Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[GiggsMcGill 40]

18 minutes ago, PattyM24 said:

emailed the sydneyiv email and this was their response. Did anyone else receive and email like this? An email was also sent to the nvcexpedite email have yet to hear back 

@PattyM24 You emailed to expedite right? That goes through NVC Expedite, and for most of us, it took NVC about a week or more to respond. So if it hasn't been a week since you emailed, don't worry yet. Even once they approve it takes another week or so for them to send it to the embassy.

[PattyM24 6]

10 minutes ago, GiggsMcGill said:

@PattyM24 You emailed to expedite right? That goes through NVC Expedite, and for most of us, it took NVC about a week or more to respond. So if it hasn't been a week since you emailed, don't worry yet. Even once they approve it takes another week or so for them to send it to the embassy.

Yes we did! Thanks for the info. saw that some people emailed sydneyiv emailed both just to be safe. 

[Jem.G 47]

Oh dear so it looks like I may not have my police cert before I need to go down for my interview....... It should have been here today at the latest and it is no where to be found.

Should I be worried?

[PriscillaQOTD 23]

Hey everyone first timer here. Just giving a quick update of me and my status to help others: I am a US/Aus dual citizen living in Australia with my NZ husband on a special category visa. Ps these dates are written d/m/y:

22/11/19 - Application date - so currently past priority date for Texas 

2/6/20 DQ'd - with a note that as I'm not domiciled in the US I will need a joint sponsor but they will make the decision at the interview. My grandparents then offered so I submitted all the paperwork for them within a few days. As I'm already DQ'd no one looks at my documents but I thought I would have them there ready for the interviewer.

31/8/20 Applied for expedited interview

5/9/20 Received acknowledgement of expedite from NVC

 

Currently waiting on approval for the expedite. I submitted a medical letter from my doctor outlining the anxiety disorder that I've developed since moving back in with my parents while waiting for the interview process. Started having muscle twitches, palpitations and panic attacks with some insomnia (it's crazy what stress can do to a person!). 

 

My main concern is the exemption to leave Australia. Is anyone else been allowed out as an Australian citizen? If so, what did you say? I was going to explain that we applied for this visa before the pandemic and we have organised with my grandparents (joint sponsors) to live with them when we move over so if I can't come then my husband would not have a place to stay. I was also going to mention that his medical only lasts for 6 months so we need to leave. He is on an NZ visa so can leave anytime. I was also going to give them the same medical letter and just promise that I'm leaving for good and have no intention of coming back anytime soon. Hoping that's enough?

Edited September 11, 2020 by PriscillaQOTD

[Redjlper 1]

1 hour ago, PriscillaQOTD said:

Hey everyone first timer here. Just giving a quick update of me and my status to help others: I am a US/Aus dual citizen living in Australia with my NZ husband on a special category visa. Ps these dates are written d/m/y:

22/11/19 - Application date - so currently past priority date for Texas 

2/6/20 DQ'd - with a note that as I'm not domiciled in the US I will need a joint sponsor but they will make the decision at the interview. My grandparents then offered so I submitted all the paperwork for them within a few days. As I'm already DQ'd no one looks at my documents but I thought I would have them there ready for the interviewer.

31/8/20 Applied for expedited interview

5/9/20 Received acknowledgement of expedite from NVC

 

Currently waiting on approval for the expedite. I submitted a medical letter from my doctor outlining the anxiety disorder that I've developed since moving back in with my parents while waiting for the interview process. Started having muscle twitches, palpitations and panic attacks with some insomnia (it's crazy what stress can do to a person!). 

 

My main concern is the exemption to leave Australia. Is anyone else been allowed out as an Australian citizen? If so, what did you say? I was going to explain that we applied for this visa before the pandemic and we have organised with my grandparents (joint sponsors) to live with them when we move over so if I can't come then my husband would not have a place to stay. I was also going to mention that his medical only lasts for 6 months so we need to leave. He is on an NZ visa so can leave anytime. I was also going to give them the same medical letter and just promise that I'm leaving for good and have no intention of coming back anytime soon. Hoping that's enough?

We got approval for my fiance to come to the US from Oz. The approval was based on the fact that he will be here for over 3 months (even though on the exception I just listed 90 days the full stay period on an ESTA) There is a group on facebook call Partner's Apart. The whole group is about Aussies getting exceptions to leave. I would check it out. There is a lot of support and information about what you need to submit. I do honestly think it's luck of the draw as the approvals and denials are not consistent. I do think you will be fine though if you are not planning on returning in the near future. 

[PriscillaQOTD 23]

5 minutes ago, Redjlper said:

We got approval for my fiance to come to the US from Oz. The approval was based on the fact that he will be here for over 3 months (even though on the exception I just listed 90 days the full stay period on an ESTA) There is a group on facebook call Partner's Apart. The whole group is about Aussies getting exceptions to leave. I would check it out. There is a lot of support and information about what you need to submit. I do honestly think it's luck of the draw as the approvals and denials are not consistent. I do think you will be fine though if you are not planning on returning in the near future. 

Thank you so much! That really makes me feel better and I'll definitely check that page out. I guess if it gets denied then I can just re-submit until someone feels sorry for me haha. So grateful to have access to so many friendly strangers from the comfort of my room. 

[Redjlper 1]

4 minutes ago, PriscillaQOTD said:

Thank you so much! That really makes me feel better and I'll definitely check that page out. I guess if it gets denied then I can just re-submit until someone feels sorry for me haha. So grateful to have access to so many friendly strangers from the comfort of my room. 

You are very welcome! One thing I did learn after you have the exemption and you book your flight (at least from Victoria) you are going to need a boarder pass to get into NSW. Best of Luck!

[PriscillaQOTD 23]

3 minutes ago, Redjlper said:

You are very welcome! One thing I did learn after you have the exemption and you book your flight (at least from Victoria) you are going to need a boarder pass to get into NSW. Best of Luck!

Thanks for the tip! 

[GiggsMcGill 40]

10 hours ago, Jem.G said:

Oh dear so it looks like I may not have my police cert before I need to go down for my interview....... It should have been here today at the latest and it is no where to be found.

Should I be worried?

I have a feeling they'll deny until they receive the police cert. I don't think it would be a straight up denial though - it's like the people whose medicals hadn't arrive yet.

[Jem.G 47]

@GiggsMcGill yeh I rang the AFP on Friday and they made a one off exception and emailed it to me!

So I now have it via email.

[vincentamosa 43]

On 9/10/2020 at 9:53 PM, PattyM24 said:

emailed the sydneyiv email and this was their response. Did anyone else receive and email like this? An email was also sent to the nvcexpedite email have yet to hear back 

I only received the auto reply from sydney IV nothing like that. Something weird happened when I tried to send expedite request to nvc at this email nvcexpedite@travel.state.gov I got an email that their inbox was full and my email failed to send. Then I looked it up and found this email address 

nvcexpedite@state.gov and resent my expedite request 2 days ago. Still waiting to hear back.

[Jem.G 47]

I had a look at flights for Air NZ today as I have credit with them and looks like they have no flights for the rest of the year! I know a few of you have booked or had planned to book with them have you have any notification on cancelled flights?

[Sharni 27]

On 9/8/2020 at 1:36 PM, 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

Hi @aus2tx  congratulations on getting your Visa.  Could you keep us informed about the travel exemption?  Do you know if any immigrant travel exemption requests are being declined?   It seems getting the expedite and interview is only part of the stressful process.  Next comes the travel exemption and flight bookings!!!

 

 

[zochu 255]

28 minutes ago, Jem.G said:

I had a look at flights for Air NZ today as I have credit with them and looks like they have no flights for the rest of the year! I know a few of you have booked or had planned to book with them have you have any notification on cancelled flights?

Oh my! 
 

So Air NZ have cancelled all Auckland to SFO flights from 15 Sep.

 

from 15 September onwards they only have flights Tuesday's, Thursday’s and Sunday’s. My flight is booked on a Thursday and so far has not been cancelled but is pretty full at the moment. 
 

what a time. You really need to go ASAP. Flights are disappearing quick. 

[Sharni 27]

On 9/8/2020 at 3:25 PM, MissOphelia said:

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. 

Good luck with your visa.  Wondering if you've heard anything yet?

Could you keep me informed about the travel exemption?  I am wondering if any immigrant travel exemption requests are being declined?   It seems getting the expedite and interview is only part of the stressful process.  Next comes the travel exemption and flight bookings!!!   Did you have any problems with booking flights?