Thanks EmilyI have had a knot of anxiety for the past couple of days about this, so I appreciate some encouraging words. I thought we might get turned away and then have to fly back to Sydney in another month to go through the interview again.
I am wondering if I can just get the AFP to send the certificate directly to the consulate themselves.
I had my interview this week in London, and after 1-2 days of AP on the CEAC status website it changed to approved. Just waiting for a tracking number to come in so I can go and collect my passport.
The whole interview process took just under an hour, and this was mostly waiting for my ticket number to be called. The only things that were slightly unexpected was that during the document collection they asked for a copy of my university transcripts and proof of funds. The interview itself was less than 2 minutes, and only 3 questions.
I know that many people before me have said how straightforward it is, but going through it yourself is something else! The guy simply told me the visa will be issued, no congrats or welcome or anything, very anticlimactic!!
I had my interview this week in London, and after 1-2 days of AP on the CEAC status website it changed to approved. Just waiting for a tracking number to come in so I can go and collect my passport.
The whole interview process took just under an hour, and this was mostly waiting for my ticket number to be called. The only things that were slightly unexpected was that during the document collection they asked for a copy of my university transcripts and proof of funds. The interview itself was less than 2 minutes, and only 3 questions.
I know that many people before me have said how straightforward it is, but going through it yourself is something else! The guy simply told me the visa will be issued, no congrats or welcome or anything, very anticlimactic!!
I had my interview this week in London, and after 1-2 days of AP on the CEAC status website it changed to approved. Just waiting for a tracking number to come in so I can go and collect my passport.
The whole interview process took just under an hour, and this was mostly waiting for my ticket number to be called. The only things that were slightly unexpected was that during the document collection they asked for a copy of my university transcripts and proof of funds. The interview itself was less than 2 minutes, and only 3 questions.
I know that many people before me have said how straightforward it is, but going through it yourself is something else! The guy simply told me the visa will be issued, no congrats or welcome or anything, very anticlimactic!!
Thanks for everyone's help on this forum! Especially @EmilyW @Britsimon ! All the support and reassurance made the process a lot less nerve racking.
Had my interview today in Sydney and approved!!
So this was what happened, hopefully helpful for future interviewees:
- You can only take your documents and wallet in with you. Everything else needs to be left with security. No phones.
- I got there 15 mins early but they let me in and called my number immediately.
- I dressed up (going back to work afterwards) but the other people in the waiting area were in casual clothes (jeans, tshirt, sneakers).
- Got 2 different COs. First one collected the documents. Second one confirmed documents and asked the questions. The second CO seemed pretty casual, even made jokes.
- They didnt ask about finances
- My laminated birth certificate was fine
- They only took my highest level of education (Bachelors) and didnt look at year 12 certificate. Didnt ask for transcripts. Just took copy of the actual certificate.
- I brought my CV but they didnt look at it
- They confirmed my US address and updated it on the computer.
- Scanned fingerprints.
- Went to pay the $330USD. You can pay in AUD cash ($445.50) or use credit card.
- They only kept 1 passport photo - what do i do with the other one?
- Questions asked were mainly just confirmations of the documents i had: You got a degree from xx university? Have you ever been arrested? Have u been to the US before? Is this your first time entering dv? Where do you plan to live? What do you do for a living?
- CO checked they had all the required documents and flicked through medical reports. Checked passport details were correct.
- Congratulations your visa has been approved. Will get passport back in a week
- I said thanks and left immediately. In hindsight i should've asked if that was all and ok to leave. Might have left a bit too quickly ...
- the whole process took 40 mins, including wait time.
How do i check the status on the CEAC website? I put in the immigrant visa case number (2017ocxxxxxx) but it says invalid? Is there another number i should be using?
Can't wait to get my passport back and see the visa!!
Strange that you got a refusal letter over lack of a phone number. I'm assuming this is for your contact over in the US at the address to which your green card will be posted? I also have not yet provided a phone number for my contact in the US, but I was just told it would be handy to provide one, not essential.Busy day on this thread, as I also had my interview in Sydney yesterday. The steps involved and the security surrounding the place was a little daunting, but they clearly have a system that they carry everyone through, and they all seemed friendly. The security guy on the door outside the level 10 area was super nice, and definitely helped to calm any nerves with his detailed instructions on what I could and couldn't bring in (to the point where I have a large passport holder, as I had to bring two with me, that has a detachable wrist strap - he asked me to remove it before entering).
There have already been a few good writeups on the process, so I'll just add a couple of points that were different / interesting to me.
And for my interview, I was called to the first window, which worried me a little. Windows one and two are to the left of the waiting area and behind something of a cubicle setup, while 3-8 are directly in front of the waiting area and open with just the partitions. I was worried that there was something wrong and I had to be called to a more private area, as the other few that I had seen go before me were in the open windows. Anyway, it was alright in the end. I was asked if it was my first time entering, if I was married or had children, if I had lived in another country for more than a year, what my highest level of education was. At this point, the interviewer became chatty as we talked about where I planned on living. He flicked through a few more pages, and then handed back my paperwork. On top was a 'denied' / 'administrative processing' yellow piece of paper, but he quickly explained I had just left off the phone number on the checklist. Damn. So I had to email them a phone number and then my visa would be ready in a week. And that was it.
- At the first checkpoint, where they put all your documents in order, I was asked if I was engaged to an American citizen or green card holder 'No, I'm not. Wait! Yes, I am.' We've only been engaged for a few months, and I think it's the first time I've been asked in an official context, so my brain hasn't updated my autoresponse heh. Anyway, thought it was an odd question, until I got to the point of sitting to wait for the elevator to level 59. I notice she had given me a laminated copy of a document about the rights of permanent residents with regards to domestic violence. Ohhh...after the interview was over, I walked out of the elevator at level 10 and a security lady directed me back to the first checkpoint to collect any belongings I had stowed, but I didn't have anything to collect, so she sent me to the elevator down to the lobby. I was so excited / relieved that the interview was over, that I actually walked away with that document. I didn't realise until I was at level 8, so I had to turn back around and hand it to the security guy at level 10.
- The room setup is interesting. For anyone who is yet to attend, it's a bit like a bank, except they have these partitions between each teller / window that seem to amplify the sound out to the rest of the room. And there's very little distance between the windows and the waiting area, so you can hear quite clearly everything that is being said. Not such a bad thing, as it's helpful to hear what others are being asked.
I emailed a phone number yesterday and got this response 'Thank you for your email. You can provide this with the official officer at the Port of Entry into the U.S.' which is a bit irritating, as it kinda reads as 'you didn't need to send this to us'...but...I was told to....anyway, I'll keep an eye on the CEAC website (thanks for the link @lottic)
And congrats to everyone that got through