ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Asia: East and PacificReturning to Australia with Family
It's not when she arrived, it's the fact that she isn't the spouse of a US citizen.. it says that it takes 3 years for spouses but 5 years for everyone else
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-18 13:30:00
Asia: East and PacificReturning to Australia with Family
No, you can be a dual citizen too since both countries allow it

http://www.citizensh...g/dual-citz.htm
http://travel.state....s/cis_1753.html
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-18 13:25:00
Asia: East and PacificReturning to Australia with Family
QUOTE
when can you apply to become a naturalized US citizen, because my husband and i plan to move back to Australia one day with the hopes of being able to have dual citizenships between the USA and Aus to be able to come and go as we please, is this possible at all??


Yes absolutely, this is what my husband and I are doing. I understand it will take both you and I 3 years of residency in the US before we are eligible to naturalize. I am a CR1 holder so they count the date of my POE but you being a K-1 holder I think they might count your AOS approval date but I'm not certain of this

QUOTE
General Eligibility Requirements for U.S. Citizenship
...
Have resided as a permanent resident in the United States for at least 5 years or 3 years if you meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of a U.S. citizen
...

Source: http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

I'm not certain about this but for your daughter I think it may take her 5 years.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-18 13:14:00
Asia: East and PacificReturning to Australia with Family
Yes, your daughter has dual citizenship (Australian + US) through descent.

QUOTE
just one other thing ... i already have my green card which i have to renew next year for 10 years .... so if i were to move now do you think that everything i've done will still have been done for nothing?


Unfortunately, yes.

QUOTE
Maintaining Permanent Residence
You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

- Move to another country intending to live there permanently.
- Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.
- Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.


source: http://www.uscis.gov...00045f3d6a1RCRD

The only way you can avoid this is if you wait until you have naturalized to become a US citizen, obtained a US passport, and then relocate back to Australia.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-18 11:04:00
Asia: East and PacificReturning to Australia with Family
I am assuming your husband and daughter are both US citizens in which case the process to obtain a US passport is fairly simple: http://travel.state....sport_1738.html

Your daughter should also qualify for automatic Australian citizenship (through birth) which would entitle her to an Australian passport (and legal right to stay in Australia): http://www.citizensh...-by-descent.htm

Your husband on the other hand will need to apply for an Australian spousal visa. This can be done through the Australian Embassy in Washington DC (the equivalent of DCF basically). Since you will be applying outside of Australia the visa category is a Subclass 309 Temporary spousal visa. Two years after the grant of this visa your husband will be eligible for second stage processing to receive a Subclass 100 Permanent spousal visa (similar to the removal of conditions process in the States).
See http://www.immi.gov....artner/309-100/ and http://www.usa.embas..._Migration.html I don't know how long the 309 process takes here (we did ours through Tokyo and it took 2 months) but if it's anything as quick as the 100 process (which we did through DC and it took them a days processing) it should go fairly quickly

My concern is that if you move permanently away from the US before naturalizing to become a citizen you are at risk of losing your permanent residency and if anything should ever arise in the future that you want to move back to the States, you would have to start the process all over again.. I strongly suggest that you re-consider when you want to move and if possible, delay it until after you have naturalized and received a US passport.

Edited by kaffy, 15 July 2009 - 08:07 AM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-15 08:05:00
Asia: East and PacificAustralian passport
after they become a citizen they can
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-08-31 21:55:00
Asia: East and PacificAussie beneficiaries - how long to get an interview at Sydney?
check my timeline smile.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-09-15 21:35:00
Asia: East and PacificOpen Enrollment at Work
^ OP is filing for a CR1/IR1 visa which means they are already married
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-10-06 23:13:00
Asia: East and PacificSydney Consulate: packet 3 documents ready, how long before interview
Yes, you can send all the documents at the same time. They only suggest sending DS-230 first because most other applicants aren't as organized and therefore need time to prepare everything else smile.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-10-23 08:59:00
Asia: East and PacificSydney Consulate: packet 3 documents ready, how long before interview
Depends how heavy their workload is.. can take anywhere from 1 week to 4 weeks
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-10-22 19:35:00
Asia: East and Pacificdoes Sydney accept non-immediate family members as co-sponsors
Your income cannot be included unless it will continue after you immigrate to the US
I think assets should be okay but if it's a house, he'll need to be on the deed, and if it's money it will need to be held in a joint account, etc
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-11-03 20:58:00
Asia: East and Pacificdoes Sydney accept non-immediate family members as co-sponsors
You still need to fulfill the financial requirements regardless if you go through the K-1 or CR-1 process though
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-11-03 09:29:00
Asia: East and Pacificdoes Sydney accept non-immediate family members as co-sponsors
Yes, I have gone through the CR1 process in Sydney. What would you like to know?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-11-02 22:01:00
Asia: East and PacificIs it all unusual for people to want to move to Singapore?
Never lived there but have visited many times. Really nice country with lovely people. Hot and humid year round
kaffyFemaleAustralia2009-07-20 20:24:00
Asia: East and PacificWhere would you buy airplane tickets?
also check out http://www.china-air...om/en/index.htm

and if you can read chinese http://www.eztravel.com.tw/
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-02-01 21:08:00
Asia: East and PacificName Change
Are you sure? Because the person at the Embassy I spoke to verified that they could over-ride the "Foreign marriage certificates are not acceptable for name change purposes" rule :huh:

Can anyone who has changed their name confirm or deny the above?
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-03-09 09:31:00
Asia: East and PacificName Change
Yes, you only need to involve the BDM if you are residing in Australia, which you aren't

The advice I gave above came directly from the Washington DC embassy from when I inquired about the steps I'd have to take when changing my name here in the US with them
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-03-07 17:55:00
Asia: East and PacificName Change
Are you Australian born?

If you are Aussie born you can just change your passport name directly using your US marriage certificate.
If you are not Aussie born (and obtained citizenship through naturalization) you need to change the name on your citizenship certificate, then use that to apply for your passport name change.

The Australian embassy in Washington DC accepts overseas marriage certificate as proof of name change, you do not need to get the Aussie BDM involved

Edited by kaffy, 05 March 2010 - 09:22 PM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-03-05 21:22:00
Asia: East and PacificQuestions for those from Japan and New Zealand
Have her contact her local Japanese consulate or embassy.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-06-08 08:22:00
Asia: East and PacificName on Green Card and Passport don't match.
Doesn't matter if it doesn't match. Mine don't match and I didn't have any troubles when I went overseas. Just make sure to book your air ticket in your passport name
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-07-12 21:43:00
Asia: East and PacificBrisbane Medical Review
I had my medical there too and it was SO awkward having to go upstairs to the sofitel restroom to pee in the cup.. then carry it all the way back downstairs :rofl:
kaffyFemaleAustralia2010-04-29 22:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionAustralian Medical Cost
I spoke to the panel doctor in Brisbane yesterday and here's what they quoted me:
Medical exam $235
X-ray about $100
Blood test about $100

all up is close to $435
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-06-30 23:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionvaccinations - required?
QUOTE (chris-lei @ Jul 10 2008, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Vaccines are also included in the medical fee, so no need to get it outside the clinic accredited by the embassy. Goodluck!


This is not the case in Australia. You have to pay extra for any vaccinations you are missing.

I had my medical earlier this week and the panel doctor compared the immunisation summary which my GP had given me and with this vaccine schedule: http://www.cdc.gov/n...pdf/ti_vacc.pdf to see which vaccinations I was missing.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-07-09 17:50:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMedical in Vancouver Tomorrow
Perhaps double check with your Consulate there but when I had my medical done not too long ago in Australia I was required to present this to the panel doctor: http://canberra.usem...nstructions.pdf
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-07-23 01:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionPrinted Bank statements from bank or online prints?
We used printed bank statements and they were accepted by the Consulate
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-07-28 19:18:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionJapan Police Certificate
still no certificate blink.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-08-06 22:50:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionJapan Police Certificate
Did you receive your Japanece police certificate yet?

I applied for mine on 13 June and am still waiting to receive it.. the Consulate General said it should come this week or next week and I hope he is right because my interview is scheduled for the week after!
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-07-28 19:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionSydney Consulate - alternate contact?
Yes, the Express Post envelope I provided them with is Guaranteed Next Day Delivery. The postal service verified this
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-08-18 19:02:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionSydney Consulate - alternate contact?
Long story short, my visa package hasnt arrived yet (supposed to show up by last Friday) and I'm extremely concerned it's been lost blink.gif Australia Post can't launch an investigation until I get confirmation from the Consulate that the package has been posted.

I emailed them once on Sunday night, and again this morning. Usually they respond to my emails within 1 working day but I haven't heard from them yet and since this is my passport and I'm due to fly out on Friday (they know this), I am a little more anxious than usual!

I called their number (02) 9373-9200 but the lady I spoke to said that all Immigrant Visa inquiries had to be directed via email or post(?!). And there was no way she could pass a message through for me wacko.gif

Help!! I am getting desperate here. Does anyone know of any way I can contact them and actually speak to someone about this issue?

btw, here's what my visa approval letter said:
QUOTE
Congratulations, your visa application is approved.

...

There is no need to call the Consulate to follow up on the status of your visa package. Your passport and visa package will leave our office within 2 business days of your interview.


Which means it should have left there by last Thursday and I should have received it Friday (overnight delivery). sad.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-08-18 18:19:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHow long is between the interview letter and interview date?
In my experience it is a little less than 3 weeks - I received my interview date from the Sydney Consulate on 23 July and my interview is scheduled for 12 August.

QUOTE (Penguin_ie @ Aug 7 2008, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In the Packet 3 documents I got, it says one month or more notice will be given But when I git the appointment letter, I actually only had 4 business days notice!


I cant believe how quick yours was!
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-08-07 06:35:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVACCINES- WHEN???
Depends how familiar you are with your medical/vaccination history.

When I saw my GP to request a copy of my vaccination record I provided him with a copy of the CDC requirements and he checked through it quickly for me to determine if I was missing any vaccines (I figured it would have been cheaper to get any missing vaccinations done through my GP rather than the panel doctor)
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-08-25 09:59:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMedical exam: about medical history and gynecological check
QUOTE (Angela & Paul @ Sep 6 2008, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Let me ask the question in a different way: do you have to fill out a 4-page medical history questionnaire at the exam, or do you merely answer the doctor's questions? Big difference!
And what kind of questions does the doctor ask? Is it "How do you feel today" or "how many times have you been to a doctor/hospitalized in the past 10 years and why". Again, big difference!


I have a copy of my results from my medical (done in July) and the form which the doctor uses for the actual physical is called the "Medical History and Physical Examination Worksheet" (DS-3026). Info is here if you want to read about it: http://www.cdc.gov/n...sforms/3026.htm
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-05 20:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMedical exam: about medical history and gynecological check
In Australia there was no internal gyno exam, but a breast exam is required.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-05 17:35:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMedical Exam
No internal exam, my underwear stayed on during the whole exam. The only OB/GYN specific part was a breast exam.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-09 21:19:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionmedical exam
^ what does mbc mean?

I took my case number, vaccination record, and 3 passport sized photos to my medical.
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-17 22:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVaccinations Given
See below:

Attached Files


Edited by kaffy, 19 September 2008 - 11:39 AM.

kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-19 11:38:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVaccinations Given
^ Not every single vaccination on the list is required. It is age and gender specific
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-18 18:47:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionthe "packets"
I stayed at the Hotel Stellar.. it's about a 5-10 min walk from the Consulate. Not terribly close but close enough for me.

Hotel website: http://www.hotelstellar.com/
Tripadvisor reviews: http://www.tripadvis...outh_Wales.html

I'm picky about where I stay and this one seemed to have the best reviews at the most reasonable price.. I think we paid $100 or $110 a night and got an upgrade too. (Of course I would've loved to stay at the Westin or the Hyatt but after paying for the visa and the flights down.. it was better for us to find a cheaper place to stay laughing.gif )
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-14 13:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionthe "packets"
congrats on submitting your packet 3! hope you get your interview date soon biggrin.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-10 19:46:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionthe "packets"
yes, consider yourself lucky biggrin.gif
kaffyFemaleAustralia2008-09-08 15:01:00