Interviews in Australia set to be reduced with some cancelled

[Cilllah 476]

1 hour ago, Cilllah said:

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?

1000 words in the reason why.
20 documents - but I feel like I could have more but it exceeded the size limit.
Good luck to me!

[ECCK 211]

2 hours ago, Cilllah said:

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?

I think I put in 31 Dec 2021 but wrote that i had no intention to return to Australia in the foreseeable future. Good luck!! Hope you get it in one shot! 

[Rosie_Emma91 38]

11 minutes ago, Cilllah said:

1000 words in the reason why.
20 documents - but I feel like I could have more but it exceeded the size limit.
Good luck to me!

I still have not heard back ☹️

 

I think I put my travel date as 22 June so hopefully I hear back this week. Otherwise, I will have to submit a third application! 

 

All the best with your application! 😊

[Cilllah 476]

How are my fellow Australians going? Any luck with your exemptions?
I am stressed daily that there will be a new EO banning me before I am allowed entry. My flight is in 3 weeks and 2 days.
Otherwise I am waiting to hear back about the EO and working on shipping my belongings.

[Rosie_Emma91 38]

5 hours ago, Cilllah said:

How are my fellow Australians going? Any luck with your exemptions?
I am stressed daily that there will be a new EO banning me before I am allowed entry. My flight is in 3 weeks and 2 days.
Otherwise I am waiting to hear back about the EO and working on shipping my belongings.

I still haven't heard back so I phoned Dep of Home Affairs on Thursday and they couldn't tell me anything. The guy basically said there are far more urgent applications than mine so those take priority He couldn't even guarantee I would hear back at all.

I think I also made the mistake of submitting two applications and I have no idea which one they will process. The first application I put a travel date of mid July and the second was 22 June. 

I'm hoping I hear back soon! Good luck 😊

[Cilllah 476]

2 minutes ago, Rosie_Emma91 said:

I still haven't heard back so I phoned Dep of Home Affairs on Thursday and they couldn't tell me anything. The guy basically said there are far more urgent applications than mine so those take priority He couldn't even guarantee I would hear back at all.

I think I also made the mistake of submitting two applications and I have no idea which one they will process. The first application I put a travel date of mid July and the second was 22 June. 

I'm hoping I hear back soon! Good luck 😊

Oh wow that sounds really awful and really scary! I hope that you do hear back in time to go. I am hoping no news is good news and it means a last minute approval. But not hearing back at all? This is honestly the most Australian run thing ever and it is so poor.
I hope you hear back soon!!

[Rosie_Emma91 38]

1 hour ago, Cilllah said:

Oh wow that sounds really awful and really scary! I hope that you do hear back in time to go. I am hoping no news is good news and it means a last minute approval. But not hearing back at all? This is honestly the most Australian run thing ever and it is so poor.
I hope you hear back soon!

My approval just came through!! What a relief Definitely put in a date earlier than your true date of travel.

 

[Cilllah 476]

3 hours ago, Rosie_Emma91 said:

My approval just came through!! What a relief Definitely put in a date earlier than your true date of travel.

 

I am so happy for you! Congratulations! When are you flying out?

 

I put my real date as I wanted to be honest. But if I even get it the day before that’s OK as long as I get it.

[KandR18 53]

https://au.usembassy.gov/change-in-services-alert-u-s-consulate-general-sydney/

 

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like Sydney will resume scheduling interviews on Monday.

Edited June 20, 2020 by KandR18

[Cilllah 476]

Hey guys who have left already on an exemption. Do you know if I’ll have to go through the process of checking the exemption in Brisbane or in Sydney? I’m flying from Brisbane to Sydney and Sydney is my port obviously. But on the first flight you do check in for the whole way. So would I deal with anything there or will it only impact me in Sydney? I’m trying to work out how much earlier we should leave. It’s for my daughter and I but my parents are coming too and it’s an early flight.

[AussieBoy87 14]

32 minutes ago, KandR18 said:

https://au.usembassy.gov/change-in-services-alert-u-s-consulate-general-sydney/

 

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like Sydney will resume scheduling interviews on Monday.

That's passport and citizenship services, not visa interviews.

[ECCK 211]

On 6/20/2020 at 1:58 AM, Rosie_Emma91 said:

My approval just came through!! What a relief Definitely put in a date earlier than your true date of travel.

 

Congratulations!! I’m glad you finally got it. It’s really nerve wracking how close they issue it to the date of travel. 

[KittyKat3072 235]

On 6/16/2020 at 5:16 AM, ECCK said:

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? 

I'm happy you were able to take your cat with you! How much did it cost?

 

Also yeah he had to leave her behind and say goodbye forever. 😭😭😭

I feel so guilty. 

[ECCK 211]

25 minutes ago, KittyKat3072 said:

I'm happy you were able to take your cat with you! How much did it cost?

 

Also yeah he had to leave her behind and say goodbye forever. 😭😭😭

I feel so guilty. 

It cost around $2000 to send him. I’m so sorry  That must have been hard for him but hopefully she has a loving home in Australia. If only covid didn’t happen 😖 Don’t feel guilty - no one could’ve predicted this! You guys made the best decision you could. ❤️

[KittyKat3072 235]

1 hour ago, ECCK said:

It cost around $2000 to send him. I’m so sorry  That must have been hard for him but hopefully she has a loving home in Australia. If only covid didn’t happen 😖 Don’t feel guilty - no one could’ve predicted this! You guys made the best decision you could. ❤️

Thanks ❤️

It was really hard for him. It was definitely an emotional day when he said goodbye.

 

I hope you are settling in well here in the States.