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DV 2017 OC Selectees

Speaking of health care, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with pre-existing conditions (i.e. type 1 diabetes)? My partner has diabetes and the lack of universal health care/ ongoing expenses are obviously a huge detraction for him. Does anyone have experience or insight into this, i.e. how expensive will it be for him to buy insulin/have regular check ups with his doctor etc.
 
Superjazzed said:
Speaking of health care, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with pre-existing conditions (i.e. type 1 diabetes)? My partner has diabetes and the lack of universal health care/ ongoing expenses are obviously a huge detraction for him. Does anyone have experience or insight into this, i.e. how expensive will it be for him to buy insulin/have regular check ups with his doctor etc.
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One of the main benefits of Obamacare is that you can't be denied treatment based on pre-existing conditions. Also this may be of interest (for anyone with a chronic condition):

"Being sick or having a preexisting condition won’t effect the cost of your insurance or the availability of cost assistance. If you plan to use a lot of medical expenses and/or prescription drugs, make sure to compare networks and drug formularies and shop for a plan with a low out-of-pocket costs like coinsurance, deductible, and copays. " http://obamacarefacts.com/pre-existing-conditions/
 
SusieQQQ said:
One of the main benefits of Obamacare is that you can't be denied treatment based on pre-existing conditions. Also this may be of interest (for anyone with a chronic condition):

"Being sick or having a preexisting condition won’t effect the cost of your insurance or the availability of cost assistance. If you plan to use a lot of medical expenses and/or prescription drugs, make sure to compare networks and drug formularies and shop for a plan with a low out-of-pocket costs like coinsurance, deductible, and copays. " http://obamacarefacts.com/pre-existing-conditions/
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Thanks for that, it's good to know. I hope this is one of the aspects of healthcare reform that Trump decides to keep.

On another note, I just tried calling the Sydney consulate to postpone my interview, and it turns out the 1300 number KCC has put onto the 2NL is the wrong damn number! It calls out to Harris Technology in Burwood. It took me a few tries but I found the correct number (1300-139-399 - for anyone who might need to get in touch). I also called and forgot to have my passport number on me, which is making this whole ordeal even more of a nightmare!
 
JessicaElle said:
Sounds like a huge pain in the rear! Were you able to reschedule in the end though?
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Still haven't been able to reschedule. When I finally got my details together, the guy I spoke to on the phone told me I needed to email them to request the interview change. I haven't been able to explain to them yet that the purpose of rescheduling is to get married. Not sure whether I should include that in my email or just email to request that my appointment be postponed.

Also, based on past experiences, do you think I am jeopardizing my chances of even receiving a second interview date? From reading, I understand that Sydney is a little more flexible, but I'm worried I'm going to miss out altogether once I postpone.
 
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Bowie said:
I'm in exactly the same boat as you (and will also be in Africa). Were you able to email and get a response re: interview hold? I'm in the 700's so am guessing my IV will be while I'm away too.
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Just FYI @Bowie - I called the KCC to confirm that my case had been put on hold after the email I sent. It has been. They said I need to send another email when I'm ready to have my interview scheduled. Pretty simple.
I'd only recommend doing this though if you have a low-ish CN... If you're delaying your interview in the later part of the year, that could be trickier.
 
GreatestNameofAll said:
Just FYI @Bowie - I called the KCC to confirm that my case had been put on hold after the email I sent. It has been. They said I need to send another email when I'm ready to have my interview scheduled. Pretty simple.
I'd only recommend doing this though if you have a low-ish CN... If you're delaying your interview in the later part of the year, that could be trickier.
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This definitely sounds preferable to waiting in purgatory for 1. Sydney consulate to get back to me to confirm my interview will be postponed
2. waiting to find out when/(or even) if I will have another interviewed scheduled.
Although, that said, I had unlocked my DS260 a month earlier to my interview being scheduled (and didn't resubmit) and this was ignored. It seems they don't follow any set rules
 
Superjazzed said:
This definitely sounds preferable to waiting in purgatory for 1. Sydney consulate to get back to me to confirm my interview will be postponed
2. waiting to find out when/(or even) if I will have another interviewed scheduled.
Although, that said, I had unlocked my DS260 a month earlier to my interview being scheduled (and didn't resubmit) and this was ignored. It seems they don't follow any set rules
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Well, there is no "rule" that an unlocked DS260 stops the interview being scheduled. Some people in the past have reported that it seems to, others have like you reported it doesn't. There's no published rule anywhere about it.
 
SusieQQQ said:
Well, there is no "rule" that an unlocked DS260 stops the interview being scheduled. Some people in the past have reported that it seems to, others have like you reported it doesn't. There's no published rule anywhere about it.
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Agreed. There was no "rule" about this. Based on a number of cases I've seen like this, it seems the "usual" thing up to about a year ago was unlocking stopped the scheduling. Now it seems that unlocking is much less likely to stop the scheduling.

The best method is now (and always has been), thinking ahead and delaying submission.
 
Had my interview in Auckland today and was approved!

Here's my experience:
I arrived at the Consulate at 9:10am for my 9:30am appointment. However, I was turned away at the security check because I was too early. I went away, came back and proceeded through security. Inside, I was directed to a window where I spoke with a very lovely lady who took my finger prints, talked me through the process and ensured I had all the correct documents. She took my Passport, CV, and bank statements from me and added them to my file. As I am under 26 years old, she provided me with a form to sign which indicated my acknowledgement of my duty to register for Selective Service. I was then directed to another window to pay my NZ$495 interview fee. Once this was paid, I took a seat and waited for my name to be called. The interview windows are right in the waiting area, so for the next 45 minutes I listened as person after person was either approved or denied for various types of visas. It's a bit uncomfortable when people are asked questions about their criminal history or financial troubles in front of a full waiting room... Finally I was called to an interview window. One set of finger prints were taken again and I was asked to raise my right hand and swear that my application was truthful. I was then asked the following questions: Why do you want to move to the US? Where do you want to move? What's your highest level of education? What sort of work will you do in the US? Once I answered these questions, he said "Your visa has been approved, welcome to the United States". With a big smile on face, I thanked the man and left to celebrate and start planing!
 
Britsimon said:
Agreed. There was no "rule" about this. Based on a number of cases I've seen like this, it seems the "usual" thing up to about a year ago was unlocking stopped the scheduling. Now it seems that unlocking is much less likely to stop the scheduling.

The best method is now (and always has been), thinking ahead and delaying submission.
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Congrats and best of luck in this new chapter of your life in the U.S.
 
Wingpin said:
Why aren't the interviews conducted in private? There just isn't space for that?
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All the embassies are set up the same. They all have a room or two available for a properly private interview but most are done through windows. Some of them are easier to overhear than others. (I've done visa interviews for the US in 4 different consulates and all the same. Now that i think of it, all the others countries I've done visa interviews for have been the same as well. Can't wait to get my US passport and not need visas every time I go somewhere )
 
Just wanted to update everyone on my request to postpone my interview in Sydney, just in case there are others (or will be others) in a similar boat. The consulate emailed me back after 2 days and basically said: "you've been allotted a visa number for January, if you postpone it we will send that number back to Washington. You can postpone your interview and email us 4 weeks before you want another interview, but we aren't promising you anything, we only have a certain number of visas until end of the financial year."

So now I'm going to postpone my interview, sort everything out with my partner and pray that if I email them in mid Jan, there will still be enough time for my second number to come up before September. I also haven't explained to them yet that I want to bring my partner along, but I think I will wait until we have actually married and I have another date locked in before I make it even more complicated.

Hopefully my situation is a lesson to everyone else: listen to @britsimonsays et al and plan ahead before submitting OR don't fall in love after you submit your DS 260!
 
Hi, about the activation trip, does anyone know, if the main applicant goes first and the rest of the family go about 2 months after, would that be a problem? We got approved in November and now have not got tickets yet. At this time of the year, it is challenging to find Air tickets and accomodation for the whole family. So, we were thinking, may be my husband can go first, look for a job, get a place for all of us, then the rest of the family come after the first term of school.

Has anyone done this before?
 
KieranW said:
Had my interview in Auckland today and was approved!

Here's my experience:
I arrived at the Consulate at 9:10am for my 9:30am appointment. However, I was turned away at the security check because I was too early. I went away, came back and proceeded through security. Inside, I was directed to a window where I spoke with a very lovely lady who took my finger prints, talked me through the process and ensured I had all the correct documents. She took my Passport, CV, and bank statements from me and added them to my file. As I am under 26 years old, she provided me with a form to sign which indicated my acknowledgement of my duty to register for Selective Service. I was then directed to another window to pay my NZ$495 interview fee. Once this was paid, I took a seat and waited for my name to be called. The interview windows are right in the waiting area, so for the next 45 minutes I listened as person after person was either approved or denied for various types of visas. It's a bit uncomfortable when people are asked questions about their criminal history or financial troubles in front of a full waiting room... Finally I was called to an interview window. One set of finger prints were taken again and I was asked to raise my right hand and swear that my application was truthful. I was then asked the following questions: Why do you want to move to the US? Where do you want to move? What's your highest level of education? What sort of work will you do in the US? Once I answered these questions, he said "Your visa has been approved, welcome to the United States". With a big smile on face, I thanked the man and left to celebrate and start planing!
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Congrats Kieran and have fun planning! where would you like to move?
 
TwilightGal said:
Hi, about the activation trip, does anyone know, if the main applicant goes first and the rest of the family go about 2 months after, would that be a problem? We got approved in November and now have not got tickets yet. At this time of the year, it is challenging to find Air tickets and accomodation for the whole family. So, we were thinking, may be my husband can go first, look for a job, get a place for all of us, then the rest of the family come after the first term of school.

Has anyone done this before?
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It's fine as long as the principal enters first (or with the derivatives), and as long as everyone has entered before their visas expire.
 
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