Australians Waiting For Interview at US Consulate Sydney

[ErinB 17]

Hey guys 👋

 

So, as many of you may know, we’ve had our interview done and have just completed our medical, but unfortunately the doctor is away until the 25th so he won’t be signing off on my results and sending the report to the consulate until then. 
 

I just checked the CEAC tracker today and our case still says refused (expected), but ever since the interview it’s had the “last updated” date as our interview date. Now, although our status hasn’t changed, the last updated date was yesterday. 
 

I’m sure this is fine and completely normal, but I was wondering if anyone had some insights as to why our case would be being touched when they don’t have our medical records yet?
 

thanks!  

[AussieAmy 13]

 

I saw this and thought of you guys,

Comes into effect 26th January 2021. Test needs to have been taken no more than 3 days prior to departure.

Does US require Covid test to enter?

The CDC will require all air passengers entering the U.S. to provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that all air passengers entering the United States will need to provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding their flight.3 days ago

Edited January 15, 2021 by AussieAmy
It missed information

[HRQX 4,145]

8 minutes ago, AussieAmy said:

Does US require Covid test to enter?

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html "proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19"

 

See Page 3 for specifics: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/global-airline-testing-order_2021-01-2_R3-signed-encrypted-p.pdf

[tdrysdale 2]

On 1/15/2021 at 5:41 AM, icantsmell said:

Hi!

We got the email asking for correspondence to schedule an interview on December 9.

On December 9 we replied and we received a response on December 13 telling us our interview will be on 12-Jan.

 

The interview went smooth, now my husband is basically stranded in Sydney because he's from Melbourne. He's asked the consulate to mail him the passport/whatever else to his hotel so he can travel straight to USA from Sydney.

Unfortunately there's been no movement on neither the travel exemption to leave the country, nor the passport so we're just bleeding $ since he has to keep extending his hotel stay.

 

Does anyone else have an estimate or is anyone else waiting right now for getting their passport/docs back from the consulate? How long does it typically take? We've been waiting since the 12th.

 

Thanks

 

 

We got our visa in the mail 2 days after the interview. Hope yours comes soon.

[icantsmell 0]

13 minutes ago, tdrysdale said:

We got our visa in the mail 2 days after the interview. Hope yours comes soon.

Thanks, no luck yet. I don't think they'll send it out over the weekend either. Hopefully by next week... And no news for the travel exemption yet either.

[tdrysdale 2]

25 minutes ago, icantsmell said:

Thanks, no luck yet. I don't think they'll send it out over the weekend either. Hopefully by next week... And no news for the travel exemption yet either.

They send a letter with your visa to use as an exemption...it basically says you should be able to leave the country as you are moving.

[Sheeni_E 24]

On 1/14/2021 at 1:41 PM, icantsmell said:

Hi!

We got the email asking for correspondence to schedule an interview on December 9.

On December 9 we replied and we received a response on December 13 telling us our interview will be on 12-Jan.

 

The interview went smooth, now my husband is basically stranded in Sydney because he's from Melbourne. He's asked the consulate to mail him the passport/whatever else to his hotel so he can travel straight to USA from Sydney.

Unfortunately there's been no movement on neither the travel exemption to leave the country, nor the passport so we're just bleeding $ since he has to keep extending his hotel stay.

 

Does anyone else have an estimate or is anyone else waiting right now for getting their passport/docs back from the consulate? How long does it typically take? We've been waiting since the 12th.

 

Thanks

 

 

Hi there

Any luck on your husband getting back to Melbourne? 

My partner is will be in the same boat after his interview next week.

 

Thanks! 

[icantsmell 0]

1 minute ago, Sheeni_E said:

Hi there

Any luck on your husband getting back to Melbourne? 

My partner is will be in the same boat after his interview next week.

 

Thanks! 

 

My husband is still waiting at the hotel in Sydney to receive his passport and travel documents from the consulate after interviewing on Tuesday morning. As far as I know, there are still border closure between NSW and VIC. If they do not open the borders, he is not going to return to Melb, but rather fly to USA from Sydney.

 

[Sheeni_E 24]

40 minutes ago, icantsmell said:

 

My husband is still waiting at the hotel in Sydney to receive his passport and travel documents from the consulate after interviewing on Tuesday morning. As far as I know, there are still border closure between NSW and VIC. If they do not open the borders, he is not going to return to Melb, but rather fly to USA from Sydney.

 

Hope it comes in soon. 

We are trying for an exemption and if that doesn't work then quarantining/testing in an orange zone before trying to head back. 

[BLST 11]

On 1/15/2021 at 2:37 PM, icantsmell said:

Thanks, no luck yet. I don't think they'll send it out over the weekend either. Hopefully by next week... And no news for the travel exemption yet either.

I received my passport 2 days after my interview ( 8th Dec) it was sent to Melbourne.
 

Travel exemption took less than 24 hours. But I applied once I received my passport and sent a photo of my US Visa as supporting document. So I wouldn’t apply for the exemption until you have the visa in hand. 

 

I would definitely Email US Consulate Sydney and ask where your husbands passport is, if you haven’t already. Is there someone at the original Melbourne address? Could the passport already be there? 

[icantsmell 0]

16 hours ago, BLST said:

I received my passport 2 days after my interview ( 8th Dec) it was sent to Melbourne.
 

Travel exemption took less than 24 hours. But I applied once I received my passport and sent a photo of my US Visa as supporting document. So I wouldn’t apply for the exemption until you have the visa in hand. 

 

I would definitely Email US Consulate Sydney and ask where your husbands passport is, if you haven’t already. Is there someone at the original Melbourne address? Could the passport already be there? 

Is there an e-mail I can reach them at post-interview or something? It's Monday over there and the auspost still hasn't updated the tracking for the prepaid envelope he left them, which is to say - it seems like they have not sent it out. His parents are at his Melbourne address, but nothing has been sent there from my knowledge.

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, icantsmell said:

Is there an e-mail I can reach them at post-interview or something? It's Monday over there

Expect a bit longer for an email response since Monday is a US holiday: https://au.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/

[BLST 11]

On 1/17/2021 at 1:35 PM, icantsmell said:

Is there an e-mail I can reach them at post-interview or something? It's Monday over there and the auspost still hasn't updated the tracking for the prepaid envelope he left them, which is to say - it seems like they have not sent it out. His parents are at his Melbourne address, but nothing has been sent there from my knowledge.

My visa was a K1 visa. I used this email address to correspond with the US consulate Sydney, before my interview. It’s worth a try. They may reply and direct you to the right department if they are not the right people. 
 

sydneyiv@state.gov

 

Good Luck! 👍 

[ClaireH93 4]

On 1/15/2021 at 8:54 PM, Sheeni_E said:

Hi there

Any luck on your husband getting back to Melbourne? 

My partner is will be in the same boat after his interview next week.

 

Thanks! 

They only print visas on a Thursday. So my interview was on Monday 9th, the CEAC status updated to issued on Thursday morning and I got the email to say so. Then I received my passport by 11am on the Friday morning. 

 

I stayed at Breakfree on Clarence for a very reasonable $87/ night

 

They do give you a letter to say you're moving but you ALSO need to submit an exemption request 

[KeishaAB 0]

Hi all, 

Congratulations on your approvals! I just started the process a while ago and still waiting for NOA2. But, I was wondering if I need any original documents for the K1 visa interview at Sydney? Birth certificate? Police clearances, past immunisation records etc.