Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[icantsmell 0]

15 minutes ago, Mintosman said:

What date did you send the Expedite Request email? 

We sent the request to expedite on 6-November

[Mintosman 11]

1 minute ago, icantsmell said:

We sent the request to expedite on 6-November

thanks! I applied for an expedite a week ago and I still don't have a response from them.

[Sharni 27]

12 hours ago, Jean Silva said:

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.

Hi Jean, yes I called SSA they said I haven't been issued a number yet.  I'm not in the system apparently.

[C & S - M 0]

7 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

We also had our expedite approved on the 14/11 and after emailing the Sydney Consulate this week to ask about the delay in hearing from them we received the interview invitation. We had been advised by the NVC that we should hear within two weeks of expedite approval from the Consulate, so I didn't see any harm in enquiring about our case.

[Mayflower girl 6]

Hi all,

 

My husband Paul has been in the US three weeks today and yesterday he received his green card. We are still waiting on his Social Security card and were told by USCIS that it will come about 2 weeks after the green card.

 

To recap:

Interview date 11/16 Approved! Passport and visa mailed out the same day

Received passport back 11/17 (He had it sent to the Travelodge in Sydney where he was staying as he didn't need to return to Melbourne for anything.)

Flight to San Francisco 11/20

Arrived in the US 11/20

Green card received 12/10

I know we are unusual in that we are retiring to the US. I returned earlier than Paul because I was 65 and needed to complete my 10 years of work history for SS in order to qualify for Medicare. (I was 6 months or around $3000 of earnings short.) I thought (and had been told) that this was to qualify both of us. However, when Paul arrived and I asked about him qualifying for Medicare based on my work history I discovered that while he will eventually qualify on that basis there is a US residential period he has to satisfy. It's 5 years for non-US citizens. So we've had to take out an (Obamacare) marketplace health insurance policy for him. As an IR1 visa holder he is eligible for citizenship after 3 years so while I was never going to pressure him to do this it now makes economic sense as once he's a citizen we can get him on Medicare. So this is another aspect of not being a 'public charge' I guess. 

 

But everything is going well so far and we are looking forward to Christmas when our son visits from Tennessee. 

 

The process continues!

 

Diane

 

 

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, Mayflower girl said:

We are still waiting on his Social Security card and were told by USCIS that it will come about 2 weeks after the green card.

For SSN matters contact SSA: https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/questions.htm

What if I don't receive my SSN card within 3 weeks of arrival?

Contact us. In the United States, you may call the telephone number listed for the Social Security office in the local telephone directory under "United States Government" or Social Security's toll-free number 1-800-772-1213.

[Mayflower girl 6]

Yes we called the SSA. They had no record of him and suggested we call USCIS. USCIS told us that they only forward info onto the SSA after the green card is produced. 

 

Diane

[HRQX 4,145]

10 minutes ago, Mayflower girl said:

USCIS told us that they only forward info onto the SSA after the green card is produced.

The USCIS Tier 1 phone line is known as the misinformation line. Many get SSN card before GC is even issued.

[Sharni 27]

2 hours ago, Mayflower girl said:

Yes we called the SSA. They had no record of him and suggested we call USCIS. USCIS told us that they only forward info onto the SSA after the green card is produced. 

 

Diane

Hi Diane. You may have seen a similar issue i posted about a week ago.   I received my green card 2 and a half weeks after arriving here.  Rang SSA and they said I wasn't in the system and I'd have to have an appointment to bring my documents and application for a SSC.  That was a week ago that I spoke to them and I'm still waiting for a call from the person that will schedule that appointment.  Its a confusing process and lots of misinformation.  

I am still hoping that my card will turn up in the meantime.  

Edited December 11, 2020 by Sharni

[Mayflower girl 6]

24 minutes ago, Sharni said:

Hi Diane. You may have seen a similar issue i posted about a week ago.   I received my green card 2 and a half weeks after arriving here.  Rang SSA and they said I wasn't in the system and I'd have to have an appointment to bring my documents and application for a SSC.  That was a week ago that I spoke to them and I'm still waiting for a call from the person that will schedule that appointment.  Its a confusing process and lots of misinformation.  

I am still hoping that my card will turn up in the meantime.  

Hi Sharni,

 

Yes I saw your post. My husband also isn't in the SSA system but USCIS said they would release his info to the SSA after his green card was produced. So we are going to sit tight for now and see if the SS card shows up in a couple of weeks. If not we'll be on it in January. Let us know how you go.

[jessicamolley 27]

We are doing our k1 visa and our petition was sent out last week to Sydney. My question is, does anything get physically mailed to my partner in Australia? His address changed and I called and had it updated, but the gentleman at NVC was basically like, well things have already been mailed so it doesn’t matter. I’ve asked my partner to redo a mail forward thing but he wanted me to check and see if he was going to get anything by mail. I’m assuming his address should be changed for after the interview? Thanks!!

[BLST 11]

Update on Approved Expedite & Interview on Dec 8th.

** VISA APPROVED! **

 

Already have my visa/ passport back on Dec 11th. Now applying for travel exemption to leave on the 27th Dec.

 

The whole interview was much more casual than expected but exactly how other people on here have described it.

 

My appointment was at 8.30am. I arrived at 8.10am. There were 2 people in front of me when first lining up for security check. I don’t feel it would be necessary to arrive too early. Perhaps not during covid.

 

I handed my documents to staff. Went through security check then received documents back and was guided to the lift. Went up to the 59th floor. Then as you enter the room you are to take a ticket from automated machine. (some people forgot to do this) 

 

The office is like an 80’s bank. Roughly 12 tellers, divided into 3 areas. You are standing at the  ‘teller’ whilst being interviewed, with the staff sitting down behind a clear screen.
 

You can very clearly hear people being interviewed as the staff speak through a microphone. In the waiting room there were roughly 8-10 people. But not all were before me, as some were needing to do different things.
 

You are first called up to hand in your documents. No questions are asked at this point. I waited 30 minutes to be called. Then you sit back down. 
 

Listening to those before me being interviewed was helpful and put me at ease. The questions I overheard were very basic and minimal. I overheard 3 interviews for Marriage visas, and 1 Fiancé visa.  

I waited for another 40 minutes before I was called for the actual interview. The person interviewing is different to the person collecting documents.

 

I felt my interview was longer than the others I heard. I think that was more down to the guy being curious as to my living situation and trying to piece it all together.

I have been living in between several countries the past few years, living with my fiancé as much as possible, with a lot of traveling. So it can get confusing trying to explain it all.

 

The interviewer was very nice, had a good sense of humour but professional. Cracked a joke or two.

 

My fiancé  is 16 years older than me. The interviewer did ask our ages. But that was not a problem. ( I read somewhere on here that age gaps are questioned) I’m 42, so it didn’t seem like an issue.

 

I did bring proof of my education, which I’m glad I did, as I was asked my highest level of education.

 

And I showed him some extra photos. But he had the ones I had previously included in my initial application.
 

Otherwise I was not asked for anything else. I did not bring my resume or bank statements.

 

My partner only provided 1 transcript of his 2019 tax to support the affidavit. Did not include any assets. Our lawyer said if income is over required amount for sponsorship, then you do not need to add extra if you do not wish to. I was a bit nervous on this, but it turned out to be sufficient.

 

When asked if I will be working. I said no. My partner will be supporting me. (And on a K1 visa we are unable to work just yet anyhow.) He had no issue with that.
 

I did hear others applying for marriage visa, reply with: “I will work whatever I can get.” “Won’t work at the moment due to covid”.  And they were all approved. 

 

Questions asked: 

* Where did you meet?

* How did the relationship progress?

* When was the last time you saw your fiancé?

* How many times have you seen him?

* Highest level of education?

* What will you do for work?

* What work does your fiancé do?

* Where will you live?

 

Then I was told on the spot, everything looks good. Visa approved!

 

 I couldn’t help but cry happy tears!!! Such a wonderful feeling to know I will see my fiancé soon. And the relief from the fear of the covid unknown, timelines, delays etc.

 

I’m so glad I applied for an expedite. I still can’t believe I have the visa.  So if you haven’t tried to apply for an expedite, I really would recommend it. It’s worth a try! 

 

Extra interview info: Overall I didn’t see many people ‘dressed up’. I wore a blazer, pants and a blouse.  Others wore; trainers, tshirts, sandals, very casual clothing. So anyone worried on what to wear, it appears that it doesn’t really matter.
 

The interviewers really only see the top half of you. 

 

I wish you all the best and a speedy journey. So thankful for this site and group.🙏

 

If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help. 🤗

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by BLST

[ClaireH93 4]

On 12/7/2020 at 3:07 PM, tdrysdale said:

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!

Cant help you with a Dr recommendation (im in qld, had medical on 20th November) but im January 4th 8am as well! 

Feels like forever away! 

[pingan 0]

On 12/6/2020 at 9:07 PM, tdrysdale said:

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!

We went with Dr. Celina Rappaport, took about 5 business days from the medical exam to receiving their email notifying us the medical report was sent to the consulate. Her office is about a 10minute walk to the consulate. She also has multiple recommendations from those who posted in this thread.

[tdrysdale 2]

17 hours ago, pingan said:

We went with Dr. Celina Rappaport, took about 5 business days from the medical exam to receiving their email notifying us the medical report was sent to the consulate. Her office is about a 10minute walk to the consulate. She also has multiple recommendations from those who posted in this thread.

Thank you! 

On 12/13/2020 at 7:28 PM, ClaireH93 said:

Cant help you with a Dr recommendation (im in qld, had medical on 20th November) but im January 4th 8am as well! 

Feels like forever away! 

That's amazing! Ours is 11 a.m. I think...would love to say hi to you if you are still there!