Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[zochu 255]

6 minutes ago, austex said:

We are a family of 3 also.  I just don't get the denial, it is weird.

 

We did not need a sponsor.

 

M.

Oh wow! No sponsor needed? did they ask about health insurance? 
 

we are fully covered for health insurance which is another thing he was asking applicants. 

[Entheos 95]

8 hours ago, aus2tx said:

@Entheos thanks for mentioning the DHL tracking! It shows ours arrived Wednesday afternoon! (If that’s the one haha)

No dramas.   Do yours is the one which left on Friday.  It was interesting... my status changed to ‘In Transit’ on Monday (US time) last week and I tried the DHL hack on Tuesday and it came up with 4 cases and 1 that was coming for Sydney.... but then I didn’t get an email from the NVC till Wednesday Sydney time and then the consulate till Thursday both saying that it was ‘to be sent out’...so I thought maybe the one on Monday which arrived on Friday wasn’t mine and then I saw the one of Friday and thought...well that must be mine....  Then I got the email from the consulate on Monday to say they had received it and I sent the docs back to them right away.... now it’s Thursday....I would have thought I would have heard back from them already but here we are on Thursday and I haven’t.... they did tell me to email them again Thursday if I hadn’t heard from them though.... so I’ll do that.

 

Glad too see yours has arrived too... maybe we will have interviews at the same time... although mine being a K1 and yours a CR/IR case maybe not... who knows...

[aus2tx 168]

54 minutes ago, Entheos said:

No dramas.   Do yours is the one which left on Friday.  It was interesting... my status changed to ‘In Transit’ on Monday (US time) last week and I tried the DHL hack on Tuesday and it came up with 4 cases and 1 that was coming for Sydney.... but then I didn’t get an email from the NVC till Wednesday Sydney time and then the consulate till Thursday both saying that it was ‘to be sent out’...so I thought maybe the one on Monday which arrived on Friday wasn’t mine and then I saw the one of Friday and thought...well that must be mine....  Then I got the email from the consulate on Monday to say they had received it and I sent the docs back to them right away.... now it’s Thursday....I would have thought I would have heard back from them already but here we are on Thursday and I haven’t.... they did tell me to email them again Thursday if I hadn’t heard from them though.... so I’ll do that.

 

Glad too see yours has arrived too... maybe we will have interviews at the same time... although mine being a K1 and yours a CR/IR case maybe not... who knows...

Well, I’m a little dumb because it’s in Sydney but not delivered yet. Should deliver today I think so hoping to hear more Friday Aus time!

 

It sounds like you have a lot of dates to consider - all of ours were within 24 hours, well before the supposed departure date with DHL. We’ll just have to see!

[hscoots 43]

7 hours ago, zochu said:

An interview is just a formality, in order to finish the visa application. The fact we were expedited has no weight in the likelihood a consular Officer will approve or deny the visa. 
 

my husband, a US federal employee earning a good wage and above the 125% poverty level with full health insurance, for all three of us, significant Australian savings, and my work history and education were not enough. They wanted a joint sponsor. If we can’t get a joint sponsor it will be a denial based on public charge. 
 

they are cracking down on the public charge rule, even for Australians. Especially given that now 40 million Americans are now unemployed due to covid. The assumption is that an immigrant now entering the US will effectively be relying solely on their petitioning spouse to survive given the current economic climate. 
 

we went in fully prepared, all tax history, all payslips. Evidence of our savings, the public charge form (mainly as a back up as advised by VJ) and  evidence  of my education and work history and it was not enough. I graduate in 8 weeks and will have 1 bachelors degree and next November I’ll have my second, a bachelor of laws. I currently work for the Victorian state government too - so good solid work history. 
 

my advice to all Australians going in, if

your spouse/petitioner earns OVER 250% (yes,250 not 125) of the federal poverty guidelines (which for 2 people is $43k) you will face less scrutiny. If it’s between 125-250, as we were, your case will be HIGHLY scrutinised. Expect a denial. I was not the only denial that day. I heard 2 denials, 1 approval. 

Not sure if you saw this, hot off the press. Might be worth considering asking embassy to re-consider based on this ruling.

https://thehill.com/latino/509706-federal-judge-blocks-trump-immigration-public-charge-rule-due-to-pandemic

Edited July 30, 2020 by hscoots

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

1 hour ago, hscoots said:

Not sure if you saw this, hot off the press. Might be worth considering asking embassy to re-consider based on this ruling.

https://thehill.com/latino/509706-federal-judge-blocks-trump-immigration-public-charge-rule-due-to-pandemic

I think the PC issue being blocked is specific to those of us doing AOS, it’s mostly about congress making public benefits available to immigrants during the pandemic that conflict with PC and GC requirements..

 

in saying this, it will likely be overturned again given its again a democratic state judge NYC trying to over rule a previous Supreme Court ruling... 

[zochu 255]

1 hour ago, hscoots said:

Not sure if you saw this, hot off the press. Might be worth considering asking embassy to re-consider based on this ruling.

https://thehill.com/latino/509706-federal-judge-blocks-trump-immigration-public-charge-rule-due-to-pandemic

that’s huge 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

Just now, zochu said:

that’s huge 

Potentially... but wouldn’t want to argue with CO about him getting his info right.. 

[zochu 255]

Just now, Duke & Marie said:

Potentially... but wouldn’t want to argue with CO about him getting his info right.. 

 Haha I know! 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

Just now, zochu said:

 Haha I know! 

More to the story... 

 

https://www.pfaw.org/blog-posts/trump-judge-barrett-would-have-upheld-trumps-punitive-anti-immigrant-public-charge-rule-confirmed-judges-confirmed-fears/

[zochu 255]

1 minute ago, Duke & Marie said:

More to the story... 

 

https://www.pfaw.org/blog-posts/trump-judge-barrett-would-have-upheld-trumps-punitive-anti-immigrant-public-charge-rule-confirmed-judges-confirmed-fears/

yea it’ll go to the Supreme Court and be overthrown 

[Entheos 95]

I realise this is a CR/IR forum, but for those who were expedited, how long did it take from the consulate emailing you to say they have received the packet and requesting a couple of items from you (DS-160 in my case and MRV Receipt) to get back to you with an appointment date?  And when they gave you the appointment date how far out was it?  I was asked to contact them again today if I hadn't received confirmation from them, but then when I called the visa help desk they just keep saying that I just have to 'wait'.  I know I'm probably pushing the boundaries here a little.... but I'm just sitting at home biding time at the moment, so I feel kinda 'useless' and wasting time.....  I'm essentially 'packed' and ready to go..... I have a healthcare plan all but locked and loaded - so I put this on the DS-5540 form (just have to pay for it once I have a date for leaving...), all supporting docs and packet from my F.... I know I need to be patient, just I'd love SOMETHING from them.  They've had my packet since Friday last week and it was emailed on Monday... and now it's Thursday... I feel like I'm starting to pull out my hair... and I'm bald!! 🤪

[Jem.G 47]

@Entheos You will likely be waiting a while as a K-1 applicant. I'm also a K-1 applicant and the Sydney Consulate has had my case in hand as well as all required documents for an appointment to be booked since March. I have emailed them twice both times being told via Email

" Thank you for your email.
We have received your DS-160, can see you have paid your MRV fee and provided your delivery address in your USTravelDocs online profile. As we have previously mentioned, Our office is currently unable to schedule any new appointments due to the current COVID-19 environment.
You have been placed on a waitlist, our office will respond to you with an appointment date as soon as we are able to.
Thank you,

Immigrant Visa Unit (cc)
U.S. Consulate General, Sydney"

I have been on the wait list for an interview since March and have yet to to be sent an interview. Also keep in mind that all K-1 Visas are already expedited from NVC to Consulate.

 

[Entheos 95]

5 minutes ago, Jem.G said:

@Entheos You will likely be waiting a while as a K-1 applicant. I'm also a K-1 applicant and the Sydney Consulate has had my case in hand as well as all required documents for an appointment to be booked since March. I have emailed them twice both times being told via Email

" Thank you for your email.
We have received your DS-160, can see you have paid your MRV fee and provided your delivery address in your USTravelDocs online profile. As we have previously mentioned, Our office is currently unable to schedule any new appointments due to the current COVID-19 environment.
You have been placed on a waitlist, our office will respond to you with an appointment date as soon as we are able to.
Thank you,

Immigrant Visa Unit (cc)
U.S. Consulate General, Sydney"

I have been on the wait list for an interview since March and have yet to to be sent an interview. Also keep in mind that all K-1 Visas are already expedited from NVC to Consulate.

 

 

yeah. Thanks for that. Mine has been approved as an actual ‘expedite’ expedite. Outside the normal ‘routine consular processing’. So interested in the timing of those who have been expedited.

[MissOphelia 50]

I reckon due to the pandemic they should be able to schedule Zoom interviews and have everyone mail in their paperwork via courier. 

It's stupidly insane that of all the consulates, only one does K1 visa interviews, and that there is no consulate in QLD...

[aus2tx 168]

I have a Facebook buddy that I met in a group apply for the expedite and receive it! If you haven’t done a request yet, it can’t hurt your case!