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| Sydney, Australia |  Review on September 27, 2011: |
cherryswife
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Well today was my big day and I have just arrived home from Sydney. I want to give a review in the hope it will help others, just as others' reviews helped me so very much.
Accommodation:
I read many people suggesting accommodation at Phillip St. Travelodge. I looked at the site and was not too impressed with the pictures so I looked around and happened upon Medina Classic Martin Place. It was cheaper this night ($165 total) and about 3-4 minutes walk to the MLC building. I arrived last night and walked into my room - I thought there had been a mistake. I expected a very basic studio room but what I got was a full 1 bedroom apartment. Complete with balcony, lounge room, full-sized kitchen, bedroom and of course bathroom. I was soooo impressed. I would highly recommend this establishment. The lady at the desk happily stored by bags post check out and she even printed me off about 12 pages from an email I needed to take to the consulate (free of charge, too).
The airport train ($15)stops at St. James Station which is about a ten minute walk to the hotel and I walked alone at 10pm and felt very safe, there were plenty of people around.
Getting there (MLC Centre):
My appointment was at ten and I had read many reviews about not turning up too early. I was anxious and needed to get out of the room so I checked out at 8 and tried (and failed) to find a McDonald's for breaky. I ended up getting a meat pie (yes, for breaky) from a store called Pie Face on Pitt St. It was difficult however finding somewhere to sit and eat it. There were plenty of coffee places around but I am not a coffee drinker and I can't stand the smell. So I walked to the MLC Centre, bought a coke, and sat in the cafe by the newsagent there. Afterwards, I took a walk around the food courts there and realised I needn't have gone all the way up Pitt St. in my search for food, there were so many food vendors there. Anyway, I had printed and taken with me directions how to find this elusive tenth floor. It was a bit confusing, not being a big city folk, but I got there using the lifts to "Tower Lobby" (it does not explicitly state that it is tenth floor) , and once you are up on 10, it is really very easy. You follow the signs to the consulate office, check in your bag/go through screening, and you are sent to the secure lifts to 59. I can't see how one could get lost from here, you just follow the corridors, so I wont detail the rest.
At the consulate (59th floor):
I took my number and took a seat and got acquainted with a very nice Aussie gentleman whose wife was American. There were lots of people around and a few couples with babies. A few Americans, seemingly trying to bring their Aussie spouses home, too. The arrangement was sort of like Department of transport if you will. Not much privacy, you get called by number to one of 11 windows and you really can hear everyone's business if they are loud talkers.
I waited about 10-15 minutes and was called up to window 3 where a nice lady took my paperwork (she told me to give her everything I was asked to bring so I gave her my passports (current plus one expired), medical, medical section I, prepaid envelope, appointment letter, and proof of payment. She and told me to sit down again. Another about 10 minutes later she called me back and had ready for me my original documents initially submitted such as my police cert, birth cert, and marriage cert. She then took my fingerprints (although she could not get clear prints for some reason) and told me that since my husband has not yet done his 2010 taxes this could cause issue. I explained he has filed for extension and she did have that document but she said it still may be an issue but she will leave it up to the interviewer (she didn't say interviewer, I have forgotten the term she used but that is who she meant). So I took a seat back where I was and found out the nice chap from earlier was approved; I was very happy for him.
The interview:
About 5-10 minutes later I was called, this time by name, to window 5 where I was greeted by a very nice, young, jovial man who gave me a very positive feeling. He made a little joke but then remarked he should be more professional. He explained that he will ask me questions about my application and then ask about our marriage. Eventually he asked:
How did we meet? (it was online)
Was it on a specific dating site?
When did we meet?
Why did you pick someone so far away?
How do we keep in touch? (we have been apart for almost 2 years)
What do we have in common?
What is our age difference?
He asked about my previous application in 09 (entry on VWP, AOS filed, i864 denied for financial reasons) and how it came to be that we married on this visit. I was worried at this stage but explained everything was legit.
He then got to the subject of my husband's 2010 taxes. He told me that although we are using a co-sponsor, my husband needs to file his taxes in order for my visa to be processed; he needs to be in good standing with the government before they'll allow him to sponsor an immigrant. Fair enough.
Decision:
He was satisfied we have a legitimate relationship and as soon as I can email the consulate my husband's 1040 he will issue my visa! javascript:emoticon(' ')
My husband already contacted his accountant and I hope we can get this 1040 ASAP.
Just want to say THANK YOU to all the kind people at this forum who take the time to lend their wisdom through advice and support. I could not have done this without this site.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8400