ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

I sent my packet 3 on 2013-11-26 and my fiance and I both received the packet 4 e-mail on 2013-12-05. So 9 days all up. I'm sure yours aren't far away :)

 

My interview was scheduled for the 24th but I was just contacted and it's now on Friday 20th :)

 

Hopefully they can squeeze you guys in for an interview on Tuesday the 24th but the clock is ticking so it may be in the new year.


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2013-12-17 22:10:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralia and Affidavit of Support Co-sponsor

My soon to be mother-in-law was a co-sponsor and it was fine. Provided the petitioner and the petitioners co-sponsor combined earn enough to get over the threshold there shouldn't be a problem.

 

At the interview the guy asked me who she was so I told him "my fiancee's mother"...was a strange question consider that on the form it clearly stated the she was my fiance's mother. Oh well :)


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2014-01-11 17:51:00
Australia and New ZealandAUSSIES! Who did you ship with!

 

Are you sure it's $84? I just had a look over here: http://www.qantas.co...d-heavy-charges and they quote $175. (I'd hate for you to turn up and be charged extra!)

 

$175 is only if you rock up at the airport and try to organise it. The $84 was for pre-purchased excess baggage but for some reason I can no longer find it and it's now showing up as $123 per piece for pre-purchased. I'm bummed about that.


EDIT: Oops. My fault. The $84 is for International - other than The Americas smile.png


Edited by dodgyJim73, 17 January 2014 - 02:22 AM.


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2014-01-17 02:22:00
Australia and New ZealandAUSSIES! Who did you ship with!

2 or 3 boxes isn't much. Can you get a large suitcase and pay for the extra bag? I'm doing that with Qantas, they charge an extra $84 per bag so I'm jamming as much stuff as I possibly can right up to the 23kg limit! They let you take up to 5 bags so maybe you could take 2 extra bags for a couple of hundred bucks.

 

I'm using www.wridgways.com.au to send my stuff but I'm sending golf clubs, ski's, bike, dive gear, ski gear and about 4 boxes. What you'll find with those big shipping companies is they have a default fare which is about $800-1000 and then charge you on top of that for individual items.

 

I did see a post that someone on here wrote where they used Pack&Send for a few boxes because it's basically the same price as the surface shippers but you get it straight away whereas I have to wait 3 months.


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2014-01-16 23:53:00
Australia and New ZealandNZers - who are you/did you ship your freight with? Especially if you only sent a small amount?

I'm looking at using Wridgways from Sydney - LA. They are about $400 cheaper than Pack&Send and Seven Seas. I'm shipping about 1 - 1.5 cubic metres of mixed stuff. heavy duty dive bag, plastic tubs, boxes, guitars and golf clubs. I'm also shipping my mountain bike.

 

I'm just waiting on confirmation now but when I got a quote back in September it was about $1200 for that.

 

 


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2014-01-19 23:38:00
Australia and New ZealandSydney Medical Examination Appt.

Yep. Get a full blood test for all immunisations at your local GP. Also get a blood test for Syphilis as they need this as well and it saves you doing it (and paying for it) on the day.

 

You may need to get Hep A and B injections but let Dr.Waks call that one. I didn't because I'm 40 so if you're in your 20's you may need it. Also, If you take any drugs you should stop now and make sure there's a few weeks between when you stopped and the medical because the urine test will pick them up and then you have another set of problems.

 

I would definitely follow KPea's advice and call them back pronto. When I called they took my details and called me back after a couple of hours to book in.


dodgyJim73MaleAustralia2014-01-17 00:04:00
Australia and New ZealandMy i-134 / Co Sponsor situation -

Hi, thanks for the response.

 

 So if all we have is the deed from 2 years ago, am I facing a definite denial? 

 

 I have my own tax return, I have a small business which together with co-sponsor's income and my savings in cash would meet the 125% requirement, but those can't be combined can they?

 

 Not sure what to do.. it's a strange situation because I have enough money for everything, I have been working here for a long time and saving, it's just my fiance lives with me so she doesn't have the US income for the i-134.


kdude1MaleAustralia2014-01-18 22:15:00
Australia and New ZealandMy i-134 / Co Sponsor situation -

Hi, my USC fiance lives in Australia, she hasn't had any income.

 

 Her father is the co-sponsor.. When we first asked him, he seemed to think the 125% would be no problem, but on his tax return, the line 22 was about $11k - however he also provided the deed for his house, which covers 5X the difference between his wage and the 125% mark.

 

 Is this going to be okay at the interview in Sydney or should I be worried?

 

 We have a lot in savings- everything is budgeted for already, flight money, wedding money, rent money for 6-8 months etc. Just wondering if I'll be facing a denial because of my i-134/Co-Sponsor situation.

 

Thanks


Edited by kdude1, 18 January 2014 - 09:43 PM.

kdude1MaleAustralia2014-01-18 21:42:00
Australia and New ZealandNZers - who are you/did you ship your freight with? Especially if you only sent a small amount?

I sent some of my stuff with Pack and Send but I have a feeling I had a bit more than you to send, I do recommend them as the tracking is good only thing I suggest is if you have any breakables may sure you pack them well with paper I had one broken


Wendy71FemaleNew Zealand2014-01-15 23:38:00
Australia and New ZealandNZers - who are you/did you ship your freight with? Especially if you only sent a small amount?

Hey

 

I'm in the same boat!

 

Who are you flying with? Air New Zealand lets you add up to two extra checked bags (23kg each) - $95 for one, or $240 for two. I'm going to add one bag (as our connecting flights in the States on Southwest only have an allowance of two bags) and try ship a small amount of stuff remaining.

 

Seven Seas Worldwide has been recommended to me - it seems like you can send a 51x41x61cm box for around $500NZD. I got a quote from Pack & Send for a similar sized box 50x50x50cm (0.125m3), 15kg, for $280 door to door from Auckland to New York. It sounds like you are wanting to send a significant amount more stuff than me, though?

 


GiuseppeGMaleNew Zealand2014-01-14 23:21:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

 

Yep, they will use the envelope you supply. When you are called up to the first window the consulate staff member will take your passport, interview payment receipt and will return your original documents. I was then asked if I had an envelope so I handed that over and that is where they sent it. Easy

 

Although as PG & JW said above, they used Toll Express for their package so it's well tracked. I didn't know this before I went in so I was happy to cover my butt. Looks like you don't need to get the envelope after all smile.png

Sweet, sounds pretty simple :) Think I may take an envelope, just in case!! 


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2014-01-07 02:26:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

 

They don't sell platinum envelopes anymore smile.png

 

You don't need to take an envelope anymore because K1 applicants can have it sent directly based on your ustraveldocs profile....BUT....I don't know how they send it out to you, it may just go as regular mail and I'll be stuffed if something that important is going regular post.

 

I took a normal express post envelope so I could track it and I paid the extra $2.50 or however much it is so it requires a signature as well. If you take your own express post envelope then you can have it sent to a P.O. Box but if you use the ustraveldocs postage thing then it will go to your residential address only that is listed in your profile.

 

You are talking about your passport and ultra-important documents that will get you into the USA. Cough up the extra $17 and pay for an express post envelope with signature and have the extra piece of mind!

Hey! Thanks for the reply :) I've filled out the ustraveldocs profile, so if I take an express post and tracked envelope to the interview with my address written on it, will they use that envelope to send my visa? Definitely definitely want the tracking on that envelope haha. 


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2014-01-06 20:29:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Hey guys,

 

Getting excited about the interview!! I'm assuming you would have gotten the same interview appointment letter as me, where it says to bring a platinum/express post 3kg envelope, do we not have to worry about that because we filled in the profile on the UStraveldocs? I've heard different things combing through the discussion boards so just wondering what the go is. Maybe bring one in case haha.

 

Cheers!

 


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2014-01-06 06:14:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

 

Trying to call them is like trying to leave a corn maze with no exit. Its pointless. I am hopeful that in the next 2 days it will be issued and I can finally fly home.

 

I am thankful that at least the status has updated from the: ready for interview, to something at least in progress smile.png

 

I have my fingers crossed for you that you get the 2 day turn around!

Urgh corn maze without an exit, that's the stuff of nightmares!! Yeah it definitely means they are looking at your case so hopefully will be there soon :) Keep us updated with what's happening. Thanks, I'll cross mine too!


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 18:40:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

uhhh its now in Admin Processing...

 

Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. Please follow any instructions provided by the Consular Officer at the time of your interview. If further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved, it will be processed and mailed/available within two business days.

Maybe that means it will be mailed in that two business days timeframe they gave? Have you tried calling the consulate, I'm not sure if they would tell you anything over the phone though :s


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 18:28:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Haha yeah not sure what that means but surely it's a good sign!!


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 18:17:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Mine is the 30th October :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 02:24:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

aight awesome trying to make sure I hadn't done the wrong thing down the line biggrin.png

 

Maybe we have hit our yearly Visa issues and next year they will be nice to me and love me too biggrin.png

Sweet :) Yeah hopefully in the new year they will start pumping them out haha


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 02:09:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Yeah your not wrong.. I estimate that by the time AOS is paid for, it will be $10,000 for this process. AOS will be the killer. That will be about $2800 for the 4 of us alone. protest6wz.gif  I have also emailed for earlier interview as we have tentative wedding plans for early Feb, so I wont pay my visa fee yet. Does it say anything about the interview date while doing the fee process?
 

Urgh that's so ridiculous!! Yeah good idea, hopefully they have something for you. When I clicked schedule interview you just have to put some details in (passport no., priority date, case number etc.), make sure your address details are right, and then it gives you options for payment. I paid by credit card and then just got a simple PDF receipt generated with my details and a barcode and receipt number on it.

 

 

Chest, did your recepit emailed to you from the DOS - did it say online non immigrant visa application DS-160? eg like attached?

Yep I did my DS-160 before I sent in packet 3 as you need to send in the confirmation page with your packet. Then I got a payment receipt generated when I paid the fee today.


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 02:00:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

I was wrong.. it is an immigrant visa

 

 

Yeah I just paid the fee about an hour ago, it's an immigrant visa and I paid by credit card so it just automatically charged me the correct amount :) This process must be getting so expensive for you with doing everything 4x over :(


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 01:47:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

haha! I think thats a good thing smile.png

 

I don't think they love me sad.png I sent an email to the Immigrant Visa Dept asking about my visa over 2 weeks ago and haven't gone a response back! Feel free to rub some of that good luck off on me <3

I'm so sorry to hear that, it must be so frustrating :( Pretty poor form on the no answer for 2 weeks as well...


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 00:26:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Haha all good mate. Yes it will guide you step by step and at the end it will give you a receipt and PDF etc that you print off and take to the interview.

 

It will seem kinda daunting at first, but its over quick and they dont ask any super hard questions smile.png I was done in maybe 5 mins, and the hardest thing they asked was what does his family think of you tongue.png

 

chin up and good luck!

Great, thanks for the info :) That's good to know, short and sweet! Is it arrogant if I say that they love me :P


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 00:15:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Hey Chestnutt,

 

You will need to create it because before you have your interview you will need to have filled in the online DS-160 and have paid the fee. Try to get it all completed ahead of time because its another one of those long repeat all of your infomation we have already done.

 

hopefully when you are approved you wont be stuck in visa limbo like me smile.png

 

 

Thanks for the reply! I have filled out my DS-160 already and I have been given my interview date, so now I need to log into that site and schedule the visa interview with the date and details that the consulate gave me so I can pay my fee?

 

Yeah I hope it goes smoothly, sorry to hear you're in limbo :(


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-30 00:02:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Just got my interview date too.. 28th Jan.. I was hoping on something sooner than that.. but at least it's done now

Oh awesome!! I was just coming on here to check if there were any updates haha. Now on to the next confusing thing, I'm looking at paying the $240 visa fee thing and we have to make a profile at the USTraveldocs site which I have done. It says in the instructions here http://www.ustraveld...fo.asp#overview that we need to click schedule appointment and set that up, I'm just making sure this is something we do and not something that is pre-loaded into the system for us since we get told when our interview will be? Also the first question when you click schedule is whether it's an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, this point confuses me a lot for the K1 because for some things it seems to be immigrant and some things it seems to be non-immigrant!


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-29 23:10:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Same here... fingers crossed for both of us

I got my interview date!! 21st January :D Have you heard anything yet?


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-29 19:16:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Still waiting, hopefully will get some action when they open back up tomorrow!


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-26 01:23:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Flowershoes got hers yesterday, I was really hoping you got yours today.. maybe we will both get packet 4 tomorrow. 
Let us know how you go

 

I really hope so, I will have my eye on the inbox all day haha. Let us know how you go as well
 


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-19 06:09:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

Whats everyones CEAC status today? We have been touched 3 days in a row.. OH My that sounds dirty LOL
 

Case Creation Date: 16-Oct-2013
Status Updated Date: 18-Dec-2013

 

 

Yeah mine's sitting on the 18th Dec now too...hopefully not too long now :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-19 06:05:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

As far as I can tell if I just go in and click retrieve application it comes up with an option to do a new application and I have to do it that way. I called the Sydney embassy today and got told I have to do a new DS-160 and mail them the new confirmation page, so hopefully all will be well after that!


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-16 19:08:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

I wouldn't worry about re-doing it.. If anything is missing, the people at the interview should be able to fill it out. But if it let you complete the form, then everything was filled out. 
I dont think you have anything to worry about. 

 

Hmm I'm having a quick look around and getting the impression that they can deny the visa if the DS-160 application is incomplete, I'll try and contact the embassy tomorrow and get some info :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-16 03:26:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

 

 

I'll have 3 children with me and being 7hrs away from Sydney (East Gippsland, VIC) I wont be much fun ROFL.. I'll be doing a day trip there and back again, flying out from Mebourne. If I was by myself, I'd certainly be in for it thou wink.png

Haha no worries Ozgirl1981 :)

 

Quick question for you guys, I saw on another thread here about the DS-160 that there is some sort of bug with the previous work experience/education section where it sometimes doesn't show up. I don't remember filling anything about previous employment out, and now I'm worried that I accidentally missed a section...although it said I had filled everything out and it confirmed fine. 

 

Did you guys fill anything like this out, and do you think it will be a problem at the interview if I didn't? I don't want to rock the boat by filling in a new DS-160 haha.

 

Cheers


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-16 01:51:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

 

If we all have the same interview date, we'll definitely have to grab a few drinks after to celebrate wink.png

 

I second that!! Such an exciting time :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-15 23:44:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty

I'm waiting for mine too! My packet 3 got to the embassy on Tuesday 10th, hope it's not too long of a wait until the packet 4 email :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2013-12-13 20:50:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralia and Affidavit of Support Co-sponsor

My soon to be mother-in-law was a co-sponsor and it was fine. Provided the petitioner and the petitioners co-sponsor combined earn enough to get over the threshold there shouldn't be a problem.

 

At the interview the guy asked me who she was so I told him "my fiancee's mother"...was a strange question consider that on the form it clearly stated the she was my fiance's mother. Oh well smile.png

Great, thanks for that! Yeah she makes more than enough to get us over the line :)


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2014-01-12 03:45:00
Australia and New ZealandAustralia and Affidavit of Support Co-sponsor

Hey everyone,

 

Just wanted to double check on a question I hadn't thought to ask before, just wanted to make sure the Australian embassy allows co-sponsors for the I-134? We are using one, just want to know if any Aussies have had trouble using one before?

 

Thanks!

 


chestnuttFemaleAustralia2014-01-10 06:12:00
Australia and New ZealandQuick 'n' dirty
Did you send it express post???
Aussiechik77Not TellingAustralia2013-12-13 06:08:00
Australia and New ZealandAUSSIES! Who did you ship with!

having flown back and forth aus to usa and also shipped, I pack as much as possible in suitcases and pay the extra to take more bags, sea mail may be an option but it takes 3 months, remember too your final destination some us airlines charge for each bag

my family keep saying can't you just get the stuff stateside?? ahhh, NO not all of it LOL, although am looking forward to buying new items, our lounge suite is showing its age after 15 yrs but will sorely miss the beautiful qld made queen bed and dresser

congrats on approval!


razspaz13FemaleAustralia2014-01-19 09:29:00
Australia and New ZealandSydney Medical Examination Appt.

Hey guys,

My situation is that we have received packet 3 and the only thing holding us back from sending it back to the consulate is the Medical Examination appointment. Once i have one i believe i can put the date of the appointment & "PP to send results to consulate" on the checklist.

I have rang the George St Medical Centre to schedule and appointment, and they took down some information about me & my case number, and then said they would get back to me about getting an appointment?

Its been a week and I haven't heard from them, so I don't even have an appointment yet - I'm just sitting in an open ended waiting period...just starting to get a little worried about waiting forever and them forgetting about me.

Just curious as to wether this is normal procedure? just for peace of mind sake. I have called and enquired since and they just keep telling me they will call.

Guess were getting anxious about all this never ending waiting! smile.png

Also regarding Vaccinations, I have had shots when i was very young and a few throughout school, but I'm really not sure which ones or even if I have any record of them around - Will this be ok when I do attend my interview?

thanks for any quick responses! smile.png













 

Hey,

 

I had my medical done less than two weeks ago. What do they say when you call them to follow up? I had called end of December for an appointment, and they had one available for the first week of January (about two weeks later!) They took down my case number, email etc over the phone, then sent me an email within the same day, to which I had to reply to with some more details to confirm the appointment. If you haven't got an appointment after a week of calling, you might have been overlooked, keep trying! One time I tried calling to schedule an appointment and the lady on the phone said they only take appointments over the phone between 9am-3pm...

 

As for the vaccinations, if you are under a certain age (I assume you are probably around my age -- 20s?) you only need to be concerned about 3 vaccinations/immunities:

 

1. dTap - diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)

2. MMR - measles, mumps, rubella 

3. varicella (chicken pox)

 

 

My mum had kept the records of all the vaccinations I'd had in school including these 2 shots: dTap and MMR, however they were from over ten years ago.

 

I went to my local GP to test for immunity to chicken pox as I have no record of varicella vaccine or chicken pox. The doctor also tested my immunities to the other 2 mentioned above as after 10 years, its effect fade and you need a booster.

 

So I ended up getting a blood test at the local GP and when I went to get my results, I had a record printed that said I was immune to chicken pox, and I got the other two vaccinations boosters done (and making sure I had them print a record for me).

 

Its much cheaper to get your vaccinations and/or blood test for immunities at your local GP as that is covered by Medicare, and George St Medical Centre, NOTHING is covered by Medicare.

 

So at the local GP, blood test for immunities was free, dTap only cost about $36, and MMR is actually free (you need to get two shots for this).

 

I took these records to Dr Waks and showed them to him and he just ticked them on the vaccinations list that he sends back to the US Consulate. Easy.

 

Hope that wasn't too confusing!

 

 

 

 


KPeaNot TellingAustralia2014-01-12 18:57:00
Australia and New ZealandSydney K1 interview

Hi evereyone!

 

Boy what a great resource this website and community has been on this terribly confusing journey!

 

Am finally seeing the end of the tunnel! Interview scheduled for early Feb! :)

 

My case has been pretty straightforward. I am taking:

 

- original Birth Certificate and translation

- passport

- receipt for USD$240 payment

- 5cm x 5cm passport photo/s
- 3kg Aus Post Express Post bag with tracking

 

Additionals:

 

- proof of engagement/ongoing relationship (updated photos, emails with wedding venues, receipts for rent with both our names)

 

Anything else?

 

My USC fiance lives in Sydney with me, wondering if it is beneficial for him to come? Would he come up to the interview window with me and answer some questions too..would that help? Or would they only speak to me and have him wait? Is it generally easier if they see my fiance in person with me (they can see genuine relationship etc)?


KPeaNot TellingAustralia2014-01-21 18:23:00
Australia and New ZealandName check vs. fingerprint police certificates (split topic)

I do have this problem. no clear information in nvc website on aussie police certificate requirements. please help share info based on previous experience. 

 

I already got a certificate with name check only. But many places here in VJ forum talk about fingerprint certificates... has anyone here in visa journey given Australian police certificates to nvc?

 

It seems to me that Australians applying for a fiancee visa are submitting a police certificate with fingerprints.  Personally, I applied for a IR-1 visa and only submitted a police certificate based on name check and it was accepted by the NVC. I was living in Perth at the time so I had to submit an AFP police check.

 

Based on your timeline, it seems you are not currently living in Australia. If you are not there at the moment, the rules could be different. For example, I had to get a police certificate from Canada. As I was not living there at the time, it had to be a fingerprint certificate. If I had been in Canada, a name check would have been sufficient.


Edited by Julie O, 18 January 2014 - 12:35 PM.

Julie ONot TellingAustralia2014-01-18 12:32:00