It has Arrived!

My Visa has come through! It didn't take near as long as I thought it would. I was emailed on August 14th saying my Visa had been Granted! When I read it, I started crying...wanted to jump up and down...wanted to vomit a little. I felt so many different emotions. It was so crazy. Things are now moving ahead. We have started to sell our big items and our house is slowing emptying. It is very strange.

Anyway...timeline for the Visa...it took all of 4 months. Not bad at all!

First Contact

Over the weekend, I received an email from the embassy requesting more documents. They needed my Utah State background check. This is what it said:

Processing your application

I have begun considering your application for this visa and require additional information or documents. A summary of the information required for each applicant is provided in the attached Request Checklist. More detailed information about each of the requirements is included in the Detailed Information attachment.

 

Today I went and got my background check and overnighted to Washington. It should get there before noon tomorrow. I am hoping that this request means they are actually looking at my application and if they receive my background check, it won't be long until they deem me worthy of a visa! Fingers crossed!

FBI Check

The embassy has now received my FBI background check. I emailed them (again), asking if they had received it and I was told the following:

With regards to enquiry, we can confirm that your FBI check was received in our office on the 17th of July. At this moment the application is still in process. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) undertakes to process all applications in a timely manner. The average processing time for this type of visa is approximately 5-12 months for complete applications. Actual processing time for individual applications will vary and is dependent on a number of factors which includes the complexity of the case, the planning levels for the particular visa and the number of applications lodged.

Although we understand your concerns that you have not been contacted by your case officer, contact will only be made where specific information is required to continue processing your application. This process allows your case officer to focus their efforts on processing your visa application in a timely manner.

SO, we are still waiting. I am starting to think that because my case *should be* fairly straight forward, I might not hear anything from a case officer. No news is good news. But it sure is annoying.

FBI

I sent my fingerprints to the FBI on the 23rd of May. I just received the results on Tuesday.....What did they say??? Nothing. "No Arrest Record" Easy Peasy. I have now sent them off to the Embassy. Hoping to speed up the process.

I emailed the embassy last week asking if they had received my medical papers (since the doctor sent them in, leaving me with no control of the situation). I also asked about being in contact with a case officer since I have read other people's time lines and they had a case officer contact them rather quickly. Here was my reply:

Dear Ms Bougoure Latchford,
Thank you for your interest in Australia.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is committed to monitoring the quality of the services we provide, as part of an ongoing improvement process. We would appreciate your feedback on our performance. Please refer to the link below to start our survey:www.surveymonkey.com/s/diac_email_en
In reply to your email, we can confirm your medical results have been received at our embassy and have cleared for your Partner Visa. At this time it is very early in the process for a Case Officer to open communication with you. But your application is being assessed. The average processing time is 5-12 months.


We hope this information has been of assistance.

Regards,
Carroll
DIAC Americas

Always the same thing: 5-12 months. I don't know if not having anyone contact is a good thing or a bad thing. I am hoping that no news is good news, however, it would be nice to know where my application is and what is happening with it. I'm sort of annoyed about it. But what can i do? I hope by sending in my FBI check, it will help speed things up!

US Citizen

Owen is now officially a United States Citizen! I know...we are moving to Australia, why waste the time and money? However, if we didn't get his citizenship, he would have to enter the country every 2 years or so and file paperwork just to keep his residency. And if we ever moved back here, and didn't have his residency, we would have to start all over. So, he is official now! He had his oath ceremony on the 13th of June and was sworn in! There were 202 other people becoming US citizens as well. It was pretty cool. Glad the girls and I got to be a part of it!

400 Bucks Later..

I had my medical appointment today. I had to go a specially appointed doctor for the physical. He had to be approved by the Australian government or whatever. Luckily for me, he was just down the road at BYU. I didn't have to travel to far! That being said, I did have to pay $412 for the medical check and chest xray...seriously 400 bucks! So that should be sent off soon and we just continue to wait! Good times!

Dual Citizens!

Its official! Ava and Dempsey are now dual citizens of America and Australia! Their passports came today! Next will be Owens Oath Ceremony and getting his passport! I am feeling very left out :(