Interviews in Australia set to be reduced with some cancelled

[ECCK 211]

5 minutes ago, Entheos said:

Soooooooo good!!!  It always makes. Huge difference when the Officer is friendly.  Congrats on this chapter closing...and your next chapter starting!!!

 

Fingers crossed we’ll be following in footsteps behind you!!!  Just gotta get my paperwork OUT of the NVC!!  Do I remember you saying you had to request it to be sent out for an emergency interview or was that someone else?  If it was you, would you mind reminding me who you’re emailed to get it sent? Cheers.

My paperwork was already sitting at the consulate so I only had to request an emergency interview with the Sydney Consulate through this email support-australia@ustraveldocs.com. I think someone else mentioned the NVC expedite email before and I think it was nvcexpedite@state.gov but I would check on google first. Good luck!!

[Entheos 95]

10 minutes ago, ECCK said:

My paperwork was already sitting at the consulate so I only had to request an emergency interview with the Sydney Consulate through this email support-australia@ustraveldocs.com. I think someone else mentioned the NVC expedite email before and I think it was nvcexpedite@state.gov but I would check on google first. Good luck!!

Yeah, ok.  Must have been someone else... I’ve tried the support-Australia email and they tell me they haven’t received the paperwork...even though I asked them to request it from the NVC...I tried the nvcexpedite email and they told me that K-1 petitions are already expedited.... I’ve sent one to asknvc yesterday after the reply from the support-Australia email.... so we will see.... I suspect that mine will sit there till Sydney decided to open.... which really....I mean it should be open by now..... almost everything is back to the new normal now.......

[ECCK 211]

Just now, Entheos said:

Yeah, ok.  Must have been someone else... I’ve tried the support-Australia email and they tell me they haven’t received the paperwork...even though I asked them to request it from the NVC...I tried the nvcexpedite email and they told me that K-1 petitions are already expedited.... I’ve sent one to asknvc yesterday after the reply from the support-Australia email.... so we will see.... I suspect that mine will sit there till Sydney decided to open.... which really....I mean it should be open by now..... almost everything is back to the new normal now.......

Wow that sounds so frustrating. You could give a call to the visa hotline and speak to an actual person 1300 139 399. I found this number on the US Canberra embassy page and they were pretty helpful before. To be honest I don’t think you’ll see the regular interviews soon. The Canberra embassy made a post on FB recently saying that citizenship interviews won’t be held unless it’s an emergency. I suspect sydney will take a similar approach with visa interviews 😕 

[Entheos 95]

Just now, ECCK said:

Wow that sounds so frustrating. You could give a call to the visa hotline and speak to an actual person 1300 139 399. I found this number on the US Canberra embassy page and they were pretty helpful before. To be honest I don’t think you’ll see the regular interviews soon. The Canberra embassy made a post on FB recently saying that citizenship interviews won’t be held unless it’s an emergency. I suspect sydney will take a similar approach with visa interviews 😕 

Yeah, I called that number yesterday and the lady was very helpful.  She said they hadn’t received my emails from the week before...so stepped me through how to word the subject line to ensure that I got a response...

 

My ‘frustration’ is that our petition was approved so quickly (85 days) and now it’s just going to sit... like I am... my ‘employment’ is with Spartan Race Australia (sub contract) so we won’t be going back to work till mass sporting events are allowed back,....and let’s be honest that’ll be around the same time NORMAL international travel is allowed.... I’m thankful I get job keeper due to my ABN...I have finished up my studies... so I’m now literally doing not a whole lot, getting paid to not do a whole lot....and I could be done and over there and supporting my Fiancée with her girls while it’s summer break and she will be heading back to work in the near future.... I know it’s not an emergency need... but it’s one of those things where you sit and say,.... I’m ready to move... I have all my ducks in a row... and I’m just waiting for the paperwork... that’s literally the only thing holding it up.. I could get my medical done tomorrow....at no notice.... just ready and done with waiting... lol.

[Cilllah 476]

1 hour ago, ECCK said:

I’ve made it to the US! I arrived yesterday into Chicago. When I was checking in at Melbourne airport they airline called me before my flight to ask if I had a waiver and if I didn’t there would be Border Force staff there to help me. I’m not sure if that means that those staff will provide approvals on the spot or what. I showed them my waiver email and they said it all looks good. The check in staff recorded the reference number and checked my visa before they issued my boarding pass. When I had to go through immigration In Melbourne they just let me through with no more questions asked. 
 

Once I got to Chicago I asked staff where I should line up with a K1 visa and they directed me. When I got up to the counter the guy was really friendly and said he hasn’t seen a k1 in ages so he was super excited to process it! On top of that he said all Australians are awesome! He only asked one question about how I met my fiancé and then said welcome to America and let me through  it was really easy! Hope to hear more of you guys reach the US soon!! 

Congratulations! That’s so exciting! I hope I have just as easy a time as you did next month! One month and two days until my flight and I’m hoping there’s no new bans before then and it’s as easy as yours!

 

I received the email today that Toll has our passports!

Edited June 11, 2020 by Cilllah

[mandajoy98 68]

On 6/10/2020 at 6:43 PM, ECCK said:

I’ve made it to the US! I arrived yesterday into Chicago. When I was checking in at Melbourne airport they airline called me before my flight to ask if I had a waiver and if I didn’t there would be Border Force staff there to help me. I’m not sure if that means that those staff will provide approvals on the spot or what. I showed them my waiver email and they said it all looks good. The check in staff recorded the reference number and checked my visa before they issued my boarding pass. When I had to go through immigration In Melbourne they just let me through with no more questions asked. 
 

Once I got to Chicago I asked staff where I should line up with a K1 visa and they directed me. When I got up to the counter the guy was really friendly and said he hasn’t seen a k1 in ages so he was super excited to process it! On top of that he said all Australians are awesome! He only asked one question about how I met my fiancé and then said welcome to America and let me through  it was really easy! Hope to hear more of you guys reach the US soon!! 

ahHH SO exciting!! I'm glad everything worked out well with your flight and port of entry! My fiance finally got his exemption to fly out of Australia tomorrow night! 

[Cilllah 476]

2 hours ago, mandajoy98 said:

ahHH SO exciting!! I'm glad everything worked out well with your flight and port of entry! My fiance finally got his exemption to fly out of Australia tomorrow night! 

Oh I am so excited! How long did it take for you to get it? Were you rejected at all before the approval? What kind of proof did you have?
Sorry for the questions. I am applying for my daughter and I tomorrow for the 14th of July and it is scary!

[ECCK 211]

2 hours ago, mandajoy98 said:

ahHH SO exciting!! I'm glad everything worked out well with your flight and port of entry! My fiance finally got his exemption to fly out of Australia tomorrow night! 

Congratulations!!! So glad for you guys! Hope he has a smooth flight and all the best to you both!

[mandajoy98 68]

58 minutes ago, Cilllah said:

Oh I am so excited! How long did it take for you to get it? Were you rejected at all before the approval? What kind of proof did you have?
Sorry for the questions. I am applying for my daughter and I tomorrow for the 14th of July and it is scary!

It took 4/5 attempts to finally get a last minute response. We purposely put our intended travel date for last friday and heard no response, so we kept calling home affairs and finally reached someone who cared after 2 hours of being on hold. It was sad to hear that the supervisor didnt care about our case but we eventually got a hold of the most patient and caring representative on the phone who put our application on URGENT. Then within a few hours my fiance got the email of his exemption. This process was more mentally draining than the K1 process but dont give up! I wish you all the best! 
As in proof, we included both of our birth certificates, our US social security cards (he got one while studying abroad in the US awhile back), termination of lease, resignation of his job, wedding deposits, joint bank accounts, and links to the USCIS  website to provide further information. 
hope this helps! 

Edited June 15, 2020 by mandajoy98

[mandajoy98 68]

50 minutes ago, ECCK said:

Congratulations!!! So glad for you guys! Hope he has a smooth flight and all the best to you both!

Thank you!!! Wierd question, how was your experience flying Qatar airlines??? 

[ECCK 211]

16 minutes ago, mandajoy98 said:

Thank you!!! Wierd question, how was your experience flying Qatar airlines??? 

The staff were really nice and the layover in Doha was really easy to navigate. There’s heaps of staff to help. The flight to Doha was really empty and everyone had their own row but the flight to Chicago from Doha was packed! That was kind of gross... I kinda regret not paying extra to upgrade my seat. I’m not sure if all the flights to the US will be that full though. 

[KittyKat3072 235]

5 hours ago, ECCK said:

The staff were really nice and the layover in Doha was really easy to navigate. There’s heaps of staff to help. The flight to Doha was really empty and everyone had their own row but the flight to Chicago from Doha was packed! That was kind of gross... I kinda regret not paying extra to upgrade my seat. I’m not sure if all the flights to the US will be that full though. 

Did you end up taking your cat with you?

[Cilllah 476]

6 hours ago, mandajoy98 said:

It took 4/5 attempts to finally get a last minute response. We purposely put our intended travel date for last friday and heard no response, so we kept calling home affairs and finally reached someone who cared after 2 hours of being on hold. It was sad to hear that the supervisor didnt care about our case but we eventually got a hold of the most patient and caring representative on the phone who put our application on URGENT. Then within a few hours my fiance got the email of his exemption. This process was more mentally draining than the K1 process but dont give up! I wish you all the best! 
As in proof, we included both of our birth certificates, our US social security cards (he got one while studying abroad in the US awhile back), termination of lease, resignation of his job, wedding deposits, joint bank accounts, and links to the USCIS  website to provide further information. 
hope this helps! 

Thank you for all of this information! Is there a certain number to call? Was the supervisor who didn't care part of the two hour phone call or did you have to deal with them multiple times? I am so glad it all worked out for you!!

[ECCK 211]

5 hours ago, KittyKat3072 said:

Did you end up taking your cat with you?

I did! I used Petraveller and they managed to get my cat a spot on Qatar Airways. I had very little notice though - it was confirmed on a Thursday and we left on a Monday. Is your fiancé’s cat still in Australia? 

[Cilllah 476]

I am working on my exemption and it makes you put a return date? I am not returning... Like most of us? What did you guys put?