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| Dream Come True...; Going back to the U.S... | |
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| Topic Started: Oct 4 2007, 09:11:44 PM (475 Views) | |
| Rissaroo | Oct 4 2007, 09:11:44 PM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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All right, first off, I wouldn't trade my experiences here in Oz for anything! It's been great experiencing life in another country and getting out of the American mindset (which I am more and more realizing is very limiting!). I've been dazzled by the Australian ways which are so much different than what I've grown up with, and I'd recommend anyone with the funds to spend at least one year of their adult life in another country, because it has been an eye-opener! That being said, my hubby and I have been talking, and it's been decided that we will be moving back to the U.S. I will copy/paste a section of my LJ here which describes it pretty well (edited so it's up to date): Ever since we moved into our own place in Melbourne (mid-May), Rob and I have started to feel less than optimistic that Rob's company (Myer, a department store) would give him the raise/position/opportunities that we've been hoping for. We were still planning on hanging in there for a while to see how things would turn out, but in the meantime, for the last couple of months there have been a few idle comments about paying off our debt, packing up, and coming over to the U.S. I say 'idle comments' because our financial situation seems to be going nowhere fast, and getting out of debt when Myer isn't throwing any more money at Rob is looking to be a long, arduous process. We didn't make plans or even make it an official decision between us. Then a few weeks ago Rob had downloaded 'I Love the 80s 3-D" and also happened to discover that Britain had its own version of the show. When he expressed how uninterested he would be in it, I was curious as to whether he'd want to watch an Australian I Love the 80s and asked him about it. He basically said no way, and so I said something along the lines of, "You're really almost more American than Australian. I bet we'd both be really happy living in the States." He agreed, and it was that night that we formally decided that we wanted this to happen, and wanted to happen as soon as possible. Our original plan was to get out of debt over five years and then come out with plenty of extra money (our "grubstake", a new term we've taken to using that I learned from my dad) to use to get ourselves set up there. We threw out this plan quickly as we both realized that we are way too impatient to wait five years. So we looked over the numbers and realized that it could be done by December 2008 if we cut our costs and budgeted carefully. We'd still have two credit cards and a bank loan, but also a large enough grubstake to bring out with us, so we were satisfied with the plan. Then a few Fridays ago we were thrown yet another curveball by Rob's company. Apparently Myer says that they don't feel comfortable giving him a leadership position by the time he leaves the program (it ends in October), and don't feel he has the skills to be a leader. That leaves both Rob and I scratching our heads because so far three-fourths of the program has NOT been leadership on his part at all, and the part that was was in another town, so the program directors here in Melbourne didn't witness it anyway. We both believe this has more to do with the fact that some drama went down between Rob and the other members of this program because they felt he was 'too arrogant' and then found it necessary to speak badly about him behind his back, even going so far as to make up nasty rumors (including that he's a misogynist!). Somehow, because they are the group and Rob is just one, we think the directors thought it was Rob's responsibility to try and get along with them and take this kind of crap, and they didn't like it when he basically refused. On top of this (and this really is Rob's own fault), each rotation requires a written assignment that Rob found ridiculous and did not take as seriously as he should have, though upon reading through them, I didn't find them THAT poorly written, so part of me wonders if it's possible that they are using them as yet another excuse to get him out of the program. The bottom line is that after hearing all of this, Rob is 'exiting the program. This puts a serious dent in our U.S. plans because we needed him to have this manager experience in order for him to get a decent job over there. As it is, we still both want to come, but he will have to start at the bottom as a regular cashier. He has no real problems with this and is willing to do it, but both of us are still a tad pissed and feel rather shafted by this company. We can't come out any sooner than December 2008 because we need to finish up our contracts with different companies/people (phone, landlord, etc.) or we'll be out even more cash. We've reviewed our numbers and found that it is still possible to come out and we plan to stick to the December 2008 timeline, but now the grubstake will be lower (still high enough, but not a tremendous number) and we will still have almost all our debts, something we are both desperate to get away from. But at least plans are being put into motion, and I still believe it will happen by late next year, so I'm definitely more happy than sad. End LJ entry. That was several weeks ago, and Rob has now quit Myer and has a new job as a 'site manager' for Vodafone with good pay and good, good experience so the manager jobs in the U.S. might be easier to snag. You have no idea how proud I am for cutting those ties and going on to find the job he deserves! After much more talk we decided that it'd be best to stay here at least one year so he'd benefit from one year's worth of experience (and of course, the year's worth of savings). That's the news, basically, but I'm also hoping that those of you that have moved from Australia to the U.S. might have some advice for me (i.e. how soon to get started on the green card process). We've looked into the process but aren't sure how soon to begin (some places say five weeks is ample enough, but we're not that confident). I've been to Mates Up Over and for some reason just don't understand it the way I do the people here. Add to that that I trust you all and I know some of you have been through this and can give me personal advice.  So that's all for now. It's a big post and a big deal. We've been talking about it for at least three months now, but I just wanted to be 100% sure before I posted here on YDU. That said, I'm very excited! :redpepper: :eggplant: Australia is great, but I can't wait to be back in America! |
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| TerritorianTori | Oct 5 2007, 12:45:29 AM Post #2 |
It couldn't happen here
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Well...wow! Congratulations on your decision, Rissa! :)) :)) Obviously I don't have much practical advice on moving from Australia to the US, but hopefully others can help. I'm really sorry Rob got shafted by his former company. That really stinks! Glad he's got a better position now. |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| imafranktoo | Oct 5 2007, 05:59:27 AM Post #3 |
Little Miss Key Breaker
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Congratulations!! :redpepper: :eggplant: Did we start a trend?? lol I'm happy for you guys and you're doing the right things. I can't say anything about applying for a greencard since....well, we're both Americans. lol
 Sorry to hear that Myer did Rob so wrong....I mean that was just weenie of em. I look forward to hearing more about your plans. Where do you think you will come back to? Where you both can land a job? Close to your family? Anyways,....here is some more dancing for you.... :fruit: :the-wave: :cheers: Jennifer |
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| MrsHippo | Oct 5 2007, 06:45:50 AM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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We applied for a visa to the US (from Canada) just weeks before he accepted the job in Sydney. We spoke to a rep here in the consulate last week and they told us no worries, it would be a year before the application went anywhere anyway. Not sure if that helps, but I would start the application process sooner, rather than later, if I were you. |
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Val Dual US / Canadian citizen from Toronto, ON Sydney Dec 2007 - Aug 2011 | |
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| incognito | Oct 5 2007, 08:00:51 AM Post #5 |
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Chatterbox
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Congrats!! Where in the US will you go? To be honest, I would not worry too much about Rob's work experience... I find US employers to be much more open minded about someone's experience and if he has been in a leadership role for a while and had officially been part of a leadership training program (or whatever it was) that will probably impress. Others may disagree but it's been my husband's experience and his brother's as well while living in the States -- they had opportunities there that they never had here. Then again, I would imagine retail in the States does not pay very well. Anyhow on the green card thing, the consulate here told me to allow 6 months. I have all sorts of info that was emailed to me Rissa. PM me your email address and I am happy to forward along. I think the fees just went up so you will need to budget for that (I think it's over $1K now), and you do have to have a certain amount of cash -- but if you don't you can get a joint sponsor in the States who does. You also have to prove legal domicile there - so hopefully you still have a mailing address there, a bank account or something of that nature. If not, I think you can go over ahead of Rob to satisfy that requirement, but then you'd be separated for a while. IMO it's a bit more difficult than the Aussie requirements to come over here... But good luck with it all - I am envious!!!!!!!!!! Don't forget to PM me your email address and I'll send you that info. |
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| Jaffas | Oct 5 2007, 12:08:59 PM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Wow! I'm envious, too.
hehe Looks like (if) we'll be going back about 6 months ahead of you, so we'll have some more info to offer before then.. By the time December comes round, I'll let you know if I'm all homesick and want to come home. lol *Ducks Marty* The Myer thing - yeah, I'm glad Rob is outta there now. I take it he was on a Retail Traineeship or something like it? I did one of those many years ago. It was simply cheap labour for Coles for a year, where if you don't kiss the appropriate butts, you're back to casual work with no advancement likely. Bah. Ok, I'm back working for Coles now, but more on my own terms. That's what I like to think anyway.. lolAbout MUO - I hope I don't get into trouble for saying this.. but to me, it feels like most people there have been gone from Australia for more than 10-20 years, and all have rose coloured glasses on with regards to how it was then, and how it is now. It feels, for all the world, like an I love 1980's Australia reminiscing site. There are some great people there, and some good information, but somehow I don't fit in there. I feel more "at home" here on Yanks Down Under, and I'm an Aussie! Silly me! :rollin: There's heaps more I could add, but I've gotta go to work. I just wanted to say congratulations on the decision (decision making isn't my strong point, so I'm ultra happy for anyone else who can do it!). Manda & Marty :eggplant: |
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria  See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| imafranktoo | Oct 5 2007, 01:04:37 PM Post #7 |
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Little Miss Key Breaker
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Manda, I agree about MUO. I have nothing against them, but I just don't feel accepted. I feel like I'm treading on their "turf". I just want to make Aussies feel at home here just like Australians made me feel at home there. I want to "pay it forward". I just haven't felt the warmth like I feel it here and have felt it since day one when Neal signed us up Dec. 2005. I am definitely more comfortable at YDU. I'm not cheating on YDU....honestly...I'm not! |
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| Dev | Oct 5 2007, 04:20:37 PM Post #8 |
"No day but today."
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I'm glad you guys are making the right decision for you. It's good that you've given it a proper chance over here. You'll have a lot of stories and memories to take back with you! I'm not sure about all US visas, but Nick and I were thinking about moving back home last year and did a bit of research into his visa. We were told that the whole process takes about three months, and that he has 30 days once his visa is granted to get back to the US or the visa is null and void. Everyone we spoke to at the US Consulate was very helpful. I'd recommend contacting them to see what your options are and what would be the best timeline for you to go by. |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value." 
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| shylady | Oct 5 2007, 04:38:45 PM Post #9 |
oldYank
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:hugs: :)) congrats on your plans! I agree with Dev, the Consulate can be very helpful, but didn't that change recently, that you can't apply with them? :headscratch: Or did it change back? Regardless, it's good to have a "plan".... Yeah, "third" me with MUO, I haven't been able to get into the conversation there either, but that's okay, I'm a YDU :wave: And I don't think we'll be moving over there anytime soon. Lots of visits, but this is "home." :hugs: Lisa in West Oz |
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"I could’ve turned a different corner, I could’ve gone another place... " ku,'09 | |
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| incognito | Oct 5 2007, 08:20:14 PM Post #10 |
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Chatterbox
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Hi there - To clarify Dev - on the visa thing, once it's granted you have 6 months to get your bum over to the States or forget about it... I have looked into this within the last 2 months so I think that's probably still current. And Shylady, they are once again doing Direct Consular Filing at the consulates. Thank GOD! :redpepper: I think the 6 months is kind of a worst case scenario... kind of like DIMA/DIAC gave all of us. I have heard of lots of people getting their visas in far less than 6 months. |
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| i<3sydney | Oct 6 2007, 01:05:33 AM Post #11 |
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True Blue Mate
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congrats! i wish you best of luck and hope all goes really well.
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| incognito | Oct 6 2007, 08:28:26 AM Post #12 |
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Chatterbox
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Just wanted to comment on MUO - I have always felt welcome there. But, I do think many of the members have lived in the US for a long time and are settled in and they all also have more established relationships with one another. The MUO group also meets in different locations each year all over the US at Matefest - overall it's just a different dynamic than what we have. And they have WAY more members! I think if you spend a lot of time there - like we do here - you would feel like you fit in just fine. And, I have to thank MUO for introducing me to 2 very close friends who I am in touch with regularly ever since I moved. Shortly before we left the US, 2 women moved to Sacto from Oz, and we all met in person and struck up an instant friendship, and in fact spent quite a lot of time together. I felt more comfortable with them than I did with many women I had met in Sacto over the 3 years I was there and consider them lifelong friends. :goodonya: for MUO from me! |
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| TerritorianTori | Oct 6 2007, 09:16:20 AM Post #13 |
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It couldn't happen here
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Please, let's not turn this into YDU vs MUO. We are sister sites, after all! :goodonya: Not everyone is going to fit in over there, and not everyone is going to feel warm and fuzzy here, and that's OK... that's why there are heaps of similar websites in the vastness of cyberspace! I'm just glad this site is useful to someone, somewhere. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: |
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South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| imafranktoo | Oct 6 2007, 11:25:00 AM Post #14 |
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Little Miss Key Breaker
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Oh Lord, Tori I didn't mean to start a us vs them thing or for it to even sound that way. I was just remarking that I don't feel I "fit in" as well....that's all.....everyone has their own niche they fit into....I check over there and make entries but I don't get many replies....so I just leave them alone check in once in awhile. They are a very large group, too. :hugs: :hugs: :hugs: Jennifer |
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| Rissaroo | Oct 6 2007, 01:38:03 PM Post #15 |
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True Blue Mate
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First, thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement! Rob and I will be settling in Harrisonburg, Virginia where my parents live (luckily my father has agreed to help us out with everything; we'll be staying with him until Rob finds a job over there). We plan to live in the Virginia area until we've saved up on a deposit for a house/paid off most of our debts. We just consolidated all of our Aussie credit cards, so paying off the one bank loan versus four credit cards will be much simpler. Once we've got a deposit we're thinking about moving to Colorado Springs, since it fits all of our criteria--beautiful (I loved living near mountains), has four distinct seasons (Snow, people, snow!), close to a hockey team (Avalanche), big enough to have opportunities but not so large we'll feel unsafe (population is about 350,000), close to a huge city (Denver), and I've lived there so I know my way around. But you never know, things could change in the time it takes to save up a deposit, we could end up anywhere. Secondly, the actual reason I wasn't finding MUO helpful wasn't really because of the members, just that I wasn't able to navigate the site as easily as this one. Plus of course I know all of you and just find it easier to open up here and get helpful answers.
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| JPTexan | Oct 6 2007, 01:39:16 PM Post #16 |
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True Blue Mate
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AMEN, Tori... AMEN Jerry :redpepper: |
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JPTexan Dallas to Sydney to Dallas..... Yep, I'm now a RE-PAT!!! | |
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| Dev | Oct 6 2007, 01:44:55 PM Post #17 |
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"No day but today."
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Not to fuel the fire here, but I agree. I couldn't navigate the other site well enough to find information on Nick's visa either, so I just ended up asking people here at the time. But you do rock, MUO! :goodonya: |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| Jaffas | Oct 6 2007, 02:53:32 PM Post #18 |
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True Blue Mate
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I knew I shouldn't have added anything about MUO.
I'm sorry guys! I'll re-state that there are some great people there, and lots of information. I  YDU though! I'm not the easiest person to get along with, and you guys all just seem to accept me (or ignore me.) LOL  Colorado Springs sounds wonderful! It's the second time I've seen it written lately with regards to wishing to move there someday. I love mountains too.. How exciting!! 
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| Squashy | Oct 6 2007, 05:53:49 PM Post #19 |
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True Blue Mate
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That's so sad how Myer treated your Hubby
 but great to hear that you're making a decision that makes you both happy! Has your Hubby spent time in the States before? (sorry if this is obvious or if I missed this somewhere!)
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| Jennifer | |
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| Rissaroo | Oct 7 2007, 11:01:15 PM Post #20 |
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True Blue Mate
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Yep, March of 2006 we spent about six weeks in the US, travelled pretty much all over the place by car, so he has a pretty good idea of what he's getting into.
He's actually seen more of America than he has of Australia. :p
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