This is it, folks. Rodd and I are heading to the Immigration Office to turn in my visa application. I’m so stressed I’m developing a cold sore. Best case scenario: they give me the permanent residency today. Probable scenario: we turn it in and they take a while to decide. Worst case scenario: I get turned down and have to leave Australia in a week. Yeah, that would really suck. So cross your fingers for us today!
Update: Well, it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Our case worker explained that my application looked great and that I would’ve been instantly approved, except that all Americans have to undergo an extensive background check. And apparently the U.S. authorities are using September 11 as an excuse to be, like, months behind in processing them. So anyway, they gave me a “bridging” visa which allows me to stay here until they can give me a final verdict. They also granted me permission to work, which means that the Snook and I are finally going to join the job hunt in earnest. So ultimately things look very good, but I’m just going to have to wait a while to get the official stamp.
Kristen
February 22, 2002 — 8:58 pm
Cnngratulations on not getting kicked out the country.
I actually got taken aside by the dudes at Passport Control when I left Sydney last week. Apparently there was some problem with my electronic visa, and the computer was triggering that I had overstayed my alloted time. It all got straightened out, but it still made my heart race, even though I was innocent.
Kris
February 22, 2002 — 9:49 pm
Wow! Scariness. There was some foreign guy standing near us at the Immigration Office today who’d apparently overstayed his welcome by quite a bit too. Some poor woman was trying to make him understand that he was getting kicked out. Ouch.
But our caseworker was soooo nice. She was like, “Oh my god! You guys are perfect for each other!” And I’m like, “Oh, okay. What did you think of our photos and stuff?” And she’s like, “Oh, I haven’t looked at ’em yet.” But evidently we just oozed “lifetime commitment” or something, because she was 100% pro us. Kinda sucked that I’d worried so much. 🙂
brigita
February 23, 2002 — 12:54 am
i’m glad the experience was so pleasant and such a success! keeping my fingers crossed for you two, but in the job department for this go-round. pound that pavement while you’re on a roll! 🙂
amy
February 23, 2002 — 1:48 am
yeah, no kidding. ’bout damn time. get a job, you losers!
Tara D.
February 23, 2002 — 2:33 am
AWESOME, Howie! I was hopin’ for you, but figured there wouldn’t be too many probs. You are pretty much an Aussie dream (? – I think that was along the lines of “a parent’s dream” – you know, a good kid that they wish they had). Just tell ’em that we gave ’em two medals on our soil – isn’t that enough for trade? 😉
Bev
February 23, 2002 — 5:44 pm
Thank goodness!! I’ve been on tender hooks for weeks….definitely didn’t like
the idea of school holidays spent visiting Woomera!! But now you’ve done it we
can all relax. GOOD WORK.:)
Kris
February 25, 2002 — 1:07 pm
Awww, thanks. Although, sewing my lips together might’ve made for an effective weight loss program…