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| Sydney, Australia |  Review on April 14, 2007: |
hampster
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Let’s start from the beginning shall we...
Well flew into Sydney Thursday Morning arriving at 8.40am...
Got a train from the Airport to Central Station,
then a Tram to Haymarket, cost $15.20
where my Hotel was........ ,
can pre-pay tram and bus and train tickets at the station,
through a ticket vending machine.
Then got to my Hotel... Aarons on Ultimo Rd.around 10.00am
Dropped of my Luggage there,
as my room wouldn't be ready till 12.00pm Midday.
So I walked all around Chinatown where Haymarket is.
Across the road was "Paddy's Market"
where you could buy anything, for a price.
They even sold wigs there and I thought...
should I buy one for the interview nooooooo I didn't lol.
They also do sorta like Henna Tattooing there as well...
I though hmmm......
(remembering the day before I shaved my Head )
Wouldn't it be funny to have 2 eyes,
tattooed on the back of my head lol hehehe.
For an Aussie in Chinatown do you think I could find a place,
that sold Fish and Chips nooooooooooooooooooo.
Anyways Got back to my Hotel went upstairs and got into my room.
Basic room.. With TV, kettle, mini bar fridge..(No Alcohol)
and a double bed that was hard but comfortable..
Was a 1st floor room with a alleyway outside my window where,
in Chinatown they prepare all sorts of food... nuff said
Slept that night for about ohhhhhh 3 hours...
woke up made a cuppa tea at 6.30am..
Then showered, shaved and dressed and took my stuff downstairs,
they allowed me to keep my luggage there till I returned.
So..... Around 8.30 am I walked to George Street..
About 3 streets away to catch a bus that went to Martin Place.
FYI all buses that go down George Street Goes past Martin Place.
It’s about a 7 Minute ride,
from George Street to CONSULATE...cost $1.20 1 way.
So I got into the Consulate(10th floor security)
had to take off my belt shoes,
and my rings and empty out my pockets of change,
as well as turning of my Mobile Phone.
They Keep Mobile and give you a plastic card,
with the logo of the consulate and when you come back down,
to go out after interview just give them the card and they will,
in turn give you back what they kept .. Mobile phone or any other bags.
So I get to the 59th floor..
Take my Immigration # number from the machine.
Number # 14.. Time stamped 9.47am...
there where about 30 people in there when I arrived.
So I sat at the window overlooking Sydney Harbor Bridge..
Then walked around awhile.
Sat down again then got up for another walk.
There was a few couples there applying for visa's. Omg!!
They had arrived at the Consulate with no $$$ to pay their fee.
They arrived at the consulate had their numbers called,
some didn't have their affidavit of support..
Or tax returns or other stuff that put them in hot water.
By this time it was 12.50pm..
Considering My Interview was scheduled for 10.00am...
And once the Consulate Officer (Dragon Lady),
had their file in front of her and they where at the window,
she had to follow up on their case till they returned,
with their information or cash or whatever they needed to get this done.
By this time.. I was really hanging out for a Smoke
so i was waiting there nearly 4 hours past my interview time..
There was another lady in window 2 Amber doing Cr1 interviews as well.
So I got called to Window 2 FINALLY @ 3.30pm
she was very pleasant and Apologies profusely about the delays..
So she checked all my paperwork,
she commented that if other people going for visa's,
was as organised as My Paperwork was done,
People wouldn't have to wait around for 4 + hours for their Interview.
She looked at everything and said ok Paul,
take a seat and you will be called to Window # 6,
by the Consular Officer doing your Interview.
I said thankyou and sat down by the window again.
Waited till around 4.10pm and was called to Window #2.
Nice guy around 30ish and said hello Paul,
I said Giddy lol...
He said so Paul what is your reason for your Visa.
I said well My Wife and I got married last year,
In Adelaide and she had to go back to work
a couple days, after we got married,
and I wanted to move overseas to be with her.
He said oh ok ( playing dumb lol)
He then asked how long we had known each other for,
how did we meet, what does Cheryl Do for a Job,
I told him and he said oh ok..
Then he said Have you checked the box for a SS #,
I said yes I did request a SS# on my DS 230.
He goes ok no worries.
Then he asked did I bring a 3kg parcel express bag,
with my return address on it.
I said yes it is under the next page that you are looking at ..Lol
He checked and laughed oh ok lol
and then he said well take these paper with you.. And it said..
WELCOME TO AMERICA
He said Congratulations Paul your Visa has been APPROVED.
I said gimme a Low 5 lol he said what?
I said it was a version of high 5 slap
I then proceeded to slide my fingers under the glass portion,
and he obliged and gave me a low 5 by touching my fingers with his.
He and I just cracked up laughing..
He said that is the 1st time he has ever heard of that happening lol.
So I walked out of the 59th floor @ 4.30pm,
went down to the 10th and the Guard asked
do I need to pick anything up from security.
I said nope with a big Shot Eating grin on my face
So I walked out of the MLC Building and instead of catching the bus back,
to my Hotel I decided to walk back.
I got a Kilometre away and realised omega I left my phone,
at security on the 10th floor. So i ran back and got to the 10th floor,
security check point.. And the guards said...
Wondered how long you would take to realise you left it here lol.
So all in all it was a great day.
As soon as I got back to my hotel I rang and left a Voicemail,
On Cheryl’s Cell phone and said we got the visa!!!!!!!.
So we caught up on the phone before I left Sydney,
and she was solo happy and said,
well we knew we where gonna get it.
So to that entire are going through Sydney Consulate..
Make sure you take water ( have some in front of Security)
and take a Magazine or a paper is prepared for a wait..
Hopefully not as long as mine was..
Remember to take a number as soon as you walk in,
and be patient as it's all you can do.
Thank you all that have been curious about how I went.
Any word from Tambo?
Ok hope everyone is well and are happy.
Cheers
Paul
OOPS I forgot I will receive my Visa by Post..
If my INTERVIEW was ON TIME @10.00am,
I would have had it in Hand that day.. Ffs.
But main thing is that it has been APPROVED,
and will get it by Wednesday by the latest.
Cheers
Paul
 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1499