playingdiva

Hey everyone. Im not to sure if im posting in the right place but here goes.

I live in Australia and my BF lives in USA. We plan on getting married late next year. We are currently looking into DCF. Everything sounds great apart from one question.

He has a good job back in the USA and cant take heaps of time off without losing it.

Q. How long does he need to be in Australia for?

We plan to have a small wedding and then maybe have a small honeymoon type thing in melbourne where we would then file our petition.

Q. Does he need to be at the interveiw in sydney with me?

Also i was reading that the offical marriage cert is needed, not the one we get on the day.

Q. Roughly how long does it take after our wedding to recieve the offical cert?

well thats 3 question hehe.

Thanks for any replys in advance

NC Penguin

My USC spouse and I (UKC) did I-130 by DCF in London back in 2001. I can't speak about DCF in Oz but I would suggest you search through this forum for previous threads and posts about DCF in Australia.

Also, if you haven't already done so, there may be information about DCF at the US Embassies? in Oz on their webpages.

Bob

Oz is lucky, the USC doesn't need to be a resident as a requirement, needs to be there for the interview though I believe....either way, there's a few people here that have done it, so I'm sure google will pull up the info.

As for marriage cert, wouldn't have a clue, ask who ever does the service, or google it for where you live...

meauxna

hi pd,

For the benefit of some AVUMB readers who may not know, the DCF process in Sydney has changed effective July 2006; there is no more one-day filing in Australia and searching this group will send someone off on a wrong tangent.

The US citizen does not need to spend long in Australia. Filing I-130 is now available in all Consulates in Australia and Immigrant Visa applications will still go through Sydney. The USC does NOT need to attend the visa interview, but they do need to be physically present in Australia to file their petition.

Details about marriage certificates will vary by state in Australia, much like the US. Please consult the Consulate serving your Australian residence for their particulars, and check with the local Births, Deaths & Marriages folk about getting the certified copy of the marriage certificate.

DCF Guide overview: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/in...ustom&page=dcf
http://tinyurl.com/gdxud

Current DCF Australia Discussion (start at post #7): http://www.visajourney.com/forums/in...0&#entry489662
http://tinyurl.com/jxkg8

Current, state specific info from the US Embassy Australia:
http://usembassy-australia.state.gov...structions.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/hbu32

Current user reports: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/in...?showtopic=65&
http://tinyurl.com/gjczu

diva, I hope you will be the first under the new process to post here; your current experiences will be very helpful to many people!

playingdiva

Thanks for replys. Thats really helped alot knowing we dont have to worry about him losing his job because he has to spend a long period of time here in Australia. That was a real worry of our.

Now all i need to figure out is how long it takes to get a certified marriage cert, so we can then work out how long my BF (USC) needs to take of work.

Meauxna- You said that Filing I-130 is now available in all Consulates in Australia and Immigrant Visa applications will still go through Sydney.Does this mean we dont have to go to Melbourne for file it? Im not actually sure if Adelaide (where i live) has a US consulate. I was just wondering because i was reading through I_130SpouseCoverSheet_ToSendByEmail.doc and it says we need to file the petition in melbourne?

meauxna

Don't make me come over there and give you a google lesson.

http://sydney.usconsulate.gov/consular/index.html

The US doesn't have a Consulate on every block. Many people find this new filing method better. Previously, everyone went to Sydney and Sydney only. This is supposed to be more convenient for you.
Don't forget to order your police certificate in plenty of time. If you read the threads from VJ, you'll find every dirtly little detail you could want to know in there.

playingdiva

Hehe. Thanks. i have read through those threads and will do some more research. I will update everyone on my findings and when i eventually start the process i will let everyone know whats going on

You said about getting my police check early. How early are you talking?

playingdiva

One more thing, Im not sure if i mentioned i have a 2.5 year old son. There is NO father involved. Does this effect anything? Does this make the process different?

scrubbedexpat099

Immaculate conception?

playingdiva

I said there was no father INVOLVED. I didnt say there wasnt a father out there somewhere.....

ian-mstm

Please forgive us for such comments. Many of us who read this newsgroup actually understand the full meaning that words and sentences have, and then respond appropriately when someone posts an innacurately phrased comment.

Ian

Folinskyinla

Hi:

You ask a fair question. And I have no idea of Australian law. The man in question may not be "involved" -- but he may hae rights under Australian law [As I said, I don't know].

Perhaps the man in question will consent to the child leaving the country. If your husband to be is willing, you might want to explore possiblities of step-parent adoption -- which would also need some type of consent or notice.

And as a general rule, US consulate will not interfere with the child custody laws of the host countries when granting visas. You are entering the area of international child abduction -- which is a very touchy area.

So, this is something you should look into NOW -- perhaps with some legal advice.

Ray

Well!! I was down the pub all that night .....And I have witnesses...
Never went near that car park .....lol........

playingdiva

Its not just that the father is not involved, I ment he is unknown aswell. God, makes me sound like a real slapper lol. Was a drunken night on holiday, the father didnt even come from australia.

Ray

Weell !! at least you have no pride .....