Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[Sheeni_E 24]

29 minutes ago, BLST said:

Hi Sheeni,  I had a few reasons that I listed in my expedite request. I will private message you this evening with more information. 😊

Thanks a lot!!! 

[BLST 11]

Does anyone have an interview on Dec 8th? And/or planning to fly to LAX Dec 27th? 

[A&C NJ, USA 15]

12 hours ago, BLST said:

Does anyone have an interview on Dec 8th? And/or planning to fly to LAX Dec 27th? 

Ohhhhh I wish... congrats again, and safe travels. 

[BLST 11]

8 hours ago, A&C NJ, USA said:

Ohhhhh I wish... congrats again, and safe travels. 

Thank you so much! Hope your journey speeds up. 🤗

[ErinB 17]

Hi everyone! 
 

so, a quick update: 

We have our interview scheduled on the 22/12. For a number of reasons, however, I won’t be able to have my medical done by then. I will be scheduling it for around 27/12. 
 

Does anyone know - should we be lucky enough to be approved otherwise - what happens if we are pending our medical? Do they still keep my passport, and simply give me the refusal letter (212g I think, from memory)? Or, do they require my medical to be received first, and then request my passport be sent in? Or does the visa get sent in a different form, should we be approved after our medical is submitted? 
 

Does anyone have any idea how long the embassy takes to review medicals sent in after interviews? 

[John0990 23]

12 hours ago, ErinB said:

Hi everyone! 
 

so, a quick update: 

We have our interview scheduled on the 22/12. For a number of reasons, however, I won’t be able to have my medical done by then. I will be scheduling it for around 27/12. 
 

Does anyone know - should we be lucky enough to be approved otherwise - what happens if we are pending our medical? Do they still keep my passport, and simply give me the refusal letter (212g I think, from memory)? Or, do they require my medical to be received first, and then request my passport be sent in? Or does the visa get sent in a different form, should we be approved after our medical is submitted? 
 

Does anyone have any idea how long the embassy takes to review medicals sent in after interviews? 

Hi Erin, happy to see your journey moving forward. From what I have seen and heard most medical centres ave about five or so days to get the results to the embassy. Yes they will hold your passport until they have everything to approve your visa.

 

Good wishes that everything goes well for you on the day.

 

Regards

John.

[tdrysdale 2]

Hi all,

I just got my interview date of Jan 4. Those who have had their medical already, I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations between Dr. Celina Rappaport and Dr. Rosemary Aldous? Thank you for your help!

[Sharni 27]

I'd like to hear from other new arrivals to the USA about the Social Security Card.  I was advised that it would be posted to the address that we provide when we enter the US (if different to what was on the DS260, which ours was).   I received the Green Card in only 2 and a half weeks (extraordinary as I had read and been told that it would take months), so decided to call social security about my SSN.  They told  me that communications between them and the USCIS had been impacted by COVID and that there's a lot of people sitting there waiting for the Social Security Card which wont be coming.  I'd like to know if anyone else has had this experience?  I am now waiting for a phone call from the Social Security Administration to make an appointment and after that, it will take another two weeks to get the card.  I have been applying for jobs and was about to be offered one, but they said they won't proceed without the SSN.   If I hadn't called social security, I wouldn't have known about this issue. 

[zochu 255]

7 minutes ago, Sharni said:

I'd like to hear from other new arrivals to the USA about the Social Security Card.  I was advised that it would be posted to the address that we provide when we enter the US (if different to what was on the DS260, which ours was).   I received the Green Card in only 2 and a half weeks (extraordinary as I had read and been told that it would take months), so decided to call social security about my SSN.  They told  me that communications between them and the USCIS had been impacted by COVID and that there's a lot of people sitting there waiting for the Social Security Card which wont be coming.  I'd like to know if anyone else has had this experience?  I am now waiting for a phone call from the Social Security Administration to make an appointment and after that, it will take another two weeks to get the card.  I have been applying for jobs and was about to be offered one, but they said they won't proceed without the SSN.   If I hadn't called social security, I wouldn't have known about this issue. 

I got my SSN within 9 days of entering USA. 
 

It goes to the address on the DS260. The communication for the SSN is with the NVC and the SSA as opposed for the green card which is printed by USCIS. 
 

 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, Sharni said:

I have been applying for jobs and was about to be offered one, but they said they won't proceed without the SSN.

Ask for HR supervisor. SSN not legally required for work. https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/employees_without_ssns.html "It is certainly legal to hire someone who is authorized to work in this country, but who does not have a social security number or who chooses not to disclose it."

 

[Sharni 27]

19 hours ago, HRQX said:

Ask for HR supervisor. SSN not legally required for work. https://www.twc.texas.gov/news/efte/employees_without_ssns.html "It is certainly legal to hire someone who is authorized to work in this country, but who does not have a social security number or who chooses not to disclose it."

 

Thanks HRQX,  the Manager called HR while I was in his office.  It's just not their policy.  Thanks for the info, I had been told by Social Security Administration that I can work, but they can't tell an employer that they have to hire someone without it.  It's just a bummer.

[Jean Silva 1]

10 hours ago, Sharni said:

Thanks HRQX,  the Manager called HR while I was in his office.  It's just not their policy.  Thanks for the info, I had been told by Social Security Administration that I can work, but they can't tell an employer that they have to hire someone without it.  It's just a bummer.

Did you try to call the SSA and ask them to give you your SSN number? I have a friend who got the SSN number a few weeks before the card arrived at his house.

[thisisnotnormal 12]

Seems like all of the Australian K1s (even recent NOA2 ones) sitting at NVC were forwarded to Sydney yesterday.
 

Anyone else have any further news? 

[icantsmell 0]

Hi everyone

 

I've been lurking on this thread for a couple of months now lol. My husband has been in Melbourne, when we heard they were lifting the lockdown restrictions we requested an expedite so that maybe he could have been hear after new years.

At first,

-On 11/9 we got an e-mail saying our "Immigration Appointment was Cancelled" even though there was never any immigration appointment scheduled.

-On 11/14 we got an e-mail saying our request for expedite has been approved.

 

We have heard no news since 11/14. No interview appointment has yet been assigned to us. I'm getting worried and depressed. I haven't seen anyone wait almost a month between getting their request for expedite approved and having an interview scheduled.

 

Anyone else in same boat?

 

 

VISA CLASS:	CR1
YOUR CASE IS CURRENTLY AT:	SYDNEY
FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY:	AUSTRALIA
INTERVIEW LOCATION:	SYDNEY
PRIORITY DATE:	29-JUL-2019

[Mintosman 11]

2 hours ago, icantsmell said:

Hi everyone

 

I've been lurking on this thread for a couple of months now lol. My husband has been in Melbourne, when we heard they were lifting the lockdown restrictions we requested an expedite so that maybe he could have been hear after new years.

At first,

-On 11/9 we got an e-mail saying our "Immigration Appointment was Cancelled" even though there was never any immigration appointment scheduled.

-On 11/14 we got an e-mail saying our request for expedite has been approved.

 

We have heard no news since 11/14. No interview appointment has yet been assigned to us. I'm getting worried and depressed. I haven't seen anyone wait almost a month between getting their request for expedite approved and having an interview scheduled.

 

Anyone else in same boat?

 

 

VISA CLASS:	CR1
YOUR CASE IS CURRENTLY AT:	SYDNEY
FOREIGN STATE OF CHARGEABILITY:	AUSTRALIA
INTERVIEW LOCATION:	SYDNEY
PRIORITY DATE:	29-JUL-2019

What date did you send the Expedite Request email?