TracyOz

LOL... Oh Mike WE COULD ONLY wish that the average approval time at CSC was ONLY 11 days... we would all be very happy little vegemites.. <grin>

No what that particular stat means is that there is an average time from you sending your I-129F to the CSC centre and them "acknowledging" via a NOA-1 (notice of action) that they have "received it"... however with that being said there is a bit of a backlog there at the moment, and those NOA-1s are taking anything from short 11 days up to over a month..

The approval is the NOA-2 which is taking approximately 100-150 days AFTER THE NOA-1.. (it is in between your NOA1 & NOA2) that you might receive RFE's (requests for further evidence).

THEN once the NOA-2 is given, the file gets forwarded to the NVC in New Hampshire.. (which can also take anything from a week to 5/6 weeks) THEN it is processed there, THEN it is forwarded to your fiancee's country consulate where they will process it (LOL) then they will send to your fiancee' a packet of instructions - which they have to fill in and foward back... BEFORE an interview date is set...

as I said at the start an 11 day approval... OH WHAT A BLISS that would be <grin>

Good luck... and just make sure you take your time with filling out your I-129F and add anything extra to it that you "think" they might need to help ensure that you don't get an RFE (check the guides and example forms here at VJ) to give you some extra advice...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

,

"Yay" - light at the end of the tunnel for you... for this part of the journey anyway.... Have FUN filling out those forms...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

and as a Great Wise Man... Mr Walt Disney so aptly puts it...

All your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them....

and

BELIEVE - if you can dream it, you can DO it...

Congrats. to those who have received their NOA'2's.... WHOO HOOO... what a wonderful reason for you to give "thanks"...

and YES isn't it FANTASTIC to know that this holiday season is the last one without our love ones??? I was just saying that to my darling SO last night when he was telling me what he will be doing with his kiddos for Thanksgiving this week... I wish I was able to be in the USA with him.... but then told him that because he will be here for Xmas & I plan to fly over there (to wait out part of this process LOL... during Feb/March - and to organise schooling and stuff in preparation for my kiddos moving)... It WOULD mean that this Thursday "holiday" would be the last special occasion/day that we have to spend apart... and that is an AWESOME feeling...

have a GREAT day folks... and here's hoping that they are paying the CSC, VSC & NVC staff some extra "overtime" so that they keep on churning out those NOA's and approvals over the silly season..

Tracy

Congrats to those approved recently

and YAY I am at 341 now... <grin> inching my way up the ladder.... AND I noticed in my timeline that another day got knocked off ... must be all the recent approvals (or updating of folks timelines)... we'll see what the thanksgiving break does for the number crunchers like me..

have a GREAT day folks

Tracy

Looks like there are already 3 from CSC for this week YAY... congrats...

on top of my (lower CSC) figure I am gonna say that overall I think that maybe 25 approvals (all up from each of the centers) will come through... the more they approve the faster they will get to September filers LOL...

have a GREAT day folks

Tracy

Hey Parys NO PROBLEMS.... I will let you know via email or PM all of the details - and really it is NOT A problem or drama for me at all.... so you can rest your mind and know that come hell or high water you WILL HAVE A PUDDING steamer for Xmas <grin>

I know myself with the times that I have spent over there, how frustrating the (differences) in shopping for "stuff" can be - like what we are used to here in Australia for cooking etc... head into a store looking for a specific thing... (in the land of EVERYTHING) grin, but not be able to find it... not just "cookware" but also ingredients...

And knowing that Vegemite has to take a bit of a "remakeover" and removal of some ingredients before it is allowed back on the "importing for selling" stakes over there, and my kids and I THRIVE on the stuff - means that we will be taking some big jars with us when we move, we will be sending my fiance back (after he visits here at Xmas) with a couple of jars to put in the pantry in preparation for our arrival LOL... and whenever anyone is over visiting us next year they too will be under strict instructions to bring it... (along with Berocca - which also is difficult to find an exact substitue - kwim? )

have a GREAT day folks, and thanx for those indications about the transporting of goods... I won't be worrying too much about quotes till next year, and even then some of mine and my kiddos stuff is going into storage here with my eldest son - so I can save up for its' removal as just our airfares and all of the paperwork & fees for (me and kids) is sucking up my funds at this moment (without removalists thrown on top) LOL... but when the kids and I go we will definitely be in the "excess baggage" run with between 3-4 cases each... (at only $100 buckaroonies) for extra cases ontop of our standard 3 we are allowed (only because of our F/Flyer status) we will get around 12 x 32kilos of stuff in during our move... that is quite a fair bit... <grin>

Tracy

I am going to Westfield Marion tomorrow or Thursday... happy to look for you and see what they have (I think General Trader had some in the other day)... I am sure they aren't too exxie$$ and pretty easy to send so if I find one I will let you know and if you want me to send it across then I am more than happy to do so...

BTW - noticed you are from ADL ... and used Grace Bros. Removals...

Could I have more info on what you moved and what it cost you to do so?

I won't be moving furniture, just boxes of "stuff" LOL... (including a pudding steamer <grin> - plus a few necessary other Aussie items that I know are VERY difficult to come by in the USA)...

another question - you had posted a while back about (no region DVD players)... WAS wondering how you went with that - multi-region.. My kiddos and I have so many DVD's that they have accumulated I WOULD hate for them not to work over there - kwim?

have a GREAT day & do let me know about the Steamer... cause seriously it is no problem if I can locate one

Tracy

Just have to SHARE a funny story about the Australian Police Checks...

Went in yesterday (South Australia) to drop off my National Police Check form, and to get mine and one of my kiddos prints done...

all good so far.. yes a "little" early as we don't even have our K-1 interview yet (probably not till March/April) but I will be O/S during February & March, so am really trying to get some things done that CAN be done - kwim?

Police officer:- Ummmm I don't think you really need to go to this extreme.

Me:- Yes Officer I do - it is for a USA visa

Police officer:- we are under the visa waiver progam miss you really do not need to go to all this trouble.

Me:- Yes Officer I do - it is for a Fiancee visa to the USA with the intent of moving there. This is what they require us to have prior to our visa interview in Sydney

Police officer:- Well when will that interview occur

Me:- How long is a piece of string <grinning at him> honestly sir we are not sure, however we anticipate that it will be around March/April:- but I phoned your police station yesterday and found out that these things can take 2-4 weeks - I like to be well prepared and with Xmas coming along so fast - and the fact that I will be away during most of February and March - I really want to get this taken care of now.

Police officer:- Alright - BUT I really don't think that this is necessary - Australia has arrangements with the USA you know.

Me:- Yes Officer I am aware of that - but SERIOUSLY do you think that I would willingly be parting with almost $300 right now for 2 sets of Police & fingerprinting, if I absolutely didn't need to???

Police officer:- hmmmm 'spose not...just seems a bit of a waste you know...

So off we toddle - get all inked up and my eldest son and I had our prints all done - fingers, palms, sides of palms and extra thumb prints...

Go back out to wait for them to give me my receipts for payment etc... and WOULDN'T you know it... but one of their machines was down... So GUESS what... HE didn't charge us for the fingerprinting LOL.. he said it was "no skin off his nose"... LOL

BUT then he hands me over the fingerprint charts... to take home...

so

Me:- Officer don't you need these to attach to the police check form

Officer:- No you can do with them whatever you want

Me:- Officer I am sure that you are incorrect - like HOW are you going to do the fingerprint check with the national police check without the actual fingerprints....

Officer:- Shrugs his shoulders at me and say - No I do this all the time - I am right you will just hand them in at the consulate...

Okay so I go away quite confused... TOTALLY RESTLESS nights' sleep... waking up solidly at 4.30am... KNOWING in my heart of hearts he was wrong...

paced the house till the police station opened at 7.30am... rang them... asked the question... SHOULD OUR FINGERPRINTS card been attached to the Police check form .... the (woman - LOL - of course) officer says... YES they should have....

Me:- Sheesh, darn it and drat it - can I drop them off this morning if my forms haven't already left for the national records office..

She goes away - checks on this, and then lets me know that no they hadn't left yet..

Me:- GREAT I will have them dropped off within the hour...

Still HALF expecting that we would be charged for the fingerprinting... BUT NO...

SO "YAY" LOL... that was a $200 savings in all of this... (not much in the scheme of things)...

Just thought I would share....

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Hey Mox - love your thoughts... and I concur... my "estimated" date dropped two days as well... LOL... now if it can do that each and every week, then I MIGHT just see my NOA-2 either very very late January or sometime in February... which will be FAR better than March LOL...

I do agree once they start moving that backlog of June/July that those after that "should in theory" be processed faster... but then I suppose the NVC will have the backlog instead... GRRRRRR... no fun in this game is there...

have a GREAT day and GOOD LUCK to all those waiting on NOA-1's they WILL come through soon I am sure.

Tracy

CONGRATULATIONS now you definitely have something to give thanks for... for thanksgiving

have a GREAT day

Tracy

<grin> well my 36 and 50's don't seem to be getting anyone anywhere... so this week, being a shortweek (or is it LOL... will they have staff working overtime??)

anyway... put me down for

18... and we will see how it goes..

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Well LOL. BS or no BS. I think that the timelines when updated give a fairly "fair" estimate for most folks, true VJ is NOT ALL those that are applying for visas etc. but those on here are a fairly indicative cross-section of those who are applying.

But with that being said and done - you must be having a bad day - sorry if you are, we all do know what you are going through, but no point belittling what some of us like to look at - if you don't want to adjust or update your timeline then that is fine - no point making a big song and dance about it.... or trying to make those of us, feel silly/bad who do like to number crunch, or offer help to others (who don't know how or about the timeline tool) use it..

Have a GREAT day

Tracy

Thanks guys... I have been doing further research on this since I posted...

Was looking at the I-485 AOS forms and the instructions for that..

and found this interesting on page one of the instructions...

Who may file this form I-485

blah blah...

B. If the spouse or CHILD is residing abroad, the person adjusting status in the US should file the FORM I-824, application for action on approved application or petition, CONCURRENTLY with the principal's adjustment of status application to allow the derivatives to immigrate to the US without delay, if the principal's adjustment of status is approved.

...

I thought that was really quite interesting, so will definitely bring it up when I go to the Consulate Interview and ask them at the time..

Have a GREAT day

Tracy

Hi All

I am hoping that some folks have gone through the K-1 process with children involved for the K-2 and might be able to answer some questions for me..

Some background information here that might help.

My application was filed listing all 3 of my kiddos..

my eldest son is 18.

He will not actually be moving over with me and my youngest 2 when we leave (after the interview in Sydney) but will be following later in 2008 - as he will be attending (college) here in Australia and even though he will come over to the USA late 08, for several months - at this point he plans to come back to AUS for some of 2009 (again for schooling), and again in 2010...

I am getting all of the required forms/medicals & police/fingerprints done for him at the same time that I am doing all the rest of ours.. (BIG JOB to go through this process when there is more than just "me" involved LOL - if any of you think that you have a stack of $$ costs and paperwork as a single person... you should SEE what it all is about when it is a person & 3 kids LOL).. anyway..

When we go for the interview in Sydney - which we anticipate to be around about March/April of 2008 -

Should he go up there for the interview with us - even though he won't be going over to the USA till later in the year?

and the next questions..

When my darling fiance and I get married in the USA (which will be in probably May) depending on the interview date in Sydney.. and apply for the AOS/EAD/AP for myself and my other 2 kidlets ARE WE able to also apply for all of my eldest son's as well even if he is not actually yet in the USA????

I am hoping that either some of you have gone through this yourselves and can answer my questions, or if there are any legal-eagles on here who actually might know the answers... or should I just wait and ask them at the Sydney consulate when we go for the interview...

I realise that I still have months to go before the interview takes place - but we are in the midst of a thousand things here at the moment (LOL) packing up my house which just recently sold... getting ready for Xmas (and my fiance's visit YAY)... and then I am actually flying back over to the USA in February for several weeks to organise wedding plans etc... while WAITING WAITING WAITING for the Sydney interview date... so at this time I am just trying to make sure I have all documents, all i's dotted, t's crossed... and my folder of information just sitting there ready and complete for the interview stage, so I can fly back in, get my kiddos ready, pack our bags, head to Sydney for the interview and then fly on into the arms of my beloved...

have a GREAT day and thanks in advance for any help.

Tracy

Just giving this a bit of a bump up...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

yay the HO HO Ho has been overturned... Reading the Adelaide Advertiser today... and there will be HO-ing going on this xmas... SHEESH lucky I would have hated to have banned BOTH Myer and David Jones from (not my xmas shopping) but my after Xmas sale shopping <grin>

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Good Luck with everything... whereabouts in Aus is your SO located? I am in Adelaide and this weekend is HOT HOT HOT... <grin> while my SO is in getting down to winter parkas and warmer gear I had my kiddos at the beach this morning soaking up some good old Aussie "mega" sun rays...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

common law name usage... legal (yes EVEN in the USA) and can definitely be used (I know because all 3 of my children - by common law are referred to by my maiden name, and I was able to get passports for each of them in that context)..

The MOST important thing is as MUCH SUPPORTING EVIDENCE/DOCUMENTS that you can compile as possible (and this does also include what we are supplying to the USCIS) is an affidavit/declaration by you about the "surname usage" That you (B/Certificate # xxx has been "commonly using" the surname for no illegal intent of xxx since xxxx that you have many records and letters etc... that indicates this) ... PLUS you will need other documentary evidence that this is how you have been referred to ... and approximately since when... Such as School Records, Medical records, employment etc. etc. etc...

MORE than what you need would be best LOL... saves the RFE's... and YES absolutely put the (other names known as or used) on the forms with a notation of "see attachments x through x" to confirm this...

hope that helps

have a GREAT day

Tracy

I am sure they do... or at least someone/people from the department do... I mean the USCIS is a business after all and public favor/critisism is important for them to be aware of in some way shape or form, if only to help improve how they are perceived... for us to think that they don't (or don't have somebody - even if an outside source) monitoring immigration boards... well VJ is actually the largest board about this sort of stuff, and the most regularly used... so I am SURE that there are some flag words/threads that someone is monitoring ... I however doubt that any of the actual "adjudicating staff" go home after their 6-8-10+ hour shift and quickly log-on to VJ just to here our woes/questions/and other such stuff... that would definitely be like taking work home..

LOL... all I can say to them if they are - hey find my application then "google" me - faster than an FBI check to check up on who I am, what I do, etc... <grin> would be all too easy LOLOLOL

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Way to go guys I am getting chills of happiness as you all start to come up for your interviews... and CANNOT wait for us Sept. filers to be doing the same... hard to wait though LOL... as I KNOW you all understand... so my darling SO is flying over to Aus for Xmas, and then I am flying over there for part of the (expected) Feb/March wait time, as I don't see my kiddos and I having an interview before sometime in April - so will get them off to the new year at school here in Aus. go over there - spend some time with my honey and come back in preparation for that elusive interview date... I can ONLY IMAGINE how excited you are all getting... keep us posted...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Kevin... I LOVE what you wrote...

Christmas is my favorite time of year - and my birthday falls just 2 days short of it too, so that is probably why and I AM SO SO excited because my darling Steven is flying over from the USA to come and spend it with me.... I CANNOT CANNOT wait... he being here with me and my children will just be the ABSOLUTE BEST Birthday and Christmas present ever... (well aside from when the USA govt. allow the kids and I to have our visa and move over to him)

have a GREAT day and thankyou so much for sharing that with us..

Tracy

Congratulations to you... I have just read through the past couple of pages and WOW WOW WOW I feel your excitement, you brought tears to my eyes... cause I know that I and my fiance will feel EXACTLY the same way when we see those same words... GOOD LUCK on the next phase of this excruciating journey

have a GREAT day

Tracy

YAY... CONGRATULATIONS - Great pre-xmas present for you

have a GREAT day

Tracy

CONGRATULATIONS to you Debz - awesome news...

have a GREAT day

Tracy

Oh YAY thanks Stilltheprettiest you helped me jump from 392 up to 349 .... all in a twitch of the nose... Now perhaps we should send USCIS the DVD's of Bewitched so that they too can learn how fast it is to speed up the process...

I realise that some cases would be more complex than others... but seriously - how hard is it to have a person - with a checklist, opening a package, place barcodes on all the pages enclosed... work through their list... in a simple order... (like the visa approval is REALLY not the approval... that has to come from the NEXT waiting game and the interview...)... LOL..

So simple list...

Cover Sheet - check

Check - check

Application - filled in/signed - Check

Proof of who we are (Bio information) & photos - check

Birth certs & any divorce papers - check

Story of meeting - check

Proof in some way shape or form of meeting in previous 2 years - check

Letters of intent - check..

Bunch of other stuff that may or may not be important at this stage - check...

too simple... do it - pass it on to the next person... either Person (a) for further scruntiny and questions etc.. or Person (B) for the APPROVED stamp... then ship it out to NVC...

sorry - I know that it is a "tad" more involved than this, and I am not making light of it at all - but there must be some applications that seriously could just move through the system like a breeze... as I said this is really just the staging area - not the full-on deal...

Have a GREAT day... oh and thanks again (that jump put a spring in my step) LOL... even if it is just on a list (and only a VJ list - we are probably only 10% of the real number of K-1's)..

Tracy