ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
LMFAO @ Bex - love the bosses reaction but well done - now you can just enjoy the journey instead of having to be sneaky about it :dance:
CareBearFemaleAustralia2010-07-21 21:57:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
OMG Ted just got off the phone to NVC and we now have our new case number so I can book the medical WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO And OMG OMG it was sent to Sydney 2 days ago :) Bwahahaahaha can you tell I'm excited?????
CareBearFemaleAustralia2010-07-21 20:34:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Trying not to get stressed here on my end, we're waiting for NOA2 to come in, at the moment the USCIS isn't sending emails or updating the websites, the first anyone is hearing about it is getting the actual letter in the mail. Unfortunately, since hubby is overseas at the moment, we'll have to wait for him to get back home for him to check the post. Trying not to be too frustrated by thinking about our NOA2 sitting amongst a stack of mail. ;)


OMG that would truly suck!!! You poor thing.. when is hubby due back again?

Fingers crossed for you that the Sydney doctors and IR process may be different but for a K1 and with the Brisbane doctor they wont let me even book in without the new case file # assigned by NVC - so I'm back to waiting lol. I tell ya it's beginning to be the story of my life :D
CareBearFemaleAustralia2010-07-21 04:03:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Good luck with whatever you decide Bex - you'll just have to go with your gut instinct on this one I'm afraid.

I've got really huge express post envelopes at work that are slightly bigger than the measurements you mentioned - we use them for sending new company registration folders out in. Think I'll take one of those along and then I should be good :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2010-07-20 19:41:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I didn't get mine until after AOS but I didn't need it earlier. Was quick and painless.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-31 21:05:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Erin is just gorgeous and congrats on your wedding. And yes we are doing our bit to contribute to the American population lol.

I love that bib - I've been tempted to buy it in the onesie (although I am technically kiwi so a minor alteration required hehehhehe).
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-29 09:06:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Congrats! She is adorable. I had a baby boy on May 5th. They induced even though I wasn't due yet. My age made me high risk (apparently). :star:


I had the same problem Deb. Her due date is August 4 but my blood pressure spiked out of control so they decided to induce at just under 38 weeks. Works out well though as Mum is arriving from Oz this afternoon for 2 1/2 weeks so she gets to spend all the holiday visit cooing over her first grandchild (although she actually now has 2 as I have a beautiful 8 year old from the marriage) and not spend the time wondering if I'm going to pop bubs out before she has to get on the plane home again lol.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-29 09:03:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Congrats Wayne-Rachel - I love her name :D

Of course a puppy counts - then again we have 3 dogs and 3 humans so I had to have the baby to move the odds back in to our favor lmao :)

And as requested please see attached picture of the divine Miss Isabella. I've never had a maternal bone in my bone but dang this baby has knocked my socks off :D

Attached Files

  • Attached File  018a.jpg   52.99KB   8 downloads

CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-24 14:52:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Hey Nick :D I lodged my etax on 2 July and it was in Mum's bank account on the 11th! She then transferred it through to the US.

Ted and I are delighted to announce that our little girl, Isabella Joy, entered the world on Wednesday 20th July. She was 3 weeks early but I was having blood pressure issues so the Dr decided it was time. She is utterly gorgeous and between my accent, Bella's beauty and my husband's sense of humor we've had a fun few days at the birthing hospital. However we are very much looking forward to being discharged and going home today!!!
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-23 10:06:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Has anyone recently gotten a police certificate in Queensland? My fiance and I are just waiting on that last piece of information before our packet three is ready to go back to the consulate! I wish we had realized they were valid long enough to do them in advance. Ah well. We're just trying to figure out roughly when to expect it as I'm heading back to the U.S. next week and would love to have some kind of idea when the interview will be. Patiently waiting though, I guess that's all you can do. Congratulations to all those that have gotten approved recently!


Yes I got mine done on the Gold Coast and then it was processed through Brisbane. Took about 2 weeks from memory but I've read of late they're taking a little longer. Hang in there :) Once I sent packet 3 back the interview was about 3 weeks after that.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-07-07 21:03:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Congrats on the new job Vanessa that's fantastic for you :)

LOL Nick emmmm no this is a one time one baby only deal - she'll fit just fine in our existing car :)

I was able to go straight onto hubby's health insurance the minute we were married even though I didn't have a social security number and since we married 2 weeks after my arrival it wasn't too long a wait. And it's a dang good thing too since our upcoming bubs was a wedding night blessing :D
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-06-05 20:09:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Congrats on the job Nick :)

I'd like to know where on earth the last 7 months went. I landed end October and now it's June??? What the??? lol

I have a work at home job that's giving us some extra funds and the tasks vary every day. I'm now 7 months pregnant with a little girl due in about 9 weeks. Is getting very warm in Texas - thank goodness for air conditioning!!

Only thing I have left to do is deal with the Texas drivers license but haven't got that far yet. I know I had to wait for my green card which is now to hand. I think now I can just go down (reading from the website) and do a eyesight exam and that's it but could be wrong there. Am aiming for the motivation to deal with that one this month sometime. Have been driving on an Intl drivers license, been pulled up once and had no issues but now the green card has arrived I need to get my butt into gear.

Congrats to everyone on your recent approvals - great to see :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-06-04 18:52:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
As I hold the same country passport as Nick and the green card, would I be correct in my assumption though Vanessa that when we re-enter the USA we have to go through the normal "tourist" lanes instead of the US "citizens" lane?

Hey Nick have an awesome time in Singapore - I love that place!!!! I'd kill for a trip back down under right now but will have to wait til after baby is born :(
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-05-07 16:12:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Hey Kaye love - have been meaning to send you a PM for ages!! Morning sickness not a problem, that disappeared around week 8. My problem is baby brain - I swear to goodness that I cannot remember what I did this morning. All thoughts in one ear and out the other - utterly drives me nuts!!! Under real good care of an obstetrician and a specialist due to age and all is progressing well - happy camper.

Awesome news re the house and Mum coming to visit - that will be SO much fun!! I've got my Mum and my sister visiting around birth time to help me out - I'm so excited about seeing them. My sister was here for the wedding last November but that seems SOOOOO long ago!!! But we're plodding along, dealing with one week at a time and looking forward to a much bright second half of the year :D

Much hugs and love right back at you - you'll have to take some photos of the new house and email them to me so I can drool with delight at your tub xo
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-16 22:08:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Incorrect Dave. You cant' get a working authority until you file for AOS which is filed after you marry. Mine took 57 days to be approved and issued. But then my green card was approved a week later and that supercedes everything lol.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-13 09:00:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Fantastic news Kiwi - so happy for you :D
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-11 07:17:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Congrats on the approval :)

That is a little worrisome Kiwi but not necessarily a mega yet - I thought the clearances went somewhere else for processing. Maybe give it to early next week and push it again? Such a nuisance!!
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-07 07:22:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I remember getting very frustrated with this problem as it was the reason my visa was held up to. The consent form goes to the US Consulate in Auckland who then give it to the Police to process who then give the results back to Auckland who then send it back to Sydney - talk about backwards.

Looking up my dates I can tell you that I express posted the consent form to Sydney from Gold Coast on 11 August (received next day) and the response was received at Sydney on 3 September so it was around 3 weeks.

Hang in there love - I feel your pain *hugs*
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-06 21:11:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Mine took around 2 months - depends on how organised you are in regards to returning the information required in packet 3 :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-04-04 14:24:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
LOL Kiwi - in terms of timing I had my interview on the Tuesday, the NZ Police Check arrived back on the Friday and I received the visa and passport back a week later :D

Well done love that's great news re approval!!
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-29 07:20:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Awesome - congrats on your upcoming wedding - much blessings for your new life together :D

Vanessa's AOS thread is THE BEST - I followed it to a T and had my green card approved last week - no RFE's, no interview!! She' rocks :D

Kiwibird - I'm hanging!!!!!! lol how did the interview go?

Edited by CareBear, 28 March 2011 - 09:00 PM.

CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-28 20:59:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
They only want the records pertaining to your visit with Dr Miller :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-28 10:28:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I sent the DS form back first and then the rest about a week later but that was only because I was still waiting for my medical results. If you've got it all ready to go send it all together.

Packet 4 is simply the letter telling you date and time of interview :)

With regards to tracking your package through to the consulate I followed the instructions in this thread. It worked for me but takes a little bit of fiddling lol.

http://www.visajourn...-to-us-embassy/

Edited by CareBear, 25 March 2011 - 10:13 AM.

CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-25 10:09:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Congratulations on your NOA2 :)

You can ring the NVC to get your case number (a new number is assigned starting with SYD). You can use the case number to track your file to the Sydney Consulate and (in my case) QLD required you to have a case number before you could book the medical (which you already have in hand).

Apart from that sit back and wait and enjoy what comes next - after a long wait it moves much quicker now!! Kiwi was in line for an interview very recently so if you look at their timeline it should give you a fair idea of what's happening :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-24 21:54:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Oh ok, so you have yours now? just from what i read it said nsw and qld get it sent to the consulate... My form from the qld police gave me the option of sending it to myself or the consulate and it was only $42.60 i think it was.. and they said nothing about fingerprinting.. but ill have to go in again and ask about that.. thanks for the reply


Hey I'm a QLDer (well was lol). I had mine sent direct to me and posted it onto the Consulate with the rest of my packet 3 forms when the time was right. The $42.60 option is NOT the one you want. You want the one with fingerprints which is around the $140 mark (sorry baby brain memory right now). When you're at the police station tell them you want the police check with fingerprints and they will sort it from there :D
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-22 08:25:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Okay, so here's a random question... What's the best way to transfer money from an Aus bank account to a US one? Apparently my bank isn't 'big enough' and doesn't use a SWIFT code. And if I get I get a bank account at a 'major US bank', and he transfers the money to me, I don't have to worry about getting in trouble counting that as income for taxes, do I?

Or can he open a US bank account without a SSN?


I was added onto Ted's bank account without a SSN the day after I arrived here. I bought my money over in a money order and deposited it that day. Some banks will do it and apparently some don't. Check with your bank, ours is Wells Fargo.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-20 22:06:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Awesome Vanessa - thanks for the heads up :D

My happy joy moment for the day - Tom Thumb is selling Hot Cross Buns freshly made in their bakery!!!! First time I seen any sign of them since getting here :D
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-19 09:49:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Hurry up EAD I need a job NOW!!!!!!!
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-15 18:15:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
So I was watching one of those stupid reality tv shows on E (yes I am that bored today lol)

And one of the women is dating an australian guy and he told her he has to return to Oz in 2 days as his visa is expiring and he's been offered work back home.

So she's a little upset as she likes him but hasnt been dating him long and is discussing it with her sister and her sister's partner. He (the sister's partner) turns around and says oh well why don't you just technically marry him then so he can stay in the country. It's not illegal or anything just a little frowned upon if you get caught.

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We put up with months of visa BS then AOS BS then ROC BS and this #### is on tv saying stuff like that! Grrrrrrrr :devil:
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-11 15:26:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

NOA2 today!!! thanks to everyone in here for the help so far :)


Sorry I missed this, been off stressing lol - congrats on your really quick NOA2 - that's awesome news :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-10 17:31:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I've got the big ultrasound this coming Thursday - should be able to find out the gender which we're very excited about.

Someone told me to drink a can of coke beforehand to hype up the baby so it's not asleep and then there's a good chance we'll be able to see its private parts - problem is I keep getting a vision of a cartwheeling blob waving its willy at the camera and get a severe dose of the giggles :rofl:

Simple things amuse bored minds lol
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-04 12:43:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
I completely agree re the Doctor. Went to see my obstetrician 2 weeks ago. Had an 11 am appointment and wasnt in to see her til after 12. Making a preggers woman with a busting bladder wait is just MEAN lol :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-03 10:28:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Perfect! Thank you! That makes perfect sense!

Man, what would I do without you lovely people!? <3


No worries :D always happy to help. It's what happened next that was annoying lol.

I signed the form and sent it back the next day, by the time I went to the interview I think they'd had it 3 weeks from memory. They then turned around at the end of the interview and said "oh its not back yet so we can't approve you today"!!! I was gutted lol.

The good news is that the police check was received back 3 days later and my passport with visa inside about a week after that. So tell him not to stress too much if they do say that on interview day :)
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-01 22:27:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Hi Carey, have been inundated with dam paperwork, read the novel i just posted and that will catch u up to date lol.. Have had the flu the past 3 weeks, plus trying to find just the right house, i have been out and about daily and just not online much.. but doing ok.. just trying to get everything in order ready for interview plus my stuff finally arrived from Australia a couple of weeks ago, so now have all my removal boxes in the storeage room in the barn which we wont unpack until we get the new house, its all been go down here my friend!
Huggers Kaye xxx


OMG Kaye - read your novel, what a palaver!!!! Talk about jumping through the hoops - silly isn't it...but they the things we do. Hope your house building goes a whole lot smoother since your current immigration annoyances.

Massive hugs for an easier ride from here on in mate xox
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-01 22:25:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
After I sent the immediate forms back to Sydney I got the following email....

Dear Visa Applicant,

Thank you for sending the DS230 to our office which we received on August 02, 2010.

Question 30 indicates that you have lived in more than one country for periods of six months or more since reaching the age of sixteen.

You are, therefore, required to obtain a police certificate from New Zealand (along with the Australian Police Certificate). Please find the attached instructions for obtaining this police certificate.

<<NEW ZEALAND.doc>>

Kind regards


So that was when I signed the Privacy Application and returned it to them asap so they could obtain. :thumbs:
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-01 22:16:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
For me from NOA2 to receiving packet 3 was 17 days.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-03-01 08:14:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Kaye!!!! where have you been woman :D Have been thinking of you - hope all is well :thumbs:
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-02-25 09:39:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
So upset at the damage in Christchurch overnight - luckily my friends and family have now been accounted for but tears flow for those that were killed :(
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-02-22 08:32:00
Australia and New ZealandLAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi
Mine were ink - but I wasnt given a choice lol.
CareBearFemaleAustralia2011-02-21 20:39:00