mellie

Last time I emailed them (a few months ago now), it took over a week to get a response from them. If I were you, Id see if the public library might have a fax machine that you can use to fax it up??

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....

Nothing to do with the Patriot Act.

Time to move banks.

Funny story about the Xray thing. We are sitting in the consulate, waiting to go up and I turn to Scott and say .... "We forgot the Xray". It was under his bed in Adelaide. Good thing you dont need it for anything, we would have been screwed!!! lol Its on its way to us in the mail at the moment!!

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

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!!

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!

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!!!

I hate work. I really really do.

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

We're back!!!

Getting in to the states was a BREEZE!!!

And I wish I could be around more today, but its my first day back at work and have TONS of catching up to do. Ugh.

I wanna go back now. With Scott of course.

Life is just awesome right now. I couldnt be happier.

Anyways, ta ta for now, will pop in tomorrow for a more extended visit!!

Thanks Everybody!!! Now we are just excited to get on the plane and get back home. I miss the kids!!!

Awwww!! I wish you all the luck!! Im sure that everything will be great!!

HAHAHA I hate you Sounds like a plan. I'm sure natalia will love it.

As for the Peabody. I LOVE THAT HOTEL. There is one in Orlando. LOVE IT...

I'm tired today and still worried about that Bank Letter. So just to clarify - don't kill me - you just took bank STATEMENTS? right?

I hate immigration.

Yeah don't fret. Statements are required but you know what? they didn't even look at mine. Just have them with you, no letter needed. You'll see everything you need in the final packet they send you, which tells you the exact order to present it all as well. NO WORRIES MATE!

Hey you!!

The bank LETTER thing is for the I 134. You dont need it for the I 864. Like Sean, I had one because I work in a bank, and you have to take a letter from your employer.

The bank Statements thing.... I think you only need them if you are using your savings on the I864, but I took all mine anyways. Rose even said to me that I had more paperwork than what was required of me, but that she liked to see that because it meant that I was truly prepared for all possibilities. SO yea, take them with you! I took about 6 months worth and they were happy campers.

We picked up Scotts Visa yesterday. Very pretty and expensive little sticker, that one!! lol

A few more quick questions ...

What is the total cost for the CR1 Visa? Have found that the I-130 petition is US$380, but unclear as to other costs, eg. for the I-894.

Also, the documentary evidence (ie. photo, birth certificates, etc) which we supply for the I-130 petition - is it of the US Citizen (who is the petitioner) or of the person applying for the visa, or for both of us?

This answer is probably somewhere on the website, but running out of time so my apologies if it's already been addressed.

Our Interview is Friday week, 24th February. Will be so glad when all this is OVER!!!!

I can answer this one!! When you go in to the consulate on the day of your interview, you will pay 570 American Dollars. Thats total for filing all of the paperwork and they do it in one fell swipe of the credit card. (Or cash if you prefer)

The information for the I130 is all for the american citizen. The australian citizen files their paperwork with THEIR set of papers that are filled out. You do need photos, make sure that you get at least three taken of each person just in case.

Hope this helps and good luck!! SO long as you have everything in the exact order that they tell you in the instructions and you dont have any of it bound together or in plastic sleeves, you will have a VERY easy time!

APPROVED!!!!

OH OH!! and to top it off, I didnt need a cosponser!! I make just under the poverty line, but used my 401K to offset it and it went through with FLYING colors!! Twas cool indeed!! Ok, leaving now... Gotta go work on the tan...

Just thought that I would pop in quick in case you missed the other zillion posts that I made to tell you all that we had a VERY easy ride in Sydney today and our visa was approved!! Scott and I will be coming home on friday!!

And we had ROSE!! and she was NICE!!

You can put em in the off topic post!! That would be a good place for them me thinks!!!

Thanks guys!! Ok, Im REALLY logging off now... I think...

I will post a bigger post about it all later once we get back home (Friday), but I thought that I would just pop in to let you all know that we had a VERY easy ride in Sydney and our Visa was approved!!!!

We are EXTREMELY happy, grateful, and just down right stunned at this point that its finally all over.

And then we met Lorelle afterwards!!! Fun Stuff!! She has pictures!!!

Anyways, ta for now!!! Off for drinks in the sun!!

Mellie

We got it we got it we got it we got it!!!

:) :) :) :)

Need I say more???

WOOHOOOOOOOOOO Mrs Mellie B

CONGRATULATIONS

Wishing you both a wonderful wonderful life together.

Hey Mellie.........you still got my number havent you

Lorelle

Ive got it and we will be contacting you as soon as we get back from the Barrossa!!! SO SO SO excited to meet you!!!!

Oh well, cant figure it out. I will post some pics when we get home!

Im a dork.

Hellooooooo my friends!!!

Well, we have now had BOTH weddings, and Im going to very quickly figure out how to put the pictures SOMEWHERE... Dont know how though. HEHEHE!!

Anyways, all was absolutley GORGEOUS!!! and we are quite happy!! Now just chilling before the big shift to Sydney next week! *nerves*

Miss you all!!!

A Very happy, sunburnt and married..

Mrs. Mellie B

Hello!!!!!!!

I am here!! How are you?? This new thing is just weird, I dont think I like it very much!!! Hmmmmm...

anyways, flights were good, and today Scott and I are having our "runneth to the courthouse" wedding!! Big wedding is on Saturday!!

And.... my laundry has never been cleaner.

Miss you all!!