Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[ccfalls 11]

Hi all. Just wanted to provide an update on my situation as it might be helpful for someone. My interview was cancelled way back in march (I completed the medical in early march). I'm located in Melbourne. I haven't ever applied for an expedite, but last week I received an email from the consulate instructing me to obtain a permit from NSW a they were ready to schedule my interview. I called Service NSW who told me there is not such permit that would allow me to enter NSW for the purpose of a visa interview, and that I should apply for an exemption instead. Feeling confused that the consulate prompted me to get a permit after all this time, when no such one exists 😅

[AussieBoy87 14]

Does anyone know if you're able to book an appointment a year in advance?

 

I'd rather just book my appointment on Oct 1, 2021 and wait for 12 months instead of waiting around for borders to open.

[kunnu1910 2]

6 hours ago, ccfalls said:

Hi all. Just wanted to provide an update on my situation as it might be helpful for someone. My interview was cancelled way back in march (I completed the medical in early march). I'm located in Melbourne. I haven't ever applied for an expedite, but last week I received an email from the consulate instructing me to obtain a permit from NSW a they were ready to schedule my interview. I called Service NSW who told me there is not such permit that would allow me to enter NSW for the purpose of a visa interview, and that I should apply for an exemption instead. Feeling confused that the consulate prompted me to get a permit after all this time, when no such one exists 😅

Same thing has happened with me today, did you applied for exemption? I think we are not eligible for exemption also.

What you did?

[kunnu1910 2]

Hi Guys,

 

I am living in Victoria and got the below email from the consulate today. Does anyone got the border permit for this ?

 

Dear Immigrant Visa Applicant,

 

Our office is pleased to announce that we are now scheduling immigrant visa appointments for certain visa classifications, including applicants from Victoria.  Our records indicate that your immigrant visa application is ready for an in-person interview at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney, and that you are a resident of, or will be traveling from, the state of Victoria (VIC). New South Wales (NSW) still requires border entry permits for travel from VIC to NSW.   Please apply for a border entry permit to travel to NSW to attend your U.S. immigrant visa appointment.  (Information on NSW travel restrictions and public health guidelines)  If your permit is granted, please reply to this email with a scanned copy, and we will schedule the next available date for your visa appointment.  If you do not need a permit because you are already present in NSW, please provide evidence of your physical presence in NSW for at least 14 consecutive days.

 

When responding please indicate which of the options below (1, 2 or 3) applies. Please also include in your response the following information:

 

Case Number:                    SYD0000000000

Name:                                  SURNAME, GIVEN NAME

 

1 – Please schedule the next available appointment, a copy of my border entry permit/evidence of my physical presence in NSW for at least 14 consecutive days is attached.

2 – I am unable to attend an interview due to COVID-19 restrictions in my State or Territory. I will contact you for an appointment as soon as I can attend.

3 – I am not yet ready to attend an interview, I will contact your office 2 months prior to when I hope to have an interview scheduled. I understand this may be longer due to the effect of COVID -19 on scheduling availability.

[John0990 23]

1 minute ago, kunnu1910 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I am living in Victoria and got the below email from the consulate today. Does anyone got the border permit for this ?

 

Dear Immigrant Visa Applicant,

 

Our office is pleased to announce that we are now scheduling immigrant visa appointments for certain visa classifications, including applicants from Victoria.  Our records indicate that your immigrant visa application is ready for an in-person interview at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney, and that you are a resident of, or will be traveling from, the state of Victoria (VIC). New South Wales (NSW) still requires border entry permits for travel from VIC to NSW.   Please apply for a border entry permit to travel to NSW to attend your U.S. immigrant visa appointment.  (Information on NSW travel restrictions and public health guidelines)  If your permit is granted, please reply to this email with a scanned copy, and we will schedule the next available date for your visa appointment.  If you do not need a permit because you are already present in NSW, please provide evidence of your physical presence in NSW for at least 14 consecutive days.

 

When responding please indicate which of the options below (1, 2 or 3) applies. Please also include in your response the following information:

 

Case Number:                    SYD0000000000

Name:                                  SURNAME, GIVEN NAME

 

1 – Please schedule the next available appointment, a copy of my border entry permit/evidence of my physical presence in NSW for at least 14 consecutive days is attached.

2 – I am unable to attend an interview due to COVID-19 restrictions in my State or Territory. I will contact you for an appointment as soon as I can attend.

3 – I am not yet ready to attend an interview, I will contact your office 2 months prior to when I hope to have an interview scheduled. I understand this may be longer due to the effect of COVID -19 on scheduling availability.

Hi, this is the same email I received after which I applied for the border permit (details in a previous post) I was lucky to get into Sydney but only just. It would seem that the Embassy does not realise the NSW border permit has changed as in they removed the (Visa) part under the Legal requirements section. Having looked through the NSW permit site today it would seem there is only one possible options.

Option one apply for an exemption - from the NSW website)

- in a situation where travel is required but no relevant permit exists.

 

They are not making it any easier that's for sure.

 

[ErinB 17]

Hi again everyone!

Continued update, as promised. 

We received our interview invite emailed from the consulate on 30/10/20, so, about 3 days after we received notice that our expedite request was approved. 

It gave us the three options, along with the spiel everyone's talking about regarding getting a permit to travel. 

We responded requesting option 2, which basically says that COVID won't let me travel and I'll contact you when I can travel. 

Does anyone know what the protocol would be for contacting them at that time? Just respond to the interview invite email? I'm making sure I have all my ducks in a row, because it's looking like the stars will align in a way that possibly gives us only a small window of time: if Trump gets re-elected, I don't want to wait to have an interview for any longer than I have to, because I have a feeling that one of the first things he'll do is get that Public Charge proclamation reinstated, and push through as many anti-immigrant legislations as he can, and it looks like the borders will potentially open within the next few weeks. 

If things start looking positive for the border opening, I'll be booking in my medical, and I'm just about to look into that now. 

My other question is a bit of a stupid one, but I've just read too many things from forums and application guides and process documents over the past 2 years, and I think I've confused myself:

Now that we have our case with the consulate, are they supposed to send us some sort of list of everything we need to bring to the interview? I've heard this referred to as "packet 3" I think?

[John0990 23]

7 minutes ago, ErinB said:

Hi again everyone!

Continued update, as promised. 

We received our interview invite emailed from the consulate on 30/10/20, so, about 3 days after we received notice that our expedite request was approved. 

It gave us the three options, along with the spiel everyone's talking about regarding getting a permit to travel. 

We responded requesting option 2, which basically says that COVID won't let me travel and I'll contact you when I can travel. 

Does anyone know what the protocol would be for contacting them at that time? Just respond to the interview invite email? I'm making sure I have all my ducks in a row, because it's looking like the stars will align in a way that possibly gives us only a small window of time: if Trump gets re-elected, I don't want to wait to have an interview for any longer than I have to, because I have a feeling that one of the first things he'll do is get that Public Charge proclamation reinstated, and push through as many anti-immigrant legislations as he can, and it looks like the borders will potentially open within the next few weeks. 

If things start looking positive for the border opening, I'll be booking in my medical, and I'm just about to look into that now. 

My other question is a bit of a stupid one, but I've just read too many things from forums and application guides and process documents over the past 2 years, and I think I've confused myself:

Now that we have our case with the consulate, are they supposed to send us some sort of list of everything we need to bring to the interview? I've heard this referred to as "packet 3" I think?

Hi ErinB, I got the same email and responded with Opt 2, I gave then the date I landed in Sydney, the date I entered quarantine and the date I was due out and asked for next available date which they set for the following week.

 

In the reply they give you the date, time, location of your appointment. In the email is a list of security info (as in what you cannot take) Laptops. I pads, electronic devices including phones and digital watches. On the bottom of the email is a Document cover sheet that will list what you need. It is basically the same as the one you can download, it lists top to bottom what is required.

You MUST also wear a mask.

Hope that helps a little at least

 

John.

[ErinB 17]

1 minute ago, John0990 said:

Hi ErinB, I got the same email and responded with Opt 2, I gave then the date I landed in Sydney, the date I entered quarantine and the date I was due out and asked for next available date which they set for the following week.

 

In the reply they give you the date, time, location of your appointment. In the email is a list of security info (as in what you cannot take) Laptops. I pads, electronic devices including phones and digital watches. On the bottom of the email is a Document cover sheet that will list what you need. It is basically the same as the one you can download, it lists top to bottom what is required.

You MUST also wear a mask.

Hope that helps a little at least

 

John.

Thanks John! Super helpful. 

My husband and I made the decision that it just isn't worth applying for a permit/exemption to travel to NSW, and end up paying for 2 weeks of quarantine, and risk potentially being turned away and having to reschedule our interview anyway. We've decided to wait until NSW says that the border to/from VIC is either open or at least is eased, at which point we'll contact the consulate and schedule. 

I know it's illogical, but after so long of waiting for this to happen, hinging so many plans on it working, and investing so much money and time and emotional energy into the whole visa process, it all just feels so...delicate. There's a little voice in my head yelling 'NO JUST TAKE THE NEXT APPOINTMENT DON"T TELL THEM YOU WANT TO WAIT MAYBE THEY"LL JUST CANCEL IT ALL" 😅😅😅

[John0990 23]

1 minute ago, ErinB said:

Thanks John! Super helpful. 

My husband and I made the decision that it just isn't worth applying for a permit/exemption to travel to NSW, and end up paying for 2 weeks of quarantine, and risk potentially being turned away and having to reschedule our interview anyway. We've decided to wait until NSW says that the border to/from VIC is either open or at least is eased, at which point we'll contact the consulate and schedule. 

I know it's illogical, but after so long of waiting for this to happen, hinging so many plans on it working, and investing so much money and time and emotional energy into the whole visa process, it all just feels so...delicate. There's a little voice in my head yelling 'NO JUST TAKE THE NEXT APPOINTMENT DON"T TELL THEM YOU WANT TO WAIT MAYBE THEY"LL JUST CANCEL IT ALL" 😅😅😅

Hi, I know where you are coming from believe me. Illogical to some, hmm maybe but it has to be what is best for you both. Having been separated form my wife since Feb this year I took the gamble and got in, but just so I count myself extremely lucky. Yes its gonna cost me the $3000 for quarantine but thats a cost I was prepared to wear.

 

I managed to get my medical booked in for Monday and my Embassy appointment is Tuesday, dont know whether to excited or nervous its been such a long road. Come Feb 2020 our journey would be three years.

 

Hopefully commonsense prevails and the borders do reopen and soon for everyone in Victoria.

 

Keep in touch as there are so many good people here.

 

John.

[vincentamosa 43]

UPDATE: my spouse was approved in her interview on 27 October, her visa printed in passport arrived 3 days later by mail, and last night she arrived here in Kansas City USA. Together again!! Thanks everyone for your help and good luck to people still in the process. Hope yours is as fast as ours was! 

[John0990 23]

29 minutes ago, vincentamosa said:

UPDATE: my spouse was approved in her interview on 27 October, her visa printed in passport arrived 3 days later by mail, and last night she arrived here in Kansas City USA. Together again!! Thanks everyone for your help and good luck to people still in the process. Hope yours is as fast as ours was! 

Congrats, may your future go well. 🙏

[tdrysdale 2]

We were DQ beginning of October, and I just called NVC and they said Sydney Consulate are not doing interviews at this time? It looks like some have recently had interviews so I'm confused...

[John0990 23]

Small update - Only two days of quarantine to go for me then Medical Monday Embassy visit Tuesday.. Will update once these happen.

For those in Victoria I hope you have seen the news, NSW will reopen to Victoria by midnight Nov 23.

 

Best of wishes to All.

[Broadford 19]

1 hour ago, John0990 said:

Small update - Only two days of quarantine to go for me then Medical Monday Embassy visit Tuesday.. Will update once these happen.

For those in Victoria I hope you have seen the news, NSW will reopen to Victoria by midnight Nov 23.

 

Best of wishes to All.

Was just coming here to post this information.

 

[Mayflower girl 6]

1 hour ago, John0990 said:

Small update - Only two days of quarantine to go for me then Medical Monday Embassy visit Tuesday.. Will update once these happen.

For those in Victoria I hope you have seen the news, NSW will reopen to Victoria by midnight Nov 23.

 

Best of wishes to All.

Good luck John! Let us know how you go.