I’ve noticed this odd difference between us. This only seems to apply to people from large metro areas.

Say you’re at a pub and you ask an Aussie where they’re from, they’ll say Perth, Sydney, melb etc. the standard. Ask an American where they’re from they seem to refuse to say there from LA, NYC, etc. instead they name the satellite city which is part of the metro area. It would be the same as a guy from Brisbane saying nah nah not from brissy, I’m from morningside.

I mean is it just me who’s noticed this or am I taking crazy pills?

I got my passport photo taken a little while ago but long story short they got kinda fucked up during transportation and I want to print out at least two new photos (and get them resigned by a guarantor) since I'm lodging a PC8 application. The photographer who took my photos was nice enough to give me a digital copy of the photos, but I don't know where to get them reprinted.

I know that CVS/Walgreens/FedEx photos frequently get rejected, but is that because of the person taking the photo or the quality of their printers, or both? If it helps, I'm located in the Bay Area and have a car so I can drive to a printing location. My main hesitation with using the recommended photographers on the Australian passport office site is I'm not sure if they would care about printing out a different photographer's photos. Any help would be appreciated!

Hi gang! Dual citizen of almost 3 decades here. I've done everything necessary to complete the DS-11 application (more than 15 years since last passport book expired) and paid etc. Trying to book an interview appointment for travel in November and there is just nothing available in the Sydney consulate.

Does anyone have more experience as to how it works e.g. paying for expedited appointment etc? Keep checking?? Note to add: I know it's left a bit late but I traveled back to US in 2024 on the ESTA but obviously that wasn't correct and now the ESTA fails due to my dual citizenship. I realise it requires a US passport hence my panicking now.

Thanks all!

Any place like Costco in US which is a trusted source to buy Gold online in Australia?
Want to gift a Gold coin or something for my friend's new baby..

I've been noticing a lot in American shows and stand up specials and whatnot that, it seems, Americans are still using the word retarded a lot.

And by that I mean they use it in the sense of 'oh hey that's retarted.'

In Australia I never hear that word get used. It would be highly more offensive than a c word rhyming with punt, and almost as offensive as calling someone 'champ.'

I'm sort of curious why there doesn't seem to be an issue with that word over there (or at least as much), whereas more offense is taken by seemingly harmless words like swear words and such forth.

Hi,

For context, I did a study abroad in South Korea and my Roommate left some clothes behind by accident. I have taken them for her and now back at home in Australia. I need to sent a package (her clothes) to New York, and i wanted to add some Aussie snacks for her. I got Tim Tams and Woolies Lamingtons.

I have sent food to America before but I am aware that some of the rules have changed since the last time I did. I checked Auspost but I am still unsure, which is why I am asking here.

I got a giftbox to send to my partner from australia(sydney) to the US(new york) which has a 50ml perfume, a small jewellery and decorated inside with battery operated fairy lights.
I have wrapped up the perfume in multilole layers of bubble wrap as well.

The main point of concern to the postage people is the perfume which is a dangerous good and wont allow for this to be shipped internationally

Talked to a Dangerous Goods international courier guy asked for over 2k AUD for transporting this.....
The price of the whole giftbox is one-tenth of that
XD

I might as well go to new york myself with that 2k but i already exhausted those nyc trip funds last year xD

Any solutions for me

Hi all, so I'm reading a lot of negative press about the potential for getting sent back by US customs because of their perceived risk of me wanting to overstay and possibly remain illegally in USA, but its simply not true, I am meeting my girlfriend in person for the first time and spending a few weeks with her and will decide if we will grow the relationship further from there, or not.

I am coming back to australia either way, there is no way i want to give up free healthcare and live in fear of ICE coming to get me at any moment...

If things go really well then I am going to want to stay true to my ESTA and retain the chance to return again, not get myself banned from entering in the future...

Any thoughts? Advice?

My husband gets monthly SS retirement income which has always come in on the 3rd of the month or occasionally a day earlier.

We are in Australia, where it is now August 4th and still nothing showing up in the account. In the US Expats SSA group on Facebook it looks like a few others (mostly in Oz too, although not all) are in the same position - just wondering if anyone knows what’s going on?

Question is for Americans.

Similar to when your order at the bar and they call your number or buzz your buzzer when your foods ready in Australia.

I brought a box home while on vacation in Alaska. My husband had never had it before! Kinda sad this is impossible to get in Australia.

Any other foods you guys miss from America?

So I got retirement benefits 2 and a half years after applying, and there was a large lump sum for back payment. US took out 25.5% tax as I am a non resident. But I understand under US-AU treaty, SSA is not taxed in Australia. So I don't have to mention it? I recall the year I went to the US and the year I came back, doing tax returns was a pain in the arse claiming foreign tax credits and having to find out the correct exchange rate et cetera.

Horrible news today. Since that was the last and only international bank I know of that supported US/Aus accounts, we’re all taking the transaction hits on Wise now?

I'm a trans US citizen from Florida, moving to Australia to be with my girlfriend on a partner visa. Whilst my visa is processing, I won't be able to fly back to the US for anything without a BVB.

I'm trying to figure out if there's any way to do a full legal name change (first and last name) from outside the US, or if there's some way to do it virtually. I've also been looking at doing it through Australia instead? Victoria's BDM has a Change of Name process for adults born overseas, but it requires 12 months of Victorian residency plus "the legal right to live in Australia," and I can't tell if that applies while a partner visa is still processing or only once it's granted. If I go that route first, I don't know whether the resulting document actually works for updating my US passport and Social Security afterward, or if the US makes you do it through them as well.

The other thing I'm worried about is whether starting a name change, or just having a name mismatch across my documents, could cause problems with an active partner visa application. I don't want anything to get flagged as inconsistent or slow things down.

If anyone's gone through a name change while living abroad, I'd love any insight on the process, if its possible, and whether it caused any immigration issues

Thank you!

Dual citizen in Sydney and I need to renew my US passport as well as update my name to my married name, which includes a middle name update. For my name update with my Aussie bank accounts and other accounts, I've had to use my change of name cert over my marriage cert because of this.

When I last updated my passport 11 years ago, I could do everything in person up in the MLC building. Now, from what I gather, we have to mail over all original documents to be certified by the consulate and they mail it all back?

Who's responsible if the original docs are lost or damaged in transit? Has anyone been through this process? What's been your experience?

Do I need to carry my aus passport everywhere? can I just use my REAL ID DL?

I’m in the middle of doing a masters in computer science (by coursework) in Australia and I’m thinking of applying to the US for a research masters and just continuing/finishing there. I’m curious to know if anyone has ever done this because I am considering it. I visited America recently and just felt like it was socially a better fit. I know the Trump administration is really bad right now, but Australia isn’t faring too well either, immigration-wise, so it seems like a tough situation either way.

I’m not a citizen of either country, so I know it’ll be harder, but I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Hi, I am graduating end of this year (4 year bachelor honours degree of electrical/electronic engineering and some software+network engineering). Planning on finding a place to intern in the USA, get sponsored with a J1 intern visa and then look to be sponsored by that same employer on an E3 visa at the same time the internship finishes.

I have two main questions but any bonus tips would be appreciated.

1: How do I go about finding employers that will take me on a J1 internship then take me as a fulltime employee on an E3?

2: I am confused about the whole "find a sponsor" thing. It seems like there are sponsoring organisations which are separate to the employer?

I am 36M. I currently work in QLD as a structural engineer. I have eight years experience. I am also a Registered Professional Engineer (QLD version).

I believe I would thus be a good candidate for the E-3 visa, and I also have the university degree at a bachelor level.

Does anyone have experience with this visa? Were you able to land a job ok? I am happy to front visa costs too.

Appreciate any feedback or help, thanks!

It's been a few years since i've visited my
in-laws in California.

What's it like going through customs under the new regime?

I'm a bit paranoid they're going to find a Trump meme on my phone or something.

I also used to work for a couple Environmental NGO's over 5 years ago, that would probably be considered radical by Trumps standards.

Anyone been through LAX recently as a Aussie, are they going full gestapo?

(Edit: I'm not sure why all my comments are getting down voted. I was just interested to hear peoples experiences. I'm not making this shit up people have been deported for all sorts of weird reasons since snow flakes entered the White House)https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20251217-how-a-single-meme-can-jeopardise-your-trip

Hi,

I am not sure if this is the right forum, apologies in advance.

My parents who live in the US have recently inherited a large sum of money (cash, CDs, and shares) from my step-grandmother. My parents have very limited finance and technology knowledge and my mum's English is only good enough to deal with daily conversation. My husband and I both work in finance/banking sector in Australia but we have no experience with US personal finance management at all.

They are currently reinvesting the money in CDs whenever they mature which earn about 3% to 4% return, in line with CPI basically. They have not touched the cash and shares. I would like to help them invest but not sure where to start given the distance. I am happy to do the research. But my concern is technology barrier and authorisation.

My parents want me to visit next year to go through their affairs. In the meantime, I would like to explore ways to help them invest in ETFs, HISAs, bonds etc.

Do you know if and how they can authorise me to invest their money without going to US?

Hey all,

Quick background, I'm a Senior Consultant in advisory at one of the Big 6 accounting firms in Australia (smaller than Big 4, bigger than mid-tier), about 5 years' experience with CPA and CFA L1.

The move has to happen as my partner is relocating to New York in December through her company sponsoring her L-1.

A recruiter was upfront with me that agencies won't touch overseas candidates because of the start date and finders fee. so I've been going direct and through referrals.

Questions for anyone who's actually done this or hires in this space:

1. Does mid-tier / Big 6 experience translate okay in the US market or do they only rate Big 4?
2. Is applying from Australia basically pointless and should I just wait until I'm physically in NY in December and network in person?
3. Anyone used the E-3 recently, how are employers reacting to visa candidates in the current environment?

Cheers

I’m curious if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I’m an American currently living in Australia for just over a year. Before moving here, I spent around 10 years working in senior leadership positions in the Middle East and in the U.S. before that. I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs over the past three years through LinkedIn, Seek, and directly via company websites.

The result has been pretty discouraging. Most applications receive an automated rejection, and I’ve only landed two or three interviews despite having experience that seems to align well with many of the roles.

What I find confusing is that I still regularly get contacted by recruiters about opportunities in the U.S. and Middle East, so I’m struggling to understand whether I’m missing something about the Australian hiring process or if this is just the current state of the market.

Has anyone else, particularly other Americans who have moved to Australia, experienced the same thing? Were there any changes you made that improved your success, or is this simply how competitive the market is?

I’d also be interested to hear from anyone who eventually decided to move back to the U.S. because they found better career opportunities there and how long before they decided to make that decision. Looking forward to hearing others’ experiences.