Ash & Tiffany

so i just wanted to let people know of my experience today at anzac square medical centre.
to be clear, the form they email you says to bring australian-sized passport photos. do it.
i know in the whole process you've had to supply american photos but in this part, the state department provides them with forms that suit australian sized photographs.
DO NOT sign them before you get there, as they require you to do it in front of them. i took three american and three australian photos today in case i needed the other ones. i signed the american ones and they immediately breathed fireballs all over them (as mentioned in another review of this place by another member). i was so lucky that i took the australian ones because they are the ones they need and i didnt sign them til i got there.
they make you go pee in the sofitel restrooms. you gotta take three escalators up and walk to the far left right next to the check in counter. they give you a bag so it wont be obvious.
i had about a 15min wait and then i got to see dr taylor. he's really nice and answered all the questions i asked him. he first went through my vaccination checklist. i only had records of one vaccination, flu vac, which was recently. i gave a verbal declaration that i had chickenpox. everything except for Tdap and MMR were not age appropriate. so he gave me those two vaccines and then went ahead with the physical. probably took 15mins at the most. pretty run of the mill type one. checked height, weight, eyes, ears, throat, reflexes . did a squat and touched my toes. he took a good look at my body including down there (only quickly) and noticed a mole on my back but quickly determined it was harmless and just caught his attention. i got dressed again after that.
i went back to the front desk and paid the remainder of the account ($445+$100 deposit made a few days ago. also includes the two vaccines, the chest xray and the blood test).
the ladies at the front gave me maps and details on how to get to the next two places. first up was sullivan nicolaides (sp?) at manor apartments on queen street (post office square, near the BoQ building).
i rocked up to a waiting room and simply took a number and sat. girl came and got me and i sat in the big grey chair and rolled up my sleeve. she took my forms and passport and the other girl got her jabby things ready. the needle hurt a bit because its different to the ones i usually get at other joints so that sucked after having two injections previously in the day. it was done in about three minutes so i got my stuff together and headed towards citiscan. this place is on the corner of queen and albert above that chemist the same side of the street as HJs.
waited for about ten minutes and got called in. really neat looking place, looks new-ish. stood up against the machine and she took her happy snap and signed my forms and saw my passport and sent me on my way. that was the easiest part of the day done.
note: if you aren't taking public transport then parking is in one of two places. cathedral square or the oracle building on your right as you head down ann street towards central. i was hit with 40 bucks for about two and a half hours parking at oracle - never again will i park there . i intended on taking the train but my go card had expired and so i just figured "f**k it" and drove in.
overall, it was alright i guess. i was pretty stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the city but you get that.
this was a quick review, but nevertheless i hope fellow brisbane-dwelling peeps find it helpful.
cheers

If you're country is part of the Visa Waiver Program, then consider it to be low-risk for fraud. If it isn't on the VWP then it is high-risk.

Long story short with more detail to come after we've spent some quality time~
She was given a 1 month parole visa and passport was surrendered. We have until this time to get the appropriate paper work gathered and submitted. They said lost/stolen/damaged/etc happens fairly frequently overall - it's still better to do it the 'right' way but they do have a contingency plan. Don't rely on it, but it's there.
Thanks to everyone for the support, and we definitely took a chance but it paid off - as I get the details of what needs to be gathered and submitted I will add to the post.

Here's my own experience and I do believe there are other factors at play - it's not just about whether or not you have a degree - it's whether you have relevant experience in place of a degree, where you live ( I live in Orange County, California) and how you come across at interview:
Once I had my EAD I didn't know where my skills and personality would be best suited in the US job market so I became a temp with an employment agency for 6 months. ($25 ph)
Another temp agency helped me get a position which lasted five years - starting pay $55k - got laid off in reduction in force - ending pay $65k
Unemployed 9 months April 2010 to Jan 2011 - but ended up with 54 interviews and 5 job offers - none of which paid less than $55k and landed a job in which starting pay was $72500 and now earning $76k.
I do not have a degree of any kind and work in administrative positions as an Executive Assistant -so it can be done if all the factors are in your favor if you can find a company who will look past your lack of degree!!
Good luck.

Bring an updated DS-230 to the interview.

Please create your own new topic instead of hijacking someone else's thread.

Excited that it's all coming together for you. Reading you write about Brisbane made me a little home sick. Good luck for the rest of the journey
T

so i just wanted to let people know of my experience today at anzac square medical centre.
to be clear, the form they email you says to bring australian-sized passport photos. do it.
i know in the whole process you've had to supply american photos but in this part, the state department provides them with forms that suit australian sized photographs.
DO NOT sign them before you get there, as they require you to do it in front of them. i took three american and three australian photos today in case i needed the other ones. i signed the american ones and they immediately breathed fireballs all over them (as mentioned in another review of this place by another member). i was so lucky that i took the australian ones because they are the ones they need and i didnt sign them til i got there.
they make you go pee in the sofitel restrooms. you gotta take three escalators up and walk to the far left right next to the check in counter. they give you a bag so it wont be obvious.
i had about a 15min wait and then i got to see dr taylor. he's really nice and answered all the questions i asked him. he first went through my vaccination checklist. i only had records of one vaccination, flu vac, which was recently. i gave a verbal declaration that i had chickenpox. everything except for Tdap and MMR were not age appropriate. so he gave me those two vaccines and then went ahead with the physical. probably took 15mins at the most. pretty run of the mill type one. checked height, weight, eyes, ears, throat, reflexes . did a squat and touched my toes. he took a good look at my body including down there (only quickly) and noticed a mole on my back but quickly determined it was harmless and just caught his attention. i got dressed again after that.
i went back to the front desk and paid the remainder of the account ($445+$100 deposit made a few days ago. also includes the two vaccines, the chest xray and the blood test).
the ladies at the front gave me maps and details on how to get to the next two places. first up was sullivan nicolaides (sp?) at manor apartments on queen street (post office square, near the BoQ building).
i rocked up to a waiting room and simply took a number and sat. girl came and got me and i sat in the big grey chair and rolled up my sleeve. she took my forms and passport and the other girl got her jabby things ready. the needle hurt a bit because its different to the ones i usually get at other joints so that sucked after having two injections previously in the day. it was done in about three minutes so i got my stuff together and headed towards citiscan. this place is on the corner of queen and albert above that chemist the same side of the street as HJs.
waited for about ten minutes and got called in. really neat looking place, looks new-ish. stood up against the machine and she took her happy snap and signed my forms and saw my passport and sent me on my way. that was the easiest part of the day done.
note: if you aren't taking public transport then parking is in one of two places. cathedral square or the oracle building on your right as you head down ann street towards central. i was hit with 40 bucks for about two and a half hours parking at oracle - never again will i park there . i intended on taking the train but my go card had expired and so i just figured "f**k it" and drove in.
overall, it was alright i guess. i was pretty stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the city but you get that.
this was a quick review, but nevertheless i hope fellow brisbane-dwelling peeps find it helpful.
cheers

Sounds like a false checklist to me. Which means your AOS package was reviewed and accepted. Call NVC up asap to confirm!

No case # for us yet either. NOA2 was 2/13/2013 and the NVC received our file on 2/25/2013.
I'm probably going to give it at least until Monday to try again. Hope to hear some good news next week.

There was a point when I was checking the site like 20 times a day... Then I decided to give it a rest and I was down to between 3-5 times a day! Now today I have checked it about 10 times just to make sure it still says 'Post Decision Activity'
We didn't send a load of evidence either. Our marriage certificate, some photos, joint bank acct info, and our house deed stating that we own it together.
I just can't wait to move to Kentucky. I absolutely love it there

Congrats! Fast processing for you guys..

Great news for the CSC K1'ers!!!!
Buy ammo.

This has the table (page 5) that determines what shots you need for your age: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/mmwr-adult-schedule.pdf
These are the shot required for immigration (depending on your age): http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3384cc5222ff5210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6abe6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD
So you only need what shots are on the 2nd link based on the table from the first link. Usually only tdap, MMR, flu shot (if season) and varicella (or history of it).

its only as accurate as everybody's timeline is i guess

I know it was all intended to be temporary, but Vermont better not start getting petitions again.

The second amendment says "the right of the People". It makes no mention of citizens.

It took a month for me to receive packet 4, but it was over Christmas so that probably made a difference. Our interview was originally scheduled for March 5, but I emailed a request for an earlier date and got February 19. Then I emailed again asking to go on a wait list for a cancellation. I had my interview this morning and was approved. My girls and I will be flying to California next week a full month earlier than our original interview date. It is worth asking to go on the wait list!!! Good luck

Wow, this has been one of the strangest threads I've ever seen.
I've always been of the opinion that this site serves more than one purpose. First, and most importantly, people get information on immigration. But this site also provides something else very important to some of us. We get support from other people; probably the only people we know who truly understand how difficult this process is.
This is definitely the place where people should be allowed to vent and release the frustration that always seems to be present during this ordeal.
Good luck on your journey Mary.
It's a difficult journey you're on, but in the end, it will be worth it. Hang in there; and don't let others get you down.

Another approval today, the 29th.. -
http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=141438
83 days out from NOA-1,
WAC, transferred to NBC.
Yay, September Filers !

You did not need to start a new thread about this. Also, this is the K-1 forum. The place to ask all the AOS questions is here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/7-adjustment-of-status-green-card-from-family-based-visas/
The A# can sometimes be found on the K-1 visa, but not always. The most reliable place to find the A# is on the NOA2 I-129F petition approval notice. It is found above the beneficiary's name.

Have you compared the average cost of K1 vs. CR1? In the long run, you won't be losing any money. K1 is more expensive than the CR1, and even after cancelling the K1(the petition) you'll still probably be saving some. Including keeping your job.
Anyways, if you're sure about getting married and filing the i-130, you can write a letter to USCIS saying you're withdrawing your petition (because you're marrying each other). Include copy of NOA1, add your case number to your letter, your full name and your fiancee's full name, date and sign it. If I'm forgetting anything, I'm sure other Vj members are fast to jump in and add.

What you are pointing out is clearly some benefits. If we had it all to do again and knowing what I know now.... We would have done CR1.
In my opinion, it is more efficient and cheaper. Not too mention you can work and travel after you get here instead of waiting for adjustment of status from K1 after marriage.
The only drawback I see is that you lose the money for I-129F petition and a little more time.
I do not know how to withdraw the I-129F. You may want to inquire about how to do that correctly should you choose this route.
Good luck with your decisions and upcoming marriage....

Forgive me if I sound like I'm raining on anyone's parade, it's not my intention... And I know the OP is only asking a genuine question... But could the fact that he has now told people on the Internet that he holds that kind of clearance also cause him trouble?

Plus the alien registration number is typically on the NOA2 right above the beneficiary's name. I scanned in the NOA2 so I can make a copy of it anytime I need to.
Good luck,
Dave