form I-864P — Poverty Guidelines

Form I-864W — Intending Immigrant’s Affidavit of Support Exemption

Form I-865 — Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address

A medical examination is required, for further information; please refer to the following website: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/iv/medical.html.

To obtain a list of the Panel Physicians, please refer to the following website http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/iv/doctors.html . Medical forms are only obtained from the Panel Physician.

If you need to obtain a police certificate for Australia, please refer to the following website: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/pol...ertificate.html. Please visit the State Department website on www.uscis.gov if you need to obtain a police certificate for another country.

Please send the completed DS230 Parts I & II forms immediately. Do not sign DS230 Part II. You should begin to collect all items applicable to your case that is listed on the following pages. Please do not fax forms DS-230 Parts I & II. The original forms must be mailed.

When you have gathered all documentation, complete & mail all applicable documentation with the DS-2001 form and checklist to the U.S. Consulate General, Sydney.

You are required to furnish the original of each document PLUS one photocopy. That office will contact you with your immigrant visa interview time. Your original documents will be returned to you at the time of your final visa interview.

Immigrant visa processing times vary. There may be unexpected ineligibilities that become apparent only at the time of your interview which require additional time and processing. For this reason, you should not make any irrevocable arrangements, such as purchasing non-refundable tickets, selling your home, or quitting your job, until after your immigrant visa is actually approved and issued to you.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

U.S. Consulate General, Sydney(TY)

I am SO happy that I they finally came. I'm going to do some more reading on the Packet 3 and try to get it all done in the next few days. Hopefully we can get it all in and get an appointment within the month so I can go up to Sydney with my husband before I leave for the US. Ok, that's it for now!!

[faith0922 0]

this is such great news loz! happy for you that your application is moving forward.

[kaffy 2]

Congrats on having your petition approved loz9!!! Do keep us updated with how your Packet 3 preparation goes!

[Mrs. BB 0]

Yay!! Things are coming together!

[kaffy 2]

oh my god!

Name: Kathy xxxxx

Case Number: SYD2008xxxxx

The National Visa Center (NVC) has returned the results of the Adam Walsh name check to the U.S. Consulate General in Sydney. The petition has been approved and the immigrant visa process may begin.

The initial set of instructions (“Packet 3”) may be downloaded from the following website:

then it follows on the same as loz9's email

OMG!!!! it took exactly a week, one week!!

[loz9 0]

Thanks for the congrats guys!!

OMG!!!! it took exactly a week, one week!!

Holy cow!! That's awesome!!!! I wonder if where you file has impact on how quickly things are processed??

Ok so on form DS-230 (part I and II)...do I need to fill out one for me and one for my husband or just one for my husband? The way I'm reading it is that only my husband (the non USC) needs to fill one out. Do you interpret this the same way?

I'm going to try and get the DS-230 sent off today via express post. I'm also going to schedule a medical check appointment and get the police check in either today or tomorrow as well.

Are you guys having someone co-sponsor you to move over? I'm a bit confused about which I-864 form my dad (who is our co-sponsor) needs to fill out.

I'm sure I'll have so many more questions once I start doing the other forms. We'll have to keep eachother updated.

[kaffy 2]

My understanding is that only your husband has to file in the DS230 because he is the one who is intending to immigrate.

I have completed my DS-230 forms and will send them off tonight (not going to express it since tomorrow is a public holiday which means they won't get it till Monday anyway). I'm seeing my GP tonight for my immunization record and my medical exam is booked for next Monday. I will probably get my Aussie police check done tonight or tomorrow.

My in-laws will be co-sponsoring us (they completed the forms already and we will receive it next Monday). My father in law is the joint sponsor and he completed form I-864 and my mother in law, being a member of his household and also with an income, has completed form I-864A.

I hope to have all my documents ready by the end of next week... but my only "problem" is that I still have to wait for my Japanese police check to arrive.. it's only been 3 weeks since I applied for it and it's supposed to take 2 months to process >< I hope the Consulate will let me submit my DS-2001 and schedule an interview first (so that husband can accompany me), then forward the Police Check onto them later.. hmm...