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| Sydney, Australia |  Review on August 5, 2010: |
bextavaz
Rating:  | Review Topic: FB-1
I arrived in Sydney the night before the interview to allow plenty of time to make it to the MLC Building (and not stress with delayed flights). Stayed at the Sofitel Wentworth on Philip Street which was just one block away.
Initially my interview was for 9am; however, the Consulate emailed me and requested if it could be changed to 11am, which I agreed as I had booked my flights for later in the afternoon to fly out of Sydney.
I headed to the consulate around 10:20am... the lifts were easy to work out, especially if you have been into CBD highrises before... quickly went upto level 10 and followed the signs around to the consulate security office. They walked me through the metal detector and x-rayed my small bag that i had with me. I had a camera, headphones and an iphone charger in there, and they requested to see them for security purposes, then gave me a number to retrieve my bag when I came back down. I took my papers, my passport and my wallet and sat in the front row of chairs and very soon after a lady requested me to jump into the lift. I was the only person in the lift, so thankfully I didn't have to fight anyone when I got to the top haha. When you get to lvl 59 you have to stop at security again and they check your passport before buzzing you through the massive door. I remembered something about getting a ticket and spent about 1min trying to look for a ticket machine... and then realised it was pretty much right in front of me... I grabbed ticket 24, then walked over and looked at the view out the window of Sydney Harbour half covered in clouds/rain (great day!) and then sat down and waited.
The girl that pre-screened me for the interview was nice... although I'm slightly deaf due to my music hobby... at stages it was somewhat difficult to hear what she was saying through the tiny little hole that you have to pass papers through. First she requested my passport and walked off then came back... then she absolutely scared the poop out of me asking for my Mothers (petitioner) 2009 Tax Return. I didn't have it, because well, it wasn't a request on any paperwork that I'd received. After a bit of umming and ahhing she said we'll just leave it for now, and if its a requirement for the interview we'll deal with it then. She handed me the DS230 that I had sent to NVC which had highlighted question 10 because I had forgot to put the persons name with the address (surprised I didn't get an RFE!). I wrote it on and handed it back. She then requested my Express Envelope and medical records... and then told me to take a seat and I'll be called back up again shortly. At some stage during this, she gave me back all of my originals (Birth Cert, Name Change and Police Cert).
#24 came back up and I headed back to the same window, where my finger and thumb prints were taken, and then she said to take another seat and I'd be called up again shortly.
I was then verbally called by name to go to window 6, which was actually in the next room where a gentleman started "interviewing" me. They actually take your thumbprint again at this window, which I almost have a feeling it is to verify your identity to make sure they have the right person at the window. At this stage I could see the massive approved stamp on the paperwork and I'm pretty sure I was smiling on the inside. He gave me a sheet of paper and started randomly asking questions:
1. How many times have you been to the US?
2. What was the maximum time?
3. Who is the petitioner?
4. What profession is your mother?
5. How did your mother come to the US?
6. How long has your mother been in that profession?
I was then given a sheet of paper that I had to sign which was a waiver to say that if I married before entering the country it would nullify the visa...
He then said I was approved and that they would mail a yellow envelope to me which had to remain sealed until I reach POE, and that my passport would accompany that letter but it wouldn't be in the sealed envelope it would just be in the mail. Then... that was it... I could go.
In at 10:27am and out and on the phone at 11:02am :D
Was all in all a good experience... I've simply described it to friends as basically going to the transport department, but passing through 2 security checks on the way, and not being allowed to take anything except your wallet, papers and passport.
Best of luck to all of you reading this and soon to head to the US Consulate yourselves 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6434