• Hello Members, This forums is for DV lottery visas only. For other immigration related questions, please go to our forums home page, find the related forum and post it there.

DV 2015 Oceania winners

EmilyW said:
You guys are wearing me out with all the updates.

Tuesdays is always my most hated day of the week: the glow of the weekend has worn off but the weekend is still days away. Now, I look forward to it because we always have good news to post.
Click to expand...

;):D
 
Essey said:
Congrats to you too! Very happy for you. Did they say at all how long it would take to get your passport and stuff back?
Click to expand...
Hi Essey they did say it would be 1 to 2 weeks (I suppose due to the public holidays). I will keep the forum up to date when I do receive the documents back and also my POE experience in January. Still seems surreal to me at the moment, after all these years… how Blessed do I feel today!!! Hang in there everyone your turn will come and when I read about your successes over the next months, on this forum, I all know exactly how you would be feeling…
 
Just going to leave this here for our OCers. I've been singing it pretty much all day. And in public too, much to the embarrassment of my older child and the delight of the younger one who thinks mummy's star role as a lush is Oscar worthy.


If I don't make it onto the site over the next couple of days, from mine to yours, have a good one. I'll be spending the day avoiding my parents and mother's Eyebrows of Judgement (seriously, the woman just raises one in disapproval and you are CRUSHED for the day).
 
Indiollie said:
Hello,
I had an 8am appointment and got there at 730 to stand behind about 80 people! The line moved quite quickly but i'd recommend getting there at 715 for an 8am appointment. Once through security my husband and I waited about 30 mins to go to the document checker. If you have a partner added to your primary application then make sure you have two photocopies of everything. Before the checker looked at our forms he sent us to a payment counter. Then we went straight back to him, and he looked over the documents for about 15 minutes, checking originals matched the photocopies, then took biometrics. He asked for proof of funds (and how much we intend to take), and we gave him two bank statements (both our personal bank accounts). Then we sat back down and waited another 15 mins for the actual interview. At the interview a different person asked what we did, how long we'd been married for, checked biometrics again and then told us when we would need to go to the U.S by (which is six months after the date of your medical). Interview lasted about ten minutes. Best thing is to just be super organised and have a display folder with each of your certificates in it with photocopies behind it. They said to expect the passports back within 2 weeks. Make sure you sign up to the courier service before your interview, if you want them delivered back to your address or pick up from a depot, which we are doing as it's much cheaper than the house option. Good luck! Feel free to ask me any more questions if needed...
Click to expand...

Thanks Indiollie! Can I just ask what the courier service is that you need to sign up for?
 
EmilyW said:
Just going to leave this here for our OCers. I've been singing it pretty much all day. And in public too, much to the embarrassment of my older child and the delight of the younger one who thinks mummy's star role as a lush is Oscar worthy.


If I don't make it onto the site over the next couple of days, from mine to yours, have a good one. I'll be spending the day avoiding my parents and mother's Eyebrows of Judgement (seriously, the woman just raises one in disapproval and you are CRUSHED for the day).
Click to expand...
SusieQQQ said:
Sorry about the hassle on arrival, grrr, but well done on getting in!
I've only been resident in the bay area less than a week but seeing as I am resident here nevertheless, I can also say "welcome" :)
[invites self to coffee catchup on your return from CO :D ]
Click to expand...

yes yes coffee for sure! Look forward to it:D
 
Well, fingers crossed, we will be having an OC2015 Jamboree at my lake front home in Cornelius, NC soon enough. Free campsite, all the vegemite toast you can eat and pavlova for dessert every night. My neighbours will think highly of me afterwards, I have no doubt.

@Sm1smom, @Britsimon and @SusieQQQ will be the guests of honour and they will accept that they will be inundated with Aussie / Kiwi hospitality... which usually means lots of free beer, a full round robin competition of the broom challenge (where you spin around twenty times holding a broom and then have to put it on the ground and jump over it), and cheese.

Oh, you guys might also want to learn the words to Khe San... I'm just giving you a friendly warning.
 
EmilyW said:
Well, fingers crossed, we will be having an OC2015 Jamboree at my lake front home in Cornelius, NC soon enough. Free campsite, all the vegemite toast you can eat and pavlova for dessert every night. My neighbours will think highly of me afterwards, I have no doubt.

@Sm1smom, @Britsimon and @SusieQQQ will be the guests of honour and they will accept that they will be inundated with Aussie / Kiwi hospitality... which usually means lots of free beer, a full round robin competition of the broom challenge (where you spin around twenty times holding a broom and then have to put it on the ground and jump over it), and cheese.

Oh, you guys might also want to learn the words to Khe San... I'm just giving you a friendly warning.
Click to expand...


Sounds awesome - I'll look forward to the details - and I just got the lyrics....
 
SuicideBlonde said:
We were considering doing this.... what sort of rate did you get/what fees are associated?
Click to expand...

Two more tricks:
  • Get a 28Degrees credit card (Australian Credit Card). It has no FX fees and seems to use the mid-market rate from my tests. Use it to buy all your furniture and everything. The net result is you've transferred your money for free-ish. Not suitable for cash withdrawals.
  • Get a Citibank Debit card (Australian Citibank). It has no FX fees on ATM transactions. Use this when withdrawing cash however you need to avoid the local US ATM Fees if possible, maybe at a US Citibank.
Or alternatively, my normal practice is to just leave my money where it is. You could just leave it in Australia as a nice little parachute incase things go pear shaped and you want to bail.
 
guestgulkan said:
Two more tricks:
  • Get a 28Degrees credit card (Australian Credit Card). It has no FX fees and seems to use the mid-market rate from my tests. Use it to buy all your furniture and everything. The net result is you've transferred your money for free-ish. Not suitable for cash withdrawals.
  • Get a Citibank Debit card (Australian Citibank). It has no FX fees on ATM transactions. Use this when withdrawing cash however you need to avoid the local US ATM Fees if possible, maybe at a US Citibank.
Or alternatively, my normal practice is to just leave my money where it is. You could just leave it in Australia as a nice little parachute incase things go pear shaped and you want to bail.
Click to expand...
I like the first sentence of your last paragraph. Carry just what you need to find some stepping space and leave some savings behind, yes as a fall back plan but ad as a success plan ad well.
Many people in us get stunned when I ask them how much I need to carry with me.
They feel that less slightly less than 10k USD in your wallet , a host and your papers( not a guarantee that papers will find you work right away but they will in due time) is all you need.
 
guestgulkan said:
Two more tricks:
  • Get a 28Degrees credit card (Australian Credit Card). It has no FX fees and seems to use the mid-market rate from my tests. Use it to buy all your furniture and everything. The net result is you've transferred your money for free-ish. Not suitable for cash withdrawals.
  • Get a Citibank Debit card (Australian Citibank). It has no FX fees on ATM transactions. Use this when withdrawing cash however you need to avoid the local US ATM Fees if possible, maybe at a US Citibank.
Or alternatively, my normal practice is to just leave my money where it is. You could just leave it in Australia as a nice little parachute incase things go pear shaped and you want to bail.
Click to expand...

Big difference between leaving money in Australia and some other countries some DV winners come from though...especially if you do need to get it out the country at some future date, or even just if usd are generally preferably to whatever currency one may be using at home for various reasons.
 
usken go said:
Many people in us get stunned when I ask them how much I need to carry with me.
They feel that less slightly less than 10k USD in your wallet , a host and your papers( not a guarantee that papers will find you work right away but they will in due time) is all you need.
Click to expand...

But this hugely depends on your family situation, what you plan to do, and where you plan to live.
For some people that entire $10k can get used up on a rental deposit for example, whereas for others it can probably keep you going for months. You can't generalise your situation to everyone.
 
Hey everyone

I am expecting my interview in march if all goes well. But we have a trip overseas in early April, can anyone tell me how soon our passports are returned? Has anyone had their passport given back after the interview?

Thanks so much for all you help. I would be so lost without you all :)
 
OC_EMS said:
Greetings from San Francisco, my POE this morning. Yup peeps Im here and NOW a lawful permanent resident of the USA!:D

Its been a huge week for me. Packing me then helping my sister unpack into her new home in NZ but now I am here and feeling slightly muntedo_O but very happy:):cool::D;)

I thought I would share my POE experience in SFO today.

Ok, well I got a little excited and went to the permanent resident line at immigration which was incorrect however the nice officer did my finger prints and then directed me to the far counter that reads 'New Immigrants'.

I rock up and present my sealed packet from the SYD consulate that states DO NOT OPEN and my passport. The officer opens the packet, flicks through the docs, which by the way contains the copy of the documents we present at our interviews.
After a few seconds of flicking he looks at me and asks 'where is your application form?'
More flicking and he says there is no application form, you need your application form. My heart sinks!
I advise him that this packet came to me from the SYD consulate with clear instructions that I am not to open it. I had no idea what the contents were, or meant to be.
Then he asks me where my photos are? What photos I ask? 'The photos for my green card, there should be 2' he says.
Well now Im crapping myself and totally in dismay at the freakin SYD consulate.

The officer was very nice and acknowledged that it was not my error. He told me not to worry and it would be fine, the process was just going to take longer.
He took me to the mug shot area for the crims and did my GC photos. I could hear someone in the detention room being interrogated and man they were getting a drilling!

I was then asked to take a seat while he figured it all out.

Probably a bit over an hour the process took. A little nerve racking but I just kept telling myself I was fine, it wasnt my fault and this nice guy is sorting it all out.

End result is Im here writing this and all worked out;)

Im planning on writing to the SYD consulate to express my disappointment in their continued cock ups from the time I had my interview.

1st they returned documents to me that they should have retained at the time of my the interview along with the photos I presented. I was told the photos had been scanned and the originals were not required. Clearly not the case.
I had to courier my docs back to them before I could get my passport back. That was a 2 week delay.

Now today at POE.
SYD doesnt put my photos and freakin application form in the packet! Im assuming when he said application form he meant the DS260. Sorry I was freaking out too much to think to ask exactly what form.

Aimlk also had problems at her interview. I know she posted about it a few pages back.
As I said to Aimlk, if we had screwed up as much as them we would have been disqualified for sure.

Its hard to be too pissed at the moment as Im so freakin happy to be here, but how disappointing SYD appears to be so bloody incompetent.

Not sure how to combat this one for you guys in the future.
Perhaps if you ask your CO at your interview (what goes in the packet that is presented at POE?), would be a good start.
Then before you leave your interview make sure you have left the Docs required for the packet which are:
1. Copy of your application form
2. A complete copy of all the docs you presented at your interview, including medical and;
3. 2 x US size passport photos.

Hope this makes sense and helps;) Im so tired so please forgive me if this is a little scrambled.

Please let me know if you want clarification on anything.

Simon!
Mate, can we take a rain check on the coffee? I have to be in Vail CO by the 25th so heading out early tomorrow. Am in San Anselmo for the night with friends. Nice to share the same time zone bud!
I will be back in the bay area in a couple months so hope we connect then.:);)

Happy Holidays All!
Have fun and please be safe!
Click to expand...


WoooHOO!!! Nice going Erika :) yep that document balls-up sounds pretty much in line with our experience too - sorry you had that stress after a massive flight but glad it all worked it out. SO FINALLY we got our visa packs Christmas Eve - talk about testing our patience just that little bit more. We needed to leave to drive to Brisbane but was waiting for the Postman- it may have involved my husband getting in the car in the hope to catch him on a nearby street (LOL) - we just wanted to see those bloody passports/visas after a 4 week wait from our interview date!!!!!!! All good now, I just said to Nick it has been nice not to think about it for a few days :) SO POE Dallas 22nd Jan for Nick and 6th Feb for Clara and I. Cant wait to hear how your car trip was.

Super massive congrats to those recently successful - 'noice' work OC2015 :)
 
I received my passport and visa with the sealed envelope today, less than 1 week after the interview, including public holiday considerations. I was surprised there was no welcome pack or instructions on how to pay the the USCIS Immigration Visa fee. I guess I will work it out but would have been helpful to have this information, regardless, I feel very pleased to see the visa and passport… by the look on my face in the visa photo, they probably wanted to get it out quick smart!!! Stunned Mullet indeed!!!
 
jaynin said:
I received my passport and visa with the sealed envelope today, less than 1 week after the interview, including public holiday considerations. I was surprised there was no welcome pack or instructions on how to pay the the USCIS Immigration Visa fee. I guess I will work it out but would have been helpful to have this information, regardless, I feel very pleased to see the visa and passport… by the look on my face in the visa photo, they probably wanted to get it out quick smart!!! Stunned Mullet indeed!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks jaynin

That is really fast!
Didn't they make you pay before the interview? I thought they make you pay at the counter before the interview even starts. Did you interview in sydney? What was it like?

Thanks again :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top