Katz

You can't claim any of the medical from Medicare, isn't that correct? :/

Katz, whatever you do, don't wait 7 months before finally ringing them and finding out what the deal is x.X

Yeah, he's gonna ring the service centre tomorrow to find out.

Hey, guys!

I have a quick question to ask... How long does it normally take for the USCIS to get back to you about... Anything, really? My fiance sent off the I-129 almost two weeks ago, and we know that it has been delivered, but there's been... Nothing. The cheque hasn't even been cashed yet. I really hope they do that before the end of July... Having to send out another cheque for MORE money would slow things up even more... >.<!

Bah! I'm probably worrying too much. *bites nails*

Thanks Katz! I see that you guys have sent in the I-129F! Now the ball is well and truely rolling! Just wait for all the "touches" you'll see on the USCIS website. Lots of fun to watch! Congrats on starting the process! Woo!

You're welcome!

Yes, we've finally sent in the forms! All we have to do now is wait and stalk the USCIS site for the next several months.

Jezz, I'm VERY glad that everything went so smoothly and well for you! How exciting!

I would like to let all of you know that if you are Adjusting Status or getting your medical done, there is a new requirement for the TB Skin test. When you do your medical oversea's the doctor only does the X-Ray and not the actual TB Skin Test. This is because the oversea's doctors have not all been made aware of the new requirement which has only recently gone into effect.

Eeek. Where did you find that info at?

I'll give you a scenario of a "touch" procedure.

USCIS Guy 1: Sam

USCIS Guy 2: Ben

[setting: USCIS office]

Ben: Hey, Sam.

Sam: Yeah?

Ben: Do me a favor and touch that file on the desk right next to you.

Sam: Which one?

Ben: The one that's collecting all that dust.

Sam: Why?

Ben: I need to update the status. Show some progress online.

Sam: So just touch it?

Ben: Yeah, just go ahead and touch it for a sec.

Sam: Alright.

Ben: Thanks, I owe you one.

[sam touches the file, Ben updates the status, and we wait another 3 weeks. The End]

LOL!

Jezz and Loke, I hope you both have safe and wonderful flights! Lucky buggers!

Given your timeline, and service center....and as slow as things have been, I would think your I-129F would be approved at CSC someitme in September. From there it could be about a month or a little more (October or early November) before you receive your packet 3. Once you respond to the information contained in Packet 3, sign the checklist signaling you have all the documents required, that is when the Consulate will go about assigning you an interview date. I'm not sure how quickly the Sydney Consulate assigns interviews...accoding to the info here in the Embassy Info the Sydney Consulate assigns interviews about a month ahead. So after they've received your signed checklist, your interview will be around a month from that...so it would be early December at the earliest.

Once you send in your application and receive your NOA1, you'll be able to get a better read on an approximate timeline for your case. Check out the timelines of others who have gone through the Sydney consulate, to see how long it took them from filing to interview for a general idea of approximately how long it may take.

Good luck!

Aha! That's what I was kinda hoping for... In that case, I think I'll be fine. Thank you SO much for the very helpful info.

hi guys!!

wow alot has happened since my last post...

sorry for not being around to offer any support - work has been hectic - ....

anyways i did get a reply from the consulate - 10th october it is - no typo DAMN!! lol....

and they said that my fiance was more then welcome to attend my interview with me and they jotted him down as attending ......... even tho i said that he may visit.. (MAY VISIT) guess they skipped that bit lol.....

Aww... It sucks that you have to wait so long, but at least you'll have plenty of time to prepare for it! Plus, your fiance may be able to attend the interview when it comes around. That'd be awesome.

Katz,

As long as the visa has been applied for - packet 3 has been responded to - a specific request for an extension is not necessary. The consulate will extend the petition approval on their own.

If one has not responded to packet 3 and the 4-month date is approaching it would be prudent for the alien to contact the consulate to request an extension and perhaps give a brief explanation as to why they have not yet responded.

Yodrak

Ohh... I see! Well, that makes sense. Thank you so much for helping me out!

*question flys out of no-where*

2. After the I-129F has been approved, the petition is sent to the Department of State's National Visa Center (NVC) where it is processed and forwarded to the correct embassy and consulate. The process of sending the approved I-129f from the Service Center (through the NVC) and arriving at the embassy takes about a month. The fiance(e) has 4 months from the time the I-129F was approved at the Service Center to obtain the K1 Visa at the US Consulate in the foreign country. This time period can be extended by a consular officer if required.

So, basically I have four months to have my interview from the date the petition is approved. Is that correct? If so... I'll have to ask for an extention (I'll be having my interview at Sydney) if it's approved before October/September (the I-129F is going to be sent out in the next day or so). Has anyone here had to do this? How long are you given? How flexible is the embassy about extentions? I feel a little confused... And silly.

Thanks, guys.

Ladies and Gentlemen, packing is driving me crazy! Less than 4 days till I board the plane.

How exciting! Are you starting to feel nervous already? Especially with all the packing and final arrangements...

Katz, there shouldn't be any corrolation at all between waiting times for interviews and your original petition I hope it goes through quickly for you!

I'm more worried about stuff being mixed up or lost because of this APEC thing. But eh, I'm trying not to worry too much.

Sharyna, I'm so sorry your interview is so far away from now! What a wait...

Would this affect petitions, too?

Awe thanks you guys! I come bearing good news we are APPROVED!!!!

omg what a relief... now that I have given myself an ulcer lol

YAY! CONGRATULATIONS!

3:28 pm ARRIVED at the Embassy... had to turn cell phone off

I wish you guys the best of luck!

You guys are champs. Thanks!

I hope I can ask this here... I really apologise if not...

On the "Applicant's residence last five years. List present address first." part on the G-325A form, where it says "City" do I have to put in the suburb I live in or the actual capital city (Perth)? Does it matter either way? These forms are making me feel a little paranoid about making mistakes.

Sorry for being a pain. >.<

So far, the G-325A form has been a cakewalk to fill out. But I do have one little question about the employment history. I've worked for the same company for over five years, and I only needed to list that. I used three separate lines for the address in the space that was provided. Is that okay? I couldn't fit it all on the same line.

[Company name]

[Company address line 1]

[Company address line 2]

I know it seems like a silly question with an obvious answer, but I just wanted to double check.

Thanks!

I'm so glad you discovered that you don't have to have your medical in Sydney. What a load off. Getting to Sydney just for the interview is tough if you live on the other side of the country. I was lucky since Sydney is my home.

Regarding rescheduling your interview... I didn't do it myself, but I would suggest that you attach preferred dates to your letter of readiness (the one you send in when you've got everything on the big list ). It makes sense that they will try to accomodate you as best they can.

If you DO have to reschedule, I wouldn't hesitate to email them. In my experience they have been very good with the email. Both times I received a reply within 24 hours. Again, give them the preferred dates in the email. I hope you can organise a decent time.

Best of luck!

Oh, thank you SO much! I feel a little better now about it all... My fiance is sending off the I-129F this upcoming Friday. It's good to know what to expect later. Again, thanks!

Also, here is a link to the LAND DOWNUNDER this is a place where all the Aussie American couples are and they can help you answer a great deal of questions because they are going through it *hugs*

LAND DOWNUNDER

Oh, thanks so much! I'll have to pass this link to my fiance... He's a member here too. ^^

theoretically Call them to make sure they still do though.

I remember there used to be embassies in Sydney, Canberra and Perth, though I only seem to find links to Sydney on here. I'm a QLD'er, so I'll be going to Sydney anyway.

Oh, cool! I'll definitely have to do that, then...

There is one in Perth... I went to it about a month ago to get some info. They were kinda... useless. At least for what I needed. :\

Can't really help with regards to Sydney with reschedualling, however:

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...&cty=Sydney

Near the bottom of the page is a list of doctors that can perform the medical, and there are 2 in Perth. Maybe give them a ring to find out if they still do them.

I'm worried about my medical too check out http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;#entry864641, and also check out the 'Land Downunder' thread just for all us silly Australians

Wait... So I don't HAVE to have my medical done in Sydney? I can get one done in my own state? O_O

Thanks for the links!

Okay, let's try this again in the right place. Heh.

As I'm Australian, I will have to go to Sydney for my interview... (I live in Perth, Western Australia). It is more than likely that I will have to reschedule my interview time (when it comes around) because of work commitments. My question is... How flexible is the embassy about changing interview times? Can I get the medical on the interview day if I ask for it? I can't afford TWO flights to NSW and more time off in such a short amount of time. (I ask these questions now so that I know what to expect later, and to ease my mind a little... It's probably not for months and months away yet, but I feel nervous about it already!)

Any advice/experience (no matter how big or small!) about dealing with Sydney would be very appreciative.