And so it begins...

The time has come. After 5 years of living here in the wonderful US of A, we have made the decision to pack ourselves up and head to the land down under. I have decided to start this blog about our process in the hope that will help someone else in their process of immigration. It is a very confusing process and very VERY expensive and we can all use all the help and advice we can get! I have been scouring the Internet for advice, stories, timelines and such and I have found a bit of help. So I thought I would offer my own.

In the past few months, we have applied for Dempsey's Australian Citizenship by Descent, (Ava already has hers), and Owen's US Citizenship. We have since received Dempsey's certificate of citizenship and Owen has done his biometrics and we now await the interview. In May, we travel to California to personally apply for 2 Australian passports for the girls. (Yes, you have to do in person at the consulate in LA.)

The next step is me. I am starting the application process for a Partner Visa to enter and stay in Australia with my family. This is going to cost me a hefty sum of money and I have killed a few trees in the process of printing out the application forms. So far there are about 4-5 that I think I need. I also have to get certified copies of marriage licences, birth certs, passports, etc. Also, proof that my marriage is "above board" and that we are in it for the long haul. I also have to prove I am not a criminal and will need my own biometrics down as well as an FBI background check. I need to go to the doctor and get some medical exams done too. I feel very overwhelmed at the moment and I am just hoping I can get everything we need together so that the process is that much easier.

During the process, I will be posting any and all information I can and keep everyone informed on where we are in the application process!