stephen.marlow
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Posts posted by stephen.marlow
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I used Allied Pickfords to move from the US to Australia back in 2010 and they were brilliant. Not a thing was broken in that move and the movers were very professional. Their price was middle out of the 3 quotes I received. We are now moving back to the US and used Allied Pickfords again. Their quote was $500 more expensive the Grace Removals however their network was larger. I specifically went with Allieds because they are the agent in the US (not a third party like most others) and they have a centralised warehouse in Australia which meant we had a great chance of our household goods being sent to the US faster (waiting for other people's stuff to fill a container - it won't ship until there is a full container load).
I was home at uplift and watched Allied pickfords pack our stuff. It was packed really well... although a box was dropped right in front of me which was pretty awkward. hahaha. I didn't hear anything break so I just gave him a furrowed eyebrow hahaha. As it turns out, my furnature is going to arrive in the US before me... this visa process is taking its sweet time. Anyway, so I just wanted to share that my experience with Allied's was pretty good. They wern't the cheapest but I personally was happy to pay an extra $500 based on my previous experience and their network reach.
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This is a great question. For me, the hardest part was missing my friends and family back in Australia. Watching my brothers carry on doing things together made me feel like I was being left out and it was hard knowing that my nephews would grow up not knowing me. Similarly, watching my friends continue with life without me was tough too. The way I over came it was to get out and find new friends in the US. Really work hard at finding opportunities to meet new people... or encourage him to do things with partners of your friends etc etc etc. He's Australian, and in my experience people are drawn to our accent so he should be fine haha. Also, every 3 months we would do a weekend away somewhere in the US which was fun and a good distraction to what and who I was missing in Australia.
I was only on a J1 visa at that time so I had to return to Australia... but making a friend network in the US worked so well that now I'm missing all my friends there. hahaha We have since got married so we are now in the long drawn out process of the CR1 Immigrant visa and relocating back to the US.
Oh and FYI - he'll go through a period of comparining the US to Australia. Just be patient with him and don't take it personally... it's a long road of transitioning. He'll likely miss good free to air TV, efficent public services, asian food, music and news from around the world and good coffee.
At the end of the day, just remember he is there cos he loves you so always be loveable and he would not want to be anywhere else.
S
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Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask how long it took the IRS to process your tax returns? I'm up to 1 month "still in process"....
Cheers!
I just had another look at the instructions and it does say:
"...you must file any and all late returns with IRS and attach an IRS-generated tax return transcript documenting your late filing before submitting the I-864 Affidavit of Support. "
This can be interprited a number of different ways, but maybe you can get documentation from the IRS that state they have received your IRS Form 1040 for the 2013 FY and send that in with the application. In this scenario, you should also mention in the cover letter that you filed late and it is processing and that you attached confirmation from the IRS.
Or maybe that statement is saying you have to lodge your lat return and then attach the transcript once the late filed form 1040 is processed. Who knows hahaha
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To the OP - I don't think you have any better option available unless you wait for the transcripts. Personally, I would submit what you have with an explanation in the cover letter. If it's not enough, they will send an RFE requesting the transcripts.
The problem with this advice is that the processing times have blown out to 60 days. So by sending in the wrong info you risk delaying the process another 60 days after the initial 60 days you had to wait for them to review the application. The processing times are out of control. it's madness.
I think It's pretty black and white to me that they want the tax tanscript. Partly, I think so they know the expat has been declaring their foreign earnt income.
The inscructions attached to the i-846 form state:
7. Item Number 14. Federal Income Tax Information.
You must provide either an IRS transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year.
Do not submit any tax returns that you filed with any foreign government unless you claim that you were not required to file a Federal tax return with the United States government and you wish to rely on the foreign return solely to establish the amount of your income that is not subject to tax in the United States.
Residence outside of the United States does not exempt U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from filing a U.S. Federal income tax return.
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Thanks so much for your advice. Can I ask how long it took the IRS to process your tax returns? I'm up to 1 month "still in process"....
Cheers!
It was 30 business day on the dot. It makes me think that each gov dept has a 30 day service standard. But once it's done the transcript is immediatly available and you can get it from the irs website, so that won't make any further "processing" delays.
Hope it comes through soon! This is such a lengthy process.
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My W-2's came out of the Cayman's and I sent this along with my 2011, 2012 tax transcript. I sent a copy of my 2013 return with attached W-2 from the Cayman's with no issues and I sent printed copies of my last three pay stubs from a pdf file.
If your an expat employee this should be pretty easy to understand from respect of the NVC. My income comes from foreign sources and will continue after immigration. My 2013 return was filed at the end of May and the tax transcripts were available online after only 3 weeks. You can now just go to IRS.gov and get an electronic copy your tax transcripts as long as you can prove it's you asking. It is the same document they would mail to you.
Did you apply for an ITIN for your wife when filing the returns?
This is true, you can just get a transcript from IRS.gov once your late submissions have been processed. Don't worry, we made the same mistake but it's no drama. You will need the transcript as they will not accept and ATO assessment notice or our group certificates/payment summaries. The instructions state:
Do not submit any tax returns that you filed with any foreign government unless you claim that you were not required to file a Federal tax return with the United States government and you wish to rely on the foreign return solely to establish the amount of your income that is not subject to tax in the United States.
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I've been watching your time-line closely as I'm also from Brisbane. It's a long journey and a long distance relationship is tough. I am so happy for you. Congratulations! Hope you are celebrating this weekend!
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Hi, I have a couple of questions in relation to the I-864 (AoS) form
I have lived in Australia for almost 10 years, I am the USC and my husband is Australian.
1. The form asks if you are employed. would I say yes, and advise what I do for employment although it is in Australia? And then list $0 as the income since I will not be able to use it to sponsor my husband?
2. The form asks for asset totals. Do I list them all under my name (although they are jointly held by my spouse and me). Or would I list 50% of the assets under my name and then list 50% under my husband's name as the immigrant/beneficiary?
Thanks
I believe you only enter an amount if you intend on using the same income source in the US. For eg, you are currently employed by a US company in the US and your income will continue in the US. The will not accept Aussie ATO payment summaries or ATO docs. It all has to be US tax docs. The instructions state:
Do not submit any tax returns that you filed with any foreign government unless you claim that you were not required to file a Federal tax return with the United States government and you wish to rely on the foreign return solely to establish the amount of your income that is not subject to tax in the United States.
In your cover letter, explain your situation and advise you cannot submit W2 etc. Really dumb it down for them so there is no confusion as to your situation.
On this point, it is very important to note the following regarting the Tax transcript check box:
Residence outside of the United States does not exempt U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from filing a U.S. Federal income tax return.
This means, if you are a US citizen and even if you did not make any income in the US, you still need to declare your Foreign earned income (income earned in Australia as a perminant resident) by submitting a IRS form 1040 each year. If you haven't, don't stress, you can submit it now.
So no matter what you enter at the income question, you must provide a tax transcript for 2013 or if you were not required to file a federal income tax return under US law then you need to attach a written explanation.
If you have submitted last years 1040 but have not organised your tax transcript then get onto it now. I found it a nightmare to navigate and get issued. There is a 1hr wait time on the phone... aint no body got time for that.
Have you seen the instructions to the I-864? here is the link:
http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-864instr.pdf
I found it very helpful and I hope it makes it a little easier for you too.
S
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Hi, can anyone help with these questions? I'm sure I am not the only person in my situation... I will keep on looking in prior threads as well...
Also, for proof of assets, the NVC would like 12 months worth of bank statements? Some of our bank statements are pages and pages long, surely they don't want books!? will less be sufficient or is that the requirement?
Thanks
I have not seen anywhere that they want 12 months worth of bank statements. I do know that assets must BE ABLE TO BE sold within 12 months. We just provided a page that detailed the account balance and had it stamped by the bank. Our immigration attorney said they don't want transaction statements. Again, we have not had our supporting docs assessed yet.
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Hello
My husband and I are at the stage to submit our I-864 and IV packet. I have what may be a few silly questions.... Please help?
1) do we receive any paperwork regarding these or do I just post it off from what I find on the net? For the I-864 I use the cover sheet from online payment system, and submit with our evidence and the completed I864 form, u and for the IV packet I just send my husbands birth certificate, police clearance, marriage certificate etc? I've seen something about a checklist but never received one and a bit confused.
2) for the I-864, do I list our Australian address on it as residence and postal address and just attach a cover letter regarding steps we have taken to reestablish domicile? Or do I need to list a US address (my family's address) so they have a usa residence on file? I've read you must show domicile is in the USa (or show we intend to reestablish domicile) however I don't see this question in black and white on the I864 form.
3) my husband has applied for the federal police clearance. I haven't read anywhere that he needed the fingerprint check, so we went with the basic full federal police clearance. will this be knocked back as wrong?
I'm just a bit confused on these items, and not entirely sure if I understand it right.
These are not silly questions. Welcome to the ambiguous process. I understand your confusion!
1) not sure what is meant by "find on the net" however you do need to send your supporting docs in with the barcode cover sheet. The cover sheet goes on top, then a cover letter that explains certain things that may not be straight forward such as your domicile situation, then all the supporting docs. I sent both the I-864 and the IV Application with their respective barcode cover sheets printed at time of paying the fee. Min had instructions to send supporitng docs with those barcode cover sheets but about 3 or 4 weeks later, I got an email saying to send in supporting docs with the attached checklist. There are so many conflicts of information through this process. So anyway, I just sent mine off with the Barcode coversheets and I have recevied notification that it has been received. It takes 60 days to begin assessing. Ugh!
2) The sponsor does absoutly have to have domicile in the US or at least prove intention to reestablish domicile. It is highlighted in the I-864 instructions. Here is the relevant section:
Item Number 5. Country of Domicile.
This question is asking you to indicate the country where you maintain your principal residence and where you plan to reside for the foreseeable future. If your mailing address and/or place of residence is not in the United States, but your country of domicile is the United States, you must attach a written explanation and documentary evidence indicating how you meet the domicile requirement. If you are not currently living in the United States, you may meet the domicile requirement if you can submit evidence to establish that any of the following conditions apply:
1. You are employed by a certain organization.
Some individuals employed overseas are automatically considered to be domiciled in the United States because of the nature of their employment. The qualifying types of employment include employment by:
a. The U.S. government;
b. An American institution of research recognized by the Secretary of Homeland Security (the list of qualifying
institutions may be found at 8 CFR 316.20);
Form I-864 Instructions 03/22/13 N Page 3 of 13
c. A U.S. firm or corporation engaged in whole or in part in the development of foreign trade and commerce with the United States, or a subsidiary of such a firm or corporation;
d. A public international organization in which the United States participates by treaty or statute;
e. A religious denomination having a bona fide organization in the United States, if the employment abroad involves
the person's performance of priestly or ministerial functions on behalf of the denomination; or
f. A religious denomination or interdenominational missionary organization having a bona fide organization in the United States, if the person is engaged solely as a missionary.
2. You are living abroad temporarily
If you are not currently living in the United States, you must show that your trip abroad is temporary and that you have maintained your domicile in the United States. You can show this by providing proof of your voting record in the United States, proof of paying U.S. State or local taxes, proof of having property in the United States, proof of maintaining bank or investment accounts in the United States, or proof of having a permanent mailing address in the United States. Other proof could be evidence that you are a student studying abroad or that a foreign government has authorized a temporary stay.
3. You intend in good faith to reestablish your domicile in the United States no later then the date of the intending immigrant's admission or adjustment of status
You must submit proof that you have taken concrete steps to establish that you will be domiciled in the United States at a time no later than the date of the intending immigrant's admission or adjustment of status. Concrete steps might include accepting a job in the United States, signing a lease or purchasing a residence in the United States, or registering children in U.S. schools. Please attach proof of the steps you have taken to establish domicile as described above.
So, do a bit of a search to see what other people have submitted as evidence for intention to reestablishing domicile in the US. They suggest having a US postal address for quick postage but really, they communicat everything via email with me so it made no difference with communication.
3) there is mass confusion with the fingerprint and name v's name check only. On the consulate website it clearly states name check only is ok and applicants who have submitted name check only have had it accepted. I think the confusion here is that the Aussie police certificates are a national search and so the NVC thinks it's a state only search like most other countries, and so they send checklists for other states where the applicant has lived but they are unnecessary and unobtainable. The checklist asks for a fingerprint search to be done but I believe it's just old policy wording as fingerprints are no longer required. Make sure he includes his middle name in the police check.
FYI - I have only just submitted my supporting docs and they have not been assessed yet. I'm no way near through it yet and so my advise is based on the experience of others and the research I've done.
Good luck!
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Hi Stephen,
I've been trying to call the NVC last night and this morning to ask about the whole finger prints thing and I can't get through. I didn't realise it was like $100 more with fingerprints.
I can't find anywhere online where it says you need fingerprints. Did you see some Aussies on here saying that they needed the fingerprints done?
Cheers,
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
I feel your pain. This seems to have caused so many people confusion and frustrations. The US Consulate in Canberra specifically states "You only need to apply for 1 Australian police certificate and it can be based on a name or fingerprint check. A police check based on name check only must contain all aliases previously and presently used. Failure to provide a name check certificate with all aliases may result in the consular officer refusing your application for a police certificate based on a fingerprint check".
http://canberra.usembassy.gov/iv_faqs.html#police
I did a search and there were just a few Aussies asked to get fingerprints done but others who didn't have to. Frustratingly, we are unable to call the US consulate in Sydney to get clarificate as they only communicate via email. Ugh! I sent them an email asking:
"Dear Visa Information services,I am applying for a marriage based Immigrant Visa and am in the process of putting all the supporting documentation together.I currently live in Queensland, Australia and I need to obtain a police certificate. My question is, does the police certificate search have to be name and fingerprints or just name only search?"
Their response was:
"Thank you for your inquiry.
To obtain the police certificate you must list All Aliases used during or prior to your residing in Australia. Please be sure to note that your request is for the purpose of immigration".
So just today I decided that I will submit a name only search police certificate and go down the fingerprint road if they specifically request it. I understand the problems arrise from the rules changing at the US consulate here in Australia but the information at the NVC remain unchanged.
Hope this helped.
Stephen.
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Mine left NVC 29th of August and the consulate got mine on the 9th of September and sent the email on the 9th of September. So I got it yesterday
. When we rang NVC they said it usually takes about 9 business days from when it leaves NVC for the consulate to receive it.This might be a silly questions, I'm waiting on my application to be processed/approved and noticed you knew the dates when NVC posted your application and when the consulate received it etc. Just wondering how you get this information? Do they advise you along the way via email or is there some Portal I can go to view the status? I'm feeling a little lost in this process and the more info I have the better for my nervs hahaha
Regards,
Stephen
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Stephen, are you in NSW? When you fill out the request for the police cert online, does it ask the address where you want it sent? Did you put this address?
U.S. Consulate General
ATTN: Visa unit *
Level 10, MLC Centre
19-29 Martin Place
Sydney, NSW 2000
Cheers, Sarah
No, I'm in QLD. Yes that is the address.
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I am at the same stage are you... I've just orgnaised my police certificate... and also that I'm frustrated at how slow this process is hahaha.
With the police certificate, it depends on where you are currently living. If you are in NSW and QLD, the state police will send your record directly to the consulate. The offices at the NVC will know this is the case. I suspect they won't schedule an appointment until the consulate acknowledges receipt of the certificate. It is also important to know that there is mass confusion and ambiguity around getting a name check only or fingerprints and name check search done. I have found that a lot of people have been asked to get a fingerprint search done... so I decided to get a fingerprint and name search done up front so as not to delay this process any further. I just included a copy of the receipt with my IV application document pack to show that it has been organised.
You need to send originals of the documents which were asked for as originals - Birth certificate, Marriage certificate etc. You need to also include a photocopy of these. It is an idea to also have a 3rd copy to take to the interview.
Good luck.
S
Did you ship with Allied Pickfords, Kent Removals, or OSS World Wide Movers?
in Australia and New Zealand
Posted
Use Allied Pickfords at your own risk!
Further to my previous post, I just wanted to give you guys an update on my experience with using Allied Pickfords from Australia since now we are trying to organise delivery. In my previous post I mentioned that Allied don't use 3rd party agents to deliver in the US. Turns out I misunderstood the consultant as our consignment is being handled by someone other then Allied Pickfords.
We have also encounted massive issues with trying to have our consignment delivered. The delivery agent essentially could only give us 1 day that they could deliver our consignment. 1 day! Unfortunately, that day didn't work for us as we were out of the state and so we requested an alternate. The agent responded saying that they don't know when they will be back in Chicago again. And I guess they were not kidding because it's been a week now and we have had no further contact from the agent... it's like they are ignoring us. So we have no idea where our household goods are or when it will ever be delivered. Allied in Australia have been good trying to get Allied in the US to contact us but their US office doesn't return calls and they don't know what's happening with our consignment either... so they are also trying to get in contact with the agent. It's like a bunch of monkeys are running the show and it's turning into a nightmare for us.
So I wish to change my previous post hahaha My experience with Allied Pickfords has gone from good to ugly.