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| Same-sex (and other de facto) couples | |
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| Topic Started: Mar 4 2011, 03:41:27 PM (1,236 Views) | |
| sguimera | Mar 31 2011, 11:30:24 AM Post #21 |
Chinwagger
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Thanks Mel! I'll have to take a closer look at the forms. I don't have a VIC driver's license, so I'll have to see if I can get around that. But I'll have a bank account statement with the address, plus passport and birth certificate and that good stuff. I understand why they make it tough, but GRRR! hahaha. I appreciate the response. Thanks again! 
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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| CynicalCountess | Apr 1 2011, 12:24:19 AM Post #22 |
True Blue Mate
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Welcome! I did the de facto registration thing in NSW (though my partner is opposite-sex), so you're welcome to PM me with questions. |
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| sguimera | Apr 1 2011, 06:12:10 AM Post #23 |
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Chinwagger
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Thanks countess, I really appreciate the offer! I just might take you up on that once we figure out what the game plan is. Congrats on yours!
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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| cherryRipe33 | Apr 1 2011, 08:31:09 AM Post #24 |
Chinwagger
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Hi Stephanie My parnter & I didn't live together for 12 months consecutively either. He stayed max 6 months in FL on his B-1 Visa, then when that ran out, I flew to AUS for max 3 months on a vistor visa. We did that back 'n forth for over 3 years. Sometimes to avoid him travelling back to AUS to reset his visa, we would nip down to the Bahamas for a week then fly back to FL. USCIS only let us get away with that a couple times; then they put their foot down. That was abusing the visa privileges, so that was the end of that. They told him that he had to be out of the US for longr than he was there for before he could come back - they said minimum 6 months. We freaked. That's when we started our De Facto app, and I bit the bullet and decided I would be the one to move. Even though we weren't living together consecutively and had gaps of a month or two here and there, my CO still approved us. The only thing my CO E.R. questioned me about was how long we were seperated for and how many times during the year. I provided airline itineraries showing how often we flew back 'n forth and for months at a time, pictures of trips we went on during the whole relationship, emails to eachother and from family showing they knew of our relationship...EVERYTHING I could muster up. That was good enough apparently! We were approved in 5 months - would've been shorter, but I had a couple hiccups. Been in SYD officially since Oct 2010 and loving it!!!!!!! |
 Back in Oz! | |
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| sguimera | Apr 1 2011, 09:44:53 AM Post #25 |
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Chinwagger
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Hey Cherry! Congrats on the permanent residency! That's awesome. I saw your post on another topic just now, and definitely picked up some good ideas for categorizing evidence. I think our next logical step would be to set up a joint bank account, since we each pay for our own rent/utilities/etc, given that we're still living apart. Though hopefully with my Work and Holiday visa I'll be able to get out there for a while and get some more solid evidence together. I plan on throwing the kitchen sink at them when we apply; give 'em everything I can possibly come up with for evidence and let them decide what they do or don't need. :D |
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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| melharris24 | Apr 1 2011, 11:49:19 PM Post #26 |
Chinwagger
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sorry work and the step-daughter's Deb. was tonight and we just got in. I work in the AM tomorrow but I will have a look at everything again tomorrow afternoon! |
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| CynicalCountess | Apr 2 2011, 07:40:49 PM Post #27 |
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True Blue Mate
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We had to fill out a bunch of forms, get our friends to give statements, and pay a good-sized chunk of change (application fee is $2575, health check is $300, and I was sent to a specialist for $440). Now we wait; I expect to hear back in August or September. You'll get a bridging visa, so you don't have to leave the country. Do come to Sydney for Mardi Gras some time! 
Edited by CynicalCountess, Apr 2 2011, 07:47:43 PM.
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| melharris24 | Apr 29 2011, 10:45:47 PM Post #28 |
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Chinwagger
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sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had a bit of a family issue and the we were getting the last bit of paperwork sorted to lodge my visa! I had a look and it does say if you aren't an aussie citizen you have to provide the items I listed above- passport, birth certificate, and your drivers licence if you have it over here. then the rest of the form is straight forward as to what you have to provide. Good luck with your visa as well! |
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| sguimera | Apr 30 2011, 10:04:01 PM Post #29 |
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Chinwagger
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Hi Mel, no worries. Hope everything is okay with the family, and good luck with your visa as well! I just got my Victorian driver's license, though I'm waiting for the real one to arrive in the mail. (They gave me a temporary one for now.) So now I've got all 3 of the items you listed. I thought getting the license without a bank account would be tough, but they actually made it fairly easy, which is great. And my partner and I just applied for a joint bank account, so hopefully that'll come through soon too. The pieces are starting to fall together... just need to find a job so I can justify the move to the family! I've been away from the boards for a bit, but I hope everyone is making progress towards their goals. Hang in there! |
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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| melharris24 | May 1 2011, 10:15:23 PM Post #30 |
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Chinwagger
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The job part was hard for me as I'm in a "regional" area so not to many places around here wanted to hire me for only 6 months, but I signed up with an employment agency and that really helped, maybe you could try that? Sounds like everything is working in your favor! Good luck! |
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| melharris24 | May 1 2011, 10:19:10 PM Post #31 |
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Chinwagger
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Oh the family is ok just some 15 year old step daughter issues  she's at "that" stage in her teen years and it's been fun lol I sent my visa application in by mail on April 15th, got the confirmation that it was delivered on April 18th, and got my acknowledgement letter in the mail on April 21st! So I have my bridging visa which is a big relief for me, now I just have to sit and wait to see which case officer I get.
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| sguimera | May 2 2011, 03:02:45 PM Post #32 |
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Chinwagger
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Congrats on the bridging visa! That's fantastic. Can't wait to hear about your progress when you get your C.O., etc. And I'm glad the family is okay. 15 is definitely a tough age. I'm planning to look into some temp agencies; that sounds like a great place to start. I can see how it might be hard in a regional area. Luckily I'll be in Brunswick, so hopefully I'll have a shot. Keep me posted on how you're going! Good luck to you too!
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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| sguimera | May 6 2011, 04:48:45 PM Post #33 |
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Chinwagger
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Gaaah, my Victorian driver's license came in... they read my California license wrong (due to the difference in date format), and now my license says my birthday is April 5 (05/04) instead of the correct May 4 (04/05) so I get to go back to VicRoads and get them to change it. Lame. Okay, sorry, I needed to let that out. Rant over. Thank you for indulging me. |
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Stephanie www.facebook.com/sguimera www.twitter.com/sguimera | |
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5:57 PM May 22