andrewps21
Registered Users (C)
My interview was on Wednesday 28 of November at 8am.
I arrived at Martin Place at about 7.30 and found the MLC Building, quite easy to find it’s directly opposite the ANZ bank. I was early and there were a few cafes in the ground floor so I sat and composed myself, I was a little sweaty, as I had just walked from Central Station. At about 7.40 I went to the back of the building to locate the elevator and took it to the Lobby. There was a desk and 2 receptionists/security.
I went around the corner to find another elevator and took it to the 10th floor. This is where security was located. You should get here as early as possible to make it a quick and easy day. Everyone is scheduled for an appointment at 8am, so arrive at security at 7.30 and you'll be first in line. I walked around and found the security office, past a few other offices a dentist among them. There was a line to clear security, some chairs for people that have already been cleared and a lady in the corner at a desk checking documents.
I joined the line, there was about 10 people in front of me. It took 15mins for me to arrive at the security desk. I handed her my appointment letter and made my way through the metal detector, it didn’t go off. I had a small overnight bag with me as I arrive in Sydney Tuesday night. I was a little concerned because the website says not to bring backpacks but this was not a problem. I turned off my phone and put it in my bag, handed it to the guard who stored it and gave me a ticket to pick it up later. Don't forget to get all of your documents and wallet out of your bag before you store it.
I then sat in the chairs behind everyone else waiting to see the lady in the corner, this was a big mistake. Only non-immigrant visas are required to wait. I was supposed to go straight up to the 59th floor and get a ticket. While I waited all the other immigrant visa applicants passed me by and by the time I got up to the 59th floor I went from first to tenth in line
So it was about 8.30 when I saw the lady in the corner, she said I didn't have to see her and to go up in the elevator. She then stood up and asked if any other immigrant visa applicants were waiting, there weren’t any.
So I took the elevator up and then cleared another metal detector. This time it did go off. I removed my watch and belt and went through again. Success. Security buzzed me through a big heavy door, and I want into the main area. There were about 10 manned windows all behind very heavy glass with finger print scanners in front of them. There was a very nice view to the left of the harbour bridge and 2 computers for people to print any important documents.
I grabbed a ticket for an immigrant visa and was number 10 as I said earlier, I then waited. The non-immigrant visas were all in the 300's and went quite quickly, the immigrant visas went very slow, they were often families with babies and presumably lots of documents. I spoke with a few people about their visas, one was getting a spouse visa. I was the only one to win the lottery
It took about 2 hours before I was called to the window but only took about 10mins after that. I had followed the instructions meticulously and all my documents were in order. I was first called to #2 and she started with my appointment letter, then my passport and photo, she paper clipped the photo to my passport. Then I gave her all my documents in the order requested with photocopies below the originals. She went through them and clipped all my education records together and told me to go to window #8 to pay, and gave me a payment slip. This window was the cashier and there was no line. I gave her my credit card and paid the 755USD. They only charge in USD, they only put the AUD amount on the paperwork for a guide only. I ended up getting an exchange rate of 0.875, which wasn't too bad.
I was given a receipt and returned to window #2, I kept one copy and gave the duplicate to the lady. She said everything looked fine, handed me an immigrant pamphlet, returned all my original documents (except my passport) and told me to wait for my interview.
Soon after I was called to window #5 for my 'interview'. I use this word loosely as there really was no interview.
He started by taking my fingerprints on the scanner in front of the window, and then asked me a few questions.
This was how the interview went:
Interviewer -> When do you expect to travel?
Myself -> Probably in May I want to save as much as I can before I go .
Interviewer -> Where will you stay?
Myself -> Minnesota with my brother.
Interviewer -> It will be cold there.
Myself -> I've heard it will be cold.
Interviewer -> Is your brother a citizen?
Myself -> No his wife is, so he has some sort of spouse visa.
Interviewer -> Have you been to the US before?
Myself -> No.
He then said everything looked fine and my application had been approved and said my greencard will arrive in the next few days. He gave me a piece of paper explaining that my passport will arrive in the envelope I provided and it had the 'sender to keep id number' on it from the envelope I provided. 'Your all set' he finished with.
I left, returned to the 10th floor to collect my backpack and that was it. My passport with the visa arrived yesterday, Monday.
I arrived at Martin Place at about 7.30 and found the MLC Building, quite easy to find it’s directly opposite the ANZ bank. I was early and there were a few cafes in the ground floor so I sat and composed myself, I was a little sweaty, as I had just walked from Central Station. At about 7.40 I went to the back of the building to locate the elevator and took it to the Lobby. There was a desk and 2 receptionists/security.
I went around the corner to find another elevator and took it to the 10th floor. This is where security was located. You should get here as early as possible to make it a quick and easy day. Everyone is scheduled for an appointment at 8am, so arrive at security at 7.30 and you'll be first in line. I walked around and found the security office, past a few other offices a dentist among them. There was a line to clear security, some chairs for people that have already been cleared and a lady in the corner at a desk checking documents.
I joined the line, there was about 10 people in front of me. It took 15mins for me to arrive at the security desk. I handed her my appointment letter and made my way through the metal detector, it didn’t go off. I had a small overnight bag with me as I arrive in Sydney Tuesday night. I was a little concerned because the website says not to bring backpacks but this was not a problem. I turned off my phone and put it in my bag, handed it to the guard who stored it and gave me a ticket to pick it up later. Don't forget to get all of your documents and wallet out of your bag before you store it.
I then sat in the chairs behind everyone else waiting to see the lady in the corner, this was a big mistake. Only non-immigrant visas are required to wait. I was supposed to go straight up to the 59th floor and get a ticket. While I waited all the other immigrant visa applicants passed me by and by the time I got up to the 59th floor I went from first to tenth in line
So it was about 8.30 when I saw the lady in the corner, she said I didn't have to see her and to go up in the elevator. She then stood up and asked if any other immigrant visa applicants were waiting, there weren’t any.
So I took the elevator up and then cleared another metal detector. This time it did go off. I removed my watch and belt and went through again. Success. Security buzzed me through a big heavy door, and I want into the main area. There were about 10 manned windows all behind very heavy glass with finger print scanners in front of them. There was a very nice view to the left of the harbour bridge and 2 computers for people to print any important documents.
I grabbed a ticket for an immigrant visa and was number 10 as I said earlier, I then waited. The non-immigrant visas were all in the 300's and went quite quickly, the immigrant visas went very slow, they were often families with babies and presumably lots of documents. I spoke with a few people about their visas, one was getting a spouse visa. I was the only one to win the lottery
It took about 2 hours before I was called to the window but only took about 10mins after that. I had followed the instructions meticulously and all my documents were in order. I was first called to #2 and she started with my appointment letter, then my passport and photo, she paper clipped the photo to my passport. Then I gave her all my documents in the order requested with photocopies below the originals. She went through them and clipped all my education records together and told me to go to window #8 to pay, and gave me a payment slip. This window was the cashier and there was no line. I gave her my credit card and paid the 755USD. They only charge in USD, they only put the AUD amount on the paperwork for a guide only. I ended up getting an exchange rate of 0.875, which wasn't too bad.
I was given a receipt and returned to window #2, I kept one copy and gave the duplicate to the lady. She said everything looked fine, handed me an immigrant pamphlet, returned all my original documents (except my passport) and told me to wait for my interview.
Soon after I was called to window #5 for my 'interview'. I use this word loosely as there really was no interview.
He started by taking my fingerprints on the scanner in front of the window, and then asked me a few questions.
This was how the interview went:
Interviewer -> When do you expect to travel?
Myself -> Probably in May I want to save as much as I can before I go .
Interviewer -> Where will you stay?
Myself -> Minnesota with my brother.
Interviewer -> It will be cold there.
Myself -> I've heard it will be cold.
Interviewer -> Is your brother a citizen?
Myself -> No his wife is, so he has some sort of spouse visa.
Interviewer -> Have you been to the US before?
Myself -> No.
He then said everything looked fine and my application had been approved and said my greencard will arrive in the next few days. He gave me a piece of paper explaining that my passport will arrive in the envelope I provided and it had the 'sender to keep id number' on it from the envelope I provided. 'Your all set' he finished with.
I left, returned to the 10th floor to collect my backpack and that was it. My passport with the visa arrived yesterday, Monday.
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