Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Deb I am sure you will do perfectly wonderful with your interview Ok I have logged in because I need to vent where the person involved can not read ha ha So as most of you are aware when I moved here to the USA I left 3 of my children in AUS...my two sons are living with my parents. My youngest son requires a kidney transplant and is currently on Hemo Dialysis -- so this is why he isnt here with us -- the costs involved plus waiting for a transplant already meant more then he was willing to do over here in the USA. So I get updates from my *ahem* Mother at least twice a week as to how he is doing etc. Now I have been here for almost 6 weeks and I am STILL waiting for either her or my father to even ASK how we are, are we coping etc. Not a bloody words gets mentioned in regards to our life here...it is kind of out of sight out of mind. So today in her email update she takes this wonderful tone of how I am such a horrible mother as I have not called the boys all except once the day I arrived here. I got very upset & then angry. Just because I call first thing in the morning AFTER her & my father have left for work she thinks I have not called. I was trying to go back to sleep when Eric got home from work but I am so angry & my stomach is in knots. I miss my kids more then anyone can imagine -- I cry more often then even Eric knows because I miss them so bad and hate not knowing what is happening in their lives every single day! I dont get to hug them, kiss them or just look over to see them there....and my stupid b*&^% of a mother seems to think that I am moving on with my life without any thought of them. I am sorry to vent here...but I seriously needed to get it off my chest as my head is splitting & my heart is aching terribly this morning because of this. Hi Terri, I don't post on here much anymore but I felt so sad when I read your post. I totally understand how difficult it is to be away from your kids, as many others on here do too. I know sometimes it feels like out of sight out of mind and the last thing you need is your mum saying such horrible things. You are not a bad mother! Even though my kids are all grown up 20, 22 & 26 years old I had the guilts when I came to live here 4 1/2 years ago and I too used to cry so often because I missed them so. I also have 3 grandchildren....one of which is turning 1 next month and I haven't even seen her yet but my life now is with my husband and it is the choice I made. All my boys gave their blessings when I left Australia and told me the most important thing was for me to be happy but u never stop missing them and being there for them. Just rememeber that you have a wonderful new life ahead of you here and don't let people that don't agree with your decision to move to the USA spoil that for you. I had quite a few family members not happy with my decision to move here and it will eat u up if u let it. Hugs to u, Sue	densusan	Female	Australia	2010-05-21 15:41:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	My husband's sister and her husband live in Rome. We were at Turningstone last Sunday (for Bingo). Those people love their Bingo and I have to say although I have never played before, some people were winning crazy amounts of money!?! Small world. We won't be living there. It will be either Tampa or Albany if the husband gets the transfer he wants. It is pretty but I would not be able to handle the winters. We went out to Lake Delta so I could take pics and I lasted 5 minutes. It was minus 28 Celcius. Forget that! We will head up there often though to visit her so stay in touch! Would have been great to have an Aussie living close by.....oh well. Yes will stay in touch and next time u are visiting in Rome just let me know. Yes the people here do love to gamble and I think more so in the winter because unless u are into all the winter sports there isn't much else to do. Trust me on this....the winters are long and hard and I totally get why u wouldn't want to live here but spring, summer and fall it is a different world......very beautiful. I checked out the USAA website but can't find any info on international money transfers but thankyou for the info.	densusan	Female	Australia	2010-01-04 17:12:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hi Susan I've never used XOOM but I did sign up for http://www.tranzfers.com/ when I moved to the UK for a while. I never actually got around to using it as i moved shortly after. It was suggested to me by a organisation that helps people change countries, but I don't know whether this suggestion was commission based. Either way i hope it gives you another idea. I know transfering money between countries is SO expensive! Good luck and please let us know when you find a good one Thanks so much for the info and I promise if I find a reliable, safe and reasonably priced one I will let u all know. I guess the thing that concerns me the most is the security aspect, so I'm not looking for the cheapest just a little better than $40 a transfer. Thanks again for the tip. Edited by densusan, 04 January 2010 - 04:52 PM.	densusan	Female	Australia	2010-01-04 16:51:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hey there - I just spent 5 days of my trip in Rome, NY. And yes, it was very, very cold. First time I've ever seen snow. We've never used XOOM but we do internet transfers. I will check with the husband about how much he pays. I think it's about US$23. I know NAB does not charge me to receive. He is with USAA so his fees are lower than normal. OMG! Rome NY is about 1 1/2 hours from where I live and we were down there on thursday shopping and then spent New Year at the Turningstone Resort in Verona NY. What a small world it is. May I ask why you happened to be in Rome? Do you or will u be living in New York state? Always lots of snow this time of year but they don't get nearly as much as we do......I still think it's pretty but after 5 winters of living with it it has plenty of downfalls too! My bank account here is Key Bank and their fees are ridiculous so any info would be welcomed. XOOM only charge between $4.99 an $10.99 per transfer which is really good.	densusan	Female	Australia	2010-01-04 16:45:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hi eveyone.....hope you all had a great christmas and new year both here( and in Australia. Ours was very white and very, very cold!!! I was wondering if anyone has used "XOOM" to transfer money from their us bank accounts to australian bank accounts and if so how reliable and safe is it? I have always used my bank to do wire transfers from the USA to my Australian bank account but they charge $40 a transfer and then Westpac charge another $10. I have to do one transfer a month, so am looking for other options.......any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2010-01-04 15:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (jldut80 @ Sep 22 2009, 11:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi! I hope you are all well. I married my american fiancee yesterday! YAY. I have a question for you all regarding name changes. Should i go ahead and change my australian passport with my married name or should i keep this in my maiden name? Im confused as to what i should do first. Thanks!!! Jodie Hi Jodie, First of all CONGRATULATIONS! We have been married almost 4 years and I have still not officially changed my name in Australia. To do this you need to lodge a change of name by deed poll because even though they recognise the marriage they do not recognise your change of name. I still travel with my passport in my previous name and I carry my marriage certificate and of course my greencard and book overseas flights in my previous name. You can only obtain a new australian passport in your married name after you have done the change by deed poll because you need the certificate. Hope this makes sense. Oh and yes I am slack but will do it before I need to renew my passport. I did speak to someone at the Australian Consulate in New York and they were very helpful, so maybe call your nearest Aus/Cons and they should be able to help you. Hope this helps. Susan. Welcome to all the new comers and I hope you all have smooth journeys	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-09-24 20:10:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	GOODLUCK to everyone with up-coming interviews ! Hi to everyone.....hope all the newly landed are adjusting well to life in the USA and married life.	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-06-16 14:40:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (kaffy @ May 29 2009, 05:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oops I mean Vancouver, Washington.. the one next to Portland.. not BC in case that's what you thought I meant It's so nice to see the sun out and to feel WARM! Reminds me of the nice weather we had in Brissy OOPS.......yep I thought you meant Vancouver BC. Oh well make the most of the beautiful sunshine.	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-05-29 18:07:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (kaffy @ May 29 2009, 11:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi I'm down in Vancouver right now and it's going to be 84 today (29 celcius) bring on summer!! HEY KAFFY, Lucky you........I lovvvvvveeee Vancouver....... it's a beautiful city! 84 hey.....well aren't you lucky because we seem to be stuck in the 60's and it just won't stop raining, so YES please bring on summer! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-05-29 13:46:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Anne, OHHHHHHHHHH! Forgot to mention about your nephew mimicking you! Let me tell you I work at a school and the kids are constantly trying to mimick my aussie accent. Most people get a real kick out of listening to my accent but think I am british (they have no clue). One of the kids said to me oneday "I like your accent where are you from?" and I replied back to him "Thankyou I like your accent too!" and he looked at me and said "But I don't have an accent!" Get used to people asking you where you are from and quite a few seem to have trouble understanding but they get it in the end!	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-05-26 18:47:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hi Anne, Glad to hear you are settling in ok. I too live in a very small village in Upstate New York (hour from Canadian border) and yes everybody seems to know your business but they are all very friendly country folk & would do anything for you. So yes there are positives & negatives about living in the country. All the wildlife is wonderful and the beautiful scenery, great people but on the negative side the shopping is pretty average unless you are prepared to drive along way and the employment opportunities are limited but I would rather live here than in one of the big cities! You will need your SSN before you are able to open a bank account. Don't stress too much about the AOS because that will all work out fine. Hi to everyone else ......hope everyone is doing well. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-05-26 18:39:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	Hi Susan, Its always so refreshing to get back on to aussie land after living away from home for a while isnt it? Also, leaving aussie is hard too cuz there's nothing like home! Im sure I'll get home sick even though I've lived in the states previously..but this time it will be on a permanent basis....Im glad you enjoyed yourself! [/quote] Thanks MZ, Very refreshing going back to oz. Certainly makes me realise what a wonderful place it is and how great the lifestyle is in Australia......something I will never take for granted. Life is certainly different in the USA but I'm not complaining cause I'm with the man I love and oneday we hope to go back to Australia to live. Just miss family & friends so much at times........we all know that feeling. Hope everyone is doing well & enjoying the nice spring weather!!!! Yay roll on summer! Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-04-28 21:56:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	All the best for your wedding day tommorrow Cham & Kai........I'm sure it will be wonderful! Anne, Glad to hear you made it ok and without too many problems and hope all your wedding plans are coming together. We've been back from our trip to Australia for almost a week now and I have only just recovered from the jet lag.....must be getting old.....mind you going back to work tuesday didn't help much. It was a great trip and wonderful to spend time with my kids, grandkids, family and friends but I wish it had have been longer. The weather was perfect and walking on the beach every morning was soooooooooo great.......I miss the ocean! Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-04-24 20:14:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	[/size][/color]CONGRATS ANNE.................Great news. So glad it all went well for you! It's like a big weight off your shoulders isn't it!!???!! When do you fly out of Australia to be with your guy? [size="2"][color="#000000"]Cham, I'm sure everything will be fine so try not to stress too much. We all understand what you are going through because we have all been through it or are going through it, so you know you have lots of support on VJ. It's a tough thing dealing with all the immigration stuff but you'll get there. Sends us all a little Take care everyone LOL......................Not sure what happenned there????? Oh well.	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-03-24 14:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (kaffy @ Mar 19 2009, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Susan - thank you for sharing ur story about Georgia. How did she handle the flight? My Lagotto does well in a crate and would probably just sleep the whole way (she sleeps at least 18hrs a day, if not more!).. but I still worry since I'm sure it's a stressful thing.. first time flying for a pet. I would book her on a direct Brisbane to LA flight (about 12hrs). Not sure if we'll get them to fly her onto Portland for us, or if we'll drive/fly down to collect her. but it's still early days and we're still deciding if it is even best to bring her over or not so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much just yet Kaffy you are very welcome. If Lagotto does well in a crate that is great because Georgia had never been in a crate and it stressed her out. They are not allowed to have tranquilizers to calm them, so you just pray they cope ok. They will keep her overnight in LA (those are the rules) before they put her on the next flight to where you are. We added up the total time Georgia spent in the crate from Adelaide to Buffalo (including layovers) and it was 36 hours and then to top it off we had a 4.5 hour drive home!!!! Have you spoken with any of the companies yet? They will be able to tell you what the risks are. I understand why you don't want to get your hopes up. I hope it all works out the way you would like it too.......it was sooooo worth it for me and I was very thankful when she got here safely. Happy weekend everyone Susan WELCOME TO ALL THE NEWBIES	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-03-20 14:05:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (Cham @ Mar 19 2009, 04:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> IF Kais interview is on the 7th of April..a tuesday...WHAT day should I make his plane arrival for he has to be here 1 week before the wedding..he wants to come on the 13th as that is my day off...BUT what if his visa is delayed??? ACK any ideas..as the wedding is the 25th Hi Cham, Just wanted to remind you that Friday 10th., April is Good Friday which is a holiday in Australia as is Monday 13th., April, so there is no mail delivery. I guess it all depends on whether they issue Kai's visa there and then or mail it to him. CONGRATS MATT & ANNIE on your interview/ LOTS of good news on here lately. We are leaving for our vacation in Australia(Adelaide) on the 1st., April and I am sooooooo excited . I am spoiled because I have managed to go back every year since living in the US and my last visit wasn't that long ago in August 2008. Get to see my 2 grandsons and my 3 boys YAYYYY. My middle boy is turning 21, so we are having a big celebration. My husband is coming this time (his first trip to AUS in 3 years) so we decided not to stay with family and have booked a place at Brighton Beach and a rental car.......should be interesting because I haven't driven there in 3 years. HI KATH, Hope all is well with you. Take care everyone & all the best, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-03-19 14:13:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (kaffy @ Mar 18 2009, 09:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Welcome back!!! Hawaii and New York.. you lucky girl Good luck with your ultrasound and hope bubs isn't a stubborn thing and keeps it's legs crossed (as I have heard can happen sometimes ) densusan- Can I ask who you used to transport your dog from Aus to here? Our dog is still living with my parents but we're moving out of our apartment in a few months and will be able to have pets after we do. I have quotes from Dogtainers, Jetpets and Petcarriers and they vary in price a little but all provide the same thing. Do you have a rec between those companies? thanks! Hi Kaffy, I wish I could remember the name of the company we used to bring Georgia here but it's so long ago. They were out of Adelaide and recommended by the removalist company Allied Pickfords and that's about all I recall. I will see if I can dig up the paperwork but I have a feeling we didn't keep it. Georgia had to be boarded for a number of weeks before she flew here because of restrictions with animals flying when the temperatures are too high or low. It certainly would be worth looking into it soon because once summer hits you may find it hard to find someone willing to fly your dog here. The one good thing about animals flying into the US from Australia is that there is no quarantine time because of Australia being a rabies free country, so you get to have them as soon as they get off the plane. It's very expensive to get your 4 legged friends here (I'm sure you know that) but I am sooooooo happy I made the decision and got to enjoy another 3 years with her. Georgia certainly got to experience lots of firsts when she got here...............snow & ice just to mention a few. I'll have a look on the net and see if any of the companies ring bells. I know the cost of 6 weeks boarding and her flights from Adelaide to Buffalo NY was very close to $4000 but of course it depends on the size of your dog (Georgia was a 55lb. liver spot dalmation) and where they are going. From memory you are on the west coast so it should be cheaper and you are lucky you have your parents to look after the dog until the flight. Hope you work it all out and I'll post here if I find any info. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-03-18 15:02:00
Australia and New Zealand	LAND DOWNUNDER, Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi	QUOTE (Cham @ Mar 16 2009, 04:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ha ha hamp Nice to meet you! INTERVIEW IS ON APRIL 7TH AT 8:00 AM!! WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO FINALLY!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!! CONGRATS to you too Annex on your interview I'm sure everything will go fine for both of you and you can look forward to being here in the USA very soon. Enjoy the view of Sydney whilst you wait to be interviewed..........it's amazing. Hi to everyone else.........hope all is well. We had a very sad weekend we had to have our beloved dog Georgia put to sleep after over a week of illness.....she was 14. I brought her here from Australia 3 years ago and she was worth every dollar it cost to get her to the USA. We miss her so much Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-03-17 20:25:00
Australia and New Zealand	Where about is everyone moving to in the US? Just curious!	I'm in Northern New York......about an hours drive from the Canadian border.......beautiful countryside but winters are brutal. Been here over 5 years now.	densusan	Female	Australia	2011-08-23 16:16:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Aussies - where are you living in the USA	Hi Tracey, I'm an Adelaide girl (Adelaide Hills area) now living in a place called Castorland which is in upstate New York. I've been living here almost 2 years now and will be filing removal of conditions in february 2008. Mostly I miss my kids (although all grown-up), my grand-children very much and I miss my family and friends which is all to be expected. I went back for a visit in March this year which was wonderful! Whilst visiting Australia I ate all the things that I cannot get here in the USA but most of those are perishable items, so I was unable to pack them to bring back here. Kath is right about sausages & potatoe peelers.............I miss just a plain pork sausage.........seems all I can get here is italian sausage. OH...........my favourite chocolate bar....Cherry Ripes.........packed loads of them!!!!!! I'm sure that you can get most things here if you live in the big cities but we live in a very rural area with limited shooping opportunities. Vegemite is a must have! I also wanted to let you know that I flew my dog over here from Australia and had the same concerns that you do but she made it and is very happy. There is no quarantine period here in the USA, so they are able to get off the plane and be with you immediately. Considering that Georgia (chocolate dalmation) was 11 years old when she flew in the end the worry of putting her through it and the huge expense was worth all the grey hairs & money I parted with. Georgia flew Adelaide, Sydney and then LA ( where she was kept overnight), Chicago and then Buffalo and then she had to endure the nearly 5 hour drive home with us! She's amazing! I hope the rest of your journey is a good one! Have a wonderful Aussie Xmas because no doubt your next one will be in Cleveland and will be white. Hi to all the other Australians. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-11-28 16:40:00
Asia: East and Pacific	Trying to find a.........	Hi Tracy, When I moved to the USA from Adeliade I used Allied Pickfords . I filled a shipping container which included some major pieces of furniture and basically everything that would fill a 3 bedroom home. I had to use their storage facility for around 3-4 months (our house was unfinished here) so that increased the total cost quite a bit. With insurance I think the total was around $12,000! They pack everything which is a requirement of US customs. I found them to be very helpful and professional. They also helped with organising boarding and then flights to the USA for my 4 legged friend Georgia but I posted some info about that in the other topic you started about where are all the aussies. If you need anymore info just post in the land-downunder and I will reply. Bye for now, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2007-11-29 15:13:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (hawaiiandreams @ Feb 4 2009, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hey all - a happy belated Australia day to you all! I have a question for any conditional residents (or those who have already been through this process) so hope someone can help with my question! I am now undergoing the daunting task of job hunting! I have managed to line up my first interview and upon going back to the original job description for another scan of it, I realize they specify "must be authorized to work in the US on a permanent basis". Now although I have a 'permanent resident' card, it expires just over a year from now (I’ve already been in the US for almost 1 year) because of course I have to apply for my "removal of conditions". Does anyone have any idea on how to tackle the question of whether my residence is classified as permanent even though my status is conditional?? And in your opinion, does this make me ineligible to apply? Thanks for your replies. Have a great Wednesday. :-) You are eligible to work without question. I did copies of my greencard for my place of employment and from memory there was also some kind of form to fill out once I accepted the position. I have just been approved for my 10 year greencard (FINALLY......long wait) and all I did once my 2 year card expired was gave my place of employment a copy of my extension letter. Good luck and I hope you get the job! Welcome theonlyjess!!!!! Yep we all miss home. I've been lucky and have already been back twice and heading back for my third trip this April. Hey Kath, Snowblower hey.......hope you get some snow so you can test it out. Ours has worked overtime this winter!!!!!!!!!!!!! The superbowl was very exciting, glad you enjoyed it too. I'm looking forward to watching the Adelaide Crows match the night we get off the plane in April and watching as many AFL games as possible! Hope your stayin warm......we had a record low for the day which was -29F.........brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Congrats Jayde! Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-02-05 18:51:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi Kath, Thanks for the congrats! I am so relieved and look forward to seeing the card in the mail soon. We don't fly our until the 1st., April, so plenty of time. My uscis status was touched again so I would imagine in the next few days I will get the email regarding the approval notice being sent. I know what you mean about the cold..............it's a bit sad when 28F feels nice LOL. Our heating bills have been through the roof!!!!!!!!! Oh well we are not about to freeze. Georgia (our dog) will be 14 next month and she is coping with this long cold and snowy winter really well. As for the super bowl..........The Giants are out , so I don't even know that I will back anyone. Did you know Sav Rocca is the punter for the Philly Eagles? Take care and will talk soon, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-30 15:20:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Thanks Kaffy & Mara! Good luck to all of you still on the long journey. I am not sure about the naturalization thing because we plan to go back to Australia to live in the future, so for the time being I am content with a 10 year greencard. Not having to deal with immigration until 2019 sounds just wonderful! Mara how did Chris's interview go with USCIS on tuesday??? Hey Kath, Did ya get snow........if not you can have some of ours LOL!!! I have tried putting pics up on here but without success....oh well. Our entire yard is now about 3 to 4 feet deep in snow (deeper in places). I tried making snow angels the other day LOL but it's so deep I was half buried. Oh the joys of winter in upstate New York!!!! Shouldn't complain really cause I'm sure with the heat Adelaide and Melbourne are getting at the moment they would just love some of our snow. How long after approval was it before you received your card in the mail? Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-29 21:48:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (densusan @ Jan 29 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi everyone, I am sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!! Just checked my emails and my USCIS status online and finally after a little over 11 months my 10 ear greencard has been approved!!! "Application type CR189, Petition to remove conditions of permanent resident status CURRENT STATUS: Card production ordered. On January 29,2009 we ordered production of your new card." I have to say I am relieved that it has been approved before our trip back to Australia in April. Wishing everyone else speedy approvals. Susan That would be a 10 YEAR greencard	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-29 18:16:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hi everyone, I am sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!! Just checked my emails and my USCIS status online and finally after a little over 11 months my 10 ear greencard has been approved!!! "Application type CR189, Petition to remove conditions of permanent resident status CURRENT STATUS: Card production ordered. On January 29,2009 we ordered production of your new card." I have to say I am relieved that it has been approved before our trip back to Australia in April. Wishing everyone else speedy approvals. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-29 14:22:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Chris & Mara @ Jan 24 2009, 12:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> So as you all SHOULD know if your an Aussie or marrying one or married to one lol Monday the 26th of Jan is Australia day (for those who dont know in 1901 that was the day we became our own country and member of the monarcy - its our version of July 4th...) So in honour an email that was sent to me.... You know you're Australian if.... You know the meaning of 'girt' You believe that stubbies can either be worn or drunk You think it is normal to have a Prime Minister called Kevin You waddle when you walk due to the 53 expired petrol discount vouchers stuffed in your wallet or purse When you hear that an American 'roots for his team' you wonder how often and with whom You understand that the phrase 'a group of women wearing black thongs' refers to footwear and may be less alluring than it sounds You pronounce Melbourne as 'Mel-bin' You pronounce Penrith as 'Pen-riff' You believe the 'L' in the word ' Australia ' is optional You can translate: 'Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas' You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep ´You call your best friend 'a total #######' but someone you really, truly despise is just 'a bit of a #######' You think 'Woolloomooloo' is a perfectly reasonable name for a place You believe is makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that's twice as big as its $2 coin You understand that 'Wagga Wagga' can be abbreviated to 'Wagga' but 'Woy Woy' can't be called 'Woy' You believe that cooked-down axlegrease makes a good breakfast spread You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis You know, whatever the tourist books say, that no one says 'cobber' You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the Angels' song 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again' You believe, as an article of faith, that the confectionary known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year You still don't get why the 'Labor' in 'Australian Labor Party' is not spelt with a 'u' You wear ugg boots outside the house You believe that the more you shorten someone's name the more you like them You understand that 'excuse me' can sound rude, while 'scuse me' is alway polite You know what it's like to swallow a fly, on occasions via your nose You understand that 'you' has a plural and that it's 'youse' You know it's not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules of beach cricket You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call 'Anzac cookies' You still think of Kylie as 'that girl off Neighbours' When returning home from overseas, you expect to be brutally strip-searched by Customs - just in case you're trying to sneak in fruit You believe the phrase 'smart casual' refers to a pair of black tracky-daks, suitably laundered You understand that all train timetables are works of fiction When working at a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer You get choked up with emotion by the first verse of the national anthem and then have trouble remembering the second You find yourself ignorant of nearly all the facts deemed essential in the government's new test for migrants. You will immediately forward this list to other Australians, here and overseas, realising that only they will understand!! Hope that brings you all some giggles Thanks Mara.......brightened my day! I took my Aussie flag to work today and displayed it for all to see! Hope Chris's appointment goes smoothly tuesday. Hey Kath, Still waiting and watching other february filers getting approved...........not even any touches which concerns me a little. Just wish it was over and done with! Seems that the 1 year extension is from the date on the expired greencard and my expiry date was the 4th., May 2008, so I think I will be ok. We really don't want to drive the nearly 5 hours to Buffalo to get a stamp! Got blasted with over a foot of snow yesterday and looks like more on wednesday but we have had a few warmer temps like 29F.....LOL.....wow bit sad when you think that's warm!!!!!! Anything from Sharyna about the baby? Look forward to speaking with you soon. Hope evryone else is hanging in there......best of luck! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-26 20:08:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (myperfectflaw @ Jan 22 2009, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> APPROVED!!! ~squeee~ CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-22 15:24:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Goonluka @ Jan 12 2009, 10:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Approved today at Interview...outta here at end of April to my darling. Like to thank all the people that have answered my dumb questions over the last few months...help is greatly appreciated. WOOHOO Congratulations Goonluka!!!!!!!! What part of the Usa will you be living in?	densusan	Female	Australia	2009-01-13 14:34:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Kath @ Dec 11 2008, 09:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hiya annax just had a thought on your question of what to get your future family...i collect the state teddies for my daughter..if i go into another state or land in another state i buy one...i do shot glasses for my son...californian teddy would be a good pressie just to sit on the book shelf and when they look at it they will think of you two over here...you could find a good photo taken professionally of the town you live...and get it framed over in oz for them.. take some reece cups i know you cant get that over there..there are so many different types of that one.or some toostie rolls for the kids in the family..maybe a more closer to the heart might be a photo of you and your fiance when he visited you in california...also..what about those flags that people fly outside their homes with something califorian..i took my mum a ohio one with all the different things that are uniquely to ohio...or just buy them a phonecard so they can call you two anytime...from what i rememer it was cheaper for me to call here than it is to call oz...i would get more hours in airtime than robert.. i am sure whatever you decide to take over for them they would appreciate.... i know i gabbled on sorry about that..you should hear me when im on the phone lol.. im sure susan has a sore ear everytime we talk lol kath KATH YOU NEVER GIVE ME A SORE EAR....................I LOVE SPEAKING WITH YOU. Promise I will call before Christmas. Lot's of good things news in here which is great! CONGRATS to all. Still no news on my 10 Year Greencard but it seems VSC is processing January, so I'm hoping it won't be too much longer I wondered if anyone had heard if Sharyna had the baby yet?????? If I don't post in here before christmas I hope everyone has a great holiday and new year. Take care, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-12-12 15:16:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Kath @ Dec 1 2008, 05:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hiya all thought i would share email from cris ... card production ordered for my 10 year green card... hubby said to me when i showed him .. well ya here for 10 years ..think ya can handle it lol... well susan you were right huh mate...i really thought you would get yours first mate...damm vermont... talk to ya all soon kath CONGRATS KATH!!!!!!! No more immigration for you.......unless you decide to go for citizenship. Yep I'm still waiting (10 months now) but I'm sure by early 2009 something will happen.........I hope I notice that there has been an approval for a January lodgement, so it's getting closer. How was Thanksgiving? We got pounded with Lake effect snow which caused power outages, so no Turkey dinner at the rellies. Few phone calls and we braved the roads to go eat out LOL. Hope everyone elses visa journeys are going smoothly. Take care, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-12-02 20:58:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING Enjoy! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-11-26 15:51:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Hey Kath, I just checked the processing times for Vermont and they have updated! It now says processing applications December 30 2007 which means hopefully they are 2 months from mine. (end of February mine was received). Still think you will hear something before me but we will see. Wanted to ask you which website you found the info about the changes to the VWP because some family members are travelling to the USA in April next year and I would like to let her know. Unfortunately they are not visiting us.......staying on the west coast which is disappointing..oh well. Hi to everyone else and hope it's all smooth sailing in your journeys! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-11-18 23:10:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Kath @ Nov 12 2008, 03:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> hiya just thought i would pop in and say g'day.. hope all is well with everyone and the journey isnt too rough for you all.. i am still waiting for my 10 year greencard to be approved havent had a touch since sept...which i suppose is the reason they given you a 1 year extension letter lol... hey susan .. im starting to wonder if you will be aproved before me with looking at the timeframe for california being 6 months lol...hope your trip went well mate..im home on thursday so will give you a ring... well the weather is getting colder and i hope the ones that are here for their first winter does have a shock to the cold...we had our first flurries on sunday wasnt much but ohh so pretty... take care kath Hey Kath, I am quite sure you will be approved for the 10 year greencard before I will be.........VSC seem to be processing December 2007 at the moment, so looks like about 11 or 12 months wait. I sent my I-751 end of February 2008 and haven't been touched since march this year! I just hope it is approved before the 12 month extension letter expires but I'm not stressing yet. Hopefully they don't stop working over the holidays for too long because that will push things back. The trip to Montreal was great........will talk soon. SNOW!!! We got our first big storm on the 29th., October and ended up with 2 feet of it!!! Oh well......it's just what happens when you live here near the Great Lakes. Nice to see some old faces in here. Everyone sounds like they are doing really well and settling into life in the USA. Sharyna, Congrats !!. Hope it all goes well for you and don't forget to let us know how you and your new baby are doing after the birth. For all of you still going through the journey.........KEEP SMILING & STAY POSITIVE.....it will happen and all the stress and heartache will be worth it in the end. Take care everyone, Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-11-12 20:55:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Congrats Kaffy and welcome to the USA! I've just been back to Australia for 3 weeks and I too arrived back here on the 24th August and thought just maybe we might have been on the same flight! Qantas flight 73 from Sydney to San Francisco was the one............just curious. Had no problems through customs and immigration with my expired green card and extension letter.......in fact he didn't even look at the letter, so I guess they have it all on their computers.Wish VSC would hurry up with removing conditions because I don't really want to take the 5 hour drive to Buffalo to have my passport stamped but still have plenty of time before that will be a necessary. Welcome J girl! Hi Kath, Enjoy the family while they are there and will talk to you soon! Hope everyone else is doing well. Susan Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-08-27 14:44:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (vylex @ Jul 11 2008, 05:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi All, Hope everyone is doing well. I have an Australian tax question for my wife. For you Aussies that moved here (past or present), how did (or do) you file your Aussie taxes while living overseas? This is the first year for us so what does she need to do? Any help is appreciated! Hi Vylex, I too was removed from the electoral roll when I left in Feb 2006. The first year I was here I lodged a tax return because I had been working in Australia for the tax year July 2005 to June 2006 but I was unsure of what to do last year, so I lodged a Notification of NON lodgement which I downloaded from the ATO website. This year I am doing nothing. I know Kath and I have talked about it before and don't quote me on this but I am almost positive she has not lodged one with the ATO since she has been here. Goodluck with everything. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-07-14 16:13:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	Congrats Kaffy! Been very quiet in here.................guess everyone is enjoying the summer. I'm heading back to Australia for a 3 week visit in August, so it will be back to winter for me. It will be a breeze heading to an Adelaide winter after the winters of upstate New York! Hope everything is going well for all in here. Kath i will speak to you before I leave. Glad to hear you are enjoying your veggie garden as we are. Have carrots, lettuce, beetroots and spinach so far...............nothing like home grown veggies! Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-07-03 16:14:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (Delilah @ Jun 21 2008, 01:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Wow that's pretty simple. Thank you! It's been a while since we did this but I am almost positive that we included a letter from my husbands local bank stating that he held a checking account with them. They also included what the balance was at the time of letter, the average balance over a period of time and how long he had been operating the account with them. We also included the usual things, tax returns, w2's and payslips which were spread over a period of time. Hope this helps. Sharyna.....................HANG IN THERE!	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-06-23 17:51:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (aussie angel @ Jun 14 2008, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi everyone WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED OUR 10 YEAR GREEN CARD HAS BEEN ORDERED IT WAS RATHER QUICK CALIFORNIA SEEM TO BE WORKING RATHER FAST GOOD LUCK TO ALL THOSE WAITING FOR APPROVALS ANGELA Hi Angela, Congrats on the 10 year card!!! Mine went to Vermont in February and I think it will be a very long waiting game going by timelines of others lodged with Vermont. I think when Kath does her removal of conditions she gets to lodge with California which is lucky because they seem to be approving very quickly. Hi to everyone else........hope everyone is doing well. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-06-17 13:53:00
Asia: East and Pacific	LAND DOWNUNDER	QUOTE (patriciaofoz @ Apr 26 2008, 06:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (densusan @ Apr 26 2008, 04:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Kath will second me on this one.........I applied for both EAD and Advance Parole and all I can say is that it was a waste of money! They approved my AOS and I never heard anymore about the the other applications but in saying that I guess it depends on how quick you are approved and peace of mind I guess. Hi Susan Hmm...waste of money? I think the fee of $1010 we already need to pay for AOS, the Advance Parole is already included within it. I'm not sure if we're going to apply now...and no, unfortunately the trip in December is not to Australia. It's to the Philippines where we'll be doing our non-quickie wedding. Best thing, all the important family and friends will be joining us so it'll be like going home to Adelaide. Yeah, we get to do another wedding all over again That's why it's imperative I get to leave the country by then, or else they'll be a wedding without me So fingers crossed... All the best, everyone! Hi Patricia, YEP......you are correct about the advance parole and EAD when you apply for AOS being included in the fee.....sorry. When I did it they were 3 seperate applications and 3 seperate fees and I never heard anything back that's why the comment about it being a waste of money because my AOS was approved very quickly. Maybe they found that this was happening on a regular basis and decide to include it all in one application the AOS. I'm pretty sure that Kath had the same thing happen as me but don't quot me on that. I've just booked to go back to Australia in August and am really excited already. Wanted to beat some of the inevitable airfare rises and Qantas have quite good specials until the end of this month. Hi Hednjimmy, You will receive a list of the doctors closest to you but as far as I know you are unable to see your regular doctor for this medical exam. I had some of my required immunizations done with my regular doctor and then the USCIS approved doctor transferred te details to the correct forms. Yes you will get a checklist when you get the packet and as for the police check I wouldn't get it too far in advance because they are only good for a certain amount of time. Sorry I am not sure how long but someone on here is sure to know. Goodluck with the journey Hi to everyone else......hope everyone here in the USA and back in Australia are doing well. Susan	densusan	Female	Australia	2008-04-28 15:41:00