Interested Observer

[I/O]

Hi to all from my little spot down under, where we don't actually walk around upside down.

I am engaged to lovely lady from Russia and we are in the process of waiting for her "Fiance' Visa" approval, (fingers crossed of course) I have no doubt she will join in here with me at a later time, but in the interim, hopefully I can learn from others and perhaps as times goes along, share some of my experiences and whatever knowledge I/we have gained along the way.

It is 20 minutes from New Year in my part of the world, so may I begin by wishing all members and readers a Happy, Healthy and Romantically fulfilling 2007.

I/O Who will eventually figure out how to use this site because he is no I.T. Wiz.  :noidea: :noidea:

[Turboguy]

Welcome I/O and happy new year.  Glad to have you hear.  I am sure you will learn a lot and that we can learn from you as well.  congratulations on your engagement.   The wait seems like forever, doesn't it.

[I/O]

T/G (if I may use that)  Yes of course it does, but I guess being fairly realistic, we both knew the road we were walking from the beginning.  Our system here in Aus has some similarities to the USA system, but is largely done in reverse. 

To explain a little, the interview is done at or near the beginning of the application process and unfortunately I have gleaned from others that the outcome is very dependant on the attitude of the interviewer in Moscow who is non Australian, working in the Au embassy and supposedly representing Australian interests.  Almost beggers belief the way it is done and it seems that many of the cases end up in the MRT (Migration Review Tribunal) and are almost always won by the applicants.  One wonders what we get for our application fee of $1350 (about 1100 USD).

They also state in the posted standards, that up to 10 months processing is within standards, so who knows?  I expect to perhaps hear something by the end of January as the application and interview was lodged and held on November 13th.  From there I am fully expecting (Although hoping otherwise) to be lodging a writ with the MRT. 

The best I am hoping for at this time is that I won't spend another new years eve doing what I am doing right now.

Thanks for the welcome and I sincerely hope I can contribute something useful and helpful to others.  It has been quite a long and interesting walk to this point and I hope I have learnt enough to save others from a few problems or frustrations.

I/O who often says far more than he should.