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| Sydney, Australia |  Review on May 3, 2012: |
Sarahkiwi
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Had my interview on May 1, 2012. Stayed in the Travelodge Hotel on Phillip Street, which I HIGHLY recommend. It took me about 2 minutes to walk down to the MLC centre. As You go up the escalators, you walk left from the reception desk and take to first set of elevators you see. Then go up to level 10, and walk around past various offices (if you see a lot of dentists, you\'re in the right place.)
Walking in to the US Consulate reception room ,you walk through the security checkpoint and give them your stuff to hold on to. I was allowed to take my water bottle as long as I took a drink of it in front of the security guy, which was good. Was so nervous my throat was ridiculously dry.
Waited to be called in to the elevator, then the security lady showed us in. People are definitely right about the ride making your ears pop, it was really quick! Up to the Consulate level, you show your passport to the lady behind the counter, she checks your name off a list and unlocks the door so you can go in.
A lot of people were saying this door was really heavy, it was heavier than usual but nothing to worry about at all.
Pressed the button for \"Immigrant Visa\", took my ticket and sat down. After about 5 minutes I got called up to the first window, and the lady took my envelope, payment receipt and passport. She asked some standard administrative questions, like where I want my green card sent once it\'s issued. After she looked through everything, she said everything looked in good order, and if my interviewer didn\'t need any more evidence then my visa would be issued.
I went to sit back down, and waited to be called to the window. Listening to other peoples stories was fun, be prepared to tell your story not only to the interviewer, but to everyone else in the room. :D
After about 40 minutes, I was called up to the window. She asked me to sign a form, then asked me to verify that everything I was about to say was the truth. The interview was in two parts, first standard questions that everyone gets asked. They were:
Have you ever been married before?
Has your fiance ever been married before?
Do you have any children?
Have you met in the past 2 years?
Then she moved on to questions relating to my particular case. I was asked:
How many times have you visited the US?
When were these times?
Has your fiance ever visited Australia?
Have you met his family? Tell me about them.
Has he met your family? What did they think of him?
What do your parents think about you moving over there? (I think this was due to my age, as I am only 21.)
Tell me about your fiance. What is he like?
Then she turned to talk to two people that were standing behind her, i\'m not sure what that was about, maybe he was in training and needed witnesses? Anyway, I saw them nodding and smiling which was really exciting! Then she turned back to me and confirmed that she believed I was in a legitimate relationship, and handed me a piece of paper that said \"Congratulations, your visa has been approved\" With my case number and tracking number from the envelope I took in.
She explained that we need to marry within 90 days, and when they send my paperwork to me there will be an envelope which I CANNOT open, immigration in the US will open it. She advised me to Have a few hours in between flights once I reach the US, as the immigration process may take an hour or so.
After that, she asked me if I had any questions for her, and I said no. I asked her if she needed any evidence from me, as I had taken in a whole folder of it! She said no, and after that I was free to go.
If you are stressing out about your interview like I was, RELAX. Trust me, it\'s really easy. It can be nerve wracking sitting there, knowing the whole room will be able to hear you, but once you start talking to the interviewer you forget about everyone else and nothing else really matters. All up the process took about an hour. Everyone was really nice, and the process was so smooth.
I\'ve recieved an email today (May 33) that they are sending my passport back to me today. So it only took them 2 days to get everything sorted. Very efficient, i\'m impressed. 
(updated on May 3, 2012)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9602