~Guinavere~
08-25-2004, 06:28 PM
I had posted this on another site, and I am so glad the ageless site is back up today so I can share my news. I have been keepingup with the immigration process of many of you who are dealing with getting their partners into the US from various other countries, and I know how daunting the whole thing can feel at times. But this has all been worth it..the waiting, the anticipation and the fear of whether I would be approved or not. And when you are dealing with a significant age difference, then you fear that you will be denied on that one factor alone...but in the end, I don't think the age difference really matters as far as immmigration is concerned. And if you have sufficient evidence to show your relationship is genuine, then you should have nothing to worry about, barring you pass the medical tests and police clearances...
Anyway, here is a bit of my story:
I have been dealing with the Australian immigration so that I can get residency here and stay permanently with my husband. It has been a slow process and not unlike the process in the USA. As a matter of fact it's almost identical. Submitting the application, providing evidence that this is a genuine relationship and not just a ploy to get into the country, having an interview with an immigration officer, supplying an FBI police clearance, medical check-ups, aussie citizen showing proof of financial support, etc. We submitted the application for a Partner Visa in February. In March we had our interview, then it was just a matter of waiting on the FBI clearance. It took between 6-8 weeks to get the request sent to the US and then back to Australia. In May I found out that they had lost my medical test results. So I had to contact the doctor and get another copy and this time I took it in personally instead of mailing it. In June I spoke with an immigration officer who verified that they had my FBI clearance. I am thinking this is great! Soon I would have my visa. But guess what?!
I called last week, because I still hadn't heard anything. When I spoke to my immigration officer, he told me they were waiting on my FBI clearance! I told him it was in my file! He said he would double check...and he got back on the phone and said I was right! All this time he thought he was still waiting for that info. He told me I would have my visa sent to me within the week. This was last Wednesday. And today, (Wednesday) I picked it up at the post office!!!
YAY!! Now I can look for work, I can travel in and out of the country, I can apply for the national health care (called medicare).
As my husband would say...I am RAPT!!
P.S. This is a temporary residence visa. Just like in the US I won't be granted permanent residency until our 2nd wedding anniversary, where I will have to show I am still married and living in Australia.
Anyway, here is a bit of my story:
I have been dealing with the Australian immigration so that I can get residency here and stay permanently with my husband. It has been a slow process and not unlike the process in the USA. As a matter of fact it's almost identical. Submitting the application, providing evidence that this is a genuine relationship and not just a ploy to get into the country, having an interview with an immigration officer, supplying an FBI police clearance, medical check-ups, aussie citizen showing proof of financial support, etc. We submitted the application for a Partner Visa in February. In March we had our interview, then it was just a matter of waiting on the FBI clearance. It took between 6-8 weeks to get the request sent to the US and then back to Australia. In May I found out that they had lost my medical test results. So I had to contact the doctor and get another copy and this time I took it in personally instead of mailing it. In June I spoke with an immigration officer who verified that they had my FBI clearance. I am thinking this is great! Soon I would have my visa. But guess what?!
I called last week, because I still hadn't heard anything. When I spoke to my immigration officer, he told me they were waiting on my FBI clearance! I told him it was in my file! He said he would double check...and he got back on the phone and said I was right! All this time he thought he was still waiting for that info. He told me I would have my visa sent to me within the week. This was last Wednesday. And today, (Wednesday) I picked it up at the post office!!!
YAY!! Now I can look for work, I can travel in and out of the country, I can apply for the national health care (called medicare).
As my husband would say...I am RAPT!!
P.S. This is a temporary residence visa. Just like in the US I won't be granted permanent residency until our 2nd wedding anniversary, where I will have to show I am still married and living in Australia.