2014 DV Australian winners
- Thread starter AU.Dan
- Start date
This is very helpful.
I am moving to London next week and was hoping to stay there for at least 3years (I have a 5yr visa). If my interview is in August 2014 (the estimate given when I phoned KCC), then I guess I've got until April 2016 (maybe even 2017) before I have to move?
Crawf33
Registered Users (C)
Yeah, I'm from Brisbane, although I'm currently based in Denver, Colorado.
2nd NL and interview date/time
Just a quick question - do you get given your interview date/time in your 2nd NL? - I am in QLD and need to organise a family of four lol - just wondering...Thanks
Just a quick question - do you get given your interview date/time in your 2nd NL? - I am in QLD and need to organise a family of four lol - just wondering...Thanks
Crawf33
Registered Users (C)
Haha thanks. I'm a reporter by trade so I'm able to craft a pretty good recap I think. And I should have plenty of time in the Virgin lounge between my interview and flight back to Queensland to put something together.
KCC emails you telling you to log back into the DV Lottery status check site, which is where you'll see your 2NL. The second notification letter contains the date and time as well as links to all the documentation you'll need for your interview.
Thankfully I already put that stuff together well before I left for the US (on a tourist visa this time) so that it would all be set for me to fly home for the interview. That said, it was a calculated gamble because I knew with my case number I'd definitely be in November.
If you're not 100 per cent sure when your interview is, I certainly wouldn't advise getting the medical examination done before receiving your 2NL confirmation.
Mijoro
Well-Known Member
Roxy what range is your CN number?
I'm also from Queensland and I've got my interview in early October, the week after next! I got all my medical documents back yesterday, so I think I now have everything in order. Nevertheless, I'm starting to get a little bit nervous!!
paulthegolfer
New Member
We are from the Gold Coast - our number is 10xx - didn't think we would be anxious but we are - it will all work out in the end.
Seems to us we are a bit older than the rest of you (just guessing) - there seems to be so much to organise apart from the GC details.
Good luck everyone.
Seems to us we are a bit older than the rest of you (just guessing) - there seems to be so much to organise apart from the GC details.
Good luck everyone.
Britsimon
Super Moderator
It's easier and more appealing for the younguns - but we aren't all young!
Last edited by a moderator:
Crawf33
Registered Users (C)
Good luck mate - it'd be great if you could find the time to give us a rundown on what to expect once you get through yours! Mine's in about six weeks.
Yeah mate not a problem. I went for an interview a few years ago when I went studying for six months in the US and it took about 5 minutes and when relatively painless. Hopefully it's pretty similar this time round!!
Vichel
Registered Users (C)
Very painless. I was thinking it would be tougher but the DV interview's like a mere formality - check all your paperwork, check you out with a few bland questions and Bob's your uncle. It was like a nice chat, with a few laughs. When I went for my B1/B2 in 2011, that felt like more of an interrogation, even asking me why I had a bunch of big deposits on my bank statement and what my itinerary was in detail
All the best!
Hello fellow Aussies!!
Just wanted to check in and say good luck to all the DV winners that have interviews coming up! I remember going for my student visa interview at the Melbourne consulate back in 2011, and if its anything to go by, it was quick and painless... in and out in five minutes! So if you're feeling nervous, just remember... you're Australian! A very prosperous, low-fraud country.... So come on in!!
As a side note, I have my marriage-based adjustment of status interview coming up in a few weeks... I think this interview will be somewhat more stressful than the DV interview would be... We have to lay out all the proof of our marriage and have a lawyer coming with us.... Think Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell in "Green Card". But on the up side, I finally got employment authorization, which means I'm now free to work anywhere here.
I know, I'm off-topic and this is a DV thread.... but its good to be able to touch base with other Aussies.
If anyone has any questions on settling into life in the US, like health insurance, establishing credit, all those sorts of things, I'm happy to help out.
Oh, and if any of you are looking for an easy way to establish a decent credit rating quickly in the US, here's some advice. If you have an American Express card (issued by AmEx or a bank, not a store card), when you get to the US and have your Social Security Number, be sure to do a "global transfer". You do this by logging in to your AmEx online and then calling AmEx and giving your SSN and new US address. Then, they will change your card to a US-based American Express, so its in US currency and easier to pay off from a US bank account. You'll be approved for the transfer if 1) your account is in good standing and 2) you've used the card at least once I the past 6 months. I'm yet to do this, as I'm still waiting on my SSN, but a friend of mine immigrating from Germany did this and his credit score instantly shot up to 750 (quite good/high). This is a great way to instantly establish a good credit score.
Anyways, I'm rambling now.... Good luck everyone!!
Just wanted to check in and say good luck to all the DV winners that have interviews coming up! I remember going for my student visa interview at the Melbourne consulate back in 2011, and if its anything to go by, it was quick and painless... in and out in five minutes! So if you're feeling nervous, just remember... you're Australian! A very prosperous, low-fraud country.... So come on in!!
As a side note, I have my marriage-based adjustment of status interview coming up in a few weeks... I think this interview will be somewhat more stressful than the DV interview would be... We have to lay out all the proof of our marriage and have a lawyer coming with us.... Think Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell in "Green Card". But on the up side, I finally got employment authorization, which means I'm now free to work anywhere here.
I know, I'm off-topic and this is a DV thread.... but its good to be able to touch base with other Aussies.
If anyone has any questions on settling into life in the US, like health insurance, establishing credit, all those sorts of things, I'm happy to help out.
Oh, and if any of you are looking for an easy way to establish a decent credit rating quickly in the US, here's some advice. If you have an American Express card (issued by AmEx or a bank, not a store card), when you get to the US and have your Social Security Number, be sure to do a "global transfer". You do this by logging in to your AmEx online and then calling AmEx and giving your SSN and new US address. Then, they will change your card to a US-based American Express, so its in US currency and easier to pay off from a US bank account. You'll be approved for the transfer if 1) your account is in good standing and 2) you've used the card at least once I the past 6 months. I'm yet to do this, as I'm still waiting on my SSN, but a friend of mine immigrating from Germany did this and his credit score instantly shot up to 750 (quite good/high). This is a great way to instantly establish a good credit score.
Anyways, I'm rambling now.... Good luck everyone!!
Hi James88, good luck with your upcoming adjustment of status interview, I'm sure everything will go fine!
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but I have been wondering for a while what to do about getting health insurance for when I first move over and get settled. I would really appreciate any advice you may have with what is the best way to go?
Cheers
I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself but I have been wondering for a while what to do about getting health insurance for when I first move over and get settled. I would really appreciate any advice you may have with what is the best way to go?
Cheers
Well, there's been quite a few changes with Obamacare going in to effect soon. Some states are setting up "exchanges" which will basically be web sites where you can shop for your insurance based on the care you need. You will need to familiarize yourself with American insurance terms.... a "co-pay" is the equivalent of the "gap" you pay out of pocket at the docket. A "deductible" is the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts paying, the Australian term for it would be "excess". Plans also have "lifetime caps" (ie- the maximum a plan pays over your lifetime, then you have to foot the rest of the bill), but Obamacare will be getting rid of lifetime caps, thank goodness! So when you know what state you're moving to, Google your state's exchange. I think the exchanges go live in October. If your state is not setting up an exchange, that state uses the federal government exchange.
Also, there's plans that are PPOs and HMOs. PPOs generally cost more, but generally you can see any doctor and specialist in your "network" without a referral. With a HMO, you must first see your nominated doctor and then be referred to specialists.
Make sure you read the fine print of insurance plans, and might be best to keep to well-known providers (some of the well known ones are Signa, Aetna, United, Anthem Blue Cross, Kaiser).
I arrived here on an F-1 student visa, so it was mandatory for me to buy my school's health insurance (although I'm now covered by my spouse's employer plan). My school insurance is really cheap (around $800 for the year) and includes doctor visits, any tests, prescriptions and any hospital visits I need. If you're strapped for cash, it may be worth looking at health plans for students through local community colleges, and enrolling in a unit or two just for the health insurance.
AND... make sure you bring your Medicare card from Australia with you!!! Many insurance plans here have a 6-month pre-existing condition clause, where they won't cover pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months of coverage.... However, this is usually waived if you can show you had prior health insurance.... and my insurance company accepted a copy of my Australian passport and Medicare card as evidence of prior coverage.