ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Yikes! I'm alive, though I feel like I've dropped off the face of the earth. Can't believe I'm here and can't believe I've been here for a month! We're slowly gearing up for AOS and with our wedding less than two weeks away I feel surprisingly worry free. Mind you, it won't be the huge performance that I think Matt's family would like, but it will be lovely and very 'us' all the same.

For anyone who has to apply for social security on a K1 visa - all I have to say is that Social Security for the most part really have no idea what they are doing and if you have to pay them a visit, please print off the internal memo regarding K1 visa holders under the SSN guide on here - it saved me much hair pulling (my own) and stern yet polite words (funnily enough, also my own.)

In news unrelated to Social Security, I will never fly Southwest Airlines again.

I hope everyone is doing really well - you are all in my thoughts (you too Bex, car issues and all.)
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-09-06 01:38:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
USA, I just realized that I come off sounding so mean and self-serving - I didn't mean it that way! I would have let them go first regardless of my own horrible nervousness (on a scale from 1 to 10 it was definitely the most nervous I'd ever been.) I'm glad you're all done and dusted.. well, mostly done anyway! The staff were all quite lovely, and I don't mind that you were eavesdropping. I am a law student, but it's unlikely to be finished for a long time now.. unless I do distance education, that is. A bit of a shame given that I've only about one semester left!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-20 03:40:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Approved approved approved! Bit of a whirlwind trip to Sydney but I was in and out of the consulate in less than an hour - up to security at 7.30 and out by 8.15. I will write up a proper review when I'm home, but it is such a great feeling and really, once you're in Sydney it feels like there's very little between you and that visa in your passport. No requests for any supporting evidence, about four or so questions and that's it! I used Astrid's trick and got in the elevator last.. so I got ticket 001, haha. I was a little surprised at how easy it all was even though we had a cosponsor.. being in college doesn't seem to bother anybody too much in Sydney.

Matt and I booked tickets last week, so POE is August 4th. I'll be resigning from work tomorrow and finishing up next Friday - I think that time is just going to fly. Couldn't be here without all the helpful tips and support from my fellow Aussies.. thank you so much guys!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-19 21:29:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I don't know if it's of any assistance Painter, but I know I sent everything they asked for on the document checklist and they requested another DS-230 in my P4. I doubt that they don't have your fiancee's medical and police report. It can take a couple of days to get a response but they are very helpful and friendly when they do get back to you.. I'd be waiting to hear what they have to say.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-12 16:30:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

And that is my medical completed.

Oh what fun! :huh:


Best time of my life, right there. Did he make you leave your clothes off for the entire thing?
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-07 03:22:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
So exciting for you both, congratulations! It's a day of action today... sorta. P4 came in this morning, my interview is the 20th of July. Suddenly the nerves kick in, haha.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-06 18:41:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
That's definitely all you get, Carebear. I'm in QLD too, and I almost laughed when I opened up the envelope - terribly cheap looking, isn't it? It's just the one page.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-07-01 03:57:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Matt and I met online and we're both WoW and Guild Wars players so I was surprised that we didn't meet somehow while playing (given how much we both used to play) but I think once we're back together we won't want much to do with computers for a while. I think we're both planning on playing GW2 when it comes out and we both love video games so it's been nice to meet someone who loves them as much as I do. /nerd

In visa related news... nothing. Sent P3 last Wednesday and I was really hoping to get P4 this week (and have an interview before August) but I'm not sure if that's a realistic goal. Back to looking at September flights, haha.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-06-30 22:29:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Hey everyone!

Just a quick introduction - I seem to always be lurking around enough that I feel that I know you all already, so I thought it was time to say hello.

My name is Zoe and I'm a twenty year old law student and Queensland resident. I've been an Australian citizen for about ten years now, as I was born and raised in New Zealand... though maybe I shouldn't admit to that as much as I do! My fiancee Matt is twenty two and lives in Chicago, IL. So he's a.. Chicagoan? Chicagan? Person Who Lives in Illinois? We met online a year or so ago and have been in crazy love ever since, and now we find ourselves knee deep in paperwork and vacillating between getting on with our lives and not worrying too much about the process or the wait we're facing and crazy worried/nervous/WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG SWEET LORD but I guess that's part and parcel of a) loving an American citizen and b) getting involved with the USCIS. It's certainly a process that makes you hope you'll never take each other for granted :)

Astrid, I know the Aussie website ry.com.au (where I bought my GHD from) have reduced their prices, so maybe even with postage it would work out cheaper than from anywhere else. I couldn't live without my GHD as it is truly a miracle worker and has got me through some tough times. Winter in Chicago? Not a problem. Sweating it out in Queensland? Totally under control. I promise I don't work for GHD in any way, haha. I tried a CHI straightener in the US and I didn't get the hype at all.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-04-04 04:51:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
Thank you for your advice, Terri & Vanessa! Matt will be sending originals for the I-134 (bank statements as well as the other proof he is using) and a copy of the original I-129F package. Going by your post Terri, can Matt just send copies of his passport/birth certificate? I suppose it goes against everything we've ever been told when we're asked to send such important documents away :)
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-31 20:32:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
Hey lovelies,

Stress central at my house tonight! Looks like Sydney finally have our goodies from the NVC, but in reading the I-134 FAQ section of the Guides, I'm a little confused - it asks for all the original documentary proof from the I-129f. Does that mean that Matt needs to send me all of his originals.. his birth cert, passport, things like that? Seems a little bizarre, so any advice would be fantastically helpful. Thank you so much in advance!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-31 03:33:00
Asia: East and PacificBrisbane Medical Review
Thank you so much for your review, it was incredibly in-depth and super helpful. It's nice to know the little details, and this will certainly be a lot of help for my medical... which will undoubtedly be sooner than my bank account would like.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-09 16:14:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)STUCK @ NVC for AP
Hey all,

I may be getting ahead of myself here, but in reading the forums it's starting to get a little disconcerting when I see how quickly everyone's cases seem to be sent from the USCIS to the NVC - we're almost three weeks from our NOA2 date and the NVC still haven't received our case. I've read a fair way back in this thread and I can't say it's made me feel any better, haha. Aside from calling every day and bugging the hell of of the lucky soul who answers the phone (which Matt does pretty diligently) we get no real insight into what is going on. He spoke to a relatively nice operator today who said he should email our case number to the NVC and they'll send him an email when our case arrives, so I guess all there is to do is wait. Patience is a virtue, right? Any insight from others who have been in a similar boat would be fantastic. :)
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-13 04:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAmerica/Australia March Posting
Hey lovelies!

Seems like it hasn't been all that long since we got our second NOA2 (I have no idea what monkey business goes on at the USCIS, honestly!) but a lot has happened since. From what I can tell, the consulate received our case file on the 8th of June. We received P3 on the 15th of June, my medical was on the 16th and the results were in on Friday the 18th. I sent off P3 last Wednesday so now we're really just waiting on P4.. it's hard to know how long it will take, but I'd like to think I'll be interviewed on or before the 20th of July. As much as I miss Matt, the closer I get to an interview date the more stressed out I feel about leaving my family and friends, but I'm sure this feeling will pass. We're looking at flights with V Australia to LAX for the first and second weeks of August.. it's all coming up so fast!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-06-26 19:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAmerica/Australia March Posting
Hey lovelies,

We were approved (yay!) on the 22nd of April, but the NVC have still not received our petition (boo) and so once again we are in immigration limbo, so to speak. As the NVC have been telling Matt, it takes up to 15 business days to receive a petition - three and a half weeks later and they've finally told us to scan through and email our NOA2 to them and they'll apparently look into what on earth could be holding it up. I'm trying to get a move on with the things I need to get together on my end, rereading forms I'll need for the consulate, getting my police check done, things like that. Unfortunately I can't do much in terms of my medical, because we need a case number for that up here in Queensland. I don't know if I'd rather that the USCIS have lost/misplaced our case or that it's been eaten by the black hole of bureaucracy. I guess they're the same thing, haha. But all in all, we're just staying positive. At least we know we have been approved and my rough moving-to-the-US timeline is still in place, as I'd like to be going come September. It gives us both more time to save money, and I've just been given a promotion at work so I'd like to give that a few months worth of my time. If anything, this process has made both Matt and I more sure than ever that being together is 125% what we want. If we get through immigration/AOS, I think we can get through anything. I hope everyone is going well - so excited for you and your gorgeous little boy, Jaime!

Edited by Matt & Zoe, 15 May 2010 - 07:41 PM.

Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-15 19:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAmerica/Australia March Posting
Hey Gypsy & Chris,

We aimed for Feb but also didn't quite make it, so it ended up in the post on the 4th of March. It's a great step forward for us as it's been in the pipeline for a little while, and though I wish I could have been with Matt to help him put it all together (if only for an extra pair of of eyes) hopefully it will all go smoothly.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-03-05 03:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Stasis, I don't believe K1 visas are accessible via the automated system - you need to speak to a human :)

After twenty seven days of getting very little information from the NVC, today we finally recieved a second NOA2. So the USCIS have unearthed our case from somewhere and it looks like it's on it's way to the NVC. Hopefully they'll have it this week. It's a relief, that's for sure.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-18 19:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Hi guys, just a quick question - our case has not arrived at the NVC yet; we were approved on the 22nd of April. Despite Matt calling daily, there seems to be no change. Is this typical? The NOA2 says to allow 2-4 weeks for processing so we're just a little curious as a few of our fellow March filers who were approved a couple of days before us have already heard back from their consulates. Any insight would be fantastic :)
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-07 02:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Approved! Appppprrrrrrrooooooooooooooved! Got a text from Matt asking me to check the website.. and we're approved. Thank you, CSC.

I am so excited and so happy.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-04-22 21:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Though I'd love to think that we'll be next (our sending date and NOA1 are exactly the same as JR's) sometimes I think there is no rhyme or reason to who gets approved. It will happen when it is meant to, I suppose. Surely we'll start to see more approvals within the next week or so.
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-04-15 03:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Florianns Man, thank you for that information, I'm sure it will come in handy soon!

So excited for you AKteacher, it could be good news coming your way super soon. Our NOA1 was a couple of days before you but I'm just glad that we've seen some movement generally for all of us March CSC filers, the patient little angels that we are :D
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-04-14 02:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsMarch 2010 - K1 CSC Filers
Hey all! Our I-129F was posted on the 4th of March but we're still waiting for our check to be cashed too - I'm strangely glad to hear that there are other people who are waiting on this as well :) Best of luck, everyone!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-03-11 00:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresYoung couple
Like a lot of posters in this thread, I just want to wish you all the best!

I'm 20 and Matt, my lovely USC fiancé, is 22. We had our I-129F approved recently - my advice would be to just read as much as you can (VJ guides are seriously a godsend) and try to get your head around the process. This experience can be overwhelming and it can be tough, but I think that's what makes this process what it is. You'll have your ups and your downs but keeping the end goal in mind seems to ensure my sanity :) Everyone here is super supportive and helpful and questions always have answers it seems, even if you find them by trawling through old threads and doing searches. Moonandstar is right, country-specific boards are a huge help.

Good luck!
Matt & ZoeFemaleAustralia2010-05-04 02:55:00