yaba dabba doo! VISA APPROVED!

[His_Wifey 1]

Congrats Corinne!!

[corinne from oz 0]

Firstly, dear God thank you! You are the greatest! My darling hubby, you complete me! My family, friends and my dear VJers, your support has been incredible, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am on the bus heading home after having my IR 1 APPROVED AT THE FINAL INTERVIEW! I am sending this from my mobile phone, so when I get home I will post all the details! God bless you, and God Bless America!

Hi Everyone,

After returning from the consulate, I just had to get some sleep. I was so exhausted as I had not slept all night. Anyway, here's a run down of the days events.

8:45 - Arrived at Consulate attempted to enter. I was advised that I could only enter in at least 30 mins prior to my interview time.

8:45-9:30 - Went for a coffee down stairs in the MLC centre, and spoke to Hubby on the phone.

9:35 - Entered the Consulate. Went through the security on Level 10 and sat and waited to go up to Level 59 in the lift.

9:37 - Went up to Level 59. Went through security once again. Walked through the door and took a number for IV related queries.

9:37 - 10:40 - Waited, waited, waited. Watching what was happening to others. There were two little kids playing around and they were funny.

10:40 - 10:55- My number gets called to Window 1. The gentleman there was very pleasant and apologised for the wait that I had to endure. I noticed that he had a British accent! He asked for my appointment letter and then went to get my file. He then returned and gave me the originals of my documents that I had submitted to NVC (Birth Cert, Marraige Cert, Police Cert). He then said he had just about everything he needed but only need a few more things from me. He then asked for my Medical papers, he opened it and looked at it and said to me "Do you know what this tick (check) means?" I looked at him somewhat puzzled as I knew my Medical was fine, he then said "That means that you are in good health!" I looked and smiled at him and said that was a blessing. He then asked for my passport, my passport photo. He then said the last thing he required was the $400 USD or $600 AUD fee. I then advised him that I had paid a similar fee to the NVC and produced my receipt. He took my receipt and then went to check with someone and then he came back and said that it was fine (Phew! Am thrilled I didn't have to pay again!). He then gave me a sheet of paper with instructions on Entry into the US as a new immigrant. He asked me to read it and to ask any questions if I have any. He then asked for my Express Post Envelope. He then asked me how far I had travelled to come in today. I think he could tell from my face that I hadn't slept all night. I told him it was about a 1 hour bus trip. He then asked where I travelled from but he did not seem to be familiar with Sydney northern suburbs. He then said to me that everything looks good with my application. They have all they need. He told me that I shouldn't be there much longer and soon I can head off home and get some rest. He said I was lucky number 17 (which happens to be my favourite number on the Roulette Wheel!), he told me to take a seat and that it should not be a long wait at all.

10:55 - 11:05 Waiting, waiting, waiting....

11:05 - My number is called to window 6. I get up and walk over. I greet the gentleman with a smile and say hello. He was very very nice. He asked the following questions:

How long I had been married?

Was my husband currently in Australia?

Where is my husband from in the US?

Where we intended to live in the US?

Had I visited the US before?

He then told me how beautiful it was where we intended on settling.

He then said the magic words "OK, your Visa is approved here today" He gave me a piece of paper with my details on it showing that my passport will be delivered by post - kind of a receipt.

I said "Thank you". He then told me that I will receive it via the mail within a couple of days. He then asked me if I had any further questions and I did ask one. It had to do with the information sheet that I had been given about the visa stamp in passport and if this could be used to get drivers license etc. until I get Social Security card. He told me that it should take approx. 2 weeks to get my social security and then I could work etc. He said that I can sit back and relax and have a bit of a vacation until my social security arrives. I smiled. I then said thank you and he said smiled and said bye.

11:15 - INTERVIEW COMPLETE!

I was just so numb ( I hadn't slept a wink for at least 24 hours - maybe it was a good thing otherwise I would have been jumping up and down all over the consulate with joy). I left the consulate and called my Hubby! It was a huge relief that this whole journey (at least the paperwork stuff) was over! After I got off the phone from hubby, I called my Dad and all my family and friends in Australia and also the US.!!!

I have to say both the Consulate staff who I dealt with today and via email over the past couple of days have been absolutely professional and courteous! They do their country proud!

I am in the process of organising my flights and finish my final packing. I hope to leave in the next few days as I have some important matters to deal with before leaving Australia.

Now that I have had about 3 hours sleep, I feel better and really excited. It is starting to sink in more! But I am just thrilled to bits to be seeing my hubby in the next few days!!!! I miss him so!

Again, to all the VJers who have been an incredible support to us during this journey, THANK YOU! We could not have gotten through this so smoothly without you! God bless you all. This is a fantastic forum that I will recommend to anyone going through the US visa process. A big thank you to my friend Deb who introduced me to this site! God bless you Deb!

:thumbs: :dance:

Edited May 5, 2009 by corinne from oz

[His_Wifey 1]

Thats just great Corinne.... thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.... we all hope to have a smooth interview like you too!! Good luck for your future and have a blessed life with the hubby

[His_Wifey 1]

Corinne...if youdont mind me asking, did they ask you for any evidence?

[sasha414 0]

congratulations!

[Princess In Love 0]

congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience with us, you are giving me hope cause yesterday i was really scared when i called a girl i met in the medical appointement, she had her k-3 interview yesterday and they didn't give her the visa, they asked for more evidences which she already did but they kept buzzing her with questions ....hope my interview will go as smooth as yours

[OBX 51]

Congratulations. Safe travels to the US and all the best for a wonderful future.

[Amoon 0]

Congrats!!! That is so great!

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Congratuations! And an excellent interview review!

Good luck!

[conquest 0]

Corrine,

I am soooooo happy for you. I know at one point you were pretty down on the process but its all over now. I am glad all went well. I wish you all the happiness in the world for your new life and I hope you enjoy our country here.

[pRetTy_aNgeL 1]

:dance:

[VivianNYC 1]

Congratulations, Corinne What a relief that's over. I can't believe you got no sleep the night before. I'd have felt like a zombie Now you can relax and look forward to a happy reunion, and start practicing your American - "elevator" instead of "lift" etc.

[TA AHMED TI 0]

Congratulation thanks for sharing your experience by giving all the details minute by minute, thank you very much this will help a lot of VJ's to go through the processing of the interview,

Welcome the United Stat Of America

[queuedup 1]

Firstly, dear God thank you! You are the greatest! My darling hubby, you complete me! My family, friends and my dear VJers, your support has been incredible, thank you from the bottom of my heart! I am on the bus heading home after having my IR 1 APPROVED AT THE FINAL INTERVIEW! I am sending this from my mobile phone, so when I get home I will post all the details! God bless you, and God Bless America!

Congratulations!!!

[Iraphine 0]

Congrats!! How exciting for you! Many thanks for sharing your experience, while your interview even if it is in an different location from where mine will be held, I feel a bit more confident thanks to your minute-by-minute overview.

Have a wonderful and happy life!