ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Australia and New ZealandNew 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 astridFemaleAustralia2012-01-29 00:55:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Passport & Name Change process



Thanks for the "history" info. I was lucky then that I married & changed my passport details before the BDIM requirement was introduced. I was wondering if the requirements had changed, or I had just managed to somehow sneak through.

You can always renew your passport in your maiden name very easily, it's all online now. It's only when you need it in a new name that it gets complicated.

Yes, but, if you choose to renew in your maiden name - make sure any international travel with your Australian passport is also ticketed in your maiden name - then, if your US green card is in your married name, always carry your marriage certificate as one of your travel doc's also.
Also, if anyone is thinking along the lines of "I'll fly to Australian on my "maiden name" passport, then apply for a name change & change my passport while I am there" - you will have difficulty on the return leg of your flight as your airline ticket will not match your new passport. You should probably be able to work it all out with the airport with all the documentation you will have, but, I'd either want to sort it out before I turned up at the airport, or, leave myself lots of time for the check-in, in case of being delayed.


It's all a bit of a hassle, eh?

I actually just got off the phone with Orbitz and Aeromexico about the whole married name ticket/maiden name passport issue. Alex booked our August honeymoon just after our wedding, and in his excitement, put my ticket in my married name. So then I freaked out about having to change my name in my passport and all that fun stuff. But, after speaking to both companies, it seems that Aeromexico at least will let you travel, as long as you can show the link between both your names (marriage licence). So that's good. Also, they put an annotation on our booking stating that my passport is in a different name so they will know when we go to check in.

So good to know that I don't have to rush to change my name...now I just need to tell Alex to remember to book in my old name for the time being....Men ;)
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-04-26 16:30:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Passport & Name Change process

You do realise, that, even after your are naturalised and have a US passport, you still need to use an Australian passport to enter Australia? You remain an Australian citizen, and can't use your US passport to enter aus. Your US passport will list Australia as your place of birth, so , there is no "I'll just use my US passport, and "they" won't know".

I don't have the link to where I saw it, but, I think it was somewhere much earlier in this thread,where is states something along the lines of "if your can't apply for name change, the Aust. consulate can choose to accept the "foreign" marriage certificate as a name change document. I'd be interested to read of the experience of anyone here in the US who triues to do a passport name change just using their US marriage certificate. I was able to, but, it was back in 2002, and I'm unsure if the regulations changed since then. The need to do a "name-change" was never mentioned.


You need to do a legal name change through BDM in your home state now. A few years ago, you could just do it with a foreign marriage certificate, but not anymore. I found this out when I was speaking to the passport section of the Los Angeles Consulate.

You can always renew your passport in your maiden name very easily, it's all online now. It's only when you need it in a new name that it gets complicated. One of my posts on the first page of this thread says how to do it. I would have done it already, but I am waiting for my green card to be approved so I can send my original birth certificate back home.

Makes me wish I had done a legal name change while I was still at home, but, oh well.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-04-25 19:00:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Passport & Name Change process
Awesome post Vanessa, I'm glad that between the two of us we can help clear up the confusion of name changing from afar!

Just a few things that I want to add to Vanessa's very comprehensive list -

I can confirm that Queensland Transport will accept a US Marriage Licence to change your name, if you are doing so in person (more on this below). I checked that before I left at the Sherwood, Brisbane office and the supervisor said so. But, if you have a name change certificate too, can't harm to show both.

With getting your new passport - I believe most, if not all the Consulates in the US will let you do an in person appointment. If you live near enough to a Consulate, this is a great thing to do because it means you don't need to send sensitive things like your passport through the mail. It also means you aren't without your passport that has all the important immigration stuff inside in case you need it during the time it's being processed.

With having to surrender your original birth certificate to do a name change - When I spoke to South Australian Births, Deaths and Marriages, I told them I could not give them my birth certificate, due to my pending AOS and the need to have the original in my possession until after I get my green card. So, there are two ways I can go about that. I can either wait until after I get my green card, then go ahead with the name change, or I can file for the name change now, fill out the form to get a copy of my birth certificate for them to use and include a letter explaining why I didn't surrender my old one. Since I don't really need to get rolling on this until about May, I think I may have my Green Card then and will be able to get away with not paying for an extra birth cert....we shall see.

Information about renewing your Queensland Drivers Licence from Overseas -

There are two methods for renewing your QLD licence while you are in the US. The first is online - you can use this service if you do not need a new licence photograph (these are valid for 10 years), or do not require any changes to your licence. You cannot renew online if:

- your licence has expired
- your licence is suspended or disqualified
- you need a medical certificate and do not have a current certificate lodged with the department

Here is the Online Renewal Page, and you can use a credit card to pay. Once it has gone through, they will mail you a sticker to place on the back of your licence. However, it will be mailed to the address that is on your licence. If you or your family doesn't live there any more, that's going to be a problem.

The other method (if you need to make a name change like I do), is to complete the Drivers Licence Renewal Kit. This is the packet, and all the instructions are included. To change your name on your licence, you MUST include a Births, Deaths and Marriages document showing the name change.

The packet does state that if you do not need to drive on your QLD licence, you can let it be expired for up to five years before you need to take another driving test to renew it. The good thing about this form is that you can nominate a postal address on it. It can't be an international one I don't think, but at least you can have it mailed to family and they can forward it on to you.

I'm not quite sure what I am going to do with my licence, I am tempted to just let it expire and then deal with a name change and renewing it then next time I am back home, which is going to be within the next five years for sure. Or, I may just do the online renewal in my maiden name and then change it when I am home. At least there are a few options for us.

Edited by alex and astrid, 24 March 2010 - 08:05 PM.

alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-24 20:03:00
IMBRA Special TopicsThird K1 Visa
QUOTE (steve55 @ Dec 25 2008, 02:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
On important decisions:
Westernized Woman: “You idiot. Why didn’t you do it my way?”
Filipina: “Up to you….” (This does not mean “up to you”. It means please tell me why you are doing this and then I will tell you how I feel.)

After receiving a gift:
Westernized Woman: Says “thanks” while instantly comparing it to the version owned by her most ostentatious friend.
Filipina: “Thanks, but you really didn’t need to do this.”

On Wednesday Night Sex:
Westernized Woman: “Touch me and I am calling the cops.”
Filipina: “Sure, why not.”

On Shopping:
Westernized Woman: “I just have to have that Vuitton purse/Tiffany bracelet/etc..”
Filipina: “I wonder if I can find a first-class copy.”

On Financial Setbacks:
Westernized Woman: “So what are you going to do about it.”
Filipina: “Maybe I can get some overtime to help out.”

On Exploded Home Appliance:
Westernized Woman: “I told you not to buy that cheap thing.”
Filipina: “………” Dead silence. The Filipina is hiding.

On Infidelity:
Westernized Woman: “I’ll find the nastiest divorce lawyer in Beverly Hills.”
Filipina: “The best way to keep a man away from other women is to be sure he is satisfied at home.”
Me: “I can’t cheat on her (if she is a Filipina). That woman is so good to me……..”


Wow. As a 'western' woman, I am so offended by this. Sweeping generalization, much? I guess you just like to be in total control of a woman instead of working as a team...because, you know, being a team and being equals is what marriage is about.

alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-02-08 18:28:00
Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)When unlawful presence starts
I am unsure when his unlawful presence starts but he would have been out of status as soon as he stopped attending classes. ICE probably caught him because his school informed them he was not complying with the terms of his visa.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-28 18:46:00
Asia: East and PacificAustralian recent AOS filers (post July 2008)
Just to clarify - Did you have the skin test or the chest x-ray at your medical in your home country?
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-11-17 06:36:00
Asia: East and PacificAustralian recent AOS filers (post July 2008)
I'm freaking out a little....I had my medical last week, had the chest xray for TB, which seems par for the course, no skin test. Now, I am reading about the Vaccination Supplement that you can submit when you do AOS. It says that a skin test i required. Did anyone not do the skin test, just submit their xray, and not get an RFE? Also I heard you only submit the Vaccination Supplement if you had further vaccinations done after your medical. The only shot I am going to get post-medical is the third Gardasil shot, so would I need to supplement in my case?

Thankyou!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-11-17 05:36:00
Asia: East and PacificBrisbane Medical Review
I had my medical at Anzac Square, but with Dr. Yates. was pretty much the same, except Yates took my blood (And BRUISED me like you would not believe), the receptionists were very nice the day I was there, and Yates only asked when my last Pap was and if it was normal. I also paid more for my medical ($481), but, I did not pay for any shots that day, since I was up to date. Guess they dropped their prices!!

Just a tip, Sullivan Nicolaides may try and send you a bill for your bloodwork and xray, but you don't need to pay it. You paid for all that through Anzac Square. You might want to ring the pathology people to tell them that if you do get the bill for it.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-04-29 18:32:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)HOW TO TRACK YOUR CASE FROM NVC TO EMBASSY
I keep trying to see what packages have gone out, seeing as my fiance tries to contact NVC and can't get through, and I want to see if any other packages have winged their way to Sydney yet. But, when I put in any tracking dates, the DHL site keeps telling me that there is any error and to track at a later date. It's been doing this for two days now! Can someone have a look and see if any packages have gone to Sydney this week?
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-11-06 06:37:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)HOW TO TRACK YOUR CASE FROM NVC TO EMBASSY
Just looked now and there is one package on it's way to Sydney...it might be mine? We got our NOA2 from CSC the 27th, but we didn't find out we got it until the 31st. Alex called NVC and got our case number today, but didn't think to ask when it arrived there, lol. He is calling them again tomorrow to give them my email address and to ask them. Fingers crossed it's mine, but I don't know if that is too quick of a turnaround at NVC....
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-11-03 05:20:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWill F-1 visa app affect K-3 visa app?
She would probably get denied the F1 for the fact she has a K3 pending, and is married to a US citizen. That screams immigrant intent. You would be better off her defering her enrollment if she can, and then attending once she has her green card. The fees would be far less if she paid as a resident than as an international student. Plus, you would want to AOS off the F1 so she can stay, and it is harder to AOS off an F1 than it is a K3.

Another point - K3's are being discontinued, and if your I-130 is approved before you I-129, the K3 will be closed and instead processed as a CR1.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-04-27 00:23:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview- Whats the dress code?
I had an F-1 visa interview in 2006 and I work a knee length skirt, fitted shirt and heels. I wanted to make a good, professional impression. I got the visa so I guess I did!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-01-31 01:55:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionpolice check, medical, and the Sydney Consulate
My fiance and I are doing a K1 petition, and I am based in Brisbane, Australia. We just filed and according to timelines, we can expect an approval sometime in November. My question is, could I go ahead and have my medical and police check done in say, September or early November to get it out of the way and save time on packets 3/4? Or, am I going to shoot myself in the foot, because according to the Australian Federal Police, Queensland residents have their police checks sent directly to the consulate upon completion. If the consulate gets my check, are they going to have a ####### moment because they haven't received our petition?

Anyone who has been through Sydney recently, can you give any pointers on what you did to expedite the process? It would be a great help in preparing myself and my fella. Thank you!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-08-09 06:38:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat did you bring to your Consulate interview as proof of engagement?
QUOTE (SCFsnoopy @ Aug 16 2009, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a couple of engagement cards from both my grandmothers and an email from my future mother-in-law that basically says how happy she is her son *finally* got his act together, lol... I don't think the Sydney consulate is a tough one but I'm taking those along just in case. I don't know if Jesse will let me see the ring receipt but I will definitely be wearing the ring at the interview smile.gif We aren't planning on having an engagement party because we're saving money for the wedding so we're relying on other proofs.

Oh you got engaged the same month as us his year! Congrats!
I have our ring receipt...except my fiance blacked out the cost....smart boy smile.gif
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-08-16 07:00:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionWhat did you bring to your Consulate interview as proof of engagement?
As I was reading an example of the Packet 3/4 email that the Sydney Consulate sends, I noticed it asks for proof of engagement. I am going to guess that most, if not all Consuls ask for this....so, what did you take to show this? Off the top of my head I am going to show my engagement ring and a copy of the receipt for it, pictures from our engagement dinner, and emails in which we discuss our wedding plans and such. That would be sufficient, right? Along with ongoing relationship proof, of course. Keep in mind that my fiance and I aren't going to be seeing each other until I touch down at LAX with my visa in hand.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-08-16 05:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHow many years of tax returns do we need to show at consulate interview?
To clarify - I am going through the Sydney Consulate.

Rosalie and David - Thankyou for your answer, and yes, of course we are going to show the returns for the years previous to this year. any other time frame wouldn't make sense.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-10-14 06:24:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHow many years of tax returns do we need to show at consulate interview?
I seem to remember it being three years worth, but how many W2's should my fiance send me to have at the interview to supplement the I134? And does it matter from what time frame the pay stubs are from? His paychecks are always the same, so as long as they are from fairly recently, it's ok? Thankyou!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-10-13 05:49:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInfluenza vaccine on list of vaccination requirements

Hello everyone!

OK here is my question, on the Vaccination List that is required for K-1 and later for AOS, there is a vaccine called "influenza vaccine"...Today my family doctor came at my place (they were going to everybody's home in the area) and offered to get influenza vaccine...I'm not sure if I should agree to get it or not.. Normally, I'd rather eat fruits and vitamins to stay healthy, BUT I remembered that this vaccine is on the list of required vaccines..So, should I get it now so that I have more vaccines covered (for the future when I apply for AOS) or not, what do you think?? Thank ya'll!!

The flu shot is an age appropriate shot - I think it's only required if you are over 60. I was 22 at the time of my medical and I didn't need to get it. Then again, it wouldn't hurt not to, right?
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-02-06 12:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionInterview question examples
I was asked what I had studied in the US, what my fiance did for a living, where I had lived with him, when the wedding was meant to be, did my parents like him. From what I take it, they ask you questions related to your file. If either you have been married previously, if you have children, they will ask about that. In the guides, there is a list of questions that people have been asked, have a look at them to get an idea.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-14 21:43:00
US Embassy and Consulate Discussionwhat do they test for?

hey guys,

wanted to know what exactly do they test for at the medical exam?
i know they do a chest exam...
what do they look for in blood?


The chest exam, at least in my case, was to see if my lungs were clear, and they also did a chest x-ray for TB. The blood test I got was for HIV and Syphilis. I am not sure if they drug test. I had to give a urine sample, though my Doctor just looked at it in the cup and did not test it. They pretty much want to see if you have anything communicable or any diseases that would be a burden on the health system. If you have had any recent surgeries and ongoing illness that will talk about that with you.

Generally, if you are healthy and have nothing major going on, you will be fine!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-16 21:40:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionCannot find fingerprint form (K-1 Visa US/Australia)
That is incorrect, there is no such form as the one they are telling you to get. All you need to ask for is a national police check for both name and fingerprint. Don't even mention that it is for a visa, because thats when the Police get confused. You can also have the check sent directly to you house, there is no need for it to be sent directly to the Consulate. The check takes a few weeks to be processes (Mine took almost three weeks). If you read This Thread, the OP is from Victoria and I am pretty sure she has info about getting her check done. It also has general info about going from Packet Three to the Interview.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-27 14:31:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionK1 visa australia,will the embassy email you if they have recieved the packet 3?
When I went through Sydney, they let both me and my (then fiance) husband know that they had received Packet 3 by sending us our Packet 4. I am slightly confused by what you are asking though. Have you sent in everything they need to schedule an interview, or just the DS230 part 1? Because they will not send you anything at all until you send them your medical, police check, pretty much everything in this link. Or have you sent everything they requested in, but you received the DS230 back because it wasn't addressed right? If you are mailing something to Australia, I would not put anything but English on the envelope. Just re-mail the DS230. Also, did you do registered mail for everything to Sydney? Registered mail will tell you if it was delivered, and when you are mailing sensitive things like your birth certificate, you want it to be registered.

As for getting an earlier interview date....Sydney is VERY quick with scheduling an interview, usually a week or two weeks after you submit packet 3. The interview is ALWAYS on a Tuesday. My interview was three weeks after I submitted packet 3, but I think that was because it was December and the Consulate was pretty busy coming up on the holidays. I do not think they will give you an even earlier interview unless you literally have a life and death reason.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-30 12:07:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionMedical in the morning, need help fast.

Hey guys,
I know I'm leaving it to the last min, my medical is in the morning in Brisbane Australia, I remember reading somewhere that it's a good idea after the medical to ask the doctor for........(this bit I can't remember) a form of some kind, maybe even a print out of what needles you had. Something to do with it helping lated in the process. when you change your statues after your married. Can anyone help, what am I meant to ask for? or I have read so much over the last few months that I'm confused?


Hey, just so you know, Dr Yates will give you the medical unsealed (unless there is a massive problem with your results) so you can actually make a full photocopy of your entire medical packet before you send it off to Sydney...I did that and I have two additional copies of all the paperwork and results in case I need it. Pretty good to have.

Hope the medical went well..I have to say I was freaked out a little bit by the fact I was undressed for the whole medical, and the fact that he wouldn't listen when I told him he wouldn't get a vein in my right arm but tried for about five minutes anyway...apart from that the receptionists are very nice, and so are the people where you get your xrays done.

Oh, another thing....you may get a pathology bill from Sullivan Nicolaides for your blood work....DO NOT PAY IT and just let the Doctors office know that they tried to bill you. You already pay for all the xrays and bloods at Anzac Square, so they bill might be sent to you by accident.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-04-28 10:27:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVaccinations for Medical

ALL K-1's need a medical.... ALL K-1's must meet the vaccination requirements for AOS... If Sydney processed the visa as an immigrant visa then it would have required the shots for the visa and not just for a future AOS application... The question was about what the vaccination requirements are and when are they needed. NOT about it being cheaper.

Talk about muddying the water...


I answered the OP's question, and they were satisfied with my answer. I also answered at as an Australian who has done the K1, and told them what my experience (as well as many other Australian experiences) was. I told the OP the different ways you can get your vaccination records in Australia. I told them that yes, you can get the shots before the medical. I gave the OP the list of shots that are from the vaccination worksheet. If that is muddying the water....wow.

As for Sydney processing K1's in the Immigrant Visa unit - they need to see a complete medical. Getting the vaccination worksheet done is part of completing the medical. It says in the sheet itself "Required for all U.S. Immigrant Visa Applicants." You either have all the shots done, get a waiver to have the shots later, or the doctor says the shot(s) are not appropriate for you. Why would you not want to make your life easier and try and do as mych of that as you can back home?

Most of us would agree that it's a good idea to get the shots completed before you leave for the US, so they you don't need to mess around with getting the remaining shots from doctors you don't know or whatnot. The shots being potentially cheaper to get in Australia is just a side note. Doing all your shots in the home country can also potentially save you a trip to a CS if you DS-3025 is ticked as complete, because you can send just that form in as part of AOS. That is what I did - no RFE's.

To the OP - Sorry your thread got hijacked. Like I said, head over the Aussie K1 thread, you'll get heaps of help in there :)

Edited by alex and astrid, 08 May 2010 - 01:50 PM.

alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-05-08 13:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVaccinations for Medical

A K-1 technically does NOT have any vaccination requirements... The requirements are for immigrant visas and residents.

moving to consulate forum


But, the K1 is processed as an Immigrant Visa at many Consulates, like it was for us at Sydney. We had to have the medical to get the visa. We need the shots in order to AOS. For Australians, it is way easier and cheaper to do all the shots while we are still at home.

It's not a good idea to muddy the waters for people who are just starting this process by pointing out 'technicalities'.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-05-08 11:36:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionVaccinations for Medical
Hi!

For the vaccinations, I did all I could to be very organised too. You want to make sure you are up to date before the medical, because I think its easier and cheaper to do this through your GP rather than the Panel Doctor. The Panel Doctors in Australia are more than happy to look at any paperwork from your GP stating what shots you already have or similar. There are many ways to go about finding what shots you have already had, what you are immune to, and what you are exempt from. All these depend on your age.

To give you an example of what I did - try and find your 'baby book.' I am 23 (22 at the time of filing) and my mum still had it floating around. Ask your parents if they have it. I was born in South Australia, so mine was a little vinyl covered blue book. That had all my childhood vaccinations in it. If you don't have that, try contacting the health departments of all of the local councils you have lived in, they carry vaccination records for any shots given within the council, except for those given at hospitals or GP's. If that doesn't turn up anything (like if you are in your late twenties, most of these records don't exist or are destroyed), you can have something called a titre test, which checks your blood for antibodies. You just tell the doctor what you need proof for.

So, I found my baby book, I was able to get shot records from two local councils I lived in as a child and a teenager, and I had a blood test for chicken pox because I had no proof that I had it as a kid.

At the medical, these are the shots they look for, and I have put a note about how it related to me as being someone over 18 and female -

DTap (diptheria, tetanus, and whooping cough for infants) - age exempt, but had the shot as an infant
Td (Boostrix for adults) - I had to get this, but you can only have it if you got the childhood DTap shot
Polio - Age exempt, had it as a child
Measles, Mumps, Rubella - already had shot as a child
Rotavirus - Age Exempt
Haemophilus Influenza Type B - Age Exempt
Hepatitis A - Age Exempt
Hepatitis B - Age Exempt, but had the shots in high school
Meningococcal - Age Exempt, but had the shot in high school
HPV - Completed the series, but this is not longer required for visa requirements
Varicella - Blood test proof
Pneumococcal - Not age Appropriate
Influenza - Not age approriate

So as you can see, a lot of stuff is age exempt. You pretty much just have to prove DTaP/Boostrix, Measles/Mumps/Rubella and chickenpox. And being Australians, we get most of the shots anyway as kids, the only ones I had to get were Boostrix and the HPV series.

Good luck! This link http://www.visajourn...interview-date/ is an EXCELLENT resource about the whole K1 journey for Aussies, a lot of common questions are addressed there, plus its out little support group ;)
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-05-08 00:10:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAny chance to quicken the process?

I am about 1-2 months off receiving my GC through marriage, and I know that I will not be able to apply for Citizenship for at least 3 years. However, due to my line of work (Law Enforcement Officer), I was wondering if there would be any other way to apply for Citizenship before the 3 year time as most Law Agencies will not allow GC holders to apply.

I understand it being a long shot, but would hate to put my LE career on hold if I can help it.

Of course, we all make sacrifices to be with the one's we love, and if this happens to be another sacrifice, then so be it :)

I thought I'd just ask the question anyway to see if there is a chance, at all

Thank-you for your time


Hi!

I am fairly certain that you cannot hasten the citizenship process any more. As it is, marriage to a US citizen gives us two years off the waiting period for citizenship, which is normally five years.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-03-21 19:16:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionFiling Early for Naturalization - What's it really mean?

I wanted to start this conversation because there a number of threads and websites that discuss early filing.  But, they really do not elaborate on what that means for the applicant.

 

The applicant gets an earlier priority date to the time of filing.  That's plain to see.  But, what else does this do for the applicant?  What happens next?  Typically, when do they get scheduled for the interview?  

 

Any clarification on this would be most beneficial to my understanding and I'm sure a number of others.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

I'm going to assume that you mean, what happens when people file as soon as their application window opens, 90 days before their 3 or 5 year anniversary date?

 

This doesn't really need clarification. You just get the ball rolling on your application as soon as you can. Nothing else special happens.


alex and astridFemaleAustralia2013-09-17 12:07:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath Ceremony Length - Los Angeles

I was so surprised when I got the interview letter and it said Chatsworth, because I had no idea they did interviews! But, it was good, because it was less of a drive and there was free parrking, haha. Overall, it was a very smooth experience during the whole n400 application for me. Best of luck for your application!

 

That's wonderful! I heard that office is faster than the LA office! : )
Congrats! : )

 


alex and astridFemaleAustralia2014-01-26 14:10:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath Ceremony Length - Los Angeles

Yes, I interviewed in Chatsworth!

 

Hi! Congrats! : )
I saw that u filed in September and got everything done in January! That's crazy fast!
I live in Ventura County and from USCIS website, I see that both VC and SB are under SFV office. So I'm wondering if you had your interview in San Fernando valley office?

 


alex and astridFemaleAustralia2014-01-25 23:43:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionOath Ceremony Length - Los Angeles
I was naturalized yesterday also at the LA Convention Center. My letter said to arrive at 8.05, and the ceremony started around 9am. I was out of there a little after 10am, after getting my certificate and everything. We drove from Santa Barbara, so we were up at 4am! It was a looooong day!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2014-01-16 00:04:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date

Oooo I don't know! lol. The date was one thing but planning an Aussie wedding while in the US was difficult! Tony's family kept trying to get me to do US traditions that we hadn't planned for (I mean how many grooms know weddings? Everything I know is Aussie). His family refused to dance (1/2 hour MAYBE) and only my sister and her hubby could come from my side, but we had to drive almost 4 hours to pick them up and 4 hours to drive them back rather than they fly into the other airport an hour from us.

They arrived WAY too early (the 4th Nov) so we had to schlep them around while I was trying to finalise things (we also planned the wedding in IA but we were living in TX so the time I was IN IA I wanted to wedding plan finish). My sister also told me that we couldn't leave the "night of" the wedding for the honeymoon or the day after because they travelled a long distance and were staying longer to spend time with us. We weren't "allowed" to go on honeymoon until they had left on the 9th Nov. She also told me that as we were staying in the same town (different hotel) and they had to be out of their hotel at 11am but their flight wasn't until the evening that we would need to give them a key to our suite so they could dump their bags. We would have offered but we were "told" which annoys me... as it turned out their hotel could hold bags.

The night before the wedding Tony stayed at a friends house and Kath was staying with me at Tony's parents, and her husband was staying with Tony... or so we thought... at 4am the MORNING of the wedding, Kath woke me up to tell me that Aaron had decided he wanted to go back to their hotel instead of staying where he was supposed to, so she was going with him and Tony was driving them. So... yah... that ticked me off. I felt like the whole time i was forced to entertain those that had travelled a long distance as a "thank you".

I would like to say that "the ones that come matter right" but we had maybe 60 something people RSVP, yet 85 people ate food (luckily we had a buffet set up and paid per plate but that pissed me off). My sister in law had her friends come, who sat and ate but didn't even say hello to tony and I. Of the 85 that attended we received 13 cards/notes, some with gifts, some without. I don't care about gifts but yeah, 85 people and you can't even get me a $2 card so I know you came? Apparently it's common-place in the US for people to RSVP and not come, to RSVP "no" and come anyway, or not RSVP at all and come... I was on wedding book (an application/forum on FB) and lots of girls had say 10 people not come but say they were and at $25 a plate they were out $250. That's why tony and i went buffet.

I have to be honest, nearer the date Tony and I were saying we should have just eloped and had an awesome wedding/honeymoon and we're SO happy that part's over! It was more stressful than this visa stuff!



Ohhh, RSVP'ing really annoys me with Americans!! It seems they are so slack with it, or don't feel that it is important to do. At our engagement party, people didn't even bother rsvping, and I had to chase them, or rsvp'ed and didn't even show. It's actually very hurtful and annoying, especially when it's such a special occasion.
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-01-09 19:56:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date

We made the mistake of thinking the date was up to us, set one then various people of the family were like aww i have something then. Oh well it worked out for the best getting married on May day makes me happy, both of us are of Irish decent so it really makes since for that date. Ok time for another cup of coffee, talk to yall soon.

Hugs!
Jules


Hmm, yeah, funny how it's YOUR wedding but others try to dictate hey?? Oh well, the ones that make time to come to our special days are the ones that really matter, right?
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2010-01-09 19:00:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
Happy New Year to all of you smile.gif 2010 is going to be a year of great things for us smile.gif
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-31 21:11:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
QUOTE (Simon and Janet @ Dec 29 2009, 01:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congrats Nat! kicking.gif

I've flown VAustralia and thought they were excellent as well.

2 weeks until the interview!
Our wedding is Feb 6th. Janet is off with her mom and friends tomorrow finding a dress. cool.gif


Ohhh, dress shopping! I got mine a few months ago, Mum and I are going to alter it in a few days. So exciting, once you have the dress it all gets real!
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-29 07:25:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
QUOTE (Giggles @ Dec 28 2009, 07:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah I thought it was an amazing deal too and I go direct to LAX from Brisbane so no stopping over in Sydney. I have about a 3 hour layover in LA before going to DC. I wanted leave enough time to get through immigration and all that. We had been looking at the prices of fares last week and they were more expensive for the same departure date. I was hoping they would have a sale after Christmas and we were very lucky they did. I have a few weeks before I go so I can organise everything I need to before I leave and pack up my stuff. The countdown is on....so exciting! biggrin.gif


What date do you leave?
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-28 16:24:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
QUOTE (Giggles @ Dec 27 2009, 07:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's good you made it there safely Miss Natalie.

I was wondering what V Australia was like as I haven't travelled with them before. By the looks of their website the looked pretty decent to me. I just booked a one way ticket with them to LAX for $690. Today I'm going to book the rest of my journey to DC which I've seen for US$119. All up it will cost about AU$825.....I can't believe how cheap we could get a one way ticket. Qantas was more than $2000. I have a $650 credit with Qantas which I might end up having to forfeit unless I decide to come back some time next year.


My folks are flying V Australia to come to the wedding...they got direct flights for a fairly good price. $690 one way sounds amazing, usually a one way fare is more than a return!

Miss Natalie - Glad you got there safe! We should keep in touch, since we are for sure walking down the aisle the same day smile.gif
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-28 03:49:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
Miss Natalie - Good luck on your flight and POE tomorrow! I'll be following you soon enough smile.gif
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-25 07:25:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date
QUOTE (TerriandEric @ Dec 24 2009, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Merry Christmas Everyone -- we have opened our gifts, shed many tears with my kids & many more will be shed before the day is out.

Hope you all have an awesome day

xoxx


Yep I hear you on the tears...
alex and astridFemaleAustralia2009-12-24 20:36:00