Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[Jem.G 47]

On 9/5/2020 at 1:06 PM, Sharni said:

We received the same email but asked for a 3 week period to prepare.  They were only booking interviews for the next two weeks and I was put on the waiting list. Then a week later, received an email with the interview date. We're from Qld too, and I will have to go down alone and quarantine when I come back.

I'll be going alone and quarantine back in QLD also🤣 second time this year!

[vincentamosa 43]

just emailed both sydneyiv@state.gov and nvcexpedite@travel.state.gov with our story and request for expedite. fingers crossed! 

 

found these instructions on scheduling emergency appointment in the auto reply from Sydney IV:

 

If you have a pending immigrant visa application,  your case file has been already been transferred to our office by the National Visa Center (NVC), and you have an urgent need to travel to the United States related to hardship to your U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) spouse, child, or parent, please email SydneyIV@state.gov with the subject line “EMERGENCY IV APPOINTMENT: [Surname, Given Name].”  In your message, please include your case number (SYDXXX…); the full names and dates of birth of all visa applicants; the full name, date of birth, and relationship to you of your U.S. citizen or LPR relative; your proposed U.S. travel plans; and a detailed description of the hardship your relative might suffer if the visa applicant(s) were unable to travel immediately to the United States.  We will consider emergency appointment requests on a case-by-case basis. If you do not have an immigrant visa application pending with our office, your travel is not an emergency, or you do not have a U.S./LPR relative facing hardship if you cannot travel immediately, you may not qualify for an emergency immigrant visa appointment at this time.   If your case file is still undergoing processing at NVC, please contact NVC directly, as we do not have the ability to schedule an emergency appointment until we receive your file.

[vincentamosa 43]

Is my wife able to do the medical exam now before we have heard back from Embassy? Or do you need to wait until after you hear from Embassy to have the medical exam? 

[MissOphelia 50]

For anyone wondering, after my expidite 4 weeks ago, and interview approx 2 weeks ago, my visa sat in administrative processing for a week, and was finally approved today 🖤 

For anyone thinking about applying for an expidite, DO IT. We were on the fence about it, and despite being told by people on various forums that our reason "wasn't good enough", everything worked out in our favour in the end. 

 

[aus2tx 168]

VISA IS FINALLY IN HAND!!
 

Also, passports now come with a letter from the consulate that basically says:

 

Dear Border Patrol, 

 

Let My People Go.

 

xoxo,

US Consulate

Edited September 8, 2020 by aus2tx

[MissOphelia 50]

1 hour ago, aus2tx said:

VISA IS FINALLY IN HAND!!
 

Also, passports now come with a letter from the consulate that basically says:

 

Dear Border Patrol, 

 

Let My People Go.

 

xoxo,

US Consulate

Hells yeah!! 👊 Congratulations!! 

 

Applied for my travel exemption and booked my flights today. My visa probably won't be far behind yours... we seem to be getting notifications a couple of days apart haha. 

[ChelseaLAllen 12]

Hi!

 

I have a quick question for anyone that sent through an expedite email to the SydneyIV email address. How long did it take for them to reply? and is it just a yes or no answer or will I be bouncing back and forth again between the consulate and NVC 🥴

[aus2tx 168]

@MissOphelia Isn't it SO NICE when you're just rIGHT THERE???? I hope your passport arrives quickly! It took 3 days for the passport to be delivered to Sydney CBD -.-

 

@ChelseaLAllen JK you're a K-1, no you won't be passed around between the two. It'll be a yes or no, and if yes, you'll be moved to the consulate for your interview.

Edited September 8, 2020 by aus2tx

[MissOphelia 50]

On 9/8/2020 at 3:25 AM, vincentamosa said:

Is my wife able to do the medical exam now before we have heard back from Embassy? Or do you need to wait until after you hear from Embassy to have the medical exam? 

It's a tough one, because the medicals DO expire... and there will be a HUGE backlog of interviews at the consulate. So general rule of thumb is wait til you have your interview date 

[zochu 255]

Yay congrats on the visa/passport! 
 

I’d be telling everyone to expedite! 

[MissOphelia 50]

23 hours ago, aus2tx said:

VISA IS FINALLY IN HAND!!
 

Also, passports now come with a letter from the consulate that basically says:

 

Dear Border Patrol, 

 

Let My People Go.

 

xoxo,

US Consulate

I was right - visa in hand today!! 

[Jem.G 47]

Completed my medical today! was a lot more relaxed than I was expecting! Now on to the interview on the 15th.

Has anyone booked flights with jetstar and had the flight cancelled, I'm a little worried that one of my 2 flights might, fingers crossed that's not the case.

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

On 9/6/2020 at 5:37 PM, zochu said:

yes! My daughter (dual 🇺🇸 🇦🇺 )has to leave Aus on her US passport and needs a visa for NZ ... kill me 😂😑 

You sure? As a dual you usually enter/leave your country on your (that countries) passport... e.g. enter/leave Aus on Aussie, then enter/leave us on us.. that way the gov can track where you are and also Removing need for nz passport.. Or at least that’s how I’ve always done it... you just show us passport when leaving to prove no us visa required when leaving Aus.. 

[Duke & Marie 1,389]

Oh just an FYI to all leaving Aus.. don’t forget to apply to be removed from both state and federal electoral roles.. unless you plan to track and monitor Aussie media and vote for next three years via mail... 

 

last time I left I wound up getting a $650 fine for each election missed and a suspended driver licence for not voting.. (Very rude how the driver licence is attached to state elections and penalties)

 

 if like me you have a ten year licence and return home e.g. vacation/live you could end up driving for a year+ while suspended and not even know you suspended (And by default uninsured because suspended) until you go to renew your driver  licence. 
 

forms are at your local post office.. 

Edited September 9, 2020 by Duke & Marie

[Lil bear 4,216]

On 9/7/2020 at 12:25 PM, vincentamosa said:

Is my wife able to do the medical exam now before we have heard back from Embassy? Or do you need to wait until after you hear from Embassy to have the medical 

Edited September 9, 2020 by Lil bear
Self deleted