Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Nov 25 2009, 06:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I had my medical exam with Dr Yates today. Astrid, basically it went the same as yours. I did my urine test first and then waited about 10 minutes to see the doctor. We went through the vaccination sheet and the questions on the medical exam worksheet. Then he asked me to undress to my underwear and he checked my weight and height, gave me the Boostrix and MMR vaccines. Then he listened to my breath/lungs and heart (from my back and front), did a breast exam, pressed around on my belly, took my blood sample and then asked if I had any ankle problems. I sat up he tapped my knee to test my reflex, check in my ears, eyes and open my mouth and say ahh. Next came the part which I thought was a bit weird....he asked me to stand up turn towards the wall bend over and touch my toes (butt towards him and all I'm wearing is my underwear. #######??) I did it quickly without really thinking about it but then I started to think about it.....was he checking out my butt??? I can't think why it was necessary to turn around and bend over infront of him (standing about 2m away). Couldn't he have seen if I could touch my toes when I'm facing him? Does anyone know if there was a legitimate reason for this? I then had to stand on my toes and turn back towards him, squat, stand up and raise my arms above my head which I guess was all to see if i had any injuries/problems. I got dressed and then he asked me to read the bottom row on the eye chart (don't need to be nearly naked for that). He told me everything was all good and the exam was over. Then I went and got my x-ray done. Everything was done in about 1.25 hours and all up it cost me $541 (exam, x-ray, blood test $466, MMR $30 & Boostrix $45). Now I just have to wait to get the results which should be Friday (maybe) or Monday. Hmmm...that does sound really weird. Why did he get you to do all that bending over and stuff? I didn't have to do that. I think unless you had a prior injury or problem like arthritis or something, there isn't a need to do that. And you can tell what someone's movement is like with clothes on. My trainer at my gym got me to do similar things like that to see what my flexibility and posture was like, and I did in my street clothes! I really think it's not needed for us to be near-naked for the whole exam. The more I think about it, the more it weirds me out. I actually feel kind of dirty. Have any male VJ'ers gone to see Dr Yates? Can you tell us about your experiences? I swear, if the guys don't have to be undressed for it, I am going to flip my lid.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-25 18:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Omnivore @ Nov 24 2009, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Good luck to all you girls with all this name change stuff, I guess that's a benefit of me moving, she'll stay there and do all her name change stuff over there. I like being a male. I can't wait to change my name, actually! I've known ever since Alex and I started dating that I would marry him....I've been waiting nearly five years to be his wife so it's about time! And he has a really nice last name, much nicer and easier to say and spell than mine, lol! I do have to say though that it seems more annoying to change your name in Australia than in the US....Queensland especially, since they seem to not want to take international marriage certificates, meaning I will need to do a legal name change when I get around to it...	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-25 05:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (sera77 @ Nov 24 2009, 03:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Fiance's Visa APPROVED today!!!!! Here before Christmas, we're so happy..... CONGRATS!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-24 06:36:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Vanessa - thankyou for explaining! They have changed how you pay the visa fee since I was last issued a visa three years ago. How I described it above was how it was when I got my student visa. How they do it now isn't fair though, since you are paying more than the equivalent of $131 usd oh, and I am flying down the night before, because my appointment is so early, but because of what happened to you	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-24 00:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Don'tWhateverMe @ Nov 23 2009, 02:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Nov 23 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Interview date - December 15, at 8am!! Was hoping to get in on the 8th, but all the appointments for that day must have been taken. It's all good! We both got the appointment letter in the email today, and I am not missing anything, just got to bring the passport, payment, evidence etc...Will bring extra passport pics just in case too! On my letter though, under additional comments was "FormDS194RefusalSupplemental 02/20/08". Does anyone know what it means, or does everyone have that on their letter? Yay - Congrats Astrid ... Thanks! Oh, to everyone waiting to pay their visa fee, I think you can just go ahead and pay it, and not wait for your P4 letter....the reason I say that is that the amount you pay to Aus Post is linked to the exchange rate, my letter says I have to pay $157 AUD, but it also says "subject to change". I just checked the exchange rate, it's more like 140-ish now. So when I go tot pay it, I guess I just tell them that I need to pay a US visa fee, and what it is worth in USD, and let them figure out the exchange. Just looked at airfares, looks like its going to be about $160 to fly there and back....and for once, Virgin Blue is cheaper than JetMaggot! (sorry, I have a vendetta against Jetstar). Going to stay at the YHA Central Sydney or Railway square, for 41.50 a night. Cheap and central is good in my book! Wonder if I will happen across any other Vj'ers while I am there?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-23 06:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Interview date - December 15, at 8am!! Was hoping to get in on the 8th, but all the appointments for that day must have been taken. It's all good! We both got the appointment letter in the email today, and I am not missing anything, just got to bring the passport, payment, evidence etc...Will bring extra passport pics just in case too! On my letter though, under additional comments was "FormDS194RefusalSupplemental 02/20/08". Does anyone know what it means, or does everyone have that on their letter?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-23 04:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Oh shoot...I must have missed those picture instructions because only sent two passport pics with my P3...but I can bring the other two photos with me to the interview yeah?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-22 16:24:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Packet Three went in the mail today, express to sydney, so they should get it tomorrow morning. I was such a bundle of nerves at the GPO, checking and rechecking that the forms were right and O had all the right gear in there. I annoyed the lady at the window, I think because I was so anxious. But it's out of my hands now	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-19 07:19:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Nov 18 2009, 04:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was kind of hoping to get out of having to take another trip to the city just for that purpose but at least I wouldn't have to wait for them to mail the results I guess. As far as I know you don't need to send your x-rays with P3 or take them to the interview. You must take them when you move to the US though. I called NVC again tonight, our file is on it's way to the Sydney Consulate. I'm going to go get my police check done tomorrow if I can. I'm so glad thing are finally starting to go quickly for us. I've got my fingers crossed that I will have my appointment before the end of the year. Yay! I'm glad things are back on track for you. With the police check, if 10 business days have passed and you haven't gotten it back, call police HQ in the city. A girl called Kristin is in charge of sending them out, her extension is 6979. If you call her, she can tell you if the check is complete or if it has been mailed out. If the check is still in the last stages of processing, she can hurry it up for you, if you ask her nicely. I did that QUOTE (kaffy @ Nov 18 2009, 06:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Did your police check come on the fancy blue paper too? You don't need to send your x-rays. Only the results of the medical. And you don't need to take the x-ray to Sydney with you either. Just make sure you bring it with you when you move here Yup, it's very fancy paper. I think they got the best paper money could buy from officeworks	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-18 16:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Nov 17 2009, 06:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep, my appointment is with Dr Yates. I thought that was odd too when you said you were nearly naked for the entire exam. It doesn't seem necessary for the examination he needs to do. It kinda makes the doctor sound like a bit of a perv. I'll let you know how my appointment goes. I would have been annoyed with that woman at the medical centre too. She could have at least said politely that they'll call you when your results are ready. Do we have to pick up the results from the medical centre or will they mail them out? You pick them up from their office - it's very easy to get to, it's actually part of central station. They can mail them to you, but they prefer not to. The only time they will not get you to pick up your results is if there is something very wrong with you. Speaking of medicals, they called me today and I can pick up my results in the morning. Yay! QUOTE (Don'tWhateverMe @ Nov 17 2009, 02:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> LOL @ nosiness - supposed to meet my cousin there. She hates LAX too and doesn't want to sit around for a few hours. Think she would for me - but NO! Ahhh. I've only been downtown a few times, one was to go to the fashion district, another was to go to the Staples Center for a game, and then I had a conference for Uni that was over three days. It's okay if you are with someone, but it's a bit of a wasteland! #UPDATE# Got my police check in the mail today! A bit disappointed in it to be honest, not with the outcome of course, because it says I have a clean record (YAY!), but it looks like someone just made it up while they had some free time at school! My mum actually laughed at it. It doesn't look very official at all. Oh well, at least I have it right? So, since I am picking up my medical tomorrow, I am going to mail in packet three! I have to send them my medical though, do I send my xrays too? Since I will get that back anyway, right? Has anyone not sent the xrays and just brought them with you to the interview? Any suggestions for my packet three are appreciated So, since I'm sending it tomorrow, I hope I can get an interview in the second week of December!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-18 06:49:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Don'tWhateverMe @ Nov 17 2009, 03:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (NewYorkSydney @ Nov 17 2009, 12:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey All, My visa was approved this morning... Completely missed this earlier .... congrats Carol ... Astrid ... thanks for that. I have an 8 hour layover and LAX is my least favourite airport ... Yup, I can hear you on that. I'm g;ad I have never had to stopover there, LAX is always the end of the road for me Just out of interest, why downtown? There is diddly squat to do there, or see there. You could try and go to Santa Monica or something instead? Unless you are meeting someone there, you can just go ahead and ignore my nosiness	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-17 06:19:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Don'tWhateverMe @ Nov 17 2009, 03:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (zaskar @ Nov 16 2009, 04:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ****** news flash ****** Got my interview date Dec 1st 8 am WOW it is so close now, I am so nervous about what they will ask and what I need to take etc it is crazy. I am booking my flights tonight, what is the hotel near there again as I will fly down night before since it is a 8am interview time. Jason Congrats Jason ... can't wait for the reviews so I know what we're in for ... !! Astrid - you lived in LA. How much (and how long would it take) for a cab ride from LAX to downtown? Thanks. I have never driven from Downtown to LAX, only from the San Fernando Valley to LAX. According to Google, it can take anywhere between half an hour and two hours to get there by car. I would suggest skipping the Taxi and just taking the FlyAway, it's a bus service that is four dollars one way, I think, and it runs half hourly from LAX to downtown, Brentwood and Van Nuys Airport. They do pickups and drop offs and each terminal. It will drop you at Union Station, which is in down town, and you can just get a cab from there to where you need to go. A Taxi from LAX to the city is a huge rip off.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-17 05:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Nov 16 2009, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I booked my medical this morning, my appointment is next week. CONGRATS Carol! Giggles, which Dr. are you seeing? Are you seeing Dr Yates, like I did? I am interested to see if he has you strip down for almost the entire medical like he had me do, like I said before, it seems very odd. A comment about my medical, actually. I called Anzac Square Medical Center today to follow up my results, since the girl on reception told me when I left my appointment on Thursday, that the results would be ready in two days, which should have be Monday, maybe Tuesday. So I call and inquire of my results were ready to be picked up, and the woman on the other end rudely asks "Have we called you?" And I said no, that I just wanted to follow up, since I was told two days by the receptionist I had spoken to. She was pretty much just a huge ###### to me, saying that the results could sit on the Doctors desk for AGES and it was up to them to process it. Pretty much the message "why should we hurry for you?" Fair enough, it's up to the doctor, but I know my results are fine, the Dr. said I was fine, and the xray tech said my chest looked clean. Why the reason for the rudeness? She could have just said that my results were not yet available, and gotten the Dr. to give me a call when we was ready. She clearly has no grasp that by the time we get to a medical, we have been waiting for months and we need to get to the consulate as soon as we can? AND, visa applicants pay them an exorbidant amount of money for quite simple tests? Really, she just gave me the shits. Also, I get home from work today, to find a bill for bloodwork from the local pathology company, even though I paid for the blood tests through the Dr. Guess who is going to get a pointed phonecall tomorrow morning? I have the proof I already paid, as if they are going to charge me $100-plus TWICE. Vanessa - So when you file for AOS, you are just going to submit your medical and nothing else additional? Can you let us know if having no skin TB test gives you an grief?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-17 04:56:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Giggles @ Nov 16 2009, 06:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey everyone, Finally I have some good news to share, NVC have our approved petition. YAY!!!!!!!! I'm soooo happy and relieved right now!! My fiance received a letter from USCIS on Saturday saying our petition had been sent to NVC (we didn't get our hopes up though). So I call NVC tonight (first thing this morning US time) and they confirmed they received our petition on Friday the 13th (not such a day of bad luck for us ). I had to contain my excitement while I was on the phone, I was jumping with joy on the inside. We still have no idea why it took almost 8 weeks to get there but I'm not concerned about that anymore. NVC have our file and that is such a weight off our minds. I guess all our persistence and harassing USCIS to locate our file finally payed off. Fingers crossed that we don't go into AP and there are not more problems for the rest of our journey. YAAAAAAAAY!!!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-16 15:14:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	**shakes fist at stupid edit function** Attention all Aussies that are about to undertake/have already recently done AOS - what was the deal with your vaccination supplement? I read in another forum thread that we need a TB skin test done as part of that, but from my understanding, we all just had chest xrays done, no skin test. Did you have to go to a US doctor to get a TB skin test done, then have it transcribed over to your supplement. I am fairly confused. Side note, I called QLD police HQ and it looks like I will have my police check in the next day or so. Yay!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-16 07:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Don'tWhateverMe @ Nov 16 2009, 12:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (kaffy @ Nov 14 2009, 05:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Vanessa&Tony @ Nov 14 2009, 04:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Side note to the Aussie girls changing their names after marriage - if you do it within the first year of marriage it's FREE so.. saving of like $200. I don't know about my UK passport though. It's about to expire anyway.. ugh.. more money. Hey Vanessa do you have more info on this? I've been married nearly 3 years and still havent changed my name in Australia yet (I use my married name as my legal name here though). I tried doing it back in Aus (after we had married and before we moved to the US) but the QLD BDM registry gave me the run around saying that they couldnt accept my o/s marriage certificate and that I would have to file a legal name change... which I had to wait 12 months for since I had to re-establish residency. We ended up moving over to the US one day before I reached that residency requirement so I emailed the Aussie Embassy here as to how to go about doing it. Come to find out they CAN accept o/s marriage certificates... but since I'm an Aussie citizen through naturalization I would have to change my name on that first, THEN submit a name change for my passport - such a PITA! Since I have to present original documents I will probably do it in person when I am in DC next year. If there is a simpler way I would love to hear!! thanks Hey Kaffy - I tried as well (a naturalised Australian) and there is no other way so I will do the Qld BDM legal name change while I am still living here. I sure would like an easier way too as it takes them at least 6 weeks to process (unless you pay extra of course). The whole proving residency is a PITA! What is the go if you an a citizen by birth - can I do the name change while I am overseas of should I change my name while I am here too??	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-16 06:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Ok, I come under than then, since I am Australian by birth. This is good to know....and another thing I add to my to do list once I am married!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-14 21:07:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (kaffy @ Nov 14 2009, 10:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Nov 14 2009, 09:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hmmm....so once we are married, we just contact our closest australian embassy and get our name changed there? Does that mean getting a new passport, or they just change something in our passport to note the change? I still have more than six years left on mine, would be a shame to have to get a new one! There's no rule saying that you absolutely must change your name on your passport Oh...but doesn't it make it easier when you are travelling, since my married name will be on everything else? Or do I travel with a copy of my marriage licence?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-14 19:50:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Hmmm....so once we are married, we just contact our closest australian embassy and get our name changed there? Does that mean getting a new passport, or they just change something in our passport to note the change? I still have more than six years left on mine, would be a shame to have to get a new one!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-14 06:56:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Omnivore @ Nov 10 2009, 07:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Alex: who did you contact at your local council? I forgot I didn't answer this! I called the council and just asked for the department that handled vaccination records. I'm pretty sure it was the health and environment department.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-13 19:04:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Warren and Cindy @ Nov 12 2009, 11:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (alex and astrid @ Nov 12 2009, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well the consulate must have heard me whinging and we got packet three today, at lunchtime! I sent back the DS-230 today while I was at work (I hope I don't get in trouble for filling it out in pen, and handwriting my additional answers!) It was sent via email to both Alex and I, so they must have gotten my email from when I contacted them a few days back asking if they had my packet yet I should get my medical results on Monday or Tuesday, and hopefully have the police check by next week (it's been two weeks since I filed for it), so then I can send the rest of packet three and get my interview. Whoo hoo! YAY!!!!! Grats!!! you might get an interview before xmas ir you get all your stuff in soon Yeah, thats the plan! Giggles You've got a senator involved in your case, right? NVC/USCIS has to know your case is about to expire, they can't just let it sit!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-12 16:01:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	UGH! VJ will not let me edit my posts at all!!! Sorry for the doubles, everyone! So, I had my medical today, here is what went down - I saw Dr J. Yates, at the Anzac Square Medical Center in Brisbane City at 9am. Got there at about quarter to, handed over my paperwork and was instructed to go upstairs to do my urine test first. I had the forethought to skoll an iced coffee before my appointment, it always makes me want to pee! Giving the sample is so awkward though, the only time in my life I wished I was a guy, just to make easier!! Came back into the waiting room, handed back my sample, still feeling very awkward, until the receptionist thanked me for making photocopies of all my records and passport and being so organise Went in to the doctor at about 9.20, he started by looking at all my vaccine stuff and writing it on the form. I had all the vaccs I needed, score! We then went though the questionaire, and got a laugh when we got to the pregnancy question, I said that I hadn't seen Alex in five months so it was a bit hard! He then got me to undress, did height and weight, checked my lungs and heart and abdomen, checked for hernias. Come to think of it, I was undressed for the majority of my medical, which I thought was a bit odd. Since when do you have to be nearly naked to have your lungs listened to? Then came the blood test, he ignored me when I asked him to take blood from my left arm, since I know the veins in my right suck, he tried my right arm TWICE and could not get a vein! Switched to my left and got one, but it was really painful. I've never had bloodwork hurt so much! He finished up with a quick breast exam and that was it. I felt pretty lighteaded after the bloods though, I think because the needles were in my arms for so long, especially in my right arm, and I started to freak out a little bit and get panicky because I could feel it moving around in my arm. I was done with Yates in about 40 mins and he said there should be no problems with the results. I asked the receptionist if I could have a copy of my results when I got them, for my own usage, and they said the envelope is not sealed, unless there is something very wrong, so I could make copies myself. Then had to walk two blocks to get my chest xray, waited about half an hour to be seen as they were very busy. Got called, changed into the sexy gown and joked with the tech that I was ready for my photo session. She said that my face wouldn't be in it and I said that was ok because it would be of my chest and it was my best asset The tech got the xray in one shot and I got to see it before it was printed. Was pretty cool to see my insides, and the tech pointed out my stomach, which was full of my iced coffee still lol. Overall my lungs look great. What was funny is I asked if my lungs looked okay, and the tech asked if I was a smoker, which I said I wasn't. Her reason for asking was that my question was one that the smokers always ask! All in all, pretty good experience apart from the final bill and my now very sore arms from the bloodwork!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-12 07:20:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Well the consulate must have heard me whinging and we got packet three today, at lunchtime! I sent back the DS-230 today while I was at work (I hope I don't get in trouble for filling it out in pen, and handwriting my additional answers!) It was sent via email to both Alex and I, so they must have gotten my email from when I contacted them a few days back asking if they had my packet yet I should get my medical results on Monday or Tuesday, and hopefully have the police check by next week (it's been two weeks since I filed for it), so then I can send the rest of packet three and get my interview. Whoo hoo!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-12 07:07:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Omnivore @ Nov 10 2009, 07:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Alex: who did you contact at your local council? I dunno about child brides (given I'm the groom especially!) many of my friends got married in their early 20s, but I'm a Christian so perhaps a bit of an incentive to marry younger. I had a tetnus shot in 99 so figured they'd make me get one. Alex is the USC, I'm Astrid, the aussie Sorry, child bride is a joke between me and my friends...It's ironic, since I'm not the first to walk down the aisle, but I am the youngest out of my circle of friends. Alex and I have known each other since we were 17, and have been together four and a half years...we were bound to seal the deal at a young age! Just a thought to pose to everyone - I know Sydney has my package, they got it Monday, but I still haven't gotten a Packet 3, in hardcopy at my house here in Brisbane or via email to Alex. It's been nearly three days since they got it, and everyone else seems to have gotten Packet 3 within a day or so. Should I be worried or am I being silly? Oh, have my medical tomorrow, first thing with Dr. Yates in Brisbane.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-11 06:45:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	hmm, that's strange for NSW health to not turn up anything, but my shots were not on the national datebase either, because I was too old. Call the shore or council that your high school was in, they will have the records. 22 like me huh? We are child brides On another note, a question about the Ds-230, 1 & 2. Questions 14 through 18 ask for my spouses name and information. I say "N/A" since alex is still my fiance and not my spouse, right?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-09 07:15:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	QUOTE (Omnivore @ Nov 9 2009, 02:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> How was Dr Waks? I'm always a bit nervous seeing a doctor I've never seen before. If I've already had Chicken Pox & MMR shots do I need to get that blood test. I know I've had the MMR shot, and I know I had chicken pox when I was a kid. Hope my Doctor has my immunisation record, he's just moved and when my Dad asked him he said it might be there, but might not, I HATE shots! (Nor can I afford to get a million of them!) Thanks for the knowledge NYSyd - was happy to get an appointment next week. How old are you? I am 22, and I got a lot of my shots when I was in high school. Just contact all the local councils that you lived in if you are missing any proof. I was able to get all my records from across three different states pretty easily. I also would not worry about your doctor moving, as it is the practice that your doctor is based at that would have the record, not the actual doctor. Unless your doctor was by themself at their own practice? I had chicken pox as a kid too, but I had no valid proof - All I have is the memory of me having them, plus my mum always telling the story that once I had it, she tried desparatley to give it to my younger brother too. He didn't But, I told my doctor that I wanted to have proof, and she referred be for bloodwork, and she requested it be bulk billed. She had be tested for rubella also, seeing as I might want to get pregnant in the next few years. I would get the bloodwork to be safe, I'd hate to have to pay for the shot!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-09 05:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Called NVC today, our case was sent to Sydney November 4th (US Time)!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-07 03:04:00
Australia and New Zealand	Australian Beneficiaries - Packet 3 to Interview date	Thanks...yeah, Ive been for a visa interview before and I had to leave everything downstairs except for my visa stuff. Will go get an expanding folder today. In terms of evidence, what did you bring to your interview?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2009-11-04 17:48:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Haha! Jamie, I won't hold it against you either that you use to live near Ipswich, I did too. We were practically neighbours....I lived at North Booval for quite a few years. Ipswich is not as bad as people make it out to be. I've seen much worse neighbourhoods here and they weren't even the really bad ones. Astrid, I use to work at Indroopilly, not at the shopping centre but I shopped there all the time....I wonder if I ever bought anything from you?? Well I worked at Indro from June last year to January this year. You might know the shop, it's a novelty store called GeeWhiz. Up on level three right across from Kmart. MIss all the kids I worked with but don't miss working there...the owner was a racist, sexist pig	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-12 20:01:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	YAY FOR TERRI!!! So happy for you, Eric and Bek right now Hi Everyone - just popping in to introduce myself My name is Carey, Im 39 and living on the Gold Coast in Queensland. My fiancee is Ted and he lives in Texas and our K1 petition was sent to VSC by fedex today.....and so the journey begins......dang I'm excited Hope everyone is having a great Sunday!! Hi Carey! Like Vanessa said, I am a former Queenslander so if you have any questions about the police check process or the Medical when it comes time for that, ask away Good luck on your journey! We got an interview date!!!!! It's set for May 4th. So....month off but it's at least a month before the cut off date. Should help then. I really don't think we'd be rejected. But Ham's the positive one in the relationship, I'm the negative. So, yeah, paranoid. I don't get the check list though. They say they want the original of the final divorce decree but I don't know if they mean his or mine. I thought I wouldn't have to submit mine since all of my stuff was checked by the Service Center. And I thought he submitted his. Though maybe not cause he did mention something about him losing the original of the copies he sent me. Did anyone else enter into this where the USC was married before and did they have to submit their divorce papers to Sydney? You will be fine!!! Really, Sydney is a breeze, and before you know it, it will be all over. With the divorce decree, I would assume that they want both. I know that the Service Centers check off on stuff, but I guess the Consulate wants their own stuff too? You can always email them to confirm....and since you have a little under a month to get the paperwork together, you should have plenty of time. Maybe ask Terri, what the consulate asked her for? Good luck! Edited by alex and astrid, 11 April 2010 - 11:01 PM.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-11 23:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Haha you are funny! I have only had a Muster before the GHD. Do you remember how fat the Muster plates were? hahaha. They seem so ancient now, but I did love my Muster at the time. Oh how cool ... I would love to live so close to Hollywood. I used to watch The L Word (I'm not gay or bi, but I loved the story lines LOL) and I thought it would be so cool to live in West Hollywood like they all did lol. Melvin is thinking of moving to a place just south of San Bernadino, I think it's called Temecula. I am totally up for that ... being within a short enough drive to LA and LAX etc, plus Lachy would be in theme park heaven haha. Yes well I reckon we should all fly over Ness and Terri's way LOL. I have only been as far over as Texas and Oklahoma. Ohhhh I used to work in 17 Mile Rocks on 17 Mile Rocks Road! Small world huh. I grew up near Ipswich (please don't hold that against me LOL). I lived in Bundamba for most of the 16 years I was up there, but have also lived in lots of areas in and around Ipswich, Hillcrest, Marsden, Burpengary and many others. I have also lived in Seymour but never Shepp lol. Yeah I heard the SPC factory was up that way LMAO. My first straightener was a Muster!!! I got a skinnier plate one but yeah, they were still pretty big! Well if you used to work on Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, then you worked right by where my parents live! They live in the estate that is bordered by Seventeen Mile Rocks Road/Fort Road and the river...right by Canossa Hospital. My Mum works at Oxley McDonalds and I used to work at Indro Shopping Center And I won't hold Ippy against you! Some of the funniest train trips I have taken have been on that train line, lol	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-10 23:59:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Terri, how did you get an interview date so soon after you submitted your request? The most recent update to the time lines show that someone who submitted their P3 on the 1st has an interview date for the 27th so almost 4 weeks from their submission. Yours was only two weeks after submission of the P3. Just worried cause I'm thinking that me and Ham probably won't get our interview date until May now based off of the most recent update. I was kind of hoping it'd only be a week or two like yours was. We only have until June 4th to get his visa or else we have to file for an extension. Maybe I should start looking into that. I think it all depends on what day of the week they get your P3. My interview was three weeks after I submitted my P3. It also might be that they are backed up right now and Terri just lucked out. Or, the person that has a four week wait requested to be pushed back. I think it's pretty safe to assume that you interview would be 2-3 weeks after submission. If you really are worred, contact the consulate and ask to be extended, I am sure it won't be took big of a deal	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-09 18:18:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hey everyone! Just a quick introduction - I seem to always be lurking around enough that I feel that I know you all already, so I thought it was time to say hello. My name is Zoe and I'm a twenty year old law student and Queensland resident. I've been an Australian citizen for about ten years now, as I was born and raised in New Zealand... though maybe I shouldn't admit to that as much as I do! My fiancee Matt is twenty two and lives in Chicago, IL. So he's a.. Chicagoan? Chicagan? Person Who Lives in Illinois? We met online a year or so ago and have been in crazy love ever since, and now we find ourselves knee deep in paperwork and vacillating between getting on with our lives and not worrying too much about the process or the wait we're facing and crazy worried/nervous/WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG SWEET LORD but I guess that's part and parcel of a) loving an American citizen and b) getting involved with the USCIS. It's certainly a process that makes you hope you'll never take each other for granted Astrid, I know the Aussie website ry.com.au (where I bought my GHD from) have reduced their prices, so maybe even with postage it would work out cheaper than from anywhere else. I couldn't live without my GHD as it is truly a miracle worker and has got me through some tough times. Winter in Chicago? Not a problem. Sweating it out in Queensland? Totally under control. I promise I don't work for GHD in any way, haha. I tried a CHI straightener in the US and I didn't get the hype at all. Hi Zoe! I am a Queenslander too....kind of. Born in South Australia, raised in Victoria, but call Brisbane home now because Mum and Dad have lived there for a few years now. While I was home doing the K1 I lived with them and really fell in love with Brissie...miss it a lot! Where are you in QLD? BTW, my brother goes to UQ at St. Lucia, I wonder if that is where you go? If you say you go to QUT I won't pick on you, a friend of mine is doing law there, haha. You and your fiance aren't much younger than Alex and I...we're both 23 and on the younger end of the people on VJ...we've been together five years though which is FOREVER! Thanks for the GHD tip, I will check it out. The only think I have against getting a GHD from home is the plugs it will have..right now I think I'd rather has US plugs. Good luck on your journey! I had no idea about dual voltage and Melvin is a bloody Electrician, you would think he would have informed me of it, as he knows my hair dryer shat itself, he had to take me to Walmart so I could buy a cheap and nasty Revlon one LOL. I must check my Lappy ... because I'd like to bring that over. LOL you are so funny ... don't go out in LA without good hurrrrrr! You definitely need a GHD for the more humid type climates eh. What part of LA are you in anyways? I don't know it well, have only done one of the LA tours and stayed near Anaheim for a week last year. I remember more of Hollywood and Beverly Hills than the actual city part of LA. Oh and I remember driving past Compton ... my ex has moved there from Oklahoma ... he wants to come visit us at LAX when we're in transit, there is no way I will be going to visit him! LOL I think once we are all finally over in the US and the paperwork is done etc, we should have like a big Aussie VJ meet Welcome Chloe and Ren . Chloe where in Qld are you? I am originally from there but have been in Melbourne for 7.5 years. Your laptop should be fine, when I first moved to the US on the F1 in 2006, I bought my old HP lappy over, it was fine on the lower voltage. Mmmm mmm gurl you know I need my hurrr did to be looking good!! LOL. I used to have a HAI straightener before it crapped itself, and I really liked it. My hair would pretty much stay straight, even more so if I blowdry first. I just chopped off all my hair though so I need to straighten all the time, and the Conair one I got to tide me over isn't really up to the job. I am in the San Fernando Valley in LA, not far from Burbank. I am just over the other side of the hill from Hollywood! It's pretty good when I feel bored and I want to people watch I would be down for a meetup! I haven't seen too much of the US so any excuse to see more! BTW Jaime, I didn't know you were ex-QLD! I lived in Oxley/Jindalee area while I was home with Mum and Dad last year...and lived in Shepparton, Victoria growing up. I ate a lot of SPC haha!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-07 19:39:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	That's sad that they are making her feel bad Tez but at the end of the day, it's her life and her decision. I have my sisters always telling me that I can't leave and can't take the boys far far away ... UM they NEVER come to visit me, so why should I live my life to please them? I think not lol. It's funny about the whole voltage thing in the US ... I have blown up 2 Aussie hair dryers over there but my GHD straightener works fine! Lachy's DSi takes longer to charge and so does my mobile though. I'm selling all my electricals before I go, like Lachy's consoles (PS2, Wii, DSi etc). Tezzzzzzzzzzz I wanna be there at your interview LMAO I did the opposite with my hairdryer, it only worked half as well! It would just cough and splutter and blow out a gentle breath of cool air! Lucky electronic stuff is so cheap here. I've put Alex on the hook to get me a GHD straightener as a present, since mine broke last month and I am using a crappy Rite Aid one for the time being. A girl needs goof looking hair to fit in around LA, lol!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-03 21:34:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hello my Aussie peeps. Just a little update. Staying with Tony's parents (and little sister) until we're able to organise somewhere to live. His mother is... hmm.. the typical mother-in-law the people complain about but I'm going to try and suffer through (I say "I" but really I think Tony's hating it more). On a positive note, some of you will know already that I'm getting a Kitchenaid mixer but what I couldn't write on FB is.. my mum is mailing me one. Which sounds weird right because they're more expensive in Aus right? Not if you're lucky like my mum and WIN one!! So posting it is cheaper than buying one here She buys a lot of yoghurt and she bought Vaalia one day and saw a competition to win a dinner with Donna Hay OR instant win prize of a Kitchenaid mixers. 2 people a day won the mixers. Mum had my brother send the codes (she only had 3) and she WON! She was super-dooper excited but waited until she got the official win letter before she told me (which was yesterday) so for my bday and Xmas she's mailing me the mixer The reason I can't mention it on FB is because my sister doesn't know that mum won one, and although my sister doesn't cook (or should I say CAN'T.. 2 minutes noodles in the microwave without water... twice!), she'll probably complain but mum said she only entered the competition because she knows how badly I want one and because we have to wait a while before I get one (buying a house or starting to rent is expensive.. as is moving across the country!). So there you go How is everyone else? Terri I saw your interview date so I'm super excited for you. It's official the 1st April in Australia so it's 5 sleeps YAAAAAAAY! I'm still very jealous of you! I would much rather win a mixer than dinner with Donna Hay hahaha. I don't want to be a downer, but it will work in the US, right? The voltage should be okay, since stuff like my laptop and hair straightener work here...let us know!! WTG Vanessa!! What an awesome win for you Mum & now for you Sorry to hear that your MIL is stuck in the stereotype. Yep 5 more sleeps to interview....I am beyond excited & can hardly wait. I started packing suitcases yesterday as Aus Post willing we will be flying out on the 10th...only 9 more days YAY! My daughter signs out of school today & some of her friends have been 'guilt tripping' her about leaving. I keep seeing it all over her facebook page and last night Eric & I were talking about it. We both know today will be tough but with sentiments of 'dont leave us' 'you cant go' 'its never going to be the same now' etc etc etc its not going to get easier for her. All we can do is be here for her like always & be patient while she is so upset...hopefully the excitement will rub off on her over the next few days. Ahh, got to love teenage girls!! They are very good at making you feel bad. But, Vanessa is right....friends aren't always there forever, especially those in high school. I've been out of high school six years now, and out of the large group of friends I had, I keep in regular contact with about three of them. She always has the ability to go home and visit, and she will have the internet to keep in touch, much easier to be long distance than it was ten years ago! Bek has a massive advantage when she starts school over here too, people are going to want to know her!! When I started college, it was easy to break the ice because everyone wanted to talk to me. And if she is anything like you Terri, she will be able to handle it. I moved a lot as a kid and making new friends isn't too bad. She has a lot to look forward to when she comes out here...I can't really think of anything to add to what Vanessa said but she will not be bored! And she has a wedding to help you out with too. Before you know it, you will have been there for a few months and be settled As for me....My AOS case was transfered to CSC today...hopefully this means a speedy GC approval!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-04-01 13:28:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	I just fit all my addresses on the form, because I have moved quite a bit since I was 16! I had to attach a form for my employment, since I had to list every job I've had since I was 15! I've had a LOT of jobs hahah!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-03-30 21:06:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Oooooh, good thinking on that replacement one. Well, he's wanting to try and get an international license there so he can drive over here. But I don't know if it's valid or not. Think he's just trying to avoid doing the parallel parking. Okay, another question. How long did it take most of you to get your police check back? It's coming up on about two weeks now for Ham to get his. Just worried about us not making it for him to get here in May. It took nearly three weeks to get mine back, and I only got it back when I did because I rang up Police HQ in Brisbane and hassled them about it. If I hadn't I suspect they would have teken far longer. Tell Ham to bug them!!!	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-03-25 20:20:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Thanks Astrid Good to read that the LA office gave you the same info the DC office mentions on their website. UNIFORMITY for once Name change in Vic is $87 (well $86 something) and like SA gives the 2 docs (like Astrid said). Also like Astrid said i'm waiting on the name change so that I don't send my original birth certificate in case it's needed. I didn't know about the note saying you can't surrender it so I'll consider just waiting till I have my GC then sending it all off. Name change in Vic takes around a month i'm told, but I can pay extra for expedite (I might consider that closer to when I apply) and they will send it overseas if that's where you are. So yay Free passport if I apply in less than 12 months from marriage (called "gratis") and $87 for the name change to make me Mrs. Tony in Australia. Woot! When Alex got home tonight so we talked about when I should do a name change...I don't need to use my passport until August when we go on our honeymoon, so in order to avoid having to pay for a second birth certificate we are going to do the following - We are hoping to have my green card in May. Once I have my green card I can afford to relinquish my birth certificate. If I don't have the GC by May, we will pay to have the extra birth certificate, because that gives us two months to get the name change sorted and have my passport ready to travel. Edited by alex and astrid, 23 March 2010 - 10:00 PM.	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-03-23 22:00:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	I have information regarding fun post marriage things - specifically, changing your name back home in Australia and getting a passport. Sorry if this information is widely available, but from what I have gathered, requirements are always changing and it's nice to be up to date. Plus, a nice long post will help keep my boredom at bay until my husband gets home So, info about me. I am a resident of Queensland (since August 2008), born in South Australia, but have not lived in SA since 1997. According to Queensland Births, Deaths and Marriages, you must be born in Queensland, or have been born overseas with 12 months QLD residency to be able to file a name change there. So, to South Australian BDM I go! So, it's pretty much safe to assume that if you were born in one state, but have residency in another, you have to go back to your birth state to file the name change. Victoria and South Australia let you do it if you have at least three months residency, though. When you do a South Australian name change via Marriage, they will issue you two documents - an amended birth certificate with your maiden name on it, as well as your married name, and then a Certificate of Name change. These two documents have to stay together to be valid. The cost to do all this in SA is $187.50 AUD. They do take credit card, so it will be a bit cheaper by paying in USD! Another thing about the name change in SA - they do ask that you surrender your original birth certificate, and you cannot send a certified copy. Being that I am pending AOS, there is no way I am going to give up my birth certificate in case I need it! According to SA BDM, I can just request a new birth certificate along with my name change application for them to use, and just include a letter stating why I can't give my original up. It sucks, but I would rather pay $39 and get a second copy than risk getting into strife with USCIS! You may, however, send certified copies of everything else. So, once you get the certificates back and you finish admiring them, it's time to get your passport with your nice new name on it! I spoke with a lovely woman named Carla at the Los Angeles Consul-General (she really was lovely - if only more people in government were like her!) and she informed me that, yes, we must have both the Australian Name Change/Amended Birth Certificate and the US Marriage Licence in order to get a passport. It used to be that you could do it with just the US certificate, but that changed about five years ago. The other documentation needed is your old passport, another form of ID (Aussie/US drivers licence for example) and then something that shows your current US address on it, like a bank statement. If you are lucky enough to live near a Consul, you can get an appointment to get your new passport. This is a good thing, because it means you are not missing your old passport while you are waiting for the new one! I think this is a well know bit of info, but if you have more than two years remaining on your passport, you can get your new one free. I have six years remaining on mine, so I will be taking that option. If you so choose, you can also pay for a new, 10-year one. So overall, this is an annoying, but must-do process if you eventually want to get a new passport. I am fairly certain that the information given to me by the LA Consul-General would be correct for the rest of the Consuls across the US, but of course, always check! I hope my day of research can help everyone out...there is certainly some conflicting information out there so it's nice to know what is what	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-03-23 19:15:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Don't forget the mail order sites here.....they are a bit more expensive but you can get (some) of the things you are craving from home! And I agree..........The fruit and veg you get in AUS is FAR superior to the tasteless stuff we get here. Thanks Kaffy! I haven't tried PB from over there (yet). THe amount of preservatives in the food here scare me....There is food that has been in our fridge for weeks (Not including fruit and veg) that should have gone bad, but is still fine to eat. Like bread, I went to go make toast yesterday and I thought for for sure my brown bread that had been in the fridge for nearly three weeks was going to be mouldy, but it was still fine. NOT normal at all.... Something a little different I want to ask - Who here is living in California? What was your experience with getting a drivers licence while having your AOS pending?	alex and astrid	Female	Australia	2010-03-11 14:56:00