Applying for K1 Question- the interview!

[Phillabuster 5]

Hey everyone! My fiancee is in Brisbane, but all the accounts I've been reading online of her having to visit various embassies for the interview seem to mention the Sydney location specifically. Does anyone know if she will have to fly to Sydney, or will she be able to stay in-town to attend all her appointments?

We've been saving for months to make this happen and it'd really suck to have to save for her flight/accommodations on top of everything, but we wanted to have enough saved up prior to starting the process so there's no hiccups.

Thanks in advance!

[Lainie B 465]

She'll have to go to Sydney. There is only one appointment-the interview. She can do the medical in Brisbane

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

***** Moving to Regional forum for more country specific answers ****

[kurto 0]

Hi,

Congrats on getting to the interview stage! We have just gotten to this stage too. My fiance is also in Brisbane and will be flying to Sydney for the interview. The consulate is in the CBD and accommodation around there can be a little pricey, but there are also some cheaper options if you don't mind the travel.

Currently, flights Bris to Sydney are AU$190 return via Virgin (depending on dates you select).

I'd recommend she flies back at least a day after the interview, as some people have mentioned starting at 7am and leaving the embassy at 3pm (due to how busy it gets). Sydney is also a large fun city so plenty of things to do there

[Phillabuster 5]

Thank you guys for all your great advice! It set my mind at ease a bit just knowing where she has to go. We haven't filed yet, we are just curious and anxious about being able to time everything properly since I am the only one with steady employment. I do have a few more questions for anyone able to answer!

Does it have to be a specific doctor she sees for her medical exam, or can it be anyone? Can she go while the first forms are packaged and sent, prior to them being sent to the embassy? She says she doesn't have an immunization record on hand but I assume that it's similar to the states where they are catalogued and available at a medical facility upon request.

Do they check for anything in particular in the medical exam, or just that you're not suffering from anything communicable? She has been diagnosed with depression in the past, but it doesn't affect her day-to-day life anymore. Does she still have to get anything signed saying she's not a danger to herself?

Does anyone who's been to Sydney for the interview know of any close and relatively cheap accommodations? (I know Sydney is expensive.) She will likely be alone, and I am the only one steadily employed, so I will have to be able to afford her accommodations and transport. We are a younger couple and while I have an established career, we aren't making the booku bucks!

Last thing: I noticed that you have to file to prove your income and the banks will have to state your yearly income and current amount in your accounts. Is this just to check up on taxes and all that good stuff, or do you have to have a certain amount in your accounts vs. your yearly income for you to be approved? I can comfortably afford my apartment, food for two, car, and school loans on top of saving to see her so I'm assuming that's all they're looking for. I'm just afraid that once we spend the money I have saved for this venture we'll appear too poor to support her, which isn't the case, as she's been out here several times for a few months at a time.

Sorry, I know that's a lot, I'm just really concerned about missing out on something. :c Thanks guys! Super nervous, super excited. I miss her terribly.

[kurto 0]

Hey Phil,

When you say you haven't filed, do you mean you haven't scheduled the Visa interview yet?

Yes, she MUST go to a doctor that is specialised in USA Visa Medicals. For my fiance, she's in Brisbane and going to ANZAC Square Medical Centre. Have a look at https://www.medibankhealth.com.au/immigration-visa-medicals_content.asp?id=729&t=Book+a+United+States+visa+medical&cid=58. Beware, it's going to cost quite a bit, we have to pay AU$465 just for the medical exam, if you require any vaccinations you have to pay for those. Some vaccinations can cost $80 each.

I've scheduled the medical so will give you the same info we were given. Firstly, she must bring vaccine records to prove she's had those shots before, if she doesn't have it, they'll give them all. She should be able to go to a doctor now and get an immunity test done and take those results to the medical. During the medical, they will do a full body exam (can't say why), then a urine and blood test. They will also do a chest XRAY. They estimate 1 to 2 hours for the entire medical.

The medical clinic we're going to also wouldn't schedule our medical until we had our Interview date, which is a smart move. Once you have your medical results, your visa in valid 6 months from that date, regardless of the K1 visa!! Very important to note. So, this means you want to schedule your medical for a few weeks BEFORE the visa interview. It should only take a week or so to receive the medical results. ALSO - you don't actually need to have completed the medical before the K1 interview. After the K1 interview, you can have the medical and send them the results, they will just put your application on hold until they have the medical results. When they receive them, they can then approve you. As for what they check, I believe it's just to make sure you have no diseases or viruses.

As for accommodation, the earlier you book the hotel the cheaper it will be. When I checked wotif.com, I found travelodge for $200 per night, it's a 3 star hotel. There are cheaper motels if you want to save money.

As for the income, this is simply just to prove that you and your fiance won't become a public charge (as in go on welfare). The bank statements are to prove your income. As long as you're making above the poverty line (which is around $20,000 I think?) you'll get accepted. If you're below the poverty line, you'll need a co-sponsor.

Thanks and good luck!

Kurt