|
|
| Sydney, Australia |  Review on April 9, 2014: |
darin&josh
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I arrived at the Sydney Consulate reception on level 10 at 8.50am for my 9.00am appointment. I went through security and was taken up to the 59th floor fairly quickly. I took a number and sat in the waiting area, and after 20 minutes I was called up to the window and was asked to hand over all the documents I was requested to bring.
I had not been required to send anything in previously, as the packet 3 instructions stated that I was to bring all my documents on the day of my appointment. This included my passport, the DSL-1076 checklist, MRV fee receipt, DS-160 confirmation page, passport-type photograph, letters of intent to marry, birth certificate, police certificate (I had not received my police certificate by the date of my appointment and was told I could send this in once I had received it), and the I-134 and evidence. I was then asked to wait again while those documents were checked, copied and added to the file.
After waiting approximately another 20 minutes I was called up again and told that everything was in order, my originals were returned, and that I could sit back down and wait to be called up for my interview. (She complimented me on having everything in the order requested, and for not using staples or post-it notes, as this made it a lot easier for her to make copies and put the file together.)
I waited approximately another 20 minutes before I was called up again, this time by another CO. The interview was very straight forward, and the CO was friendly and very polite. The questions asked were:
-How did you meet?
-When did you decide to get married?
-Where are you getting married? (there were some follow up questions about the reason we were getting married in Iowa but having a reception in Minnesota).
-The CO admitted she should have known, but asked if Iowa permitted same sex marriage? (which it did).
-What is your current employment?
-What is your fiancé’s current employment? She asked details about his area of study and Teaching Assistantship (She then briefly checked over the I-134 form and evidence).
-The CO looked briefly over my visit history, and asked about a particular period where I was in the US on a 12 month study abroad program. (this also led her to ask how often we were able to see each other during that time since we were in different states)
-The CO then quickly looked at our photos, and asked where one in particular was taken.
After that the CO said that everything was in order, and that once they received my police certificate and medical report from the physician (since I had to travel from interstate, I had my medical the day before) it would take approximately 7 days to process and return my passport and visa. The CO then advised that the visa was valid for up to 6 months and that we were required to get married within 90 days of my arrival in the US, and recommended that we complete the AOS stage of the process as soon as possible.
I was out of the Consulate by 10.30am. There were only a few people in the waiting area when I arrived, but by the time I left it was getting a lot busier. So I imagine if you have a later appointment time then it could take more than 90 minutes.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #14267