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DV 2021 Oceania Selectees

NY9 said:
Feels like Auckland is moving quicker than Sydney. Wish I had moved my consulate to Auckland.

Has anyone with a high case number above say 16XX been scheduled for an interview in Sydney yet?
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I think cases are being scheduled by case number (per consulate) and I believe the max. case number scheduled in Sydney (SYD) for June is OC13XX (unless someone can tell me otherwise).

So assuming you are ready for scheduling, you will probably get an interview for July.

In fact, I think (predict) anyone in Sydney with case numbers in the range 13XX - 19XX who are *ready for scheduling* should be able to land a July interview :cool:.

Of course this depends on response rates etc. but as people here have mentioned previously, those in the OC region will remain relatively unaffected compared to those in other regions.

Let's see what happens in the coming weeks!
 
Hello! I'm so happy I found this forum.

My case number was 2021OC3XX and I just got approved at my interview this week (YAY!) but now I'm kind of freaking out about this insane travel ban we have. I just thought you couldn't just choof off on holiday - I didn't realise you actually literally could not leave the country. Wtf.

Anyway! It seems the only way to get out of here before our visas expire in October is to basically move straight away, rather than go and activate, then come back. We're really not ready to move OS by October; we were really banking on that extra year to keep saving and get our house/car/belongings/dogs sorted before going over.

Does anyone have any insight they can share? The exemption categories are so vague - "urgent and unavoidable personal reasons" - what even is that? I feel like that could cover this, but I know the vast majority of requests are getting declined. Do we just keep applying and changing things until they let us go?!
 
blockodiledundee said:
Hello! I'm so happy I found this forum.

My case number was 2021OC3XX and I just got approved at my interview this week (YAY!) but now I'm kind of freaking out about this insane travel ban we have. I just thought you couldn't just choof off on holiday - I didn't realise you actually literally could not leave the country. Wtf.

Anyway! It seems the only way to get out of here before our visas expire in October is to basically move straight away, rather than go and activate, then come back. We're really not ready to move OS by October; we were really banking on that extra year to keep saving and get our house/car/belongings/dogs sorted before going over.

Does anyone have any insight they can share? The exemption categories are so vague - "urgent and unavoidable personal reasons" - what even is that? I feel like that could cover this, but I know the vast majority of requests are getting declined. Do we just keep applying and changing things until they let us go?!
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The most likely category for Australians will be "compelling reason, 3+ month absence." Sadly the odds of being approved on other grounds for a short term visit is pretty low especially with what's been happening recently.

I'll be applying for my exemption as soon as I get my visa in the mail so I'll update this page with my results.

Other options:
1. Get approved to leave for 3+ months and come back early. The problem with this is that you'd be breaking your word on a stat dec which is a crime, and it might result in action for that and/or problems getting future travel exemptions.

2. Travel to NZ and then fly on from NZ to the USA (i.e. via the NZ travel bubble). The problem with this is that most flights seem to be going NZ > Sydney > USA anyway so you need to be very careful which flight you pick. You may end up having to do a very disjointed and expensive trip.

3. Try to get in on other grounds. Maybe you could claim you need to make a trip for work if you have work lined up in the US? maybe "compassionate/compelling grounds" could include "so I don't lose my opportunity at a green card" (I doubt it, but then again lots of people are getting approved for less).
 
Archer87 said:
Other options:
1. Get approved to leave for 3+ months and come back early. The problem with this is that you'd be breaking your word on a stat dec which is a crime, and it might result in action for that and/or problems getting future travel exemptions.

2. Travel to NZ and then fly on from NZ to the USA (i.e. via the NZ travel bubble). The problem with this is that most flights seem to be going NZ > Sydney > USA anyway so you need to be very careful which flight you pick. You may end up having to do a very disjointed and expensive trip.

3. Try to get in on other grounds. Maybe you could claim you need to make a trip for work if you have work lined up in the US? maybe "compassionate/compelling grounds" could include "so I don't lose my opportunity at a green card" (I doubt it, but then again lots of people are getting approved for less).
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I've been wondering about returning early with the 3 month exemption! It feels like such a grey area, and I can't find any information anywhere about what happens if circumstances change while you're away and you have to return early. My intention could have been to stay 3 months, but that's changed for X reason -- I just wish there was more information about what the repercussions of that would be. My husband and I would have to each take 3 months off work to do that properly, which isn't really an option for us.

I figured a work exemption would be a possibility, as I could go and visit the office I'd transfer to in the US, but figured they'd say no as that could easily be a Zoom meeting.

Edit - I thought using the NZ bubble could work but according to Home Affairs you still need an exemption if you have an onward flight out of NZ. Ugh.

I'm thinking at this point of just waiting until this current travel ban expires next month and seeing what they come up with next...I just don't want to waste too much of our 6 month validity waiting around.

Thank you so much for replying, and good luck for your move!
 
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blockodiledundee said:
I'm thinking at this point of just waiting until this current travel ban expires next month and seeing what they come up with next...I just don't want to waste too much of our 6 month validity waiting around.
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The budget released Tuesday assumes that the travel ban will be in place until mid next year, I think its safe to assume that there won't be any good news next month.
 
Greetings,
I am a dv lottery winner for 2021 (obviously lol ) in Sydney and my number is 2021OCXX my number is super low but we also have a family of 8. Anyone get an interview with a large family yet? Submitted ds260 and docs last year when we found out, have sent emails to ask if our docs were good which they replied yes… but we are still waiting for interview… am I being impatient lol… maybe they are doing the singles/simple apps first? pretty much ready from all the wonderful advice given here… maybe I should be more patcient lol … thanks
 
@blockodiledundee theres direct flights AKL to LAX every Thursday and Sunday night here on AirNZ. I’ve been stalking the prices relentlessly because I’m about to fly over myself! They are essentially the same price no matter how close to flying you book ($1500 one way pp), and they aren’t even close to being full. This might be reckless, but you could maybe book flights to Auckland and pretend it’s for a holiday, and then book your LAX flights once here? Lol. Covid tests available at Pathlabs for $200 pp. Really sucks that you have to apply for an exemption to leave the country!!!
 
Hi guys any ideas when my case number of 2021OC30xx might be scheduled for an interview in Sydney? I submitted my documents and got the 'documents received' / ready to be scheduled for interview in September 2020. Also in the January lawsuit.
 
brah99 said:
Hi guys any ideas when my case number of 2021OC30xx might be scheduled for an interview in Sydney? I submitted my documents and got the 'documents received' / ready to be scheduled for interview in September 2020. Also in the January lawsuit.
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A lot of people are in the same boat with lower numbers. No one has any clue
What is the January Lawsuit?
 
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Ntongi said:
Greetings,
I am a dv lottery winner for 2021 (obviously lol ) in Sydney and my number is 2021OCXX my number is super low but we also have a family of 8. Anyone get an interview with a large family yet? Submitted ds260 and docs last year when we found out, have sent emails to ask if our docs were good which they replied yes… but we are still waiting for interview… am I being impatient lol… maybe they are doing the singles/simple apps first? pretty much ready from all the wonderful advice given here… maybe I should be more patcient lol … thanks
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Hi! This isn't very helpful, but I'm OC2XX, single person, still waiting for my Sydney interview to be scheduled... There doesn't seem to be any reason to their processing order at this point!
 
anxious_melb said:
Can anyone that has had their interview give me some insight on how deep they go in to your financials?
I'm fairly young and have spent most of my adult life a full time student with some splatters of part time work, I'm in a fairly employable position with a good portfolio, masters degree and references but don't meet the $21,775 USD guideline that I've seen mentioned in various places.
I know there is the option of getting an affidavit of support by a US citizen but I don't know anyone who would be willing to do this for me. My parents are quite happy to support me in any case and they have the means to but my understanding is this won't count for anything since they aren't citizens. TIA!
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I also read about the affidavit of support somewhere but that it is not necessary for the DV lottery. I have not seen mention of that $ guideline though...

Anyway, BritSimon discusses this in one of his videos and mentions that the Sydney Consulate is one that is not too focused on finances, and it is not common for them to ask about your savings. The reason for this is because Australia is a reasonable country and Australians tend to be 'financially smart' and 'reasonable' so they have less concern about us being a financial liability to their country. They know we are educated, and most of the time capable of getting an income (this is less obvious in other countries).

There is no harm in having tax returns and bank statements printed out for your interview but i personally will not have them.
 
brah99 said:
Jacob v Biden
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Do you have the case number, as there appear to be many Jacob vs Biden lawsuits, one of them filed around that time was for 2020.
Just trying to follow what happens. Is it the one with Judge Chen?
pacermonitor.com/public/case/37873515/Jacob_et_al_v_Biden_et_al
 
Green&Gold said:
Do you have the case number, as there appear to be many Jacob vs Biden lawsuits, one of them filed around that time was for 2020.
Just trying to follow what happens. Is it the one with Judge Chen?
pacermonitor.com/public/case/37873515/Jacob_et_al_v_Biden_et_al
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that's the one - initially jacob v trump then changed to jacob v biden
 
Aus21 said:
I’ll make a decision with joining Curtis Morrison after VB or next batch of 2NL come out! Hopefully won’t need it but who knows what will happen this year?
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Oh yes, good idea. I wonder if there’s anymore 2NLs before the May 31 deadline though?
 
Melb2021 said:
Oh yes, good idea. I wonder if there’s anymore 2NLs before the May 31 deadline though?
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2NLs can and have been in the past, sent up until the last day of the month. Considering its only May 14th and last I checked this months VB hasnt been released yet.. .there is an extremely high chance (read - certain) 2NLs will be sent out in the coming 2 weeks
 
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