Spousal Visa from USA? Process and timeline help!

[usa2aus]

Hey Everyone ,

This is my first post to this forum though I have been reading and reseaching for a couple of weeks now. I got married to an Australian Citizen in Jan this year with the hope that she would stay here with me but because of the fact that she is still a student in Sydney and it was getting completed transfering to a school here in US, she had to go back home and to school. I have visited her and she has been here to see me several times. We have joint bank accounts, credit card and other bills that we share.
We have concluded that it will be best for me to join her in Sydney next year at least for a couple of years. I only have a house here that I have to sell or rent before leaving.

My question is how long does it take to get the visa from Wash. DC office? Do I have to do the medical tests and submit with the application to fasten the process or wait till I am asked to by the consulate as stated in the application?
Also, how much time would I have to leave USA if the visa is granted?
Just wondering if anyone here has gone has applied for Spousal Visa from the DC office recently and can share their experiences with me.

Thanks a lot in advance!

[IrishAngel]

I applied from Ireland (same rules) and the whole process only took 1 month, my advise is to send the police clearance and medicals with your application (all forms can be down loaded from website). you must be able to show that you are together with your wife for at least two years (bills etc) and she must be able to show that she can support you for two years in australia (house ownership should cover that). other than that the paper work is quite simple, took me approx 2 hours to complete.

best of luck

Paula