090521@0411
Active Member
1. I actually did two (2) medicals at Epworth, 1st was in May for my interview and was $530 for the express results, then did a 2nd medical last week when I flew back over there to deliver my passport after clearing 3 months of AP as I didn't want to risk posting my passport and wanted to extend the 3 months expiry on my DV I lost to AP and Epworth charged me $450 for an express medical, so go figure. I paid with Fijian cash, don't know if they accept EFTPOS, certainly at your interview the embassy will only accept Fijian or US cash.
One thing I did notice, at my 2nd medical Epworth now not only ask you if you use drugs or alcohol, now they get you to sign your name next to the answer the doctor writes for that question, and the doctor told me at my 2nd medical that has been specifically requested by the embassy.
2. Personally, bearing in mind you can't afford to go into AP in mid September, I'd be getting 6 new photos if you have time before your medical. There is a passport photo shop straight across the road from Macca's in the main street in downtown Suva, by memory it's $5FJD for 6 photos, and they ask why country passport photos you need, so be sure to say US passport photos, as US spec passport photos are different to AU spec passport photos. Again, because I did 2 medicals Epworth wanted new photos for the 2nd medical. I had both sets of photos done at the same place, when I collected my passport from the embassy, the photo they used on both the DV and Visa Packet were the photos from the first medical back in May. The photo shop uses a digital camera so ask to see the photo before they print them, if for whatever reason you don't like the photo, have them take your photo again.
3. One of the reasons I went into AP was the CO couldn't decide at interview if my education evidence was good enough. It appears the embassy wants a certificate. My problem was unlike probably everyone else, I did years 8 - 10 high school back in the 80's, then, when i got selected for DV2022, I didn't want to risk just interviewing on employment, so I enrolled back into high school as an adult learner, and did expedited education to complete years 11 and 12 in 9 months. Yes, if you want to do 12 hour days it is possible, in Qld at least, and yes for the day classes as a 40 something year old I was learning along side 16 and 17 year olds, along with 3 COVID lockdowns, 2 school lockdowns due to "gang members" on campus and a once in a generation flood.
Because in Qld senior school certificates are by law only issued in December after year 12 completion and I completed year 12 in March 2022, legally I can't get my certificate until December 2022, which didn't help me for my DV interview. I had a signed statement from the QCAA advising I had successfully completed year 12 high school, the embassy took that statement when they collected all of my documents at the interview, but the CO couldn't make a decision on it at the interview and said he would need to check with Sydney. Ultimately, while I was on AP, I arranged for my former high school to print a certificate of graduation, and along with scans of my high school photo ID and award for highest of the graduating class for maths, I emailed those to Suva and I cleared AP. When I collected my passport and Visa Packet the embassy said a copy of my education certificate was inside the Visa Packet, so they appear to want a certificate.
If you have a year 12 high school certificate you should be fine, however, again, as you don't want to be in AP in mid September, i personally would prepare a brief employment submission if you have access to a printer before your interview. I did, all I did was have my apprenticeship training certificate to prove 2+ years of training, my contract of employment proving my job title was for a qualified position (to be qualified you needed to have completed an apprenticeship) and that the position was the manager. I then had first and last pay slips to prove 2+ years employment within last 5 years, and O Net position printouts of similar management positions with SVP of 7+. Suva embassy didn't even ask for my employment documents.
4. I have been inside that embassy now on 4 different occassions this year, and security vetting was different every time. Yes you can take your water bottle in, yes you can take your water in only if you drink some of your water in front of us, no you can't take a water bottle it, yes you can wear your hat in there., No you can't wear your hat in there. There are two (2) security check points in two seperate buildings, both with metal detectors and x-ray. My advise, take only what is needed for your interview in there.
5. I'm male so can help here. I wore a shirt and tie to my interview and was placed into AP for 3 months, although my clothing had nothing to do with it. As (I think) BS said in one of his videos, put effort into your interview, and show them you genuinely want your DV. That you are flying to another country to do consular processing should already convince what is no doubt the best embassy you are serious about your DV application, so dressing smart casual won't hurt your case. It was humid and raining there last week.
Finally, be careful, especially in the down town area, especially if your a female by yourself. As I was told both times I was there, there are plenty of people in that town who will try to take your money, so avoid conversations when approached. It's usually starts with "Bula Bula where are you from"? "I'm from the Ministry of tourism" and/or "come visit my shop"
Im a 6+ foot 120kg male and I was approached both times I was there, and the last time had some grub screaming at me when I ignored him and (tried) to put his had into my shopping bag whilst I was at a taxi rank.
Good luck.
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2022OC5XX
Entered DV2022 10 October 2020
1NL received 9 May 2021
DS 260 submitted 2 November 2021
No documents requested or submitted
Ready to be scheduled for interview 24 December 2021
Current as of 1 January 2022
Placed into AV queue 14 April 2022
2NL received 19 April 2022
Interviewed at U.S. Embassy Suva 26 May 2022
Placed into Administrative Processing 26 May 2022
Cleared Administrative Processing 26 August 2022
Diversity Visa issued 31 August 2022
Diversity Visa in my hand 1 September 2022
