Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Thanks for all the congrats! Such a feeling of relief to get that NOA2. Thinking happy thoughts for all of you too!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-01 07:45:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Thanks Vanessa! And the countdown is on for you, a week til the wedding! So, just went and got my police check done. Went to Indooroopilly Station with my mum, spoke to an officer about getting the check. He expressed suprise that I was the one requesting the check, as according to him, US visas usually involve the FBI asking for the check. But after I explained to him that all Fiancee Visa beneficiaries are name checked through US databases when they originally petition, he understood. He also explained to me that it didn't matter if I got the check sent to myself or directly to the consulate, it was our choice, as it is just the certificate and nothing else. I then filled in the form, got my Mum to witness it for me, and then had to write my full name, DOB and address on the two sheets on fingerprint paper. Then the officer took me into the back of the station and did two sets of prints on me. He poked a bit of fun at me too, since I was wearing a white singlet and pale skirt...not the perfect combo for black ink! But, the outfit remained unscathed After we were done, he told me if I had not heard anything in a month to come in and ask them where it was. Too easy, apart from the $158.45 fee.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-01 01:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Oct 31 2009, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Nov 1 2009, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> WE GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!! Alex just called me and I can't stop crying!!!!! Tell you what, the buggers at CSC had me worried. The last touch we received on the 27th was our approval, but they didn't update the system to reflect that, it just looked like another touch! Alex got the NOA2 in the mail today. I'M SO HAPPY! Congratulations!!! It's so exciting when you get the approval. At the rate our case is going, you'll have your Packet 3 and interview before me so I'll be able to see if there are any problems with getting your police check sent to you. We still don't know what's happening with our case.....USCIS have put a tracer on our file and they better locate it soon! Yeah, I am going to head to Indro Station in a little while to get that set in motion. I'll tell you everything they tell me. And hopefully your case is found soon, or they will have a hoard of angry VJ'ers after them :/	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-31 22:42:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	WE GOT APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!! Alex just called me and I can't stop crying!!!!! Tell you what, the buggers at CSC had me worried. The last touch we received on the 27th was our approval, but they didn't update the system to reflect that, it just looked like another touch! Alex got the NOA2 in the mail today. I'M SO HAPPY!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-31 20:31:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Oct 31 2009, 07:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well I'm just going by what the lady at the police station told me. I didn't mean the actual fingerprints were sent to the consulate....I guess I should have worded my post better. Anyway she did mention a reason why they are sent directly to the Consulate, which was to prevent fraud. Astrid, I think they may have given me a different form to you. The one I got is QP 0349B 03/09. Page 1 is for all my details and page 2 is for police use only. It doesn't make sense to me either why Queensland would be different...maybe that's just Queensland Police's procedure. Let me know what they say at Indooroopilly Police. I might also try calling the Police Information Centre to see if someone can clarify this. Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that you were in the wrong at all! Yeah, I did get the same form as you, but just a different year and month on it. I was also thinking, we are supposed to give them the original and a photocopy of the police check, so don't we need to get it anyway? So damn confusing, it would be nice if there was just the one procedure for everyone. plus, I am guessing that some police stations, or even most of them, don't deal with out specific situation all the time.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-31 17:43:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (kaffy @ Oct 30 2009, 08:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Giggles @ Oct 28 2009, 01:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Today I decided to go down to the police station to do the police check and finger prints. I spoke with the lady at the counter about having the police check sent directly to me instead of the consulate (just thought I'd double check) and she said it was fine. I filled out the form, payed the fee of $158.45 and was about to do the finger prints when another lady told me that the finger prints are supposed to be sent directly to the consulate. So anyway, I decided not to take the risk and asked for my money back. Argh!! What a waste of time! This visa is taking long enough as it is and I'd be even more annoyed if the consulate wouldn't accept the police report and finger prints if they were sent to me. I'm just going to wait until the consulate has received our documents before doing the police check just to be on the safe side. sorry but i think that lady (the second one) is wrong. your fingerprints dont get sent to the consulate, only the report and as long as the envelope is still sealed there shouldnt be a problem with where it came from. In fact I hand delivered them my Japanese police report on the day of my interview and there wasnt any issue there Yeah, I thought the woman who spoke to giggles may have been wrong. what brought me to that conclusion was that on the second page of the form, it asks if you want your fingerprints kept on file, or have them destroyed after they have been used for the check. And, people from other states just have the police cert saying what convictions they do or do not have. It wouldn't make any sense for QLD to be different. I think I am going to chance it and have my police check done this week coming. As it is, I am down to less than three months til my planned return to the states, I don't want to muck around waiting for a police check and potentially hold up my interview. Giggles, I will be having my prints done at Indooroopilly station, so I will let you know what they say there, yeah?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-31 03:15:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Why is the edit button not showing on my posts...? I just found out that A LOT of people who filed at the same time as Alex and I have gotten approvals....people from the end of august, the middle of august and the start of August. I'm starting to freak out and get upset a little. What if something is wrong? We had two touches at the start of the week, I was sure an approval was imminent. But, nothing	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-29 06:57:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Don'tWhateverMe, if you get an email back, can you post the response on here? I'm a queenslander and just as confused! As for me...after all those touches at the start of the week, no approval yet! Grrrr.....	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-29 06:46:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	I was really hopeful for an approval today, but, no dice. I didn't even sleep last night, kept checking my email and phone to see if Alex had gotten an approval email! Oh well, tomorrow maybe?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-28 03:54:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Agh thats so annoying about the police check! I was going to do it this week too! Another update guys, we got another touch today! I have a really good feeling!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-27 14:56:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Miss Natalie @ Oct 27 2009, 03:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi guys! UPDATE! had the interview today and got APPROVED!!! Here's my review (sorry to be a slacker with the cut and paste, but it's been a long day) I was really nervous, eventhough I know the Sydney consulate is pretty quick and painless. And thats exactly what it was. I stayed overnight in a hotel close the Martin Place (It's called the Grand and it's a bit of a dive but it did it's job for one night). I woke up really early eventhough my appointment was at 11am. I ended up getting to the consulate at around 10:15, and they let me up straight away. There were a fair few people there so I waited for what seemed like ages, but maybe half an hour before being called to a window and giving over my australia post receipt, envelope and passport. I chatted with the guy for a little bit and we did my fingerprints. He was pleasant and gave me an information sheet and my original documents back and asked me when was I planning on heading back to the states. Then he told me to take a seat and wait for my number to be called again for the interview. So I sat back down and read the information sheet and waited. Again it felt like ages but probably only 10 minutes and i got called to another window. The lady was very nice. She made me take an oath and asked me questions like how many times have I been to the states and how long etc. She asked me what my fiance does and how we met and what our plans are for the wedding (she though getting married in the House of Blues was cool )Then she told me the visa was approved, got me to sign a sheet of paper and handed me a page that says "congratulations, your visa application is approved" which has the express post tracking number stuck on it (handy). Quick and painless! I should get the visa by the end of the week Good luck to everyone awaiting their interviews! I know it's hard not to be nervous but so long as you have all your documents prepared, it's fairly straight forward CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Glad to see you had a quick and painless end to all the waiting! Now your love can come to Oz and enjoy being with his soon to be wife! Congrats again!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-27 06:59:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	We got a touch on our file today, and it was initiated by CSC, not us calling them or anything Here's hoping an approval is quick to follow! I'm off to gather a bounty of gold and unspoiled virgins to offer to the gods of immigration to see that it happens! And, if we do get an approval within the next week or two, that gives us a cruisy three months until the date on my return ticket to the states. yay Nothing can ruin my good mood now! I had a feeling something would happen today, if not an approval, then the next best thing!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-27 04:23:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	http://www.cdc.gov/n...pdf/ti_vacc.pdf Go to this site, and towards the end, it has a table for the age appropriate vaccines. For Australians, we have mostly had all of the appropriate vaccines, the only ones I was missing was the Tetnus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis booster, and the Gardasil shot. I only have one shot to go for the Gardasil now, and am getting the ADT shot Thursday. It's going to huuuuuurt! And I share your EEEEEK! about the medical! I don't know why it isn't that same price for all the panel doctors! Oh well, guess we need to (wo)man up and do it if we want to see our loves. An I'm sorry you had to cancel your trip, it must have been heart wrenching. How long has it been since you were together?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-26 04:04:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Oct 24 2009, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Vanessa&Tony @ Oct 25 2009, 07:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Out of interest... I didn't even know there was an option to send to the Consulate. My check was sent to my house because it's a personal thing. PLUS, you're supposed to provide a photocopy as well as the original so how can you do that without the original to photocopy?? The consulate's website says that NSW and QLD police check are sent directly to the consulate. QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Oct 25 2009, 09:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What part of Brissie are you in? I'm in the Indooroopilly area. Like Vanessa said, it's not a problem if you get the police cert sent to yourself, because thats how the other states do it. So, I would go head and get it, if you are nearing the time that you should get a NOA2. When you called Anzac Medical, did they give you a rough idea of the cost of the exam? Oh, and when did you file? If you fill in your timeline you can see when you can expect a decision on your case! I'm out near Redbank....not very far from where you are. We sent our petition in late May or early June, we received NOA1 on 16 June and NOA2 on 21 Sept (5 weeks ago) but NVC haven't received our documents. We've tried calling and asking where our documents are at but they've just told us we need to wait. It's frustrating because I don't see how it could take 5 weeks for it to be sent to NVC. I'm starting to wonder whether our documents have been lost or something. We just saw on USCIS that they have a help line for military members, so first thing on Monday we're going to call because I want some answers! I totally forgot to ask how much the medical exam cost when I called. I was more concerned in finding out how long it would take to get an appointment because I've seen on here that doctors other states can take weeks. Ahhh, so I take it you also enjoy the fun that is the Ipswich train line, lol. That sucks about your case being in limbo, there is no rhyme or reason for it, and when you ask, there is no answer! I wonder if they can even comprehend how our lives are hanging on their decisions and actions? I bet they don't, not until they are in our shoes. Maybe get your Fiance to contact his state's Senator to get things moving along, in addition to calling the military help line? I am guessing the medical is going to be at least a few hundred I am going to call them tomorrow and ask them, and then book it when I have the funds. Police check is first up for me, because I am thinking it is going to take the longest. Good luck getting some answers from USCIS!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-25 04:56:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Oct 24 2009, 08:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey Astrid, hopefully you will get your NOA2 soon. I've been considering getting my police check and medical done too before receiving Packet 3 but I'm undecided about it. I'm also in Brisbane but I'm a little worried about getting the police check sent to me rather than the consulate as their website states. It would be good though if I could have this done so I'll be prepared to send back Packet 3 asap. I was told when I called Anzac Square Medical Centre that appointments are usually scheduled within 7 to 10 days. I think I will wait and book mine once NVC has received our documents...whenever that may be What part of Brissie are you in? I'm in the Indooroopilly area. Like Vanessa said, it's not a problem if you get the police cert sent to yourself, because thats how the other states do it. So, I would go head and get it, if you are nearing the time that you should get a NOA2. When you called Anzac Medical, did they give you a rough idea of the cost of the exam? Oh, and when did you file? If you fill in your timeline you can see when you can expect a decision on your case! Edited by alex and astrid, 24 October 2009 - 06:56 PM.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-24 18:54:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Hey my lovely aussie guys and girls, here is an update as to how Alex and I are going - No NOA2 yet Our projected approval was supposed to be in the next week or so, but CSC has slowed down a lot, so now we are looking at between November 4 and 26. Hopefully the projection is right, or we manage to get in early! I went to the local cop shop on Thursday to find out about getting a police check. The cost is $158.45 for Queenslanders, and you have to ask for the "Application for a Police Certificate with a Fingerprint Search" form. There is a name only form, but thats not what we need. The lady at the desk tried to convince me otherwise, so to shut her up I took both forms, and promptly tossed the other one in the bin! I also found out that the info about police checks on the consulate website is incorrect, as your can request the results of the police check be sent to your home address rather than directly to the consulate. This is good news, since this means I can go ahead and get the check done, ready to send in after I get P3. So, I am getting the police check done next Thursday. I finally have my full vaccination records! My high school vacc's were the last to get to me. After looking at the age appropriate shots, I have all of them, except whooping cough. So I have decided to go against advice and get the booster shot, which is called Boostrix and has Tetnus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis. You can only have this shot if you have the ADT shot previously, like I had. To get the shot, you just need to call you GP, get them to write a prescription for the shot, get it from the chemist, and then keep it in the fridge until you have your appointment. The shot isn't too badly priced, $32 from Chemist Warehouse. I expected it to be a lot dearer. I am also getting my GP to write a letter stating I have had 2 out of 3 Gardasil injections and the Boostrix shot. So on Monday I am going to ring the Brisbane panel doctors and book that too. Hopefully CSC gets wind of all of this and gives us a NOA2 for our hard work Hope all of you are having a smooth journey! Astrid	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-24 02:52:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	oh, that RFE sucks Donna! What was it for??	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-19 05:12:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Police check question everyone! I lived in the United States from December 2006 to June 2009 on a student visa, with my (the boyfriend, now) fiance. On the Sydney Consulate site, it says that current and former residents of the US need not get a police check for their time in the US. Does this cover me, since I was considered a non resident in every sense, including when I filed taxes? Or resident just means "you physically lived in the country for however long." If this helps, I was fingerprinted every time I came into the country (three times), and when I began working for the university I attended, I was fingerprinted by the local sheriff as part of the hiring process. It came back clean, of course Hope all your visa journeys are going smoothly! Astrid	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-18 05:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Congrats Miss Natalie! Good luck on your interview...don't want to jinx it but we all know you will come out golden I am considering coming in the night before my interview, but I am just going to stay at a YHA or something...only need to sleep there for a few hours!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-13 03:44:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Oh, and just read this...did any of you need a form called "sponsor's financial responsibility under the social security act" at your interview? I just read about it but it may be old info?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-12 05:48:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Zaskar - I am just going to find a backpackers hostel or a YHA in the city...super cheap, and you;re only going to be there a night or two so I'm fine with losing some creature comforts General questions to all my Aussie lovlies....did any of you get touches on your petitions, or was it just NOA1, nothing, and then the magical NOA2? And were all of you within or around the VJ timeline projections?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-12 05:37:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Vanessa&Tony @ Oct 11 2009, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Oct 10 2009, 10:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We're doing ok...we keep moving up Igor's list which is awesome, but no touches on the USCIS site yet. We...or at least, I, am in full wedding planning mode. We haven't set a date as such, but we are aiming for February 20th, We have a place for the ceremony and reception lined up (Alex's boss graciously offered us the use of her home and beautiful garden for free!), I have my dress (yay), and we are on the lookout for caterers and someone to make our wedding cupcake tower (cupcakes om nom nom), so as soon as we know that I am golden, we are going to book! It's such a hassle though, trying to find wedding vendors and stuff when you are on the other side of the world...plus, Alex being a bloke, isn't too into the details and stuff. A tad frustrating but we are getting there. Hey, USCIS! I'm ready to hurry up and get hitched, but you're slowing me down here! I never used the Igor's list, I used this one: http://www.visajourn...ge=k1historical According to this they're processing July 8th at the moment at VSC. Fingers crossed they process nice and quick for you Oooo wedding planning!! I did a bit of mine from Australia but it was SUCH a pain. You can't book anything so it was all just kinda ideas and stuff. It's really nice that Alex's boss is allowing the use of her home. That makes life a bit easier Now you just need a celebrant Me, I have almost everything ready... I need to finalise/pay deposits on photographer, videographer and DJ. I'm working on my Order of Service now. I'm looking forward to receiving my US bank card. My first US account. Woot! lol I know, its frustrating when you can't just go ahead and book anything! At least now all we really need to book is the caterer, who don't need that much notice anyway, get a baker organised for our cake... and the celebrant, we already know who we are going to use, he specialises in last minute weddings We just need to tell him the date. I've been so lucky, I have many friends, or friends of friends who are willing to do my mum and I's hair and makeup, and a friend of mine who I worked with on my college newspaper will hopefully be doing our pics! Saves us money, and its so great to have people we already know and trust help us on the big day! Thank god I lived in LA for all that time, or I'd be screwed! Are you doing a lot of your stuff DIY, like your invites? Thats what I am doing, I can't wait to make them! I'm making my own veil too, with mum's help. We balked when we sa the pricetags on the ones at bridal salons. $150 for 15 dollars worth of tulle and a 20 cent hair comb. I'll pass! Which bank are you going with....I am with Chase/WaMu, as is my fiance. They are PRICKS though, I've lost count of how many times we have been screwed by them. I really wouldn't mind switching to Wells Fargo, except it would be a right pain in the ####### for Alex, because of how many things he has linked to his bank....meh. Miss Natalie, my wedding day twin, hopefully!! We're getting married in Santa Clarita, north of los angeles. Girl, we are all going to have to pass round our happy snaps as each of our big days roll around! OOOOHH....just checked timeline projections...I can now expect an approval between October 31st and November 7!! holy ####### that is soon! I'm just hoping like crazy that I don't get stuck in any name checks or any thing....I have prior visa to the states and lived there for two and a half years, but I played by the rules perfectly. I've just heard that it can slow people down. I think I need to get calling my local panel doctor and cop shop to organise everything SOON!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-12 05:31:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (mrsemcee @ Oct 9 2009, 03:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> thanks astrid and vanessa...and whoever else replied hehe. i lose track of all our aussie buddies now! omg.. i HOPE i get an interview by nov. even to get one before the anniversary would be wonderful but im just hoping on one in any time in november really, so i can make it there by xmas! i am just waiting for the words "Case Complete" and the interview scheduling now. soooo excited. i want to book a flight, but in case i somehow get an early interview, i wont just yet... im definitely buying some US dollars though as our dollar is so good at the moment, and mum said she would like to give me $1,000 AU to take with me.. which is lovely.. so i will get it changed to USD asap! how are you guys going???? We're doing ok...we keep moving up Igor's list which is awesome, but no touches on the USCIS site yet. We...or at least, I, am in full wedding planning mode. We haven't set a date as such, but we are aiming for February 20th, We have a place for the ceremony and reception lined up (Alex's boss graciously offered us the use of her home and beautiful garden for free!), I have my dress (yay), and we are on the lookout for caterers and someone to make our wedding cupcake tower (cupcakes om nom nom), so as soon as we know that I am golden, we are going to book! It's such a hassle though, trying to find wedding vendors and stuff when you are on the other side of the world...plus, Alex being a bloke, isn't too into the details and stuff. A tad frustrating but we are getting there. Hey, USCIS! I'm ready to hurry up and get hitched, but you're slowing me down here!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-10 06:01:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (zaskar @ Oct 7 2009, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just received my pkt 3 via email today so will be doing lots of reading now to make sure I have it all Medical is only a week in brisbane so that is good, will do police check next week Wahoo it is so close. J Hey, I am a brisvegas person too, who are you seeing your your medical? any info about that and how your police check went would be amazing!! I'm expecting my NOA2 at the beginning of next month and I'm worried about getting all this done before the end of January 2010...I have a return ticket I can use back to the States and I'd hate to not be able to use it Vanessa.....SO HAPPY you are back with your FH! I got a bit emotional when I read about you being back with Tony, I can't wait to be back with Alex an d it reminded me of the last time we had an airport reunion. It's only been four months apart but it feels like a lifetime!! Good luck with all the wedding planning, can't wait to see pictures of you looking like a beautiful bride Donna, I hope you get your case approval soon so you can get back for your first anniversary...I'm thinking happy thoughts for all of you!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-10-09 06:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	So today I am looking through my parents house and my book with ALL my immunization records is nowhere to be found! Of course, my younger brothers book was a piece of cake to unearth I did ring around the city councils that I lived in and a few are able to send me my records...but it looks like I will have to get a blood test to prove most of them.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-08-11 19:25:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Vanessa&Tony @ Aug 10 2009, 03:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Aug 10 2009, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks Vanessa, thats was very helpful! I had read on this site that Sydney required addition stuff to go with the Affidavit, but that info must be old if you weren't asked for it. The great you could get your vaccination records from your city council....I won't be able to do that though, I don't think. I have lived in three states and about seven different towns so my records are not in one place. I have looked at the shots list though, and I am fairly certain that I have had all of them, or won't need a few because I have already had things like chicken pox. And I am fairly sure my mum has my childhood records to show I at least got most of them. I am going to my GP next week to get my second HPV jab so I may ask her what I can do to show proof of what I have had. One last thing...could you claim any of your medical on Medicare? Medicare? None at all /sigh. Because it was done at their specific doctors they don't allow any of that. Which is a total shame but oh well. As for the city council having your records, you'd be surprised! My mum told me that the childhood vaccination initiative was run by the government, which is why the City Councils would have the records. I called mine and they had a copy of my baby book (the Dr read off the actual baby book, not the certified copy), and also the updates that I had done at high school (very handy!). If you have the names of the places you lived in, it definitely can't hurt to call and ask. At the very least if your mum has your baby book, or you call the town you were born in. I only got immunisations up to about year 8 i think so that should help narrow down some schools It's difficult to get up to date visa information which is why i started this post because i hate being uninformed (just like how you're feeling). When you get your second HPV jab I would ask her to print out the immunisation record for you. You MIGHT get your visa medical appt before you last HPV, and at least that's one less thing to chase. Also, with the chicken pox, my mum had written the date I had chicken pox so I think he appreciated that, so if you can get a dr's record saying when you had it, that should help too. Good luck. It's good fun getting all this together, but once you get NOA2 be ready to go because it goes pretty quick from there if you have all the documents Hmmm...well I did live in one town for a good 9 years of my childhood, and then I only went to one high school. I will give them a ring to see if they can send me any vacc. records. And I do have my baby book/childhood health book, which has all the ones from infancy. Maybe it won't be so hard after all. And I will ask my Dr. to write up proof of my 2 our of 3 HPV jabs. Thanks Vanessa!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-08-11 03:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Vanessa&Tony @ Aug 9 2009, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Aug 9 2009, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey girls, these questions are aimed at Donna and Vanessa Vanessa, when you mailed your Packet 3 stuff back to Sydney did you send your original Birth Cert in, or a certified copy? Also, you just send the immigration forms they ask for, plus your police check and medical results, right? Not all your relationship proof too? And then for your interview, you bring copies of every form you had to submit, so they have the originals but you have your own too, plus a copy of your original petition? Lastly, your Fiance sent you the Affidavit of Support, did Sydney ask for an additional affidavit in regards to Social Security? Or they just want the Support affidavit, and that's all? Donna, I saw in your timeline that you had a blood test to see what your immunity was...This was to get ahead on any jabs with a normal GP before your medical with a Panel Doctor? Could you tell me anything else about it? Sorry to pepper you both with questions, but I am due to be dealing with the consulate toward the end of the year and want to head in there prepared. Also, you are both Victorian girls, and so am I...until my family moved to Brisvegas and I had to follow once I moved back from the US Thanks When you get packet three, they link you to this page, http://canberra.usem.../iv/fiance.html, which in turn leads you to this document: http://canberra.usem...iv/DSL-1076.pdf which has a checklist (page 7) for what documents you need. You must submit original documents where possible, but they will ask you to bring your original to the interview (someone told me this) if you don't submit the original. Personally if you have the originals I would send them so it doesn't slow you down. You will get your originals back at the interview. Your relationship proof is for the interview and I personally will be taking a copy of everything I have previously submitted. You don't need to have a copy of everything, that I'm aware of, but I think it's always a good idea. I have a copy of every form and document I or my fiance have submitted, because I don't want them to show me something that I'm not familiar with (like my fiance's Affidavit) and be like "ummm" and also if they ask me qns, I can look at my copy of whatever form rather than passing it back and forth, which I'm not sure they'd do... Just an insurance policy I think... The Affidavit of Support is also mentioned in the first link I listed above. He had to provide a letter from all of his banks stating when the accounts were opened, deposits for the last year, and current balance, he also needed a letter from his work saying his position, when he started, how much he gets paid, and whether he's permanent, full time, part-time etc. Most of the info you need for P3 is contained in the first link. I made a previous post called "Packet Three" which should help you with this. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask. P4 is simply the interview date AND a checklist of documents you may have forgotten, or need to bring now. Though you didn't ask me, I will mention in terms of vaccination, that you shouldn't have any injections prior to your medical appointment. The doctor will tell you which vaccinations are pertinent to you. I didn't need to have all of them, the doctor looked at my records (which I got from the city council... yours should be there too) and told me which ones I needed and then gave me then there and then Good luck and hope this helps! Thanks Vanessa, thats was very helpful! I had read on this site that Sydney required addition stuff to go with the Affidavit, but that info must be old if you weren't asked for it. The great you could get your vaccination records from your city council....I won't be able to do that though, I don't think. I have lived in three states and about seven different towns so my records are not in one place. I have looked at the shots list though, and I am fairly certain that I have had all of them, or won't need a few because I have already had things like chicken pox. And I am fairly sure my mum has my childhood records to show I at least got most of them. I am going to my GP next week to get my second HPV jab so I may ask her what I can do to show proof of what I have had. One last thing...could you claim any of your medical on Medicare?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-08-09 17:19:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Hey girls, these questions are aimed at Donna and Vanessa Vanessa, when you mailed your Packet 3 stuff back to Sydney did you send your original Birth Cert in, or a certified copy? Also, you just send the immigration forms they ask for, plus your police check and medical results, right? Not all your relationship proof too? And then for your interview, you bring copies of every form you had to submit, so they have the originals but you have your own too, plus a copy of your original petition? Lastly, your Fiance sent you the Affidavit of Support, did Sydney ask for an additional affidavit in regards to Social Security? Or they just want the Support affidavit, and that's all? Donna, I saw in your timeline that you had a blood test to see what your immunity was...This was to get ahead on any jabs with a normal GP before your medical with a Panel Doctor? Could you tell me anything else about it? Sorry to pepper you both with questions, but I am due to be dealing with the consulate toward the end of the year and want to head in there prepared. Also, you are both Victorian girls, and so am I...until my family moved to Brisvegas and I had to follow once I moved back from the US Thanks	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-08-09 06:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	Blood Test for Vaccinations	I managed to find most of the immunisation records from my childhood, and had a blood test for MMR and something else, I can't remember now since it was back in 2009. Chicken pox, I think? It was minimal cost, and I had it done in suburban Brisbane. I got all three of the HPV shots (for free since I was in the right age group) and I just had to get the Whooping Cough shot. If you work off of the sheet that Deb posted, it is pretty easy to work out. Remember that the HPV shot is no longer required! And good luck! Edit - I took the blood test results, and copies of my childhood vaccines (got them from local councils and from my baby heath booklet) to the panel doctor and I was all good! Edited by alex and astrid, 12 February 2012 - 08:35 PM.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-12 20:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	K1 - How accurate is the NOA2 indications on the USCIS and VisaJourney Timelines?	My K1 journey was from start (filing the petition in August 2009) to end (visa in hand December 2009) was four months. A lot of people that I know that also did the K1 seemed to be at around that time to around 6 months. The time lines aren't completely accurate, I would even say don't look at them because they stress you out!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-18 13:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	The big move - is it really going to be worth it????	It's funny, the other day Alex was putting Mayo on his sandwich and I realised how much I miss Mayo from back home!! It's all 'whipped' here which is really weird, I miss Mayo you can dip chippies in!! And I will agree with everyone, 'whipped cream' here is terrible! I tried to make pavlova a few years ago, needless to say it turned to mush	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-03-01 11:10:00
Australia and New Zealand	The big move - is it really going to be worth it????	Hey, some really good posts here and a great deal of info here so thanks for easing my fears (and to a lesser degree stressing me out a little . I do have a few other questions that i hope all you members can answer. So here goes: 1. What were your experiences in obtaining credit cards and home loans with banks without a credit rating/score? 2. Are there any taxes when transfering large sums of money from Australia to the States like say for over $150k? 3. How often do you guys go back home to australia to visit? Thanks guys. Alex added me to all of his cards so that wasn't a problem. You can get a credit card with little credit, it will just be a crappy card. But then you can at least have a line of credit. I got my first card with Capital One. I'm not sure about taxes on transferring money. If you go to the IRS website I am sure they will have some information for you! I have been home once since I immigrated January 2010. I want to go home more, but on my salary and my husband in graduate school, it doesn't really work. But my parents have visited heaps since we moved so that is the next best thing	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-26 23:58:00
Australia and New Zealand	The big move - is it really going to be worth it????	Americans are very kind (well the majority are) and my American family are wonderful...however,....as an Australian, once here, are looked at by most yanks as if you have two heads...sort of like how we used to look at Tasmanians (joking) but even our accents are difficult for all around you here to understand. Especially on the phone....voice recognition when calling companies excesaperates me...In the end its easier to just get the husband to call Oh my gosh, I HATE HATE HATE automated phone systems out here....I just end up mashing the zero key so I can get a real human being to talk to instead of a robot who can't get what I am saying. And yes, I get my husband to make some phone calls for me (like to make reservations or to fix problems or what not) because it's just frustrating when you are enunciating and spelling things phonetically and people STILL don't understand. Having an unusual first name doesn't help either....thank god I don't use my maiden name any more because that would mess me up completely!! I do find a lot of people here to be very disingenuous here, very fake and only want to know you because you are a novelty. Maybe that was because I was living in LA for the first few years....living in Santa Barbara is a very different vibe. I work in retail so I am talking to people all day...never ceases to amaze me how ignorant people are about Australians and Australia (No, English and Australian people do not sound identical; no, New Zealand is not a colony; yes English is my native language!), or how people will parody my accent and fail.....or will interrupt me (so rude!!) while I am speaking to ask "OMG I LOVEEEEEE YOUR ACCENT SOOOOO PRETTY WHEREEEE ARE YOOOOOU FROOOOMMM??!!" I had one ####### at my work make fun of me to my face because of how I pronounce 'leather' (sounds like 'letha' when we say it) and I was so mad, I made her buy that damn leather handbag I was talking about!!! hahaha. But, having said that, for every idiot I encounter, I meet 5 people who are lovely and genuine and think of me as Astrid first, and an Aussie second, and aren't obsessed about asking me if I have a pet kangaroo lol. I do miss Australia but I am happy. This is my home now, and I'm making the best of it	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-25 18:53:00
Australia and New Zealand	The big move - is it really going to be worth it????	I immigrated to the US because I had the least to lose. Alex was halfway through his degree already, I had not yet started...plus a lot of other things. My parents were willing to help us with our whole journey, his parents were not and are still really not supportive. We've been married two years (next week yay!) and been a couple coming up seven years. We certainly didn't rush into it. We are happy in the US, and there are good and bad things about both countries. I do miss the money I earned working back home though, I feel like my quality of life was slightly higher. I also miss medicare! And of course my family. But, I have family here too, and friends. This is home. So, having said all this, Alex is doing his Ph.D right now, and after he finishes this degree in 2016, he has promised that he will apply for jobs in both countries. So we shall see where that takes us! We would be happy in either country.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-12 20:46:00
Australia and New Zealand	Brisbane medical	So let me get this straight--it's possible to book the medical before the NVC case closes? All you need is the case number? Is this only for K-1s? Or only for certain parts of Australia? I thought we had to wait until the NVC was done with us, but if we can try and book earlier, that might be a good thing to do. I called the USCIS hotline and got my case number given to me so I could go ahead and book. I got a K1 so I only know that it was correct for my case.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-06-19 16:58:00
Australia and New Zealand	Brisbane medical	Firstly hi to VJ members here in Oz and everywhere else. Just wondering if u can get a medical done in Brisbane without the syd case number? Also I read somewhere the police check done for qld residents get sent straiight to the syd con. So is the syd case number need before I do that too? Just want to get as much done and ready for when p3 arrives. Cheers. Anzac Medical would not let me get an appointment without my case number. I also had to pay a deposit when I made the appointment. I was able to pick up my medical about 5 days later. As for the police check, I got it done at the Indooroopily Police Station, with ink prints. I had it done on a weekend, and just walked right in! It was processed at HQ in the city, and mailed to my house about 2 or so weeks later. Good luck! Once you get the medical and the prints done, its all downhill from there!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-06-14 23:48:00
Australia and New Zealand	How Long After Your Interview Did You Have Your Visa In Hand?	Two or three days.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-04-26 13:10:00
Australia and New Zealand	New 2011 LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	I have some very exciting news (for me anyway )... Last night mum admitted she's been working overtime to save to come and visit (which is why I've been having trouble catching her on the phone) as a surprise and just this week she finally has enough So she's looking at coming in August for my birthday She's going to keep saving so she has a little spending money (not a lot 'cause the ticket is gunna cost around $2K with insurance). I'm VERY excited!! I arrived in Sept 2009, and went home in Sept 2010 (back to US in Nov 2010) and haven't seen her since. She's NEVER met Tony in person (only online), she's never seen our house in person, she's never met her granddaughters (my 2 puppies ). She's only ever been to NZ, never had such a long flight so I'll be writing a LONG "how to" including pictures for her (she'll POE at LAX). I'm also going to make sure she has her phone able to call me if she has any issues or even just to call and let me know she got through POE. I'm not too worried about POE honestly, she has a mortgage, she'll have a new granddaughter (her first grandchild and actual human granddaughter ) and she'll have the contract or whatever it's call for Dad being in a nursing home. I'm thinking she should also get letters from her bosses (she has 2 jobs) but I don't think they're the end of the world. She's a little concerned about her HRT and arthritis pain meds so she's gunna see a doc about a letter saying she's on pain pills for a medical condition. It's very exciting!! I'm sure she's nervous 'cause wow, first trip to the US, first trip that's required a passport so she's getting that done too (when she went to NZ it was in the 70's so no passport required). Anyway... YAY!! Very excited. In fact I still get teary thinking about it YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-04-07 12:03:00
Australia and New Zealand	New 2011 LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Does everyone have a Greencard interview? if so, what kind of stuff do they ask you? I didn't get an interview....Applied for AOS, got transferred to CSC, got the green card. I just applied for Removal of Conditions, and I'm fully expecting an interview this time round!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-02-08 18:11:00
Australia and New Zealand	New 2011 LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Filed for my removal of conditions this week! I really can't believe its been almost two years since we got married! The filing period came up so fast, but at least this time the packet was easy to pull together. Got the NOA1 for it today, so now life carries on as normal while we wait for my ten year card Hope all your journeys are going well!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2012-01-29 00:55:00