AussieAmerican

So the drama continues..

Packet 3 and 4 are on their way back to me from my husband the US, I'm still waiting. I'm pretty sure I'll need to get myself in for a medical before they close over the Christmas break (20th December) in order to receive the report back in time for my interview on Jan 22nd.

I emailed the US consulate asking what I should do in that case that my medical is not ready in time for my appointment (due to Xmas etc).

They said I can still go to the interview and they will "temporarily refuse" me. They said I can then send the medical report once its ready and they will then "process to conclusion", and that I "would not need to attend another interview".

Has anyone heard of this? Why wouldn't they just reschedule my interview?

lawd....because they don't need to reschedule it and push you further down the line (something which I'm sure you'd be screaming about if they did). for them the medical is just paperwork. they can view it when you're not there.

Ditto that.

RELAX MATE!! I was stressing like you a couple of years ago, when there were a few loose ends that I could not tie up before our interview date. We just went forth and had our interview, and when I finally had the information they needed a few weeks later I merely mailed it in, and the passports and Visa's were mailed back to me in a very short time

Just stick with your interview and get the medical scheduled for when you can It will ALL work out - I promise~~!!

This is just my personal opinion, but if I were you I would go through the removal of conditions process before returning to Aus. It's a small amount of money to pay compared to the benefits you gain from permanent residency. Even if you don't plan right now to come back to live in the US, plans have a way of changing down the road. We're all really privileged to have permanent residency in the US, considering how hard it is to get into the US! I would look at this as an investment in your future

Again, just my personal opinion, I realize every situation is different...

On the surface your argument makes sense, but look beneath a layer or two and you'll realize that even by lifting the conditions we will LOSE the permanent residency when we live outside the USA for longer than a year. We would have to re-apply for the ENTIRE immigration process again if we want to live here in the future. So, for a somewhat struggling family of 6..throwing $700 odd dollars away on removing conditions for a period of 40 days in order to stay (in-status) seems ridiculous to say the least. I guess I'd rather fly international pregnant on my own with all the kids while my husband is deployed to avoid the penalty if there were one. We just don't have that kind of money to throw around, considering we've moved all these people over 2 continents 4 times in 2 years. It gets expensive!! The immigration Visa itself to move INTO Australia is going to cost $1300. Plus the cost of moving our entire household goods and flying us all back. ARGGGH!!

I do however appreciate everyone's 2cents I think I'll just call USCIS and ask them from the horses mouth. I'd hate to not be able to visit my lovely inlaws because of an overstay! LOL

Conditional Green Card expires, sorry.

At what point does the deportation process begin, and how long does it take?

When the conditional expires, and you did not apply for removal of conditions, they will just send you a letter telling you that you must leave the US by some date. They wont bother putting you in removal proceedings.

If you change your mind in a year about returning to Aus....it would be better to remove conditions, at least you could come back without problems.

Thanks for your reply Any idea on how long they give you to leave? I'm assuming that leaving less than 2 months after the expiry date shouldn't cause too many problems, but then again - you never know! There just is no point paying that obscene amount of money to lift conditions when we will not be remaining here. We also have VISA costs going the other direction to worry about, as well and a surprise pregnancy.

There won't be any changing minds, it's set in stone now. We would like to be able to come back to the US in the future for the kids to be able to visit their family, so I just hope we don't incur a ban and would be able to use the VWP for that purpose.

Conditional Green Card expires, sorry.

At what point does the deportation process begin, and how long does it take?

And here I was thinking the extra weight in my booty was keeping me from tipping over! J/K

I think it hilarious they needed to do a study on this!

LADIES I NEED SOME ADVICE

My due date is tomorrow and I don't see him being born this weekend. Doc said she will sweep my membranes on Monday if I'm not in active labor before then and I don't want to go thru that. I've tried eating the famous Preggo Pizza from Skipolini's, acupressure in the webbing between thumb and index finger, sitting and bouncing on the exercise ball, walking (when weather permits) and sex...still nothing. I bought some castor oil yesterday and that is my last desperate attempt (still haven't worked up the nerve to drink it yet *yuck*) to get this labor started. Any suggestions?

I'm a student midwife and a mother of almost 4, so I feel somewhat qualified to answer this! LOL

First up let me tell you that the membrane sweep usually is not TOO uncomfortable, it is much nicer having you go into labor with that than the pictocin, that stuff is harsh.

Leave the castor oil to be your LAST resort, try the following;

Have sex - the prostaglandins in spermies are fantastic at ripening the cervix;

Tug on your nipples for 20 minutes each side each hour. This will stimulate a positive feedback mechanism which will start up your contractions stronger and more rythmic.

Go for a big walk, the weight of the baby bouncing on your cervix helps too.

Failing all of that, go for the castor oil... Good luck!!

you do not apply to lift conditions? Are they going to come to my house and throw me out of the country? I ask because our plans have changed and we now are moving back to Australia a little under 2 months after Visa expires. We're on a CR1 + CR2

Any help/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated

The weather and scenery is GORGEOUS. The rest is what YOU make of it. There are some very miserable people out there, but you have to go out there and meet people to make friends. Traffic and the cost of living is harsh, but the price you pay for living in paradise. We LOVE living here, and will be kinda sad when we move back to Australia, but excited at the same time if that makes sense!?!

Good luck with your move. I'd check out craigslist.org to get an idea of housing costs. Beware of dodgy area's also, but you can tell those easy because they're so much cheaper than the rest of the locations.

Hi Everyone,

Quick question.

When a K3 visa is received at the Consulate (not that I have one yet....lol), does the 2 years of its validity start from then or when the K3 visa recipient arrives in the U.S? I realise you have to use it within 6 months but does that 2 years begin from consulate approval or POE?

Cheers,

Peta

2 years from POE I believe...

I just got off the phone with the office of Dr. David Miller (Adelaide Medical Examiner). I spoke to Joan and she was so very helpful and really understanding of my many questions. I can’t wait to meet her in person

Anyway, I was ready to make my appointment for next Thursday (getting my Hep B jab in the morning so I figured I’d go straight to Dr. Miller and kill two birds with one stone on the same day). But Joan suggested that I wait for a letter that she’ll be sending over the weekend and one that I’ll get on Monday. Apparently they get so many applicants who get really anxious/excited about their medical and they forget things. So I figured that’s a fair enough reason and I myself would rather get it right the first time than have to go again and again (& I’m sure the Dr. himself wouldn’t appreciate it, not to mention it’ll cost me extra $$$). So I said, that’s fine I’ll wait for the letter. Even more so since she said that Dr. Miller isn’t extremely busy at the moment so getting an appointment shouldn’t take too long(*knocks on wood*).

She grabbed my details, etc, etc. Then I started asking her some questions. Like if I could get the X-Rays done there. Yes. Can I get my HIV/Syphillis done there. Yes. Then I asked her that all I need to do was bring all my results – at this point she thought I hadn’t gotten my immunity checked and when I told her I had, she was very happy and called me a “smart good girl” for being ahead of the game Then I told her I was getting my Hep B done Thursday and she got perplexed as to why when apparently I wasn’t in the age range to have to need it. She said that only if you’re not 19 yet that you’d need it. But at the same time, she said that I’m more than welcome to get it done if I wanted to (which I do, because I was born in Asia and I’m high risk). So yeah, apparently I don’t need a Hep B! She then told me that she’ll send me an age chart and it’ll show on there which vaccinations I will need. Handy.

So there you go. There’s my experience with Dr. Miller (so far). Tracy, I didn’t get to ask whether I can go to other clinics and she didn’t mention it either. I’m not too fussed, I work in the City and North Adelaide isn’t too far away and I kinda want to meet Joan anyway.

So here’s hoping that I will still get my Thursday appointment and get it done and dusted. I’m one of the anxious one, but I also want to get right.

Well, we’re off to Sydney tomorrow for the weekend! I get the feeling that I’ll be back in Sydney faster than you can say – K1 Visa

Have a lovely weekend everybody!

Joan is LOVELY isn't she!! I met her a couple of years ago now

Lovely to meet you this morning Tegan

Oh, and thanks for the iced coffee

I got married in Melbourne in the middle of Winter. My (Hawaiian) husband was frozen.. ;-) Don't know why we didn't have a beach ceremony in Hawaii..LOL. But it was beautiful all the same.

Wow, your poor hubby! We chose a clifftop Hawaiian wedding over an Adelaide frozen one in July!

Oh I bet your wedding was magnificent! We so should have done the same! Spectacular! Did all of the fmaily from Oz come over?

So where are you located? Are you living in the states or currnetly in Oz?

I should have clarified - we eloped on that clifftop! It was just us, the minister and a friend! It was beautiful though We're planning a 'proper' wedding near our 5yr anniversary in 2010 back in Australia.

We currently live in Hawaii, on Oahu - although we are planning to move back to Australia later next year so I can finish up my degree

Hi Angela and all you other luscious Aussies, just a quick note

Aussies living overseas can get on the overseas electoral roll and still choose to vote,

they dont get fined if they fail to vote but they may be removed from the roll for the next election.

Many choose to get a postal ballot if they live too far from a consulate, and if you dont enrol as an overseas voter before 3 years has passed you wont be eligible.

Hope this helps, but if you want to return to Australia to live it may be more important to you.

HI EVERYONE

Just a reminder to any Aussies living in the States have you all removed your names off the electrol roll. with the election not far away you dont want to end up with a big fine.

http://www.aec.gov.au/

hey Kath hows it going sounds like life is great for you. good to hear i will have to email you and catch up soon

angela

I just did an absentee vote at the Honolulu consulate. It was quick, easy and painless

I got married in Melbourne in the middle of Winter. My (Hawaiian) husband was frozen.. ;-) Don't know why we didn't have a beach ceremony in Hawaii..LOL. But it was beautiful all the same.

Wow, your poor hubby! We chose a clifftop Hawaiian wedding over an Adelaide frozen one in July!

I know I'm a bit late replying but here goes anyways...

Hubby and I wasted no time and got pregnant the day he came home from deployment When we had our CR1 interview I was 7 weeks pregnant, where I promptly barfed morning sickness style on the Wiggles who were also at the consulate (ahhh the memories LOL ). I entered the US when I was 15 weeks pregnant, and she was born prematurely by a month but was a healthy little "Rican-Roo"! She turned 1 last month

At first I thought Rican = Puerto Rican....LOL (which would still be American). Happy Birthday to your little girl!

Rican does = Puerto Rican... and Roo = Australian - She's half/half

I know I'm a bit late replying but here goes anyways...

Hubby and I wasted no time and got pregnant the day he came home from deployment When we had our CR1 interview I was 7 weeks pregnant, where I promptly barfed morning sickness style on the Wiggles who were also at the consulate (ahhh the memories LOL ). I entered the US when I was 15 weeks pregnant, and she was born prematurely by a month but was a healthy little "Rican-Roo"! She turned 1 last month

That's so funny because that was the first time I'd been in that mini nex, hubster is on the sub base so I've always gone to the other lil' nex... I'll have to drop by next week after I've done the school/work taxi run! I'll be hard to miss... the blonde chick with a cute tan baby and that all familiar accent mate

Glad you got an Aloha Friday for once!

Hey AussieAmerican !! it's great to meet you, I forgot I wrote this thread lol Your hubby is Puerto rican too? What a small world, hey? I work at the Seattles Best on the Navy base (across from Macas) you should come by...

Yup the hubster is Puerto Rican..

Wow this is weird...is Seattles Best in the Mini Nex on the ship side? If so I was in there yesterday when the darn Nestle machine across the road ate all my money!!! I'll be sure to drop by..when do you normally work? I think I met you on yahoo once ages ago but lost touch when I moved!

Moving to Oahu sounds idyllic... but I'm afraid it does have its drawbacks. First up, the cost of living is ridiculous...the traffic is pretty much insane, and well you might end up with island fever and want to go for a big long drive somewhere instead of driving around in circles! Trying to pronounce the crazy street names is always a fun time too! Petty crime is also another problem... On the upside, not much beats the gorgeous feast for the eyes.. rainbows here there and everywhere. The climate rocks my world also. Got to love the beaches, and the "Aloha" spirit (where you find it).. Being a Haole (white person, pronounced howlee) sometimes brings a little racism into your life (according to friends of mine)..personally I'm a Haole and have had no problems at all.

If you're a milk drinker, it's advisable to buy yourself a cow and sit it next to your sofa..because the price of milk is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I kid you not, it's anywhere from $5.50 to $8.00 a gallon. White Gold! LOL

I'd say go look at craigslist.org to check out the price of local rentals, but, again hold onto your chair!!

Yeah, I figure a lot of people would want to live there but don't for the cost of living consideration.

I took your advice and had a look at rentals - these prices seem pretty normal to me, if this is accurate, like $1295 for a 1 bdrm newly renovated apt in Wahiawa - some for 1200, some less, does that seem about right?

Our rents here are that much. I'm also assuming that utilities, water, electricity etc are high?

I only drink soy milk, so that will help the budget haha.

Per the rentals, you pay the premium for the area/locale.... Wahiawa is *somewhat* ghetto... it is a fair commute from downtown also. It all depends on where you work really. If a 1br is all you need you might do ok. Be prepared for downsizing on space, as apartments/townhomes and family homes are much, much smaller here. A 1br in a NICE area like Kaneohe , Kailua, Hawaii Kai, etc will set you back more like over $2k a month. It's all about location, location!!

I can't help with utilities much because my hubby is in the Navy and housing pays our bill All we have to worry about is cable and phone bills. I have heard from friends though that their electric bills can be $100-200 a month.

As for the soy milk, my daughter can only drink that, and 1/2 a gallon is between $2.80 (at the military commisary) to $4-5 in stores like Foodland. Crazy prices!!

BTW Tegan, hubby and I have the most gorgeous half PR half skippy baby, so I hope your BC is foolproof unless you want one too~! lol

My Husband is Australian, does that count?

Anyway, don't mean to hijack your thread, however we are talking about moving to Oahu. I've done a bit of research online today and I'm not finding too much about what it is actually like to live there, cost of living etc. I do know about the quarantine requirements for my cat!

Any help, websites you think are helpful would be much appreciated - if it looks good that would mean 1 more Aussie on the island (plus a Canadian/American )

Moving to Oahu sounds idyllic... but I'm afraid it does have its drawbacks. First up, the cost of living is ridiculous...the traffic is pretty much insane, and well you might end up with island fever and want to go for a big long drive somewhere instead of driving around in circles! Trying to pronounce the crazy street names is always a fun time too! Petty crime is also another problem... On the upside, not much beats the gorgeous feast for the eyes.. rainbows here there and everywhere. The climate rocks my world also. Got to love the beaches, and the "Aloha" spirit (where you find it).. Being a Haole (white person, pronounced howlee) sometimes brings a little racism into your life (according to friends of mine)..personally I'm a Haole and have had no problems at all.

If you're a milk drinker, it's advisable to buy yourself a cow and sit it next to your sofa..because the price of milk is OUT OF THIS WORLD!! I kid you not, it's anywhere from $5.50 to $8.00 a gallon. White Gold! LOL

I'd say go look at craigslist.org to check out the price of local rentals, but, again hold onto your chair!!

Daphne - you're not alone! I've lived both here (in Hawaii) and in Maine for the past 1.5 years. Honestly I think people are nicer to me here in Hawaii, not sure if it's because of my nationality or down to earth nature, or maybe both. In the time I've lived in the states I have very much noticed the cultural problems that arise when I've made new friends. Back in Maine I had a fantastic next door neighbor who I became friends with. Other than her I had no real friends up there. Here in Hawaii I've met a lot of women through an online friendship group. Now that I've said that, while I have met some AWESOME people, I recently had the unfortunate experience of making a toxic friend. You know, the lying, stealing, etc kind... so I kind of backed up for a bit as I thought I must've missed the red flag there.

I'd be happy to hang out, and I'm not your 'typical' housewife who is all about food (I'm a culinary preschooler! lol) BUT... there's always a catch!! I've got children...for some reason they just mulitplied like little gremlins! I have two school aged and a baby

P.S Embrace Hawaii and all it has to offer - I sure have!! The hiking, photography, sunbaking, exploring, shopping.... I even ended up with a small role on LOST by accident!!

Hi Tegan

I'm a fellow Aussie currently living on Oahu. Hubby is in the Navy (he is PR too! ), and we live in housing near the airport.

Nice to "meet" ya.

P.S I ate my stash of imported TimTams already or I'd offer to share them with you!

I'm an Aussie, but being from Adelaide + the Outback I guess sound a little English... At least that's what people guess. I'm either from England or New Zealand!!! The occasional person will get it right.

I always thought I spoke rather clearly, but after a lengthy conversation of "where is the mall?" back and forth before the lady realized what I meant, I guess I do sound weird! LOL

When filing the I751, and listing CR2 children - do you have to pay the fee 3 times? I.e. Mother and two children immigrated, but is that one $275 fee or three? Obviously with the Visa's themselves we paid x3, but just wondering if we need to again???

Thankyou in advance