Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	K1 and K2 visas	After reading a few things about K2 visas it seems that whether children attend the interview is dependant on which embassy is involved. For anyone who has been through interview for both K1 and K2 did your children have to travel to Sydney too?? Even though interview is probably at least 3 months away I'm starting to think about logistics as I live 7 hours from Sydney. Thanks everyone	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-03 00:24:00
Australia and New Zealand	Shipping to the US	I was wondering if anyone has experience of shipping smallish boxes of clothes to the US and the most economical way to do it. I'm considering using Australia post surface mail but even that is around $150 for a 15kg box. Are there any cheaper alternatives?	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-04 20:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	Medical in Australia before interview	The Melbourne doctor doesn't need a case #. I'm having medicals done there at the end of the month. I've chosen to get them done early so I have all my papers ready for packet 3 whenever that arrives. I know my choice may be risky if there is a hold up with NOA2 but for me it's worth the risk.	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-04 22:39:00
Australia and New Zealand	Medical in Melbourne	Thanks everyone for the information. Vanessa your link was great information. I had a pap smear last month and am now thinking it might be a good idea to take the result with me!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-02 18:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	Medical in Melbourne	Thanks Lainie. I was ready about the medicals in the Phillipines last night and was hoping the ones here were nothing like them. You have set my mind at ease	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-01 21:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	Medical in Melbourne	My daughters and I have our medical booked in Melbourne at the end of the month. Just wondered how invasive the physical exam is? My eldest daughter is 13 and if the physical involves an invasive or very personal examination I need to prepare her. I'd appreciate feedback from anyone whos had their medical in Melbourne.	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-08-01 19:48:00
Australia and New Zealand	October Aussie Interviewees	Visa Type: K1 Interview Date: Oct. 09, 2012 Interview Result: Successful Envelope Used: 3kg Express Platinum Current Status: No tracking info yet (don't expect to see anything for a couple days) Just wondering how long you had to wait for an interview date after sending in packet 3. I'm hoping to get our NOA2 any day now and already have my packet 3 ready to go. Congrats on a successful interview	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-10 03:37:00
Australia and New Zealand	Moving from Australia to USA	I'm using King & Wilson they are charging me $1800 for 15 tea chest size boxes and 10 book boxes sent in a shared container. They are packing for me and checking all the customs paperwork. It was by far the best quote I got, other companies wanted up to $3500!!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-17 00:22:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	Hey Edenjames, I was just thinking of you and hoping you were doing well. Half your luck getting to go and visit! Big hugs and have a wonderful time. Riss Hi Riss, Thanks for the good wishes. I'm really glad I'm going. Our timeline has changed to mid November and my stress levels worrying about it have gone way down now I know I'm seeing my love. The visit will keep me going for another couple of months if needed. Had hoped myself and my girls would be there permanently by Christmas but now I'm thinking January is more likely. Good luck with the rest of your journey! Tracey	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-26 05:20:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	oh wow.. didn't know that Melbourne allowed the medical to be done without a case number. I left my forms with my friend in Sydney in the envelope, ready to send as soon as my police clearance arrived, I put the date on it that I signed the 'ready for interview' form. She copied it, slotted it in, sealed and sent it for me. you should be ok with your dates, if it comes early, you could just delay sending the packet off to a week or two prior to your return. Thats what I would do. I booked my tickets!!!! In 16 days I'm out of here and heading to California to spend 2 weeks, including thanksgiving and our first anniversary, with my love	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-23 04:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	It depends, I'm not sure on what, mine only took 6 days - but for some reason they scheduled me on 27 November. What about your medical? you haven't done it yet have you? Did my medical in Melbourne on August 31. I really want to see my fiancé and our estimated approval keeps getting pushed out as CSC has slowed down. I know the closer it gets to Christmas the longer it's probably going to take. I'm thinking I'll just book and take the risk that NOA2 is still 2-3 weeks away. I'm planning on being away from November 9-27	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-22 22:32:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	Once you submit your packet 3, they will send you a packet 4 including your Interview details, I've seen the interview can be within a few days or a few weeks.... I'm not sure if submitting packet 3 then going over there would be a good idea. What sort of time frame is there between sending packet 3 and receiving packet 4?	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-22 21:45:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	Thanks guys. I have my packet 3 forms and docs ready to go. If NOA2 comes before I leave but I haven't heard from Sydney can I sign and date the forms and leave them ready for my mum to post while I'm away? I'm not sure how close to filing the forms need be dated.	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-22 21:29:00
Australia and New Zealand	How long after receiving NOA2 for packet 3 to arrive?	Hi everyone, I'm trying to plan a trip to California to see my fiancé and just wondered how long it took for those of you doing K1 to receive packet 3 from Sydney after receiving NOA2. I really want to visit but also don't want to cause potential delays to the visa by not being in Australia. Any feedback and advice would be most appreciated. Thanks	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-22 20:38:00
Australia and New Zealand	Best hotel to stay in for interview	Thanks Meghan. How much notice did you have for your interview? I'm still debating whether to drive in (it's a 6 hour drive and not sure I want to drive in the city) or whether to fly. Problem is I'll have my 2 daughters with me so flying might get expensive... Very excited that it's getting closer though	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-09-11 21:18:00
Australia and New Zealand	Best hotel to stay in for interview	Hi everyone, I'm trying to plan how I'll get to Sydney and where I will stay for the interview. No NOA2 yet (hoping sometime in next 4 weeks) but I'd like to decide what I'm doing ahead of time. Does anyone have any suggestions for hotels close to the embassy? Many thanks	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-09-11 20:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	January interviews	Hi all, I'm currently waiting for packet 4 to arrive, had hoped to get it before christmas but that doesn't look like happening now. I just wondered whether anyone has been allocated an interview in January yet. I'm a K1 visa beneficiary. Thanks for your time. VJ is an awesome group and I'm thankful for the help and support I've received from the members here	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-12-22 09:55:00
Australia and New Zealand	Contacting Sydney consulate	Hi Vanessa, I emailed them last week asking about packet 4 and requesting an early interview if possible as I want to minimize the amount of the US school year my girls are missing. Don't know if it will help but I thought I'd give it a shot. So far I haven't heard back. It's frustrating that its the holidays lol	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-12-31 17:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	Contacting Sydney consulate	Hi guys, just wondering if those of you waiting for packet 4 to arrive have received anything in the last couple of weeks? I'm waiting too, trying to be patient but man it's tough lol	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-12-29 20:33:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	I arrived in mid-March, with my daughter. She had just finished yr10 in Aus. She started year 11 at end of March and completed it in June with all the other Juniors and she is now a senior. The standard here is a little less demanding than in Aus. If you put the child into the year prior to the one they will start in Sept, then they will get to know the kids better before the long summer break. So if your daughter is due to start 8th grade in Sept 2013, then start her in 7th when you arrive. It won't matter if she is repeating any content as it is nice to have transition time into the new system. Or she could do what my daughter did and complete a year in 3 months and start year 9 in Sept. That was hard work for my daughter but it does means she is finished with school 6 months earlier rather than 6 months later. At her age, that was a big bonus! Good luck Thanks for sharing your experience. My eldest daughter is going to do the same as yours did and fit 8th grade into about 3 months. She's very bright and although she'll have to work her butt off I think she'll be fine. My younger daughter is going to redo 3 months of 5th grade which will be better for her. I hope your daughter is enjoying her senior year	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-04 22:25:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	Yes so true!!! I hate the fact that our lives are in the hands of others. I'm so ready for this part of the process to be over!! Goodluck!! I'll be adding you if you don't mind Add away lol. I have never been a patient person and all this waiting some days drives me completely nuts!!! All of us seem to be on edge. Wish your fiancé good luck with the interview. Who knows maybe we'll see him there!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-03 22:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	January not happening, My fiance got his interview date on December 26th (27th australia) I had sent in packet 3 on the 30th of November, and they had emailed us telling us we would most likely get an interview date in January since December was booked. Unfortunetley we didn't get an Interview date til February 5th and they apologized and were hoping to get him in for January but the 5th of February was the earliest they could book him. I did see your timeline yesterday and was a bit depressed by it lol. I'm wondering if they have a short list for cancellations lol. It has been very frustrating getting to this point and still not knowing when things are going to happen. I will be so glad when this part if the process is over. Waiting for AOS will at least be with our loved ones!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-03 22:27:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	Thanks everyone. We've already spoken to the school in california and they are happy with my eldest daughter jumping into 8th grade. I also have looked into STAR testing in California and have had the girls do that testing which is what had raised my concerns. They did the testing for the year levels they recently finished here and with math there were sections they'd never seen. I'm going to try and become a teacher over the next few weeks lol and help them catch up as much as possible. I'd really hoped to have them starting in the US in January but the embassy in Sydney seem to be dragging their feet with packet 4, it's been over 3 weeks and still no word on an interview date. But I'm assuming that we'll get a date in February, still have a vague hope for January, but that's probably wishful thinking lol	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-03 22:09:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	Thanks!! We've thought about tutors and also me working with the girls before we leave to try and catch up. How did you handle the difference in school years? Did he go into the same year level he'd been in in australia or jump ahead?	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-03 21:02:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australia to US schools	I'm looking for advice on transitioning my girls from the Australian school system to the US from anyone who's already done it. My girls have just finished 7th grade and 5th grade in oz and I am planning on putting them into 8th grade and 5th grade when we arrive in the US sometime in next 2 months (hopefully). Having looked at the US equivalent of NAPLAN testing I am concerned that in Maths they are way behind the US system. For anyone who has already moved their children do you have any advice on how to help them adjust and catch up? The differences in the school year beginnings makes this especially difficult.	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-03 20:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney consulate post -packet 3 processing	Congrats Edenjames!! Glad you persevered for an earlier date. Thanks sweetdelish!! Now just waiting for our passports lol. The last bit of waiting yeeeaaaa!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-30 18:43:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney consulate post -packet 3 processing	what is packet 3 and what is packet 4? Packet 3 is an email from the embassy instructing you on what documents etc you are required to send in before an interview date can be allocated. Packet 4 is another email with your interview date and instructions on what to bring to interview.	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-30 05:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney consulate post -packet 3 processing	I sent packet 3 December 12 and received packet 4 January 15	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-29 14:43:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney consulate post -packet 3 processing	It took a month for me to receive packet 4, but it was over Christmas so that probably made a difference. Our interview was originally scheduled for March 5, but I emailed a request for an earlier date and got February 19. Then I emailed again asking to go on a wait list for a cancellation. I had my interview this morning and was approved. My girls and I will be flying to California next week a full month earlier than our original interview date. It is worth asking to go on the wait list!!! Good luck	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-29 05:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	Did anyone else interview last Tuesday (29/1)?	Thanks for the info Toby. I'm hoping they turn up Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Tracking through us traveldocs says 'origination scan' whatever that means lol. Have a safe flight on Tuesday. We'll be flying out of Melbourne later in the week	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-02-01 09:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	Did anyone else interview last Tuesday (29/1)?	We had our interview last Tuesday (29/1) and were approved. As yet I haven't heard whether the visas have been printed and mailed. I've tried the tracking number with Australia post but it says no events. I'm unsure how reliable the tracking actually is. Did anyone else interview last Tuesday and get approved, and have you heard anything yet? This last bit of waiting is almost the worst lol	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-31 18:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	Did I download correct police check form???	OK, I am still struggling. I cannot find where to download it from the website. Is it form 800 that we need? Sorry to be such a bother. Thanks heaps! If you're in NSW this is the site you need and you fill the form in online. I did mine last year and got my visa approved last week. https://npcoapr.poli...troduction.aspx	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-02-04 04:25:00
Australia and New Zealand	Police check confusion today	[quote name='David R' timestamp='1359970611' post='5958425'] Awesome, thanks so much. So you did your police check online too? Yep I did it online. Can't remember if I had to print the form out, I don't think I did (I did mine in August) From memory I only had to print out the receipt and take that with me to the police station. The certificate arrived at my home about 2-3 weeks later. Good luck!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-02-04 04:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	Police check confusion today	I did mine in NSW. Go to this site. Good luck!!! https://npcoapr.poli...troduction.aspx	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-02-04 04:22:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney Consulate so slow!	We are doing a full on ceremony and reception, cant believe its less than 3 months away. Its so crazy how quickly its getting here! I know it's 81 days for us and counting!!! I really thought I'd have a pretty good idea of when we'd be getting there by now. This part of the process is supposed to be the quickest!!! Day by day I'm becoming increasingly more frustrated and restless	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-08 00:16:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney Consulate so slow!	Sydney needs to get it together! Our wedding is planned for April 5! Amen to Sydney getting it together. Your weddings a week after ours yeeaaa. Hope we both get to the US with some time to spare beforehand lol. Are you doing a ceremony and reception or just courthouse?	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-06 23:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney Consulate so slow!	It's driving me nuts. Our wedding is March 30 which we figured at 4 months post NOA2 would be fine. Now I'm potentially looking at getting there just before and relying on my fiancé and his family to do everything for me aarrgghh!!!! I'm also not sure what to do with my girls regarding schooling if we're still here for February and into March. At this stage I'm considering home schooling them with work from their new US school if we can organize that with their teachers there. Luckily my fiancé is PTA president and well known at the school!! An interview in March, 3 months after sending in packet 3 is just ridiculous!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-06 23:21:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney Consulate so slow!	Just received an email from Sydney but not the one I want lol. Got the standard you'll hear from us within 30 days. Surely it can't take much longer!!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-06 22:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	Sydney Consulate so slow!	I'm in the same boat. Two emails and still no response. It's incredibly frustrating when people in October and November were getting their packet 4 within a week!!!!	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2013-01-05 20:54:00
USCIS Service Centers	Calling CSC	Thanks Moomin!! I've passed that info on to my fiancé and he can try it and see if it works	edenjames	Not Telling	Australia	2012-10-03 22:19:00