redvines

Myself and my wife had a courthouse wedding, only guest was our photographer. Wearing nice but not overly 'wedding' attire. Then filed for CR-1. A small knot ring only as a wedding/engagement ring. Same sex couple through an embassy considered low fraud. No issues.
 
The big party wedding is planned for more than 3 years after the courthouse one, a chance to bring together friends/family from both countries when we can afford it after all the moving countries cost haha.
 
I don't imagine it would be a problem.

I recently went through this. We had no option to get married in my home country as same sex marriage wasn't legal there yet. I was prepared with a letter from my employer about my expected return to work, documents showing financial obligations and proof of return flights.
 
Needless to say I was overprepared.

3) I assume this would mean publications in academic journals/texts etc if that is relevant to your career. Could you have been reading about E-3 visa which is a specialty occupation visa only for Australian nationals? 

Just to let you know, if you (as in you specifically, not your family etc) have sufficient savings you may not need a joint sponsor. I also think it may be useful to be filing taxes based on the interest earned from accounts/CDs etc in your own name - if you are not already. 
 

I contacted the embassy in Sydney (for a CR-1) and they said if you've had a different name at any time it's probably safer to get fingerprints, which I did.

I got the flu shot for free from work before moving to USA and took that paperwork in, they didn't even look at it during my medical!
 
Saying that though, I actually contracted a strain of influenza covered by the vaccine (confirmed by blood test) after receiving the shot but was only bed bound for 2 days instead of a more severe reaction. So with all the planes/travel coming up I would consider getting the shot anyway, especially since it's so cheap and can be free through work/community clinics etc.

This page outlines the requirements for UC colleges:
https://www.ucop.edu/residency/residency-requirements.html
 
You'll eventually be eligible but you need to have been a resident in California for 366 days immediately prior to applying.

This is somewhat unrelated to immigration per se, but I have a couple of trans friends in both my home country and from college in the US, and you'll want to be take into consideration that medical expenses in the US will be much higher and probably a lot less friendly than those in Norway. That's an unfortunate, additional wrinkle to consider before she moves.
 
If your partner works in Norway, she could perhaps enter the diversity visa lottery while you work on sponsorship and income?

I received my passport 6 days after my interview, with 1 of those days being a public holiday for the embassy (Thanksgiving).

No. 

When mine is posted it should still be next day (I'm in Perth metro area so express post has it within the range of next day guaranteed).  You can also track parcels that are express posted online with their tracking number.
 
I'm sure it will be fine but I'm really hoping it's soon so I can be back with my wife before our anniversary in early December, just waiting on the passport so I can book a flight out as soon as I have it.

I also had my interview yesterday, I was super stressed because we were using assets instead of income with no joint sponsor and had heard that could be a problem - but in the end it was not an issue. 
 
They definitely ask for an express post bag for CR1/IR1 visas, if you don’t have one with you they will make you go get one before they let you upstairs.
 
My interview time was 0800, I was there about 0740 and the people queuing were allowed in shortly before 8. I was out of there at about 0910.
 
Read the embassy reviews on here, I found them very helpful in knowing the process etc for when I got there.

Here are my recent times:
09/19/18 - Case Complete at NVC 
10/16/18 - Advised interview date over the phone (+27 days)
10/18/18 -  Interview appointment letter received (+28 days)
11/20/18 - Appointment  (+33 days)
 
I believe they send out all the letters at the same time, so the people who interviewed in October found out like a day before my case was complete. So I think my wait time is close to the maximum you can get - they usually send out letter interviews for the next month mid month so hopefully you should hear soon about your December interview date.
 

The message back in September we got from NVC said documentarily qualified and that case status tracker changes too.
 
Fingers crossed for you - this last part has really dragged and caused us quite a bit of stress. 

The message back in September we got from NVC said documentarily qualified and that case status tracker changes too.
 
Fingers crossed for you - this last part has really dragged and caused us quite a bit of stress. 

Here are my recent times:
09/19/18 - Case Complete at NVC 
10/16/18 - Advised interview date over the phone (+27 days)
10/18/18 -  Interview appointment letter received (+28 days)
11/20/18 - Appointment  (+33 days)
 
I believe they send out all the letters at the same time, so the people who interviewed in October found out like a day before my case was complete. So I think my wait time is close to the maximum you can get - they usually send out letter interviews for the next month mid month so hopefully you should hear soon about your December interview date.
 

I'm assuming the cover sheet is for all visas, i.e the 'job offer' parts seem to be relevant to an employment based visa. Only include things that are applicable/relevant - i.e not everyone has a name change or a divorce etc

Mine changed overnight to in transit too! 23 days I've been waiting since CC, going to call first thing NVC opens to try get that date.

I called back and pressed option 5. This time the guy told me the date. Interview date 20th November! 😁😁

If a doctor conducts a test which results in a positive result he has a duty of care to the patient to inform him/her so that treatment can be sought. I have seen threads where the visa doctor found an issue with blood pressure or heart rhythm and although neither is a cause for denial the doctor advised the individuals of his findings and urged them to seek treatment and advice from their regular doctor. He can’t ignore positive results or findings that have an impact on someone’s health. 

I think any prolonged stressor can potentially destroy relationships, there are studies to show that having children is a significant relationship stressor (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702669/) and even that getting married decreases relationship satisfcation (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3289759/).
 
Not all relationships last, some people just don't deal with conflict in compatible ways, sometimes people grow and change - but not together and they are no longer matched, sometimes people in relationships turn abusive and mean when stress happens. I'm sure the process breaks some relationships and that others finally get to live together and discover that there are problems or stressors that aren't easy to fix.
 
I feel very fortunate that my wife and I had a strong foundation of having lived together for the majority of our relationship, and knowing some of the things we have faced (immigration being the least of it) I have no doubt about our relationship. But I'm sure for some people immigration could be the most stressful thing they face in their whole relationship - because they are feeling that way while being half a world away from your spouse/best friend for comfort.

Nothing from NVC still, 22 days it’s making me quite frustrated. Starting to think it’s unlikely I’ll get to be with my wife and our family at Thanksgiving. 

Even though I don't know when my date is 😅,  so my advice is potentially not so valid.
 
I got a display folder type file - made a cover sheet and ordered the documents as per the cover letter, with copies the embassy will keep in separate slips.  I also made an index page and got sticky tabs to divide out 'sections' of documents - i.e civil certificates, i864 etc .
 
I'm excited for you, so close now!

Am a bit shocked of the arrogance of some people here. Indeed the stress caused by the immigration process is incredible. Not everyone can handle that and not every relationship/marriage survives. Just to say smth like they didn't love each other enough shows lack of empathy and humility. I agree to comments before that you only know what you are facing once you are in it. There is nothing that can prepare you for the emotions you are going through. The pain, anxiety, loneliness can be more than overwhelming especially paired with the uncertain timeframe of immigration. I am glad I am from an Esta country and was atleast able to visit a couple of times. No idea how relationships survive for a year without seeing each others in person. I am sure the number of relationships together with raise of depressions regards the immigration process isn't small. Unfortunately there is no statistic for that.

It took 13 days for me for submission to case complete (CEAC case). After that comes the harder wait for your interview date which will vary depending on your country, so best to only compare there to people interviewing at the same embassy.