Booking the flight

[JEC777 13]

I have my interview on the 18th of December, and God willing if we get approved, I hope to fly out on the 30th of December. Considering it's Christmas time and the 25th and 26th are public holidays, is it likely that I would get my Visa sent to me in time. I assume if you send something Guaranteed next day delivery, Auspost will honor that regardless of it being a busy time of year. However I don't know if or when the Consulate goes on holiday over the Christmas period. I would like to think they would get my Visa processed and sent straight away after my interview, but is there a likelihood of them leaving it until after Christmas to send me my Visa?

I haven't booked my flight yet, but if I do it is refundable or I can rebook another date, but I have looked at flights all through January and there is very little available with weird routes, lengthy layovers, arrival times after midnight and the prices go up....go figure. I can get a flight on the 30th which is ideal.... 6 hours in LA (plenty of time to get through immigration) and arrival into my new home at 7.15pm.....it's perfect! I don't want to miss out on the ticket and am thinking I should just book it and worst case get a refund if I'm not approved or re-book if there are any delays with the Consulate.

Thanks heaps, I appreciate any advice

[Pitaya 2,577]

I have my interview on the 18th of December, and God willing if we get approved, I hope to fly out on the 30th of December. Considering it's Christmas time and the 25th and 26th are public holidays, is it likely that I would get my Visa sent to me in time. I assume if you send something Guaranteed next day delivery, Auspost will honor that regardless of it being a busy time of year. However I don't know if or when the Consulate goes on holiday over the Christmas period. I would like to think they would get my Visa processed and sent straight away after my interview, but is there a likelihood of them leaving it until after Christmas to send me my Visa?

I haven't booked my flight yet, but if I do it is refundable or I can rebook another date, but I have looked at flights all through January and there is very little available with weird routes, lengthy layovers, arrival times after midnight and the prices go up....go figure. I can get a flight on the 30th which is ideal.... 6 hours in LA (plenty of time to get through immigration) and arrival into my new home at 7.15pm.....it's perfect! I don't want to miss out on the ticket and am thinking I should just book it and worst case get a refund if I'm not approved or re-book if there are any delays with the Consulate.

Thanks heaps, I appreciate any advice

Not trying to put a damper on your "what if" plans. The general recommendation on the forum is to not make any travel plans until the visa is in your passport, and your passport is in your hands. There are far too many "ifs" and variables that could happen. The big one being.....that you have a successful visa interview.

Happy trails on your visa journey.

[SweetDelish 38]

I did! I booked my flight before my interview, interviewed last Tuesday, 20 December, got an email today that it is being sent out today. Should have it tomorrow.

If you want to book and you have no problem taking the risk, thats up to you, I took the chance and it paid off. But it was a chance and while I still had a few days, I was starting to think I might have to change my flight.

Public holidays are listed on the Sydney embassy website, so have a look to see when they are closed, that might help you figure out an estimate. Ask them when you have your interview and 'if' you get approved, whether or not they are likely to issue the visa before Christmas, Sydney is pretty good, I'm surprised mine took as long as it did.

[JEC777 13]

I did! I booked my flight before my interview, interviewed last Tuesday, 20 December, got an email today that it is being sent out today. Should have it tomorrow.

If you want to book and you have no problem taking the risk, thats up to you, I took the chance and it paid off. But it was a chance and while I still had a few days, I was starting to think I might have to change my flight.

Public holidays are listed on the Sydney embassy website, so have a look to see when they are closed, that might help you figure out an estimate. Ask them when you have your interview and 'if' you get approved, whether or not they are likely to issue the visa before Christmas, Sydney is pretty good, I'm surprised mine took as long as it did.

Yikes, they took 9 days to send it off, that is unusual.... but good to know. It would be a risk, but with the flight being refundable or I'm able to reschedule, then it's not a huge risk.

Looks like the Consulate will be closed on the 25th and 26th, so if they can at least get my Visa in the post before then, I would be right.....like A&B said, the biggest variable is whether I get approved or not and I guess the odds on that are about 50/50. Uugh, what to do, what to do??

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate it!

[Kevo 69]

If you are sure you can get a refund or rebook the flight, why not? I would book it.

[JEC777 13]

If you are sure you can get a refund or rebook the flight, why not? I would book it.

That's what I'm leaning towards. Rang the airline today and the flight can be rescheduled or refunded.

[SweetDelish 38]

Yikes, they took 9 days to send it off, that is unusual.... but good to know. It would be a risk, but with the flight being refundable or I'm able to reschedule, then it's not a huge risk.

Looks like the Consulate will be closed on the 25th and 26th, so if they can at least get my Visa in the post before then, I would be right.....like A&B said, the biggest variable is whether I get approved or not and I guess the odds on that are about 50/50. Uugh, what to do, what to do??

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate it!

I know, but they were closed for Thanksgiving, thats the only delay I know of, they may have been short staffed on the Friday too, who knows. Fully refundable fare, you can't go wrong.

[C-ma'am 684]

One of the risk factors you need to consider is that the visa may have typing errors on it. This is not uncommon and has happened at many embassies.

When you get your visa (keeping it positive), make sure you read it carefully to check for possible mistakes on name spellings and dates. If something is wrong, contact them embassy right away, as they will have to correct it.

If you can get anything refundable or reschedule-able... Go for it.

[Tintin and Mike 127]

Unless you have spare cash to spend for re-ticketing fee and the price difference in case you have to re-book then go ahead. It's always wise to wait until you have the visa in hand

Good luck!