mellie

we're in TN and he got his in about a month. first came the welcome letter, and then like the next day the greencard came in .... heh... i just remembered, we picked it up on christmas eve merry christmas!

OOOHHH... Scott got his letters today, so I will be anxious to check the mail for the next few days.

I just want him to get his social security number so we can do the drivers license and the job thing!!!

Australia is special like that. Only one of you needs to live in Australia. The USC can go out to Australia and petition their husband out without living in the country. Not many countries have this advantage!!

it's all clear to me now

Thanks as always guys. NOpe, no co sponsor here ....

Silly girl, making more work for yourself!! lol

Your so cute...

Ok, your not the same person who emailed me, I think. That one isnt married yet! So sorry about that, but the info that I posted still stands. Its WAY easier if you can cancel the K3!!!

and welcome!!

I owe aussiewench a huge public nod of thanks and appreciation!!!!!

I had no idea this even existed until about an hour ago when she mentioned this as a possibility. I've been reading like a mad fiend since then, talked to my husband, and my hopes are flying high!

As I tie a string around those hopes to keep them from flying away too far too fast, I have a few questions about logistics.

1. I filed the I-130 at the Nebraska Service Center on 2/7/2006, but still have not recieved my NOA1, nor has the check been cashed. (It being Friday here, I know nothing will happen until at LEAST next week at this point here in the States.) If we were to pursue DCF, can I cancel that application without penalty at this point or would I be getting myself in trouble long-term? Could it affect our DCF application?

2. When does the USC need to be present? I'm a little confused about some of the order of events. We would be applying through the Sydney, Australia consulate. If we begin the process and have the packet completed beforehand, do we mail that in and then only recieve one interview date which I can then fly in for? Or do we walk it in together and then my beloved would go to an interview (whenever that's scheduled) on his own?

3. Does anyone know the current fee for this in Sydney? (I know there's at least one lucky woman out there who just flew back from Oz with her husband . . . congrats!!!)

What a gift this site is!!! Here's hoping this can really be true!

Ok...

1. I wouldnt see why you COULDNT cancel the K3. I THINK (not sure) you just have to contact them and let them know that you want your application withdrawn without prejudice and paperwork sent back to you. Again, Im not sure on this one, but Im sure that someone will come along with that answer shortly!!!

2. The USC needs to be present for the filing of the I130 and I864. You can do this one of two ways. You can either do a walk in appointment on a Thursday and file these, or you can wait until the day of the interview (most people do it this way so that they can be together) and file it that day. This is what Scott and I did, and what Caroline is doing and Ameristralian did. So the answer to your question is it can be done EITHER way. If you do it so that your spouse can be at the interview, you would contact the Sydney Embassy, let them know what you want to do (file a petition for an alien relative, there is an example of the email that you can send them on this site). They then send you the packet three, you fill out a couple of forms and send them in with the required documents, and a cover letter requesting a few different dates that you would BOTH be able to attend the interview. You would both have to go so that the USC can file the I130 and I864. They will then send you your interview date by mail and the rest of the instructions regarding the medical and the fingerprints (fingerprints can be done 6 months before hand and you can start getting a jump on your vaccinations for the medical, if you havent already done so. Some people have even had their medical before hand, but I believe it depends on what state in Australia you are in if you can do this or not). Then you would both attend the interview together for an *fingers crossed* approval!! You can go home together!

3. You will have to pay $570US dollars!!

And now that I know this is who Im talking to, Im emailing you as well (in the middle of it) with more detailed info!!!

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!!

In Part 1 it is asking for "information on Sponsor's househould member or sponsored Immigrant/household Member"

This would be Stewart, right?

If so it asks for the SSN...."mandatory for non-citizens"

??? I don't get it. I mean S. has one because of his past visas but would most immigrants NOT have one? Why is it required?? I am confused.

help

Ok, wait wait wait. You only need to fill that out if you are having a cosponser or are using his income or assets for the affidavid. Are you doing that???

Otherwise you just need to fill out the I864. Not the A part. Im thinking that your sponsering him just with your income if I remember correctly!!

Ok, yea mines not going to be that detailed... but will post it tomorrow!

Ok, Im late, Im sorry!!!

I think its perfect though, wouldnt change a thing! I like the idea of having another one with the forms and fees!! Would have taken the "sticker shock" off of last week for me!!

Well done girl! *pat on the back*

ahem

Well then, since you are our most recent subj..I mean victi.. I mean Successful Applicant! then you should start us off. Will you post your I-130 submission list, plus your visa application submission? The cover letters are usually good, if you have one

I'll go start the thread....

I dont remember it off the top of my head, but I have our letter at home from the Sydney consulate stating what to bring and the order of it all and we followed it verbatium, so tomorrow I will do a post for you for what we took!

You guys are so cute. Newlyweds, geez!

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

hey

I applied in March 2005 and got NOA1 on March 31, 2005...

Since then I'm waiting because supposedly they'e doing a background check so as I was told nobody knows how long am I still gonna be waiting. I'm in Canada, and my fiance is from Chicago.

Good luck to you, and I hope urs goes faster than mine ;o)

take care

Elunia28

ouch... there are a couple of people around here who went through that with Nebraska...

Ours was approved in 76 days. Then we decided to do DCF because it was lost.

I dont think that they can give her any information about your case....

I just went to the courthouse and got them an original. I figured, its 12 dollars. Id rather part with that and send them an original than mess with an RFE.

Stina, thats WONDERFUL news!! Im glad to hear that things are going so well for you guys!!! :D

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!!

Ok, Im late, Im sorry!!!

I think its perfect though, wouldnt change a thing! I like the idea of having another one with the forms and fees!! Would have taken the "sticker shock" off of last week for me!!

Well done girl! *pat on the back*

Michelle...

God I just dont KNOW what to say. I leave for a few weeks and look what happened in all that time!!

Just know that Im praying for you both. And I wish nothing but the best for your FAMILY. And just remember, even though Craig may be in England for a WHILE... that doesnt take away the FAMILY. You always will be.

Pm me if you need to talk!! Im thinking of you!

Mellie

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.

Thats great news! Congrats!

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!

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!

Wow!! Congrats!

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 #######!!!

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!!!! :D :D

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

I have just been checking over the forms that we have sent in and noticed that on my G-325A that i filled in by hand because my computer was playing up..the part that asks for any previous names used i only filled this in on one of the forms instead of all 4...what difference will this make?

You probably will get an RFE... it depends on how picky the person looking at it is, but you should. Dont worry too much though, it doesnt add much time at all onto an approval if you get the paperwork sent back in straight away. If I were you, I would get it all ready NOW and then you can send it back that day if and when the RFE does come. Approvals come within weeks of an RFE normally.