DV 2022 OC Selectees

[Britsimon]

Yeah the regional quota stuff is confusing with their statement. The way I'm interpreting it is that the regional quotas are a guideline but that they can pull from other regions to help reach the 55,000 limit if needed. Either way that statement gives a little hope to those worried about not transferring to Suva in time or that are waiting for Sydney to open and worried about reaching the limit. Guess we will wait and see what happens! Maybe this will be the biggest OC year yet if other regions don't reach their limit They also claimed that they can't do DV in Melbourne though even though they have already... so who know's what they're talking about!

The ability to move quota from an unused allocation in one region is described in the law. No interpretation is necessary.
However, the unused visas are redistributed in the same percentage as the original allocation. So, if 3000 visas were being underused from AF region (for example), that would give OC an extra 45 or so visas.

 

[Britsimon]

Simon, didn’t see his comment but did he not maybe mean that they never cut off visas just using the regional quota? So it’s not a hard limit the way overall visas or the per country limit are?

the “ignore” function is underrated sometimes.

I think there is a game of telephone going on. I'm not sure what the question was that was asked, not sure exactly the response, and then people have added a word or two to interpret a secondhand comment. The quotas are a real thing. No doubt, but there is also section iv that describes reallocation. I don't really "worry" about the quota for OC because it is a region where 30/40 visas can make a big difference.

Thanks for the ignore tip. ;-)

 

[Freya]

Can't speak on the costs but from others that have done it I've seen the number 3000 aud thrown around (this I think includes the cost of the visa + medical etc. Some get nicer hotels than others, some stay with the locals, some have found cheaper flights etc. But I think 3k AUD is a decent ball park.

Sydney is still saying that no other Aus embassy will interview, so Melbourne is basically out of the question and its a matter of waiting for Sydney which is looking like it won't be opening for quite awhile probably.

For the second question, its 6 months from your medical. So you would have just shy of 6 months if your medical was done on September 20. Just have to be interviewed (and visa issued?) before sept 30th.

Awesome thank you @BrisOC22 - knowing we don't have to arrive before Sept 30th (but arrive before our visa expires) is a huge relief

 

[christopher-christopher]

1) Appreciating that there are variables such as choice of accom involved, can anyone who's travelled to Suva give a ball park cost of the whole experience. I've seen reference to some individual costs but I'd love to understand roughly how much it is costing everyone as a round trip. @AusOC @christopher-christopher @Maximum and any others willing to share?

- U.S. style Passport photos x 6 = AUD$40
- Flights to Nadi Airport (return) = AUD$456 (Nadi is the international airport into Fiji, cheaper to fly into than Suva)
- Return Bus trip from Nadi Airport to Suva town (Sunbeam/Pacific) = AUD$20 (FJD$30 cash)
- Epworth Clinic medical = AUD$363 (FJD$550 cash) 24 hour turnaround of results
- Accomodation (Mishra Residence on Airbnb) = AUD$40/night/room (FJD$60/night/room) - The host, Agam, has 3 private lockable rooms for guests to stay or a whole family. I stayed 5 nights in total to allow to attend medical, received medical results, attend embassy appointment, receive visa in passport within 36 hours.
- Taxis (at least 8 trips needed) = AUD$3.50/trip (FJD$5/trip)
- Food (was very affordable) = max AUD$15/meal (FJD$20/meal)
- Entry to Colo-i-Suva Forest Park and Ponds = AUD$3.50/tourist (FJD$5/tourist)
- Pre-departure covid test in Fiji = AUD$12 (FJD$18)

- VIsa fee = AUD$481 (FJD$729)
- USCIS fee = AUD$316 (USD$220)

So subtotal of travel/living costs = AUD$1,260.50
subtotal of visa costs = AUD$797
So total in AUD, it cost me (1 person applying for green card) approx AUD$2,060


Keep in mind though, the visa fee and USCIS fee are payable no matter where you interview.
So just for the fact I had to go to fiji to interview, it cost me just AUD$1,260, but keep in mind I'm just a single person.

 

[jbsydney]

Yes I'm curious too about this, as I requested the transfer from Syd-Suva a few days ago. I'm thinking that being the case for those that have already done this did you book a one way flight (since you can't be guranteed when you'll get it back) and by doing is that ok with the customs/immi agents when you arrive in Suva. Also do you just tell them that you're only there for the DV interview, or is it better to say you're here on a short trip? Thanks for everyone positing about their costs as I was curious about this too.

We booked a return flexi fair so we could choose dates for our return. Flew in Sunday, left Thursday.

Medical Monday, collected medical Tuesday,
Interview Wednesday, collected passports Wednesday afternoon.

We ended up staying in Fiji for a bit of a holiday but could have been in and out in 4 days.

 

[aussiechris]

We booked a return flexi fair so we could choose dates for our return. Flew in Sunday, left Thursday.

Medical Monday, collected medical Tuesday,
Interview Wednesday, collected passports Wednesday afternoon.

We ended up staying in Fiji for a bit of a holiday but could have been in and out in 4 days.

Wow! So good to know, thanks

 

[Shezza85]

We booked a return flexi fair so we could choose dates for our return. Flew in Sunday, left Thursday.

Medical Monday, collected medical Tuesday,
Interview Wednesday, collected passports Wednesday afternoon.

We ended up staying in Fiji for a bit of a holiday but could have been in and out in 4 days.

They don't mess around in Fiji Hey. That's a super quick turnaround. Good on ya.

 

[JayQue]

Hi….:it wasn’t much….just asked me about my level of education….where I wanna live in USA and that’s all….hardly 2 mins….

Wow that's nice. So all the docs they listed in the email they sent, did they take it from you? Looking forward to a simple one too. All the best!!

 

[Syd2022]

There are three of us who requested transfer on like 20, 21, 23 of April that are assuming will receive 2nl this month, presumably for June interviews. We’ll keep you updated

Thank you so much for this info, it will provide an idea of timings in terms of the date you transferred in April (as opposed to March) and when you get your 2NLS. Fingers crossed you all get June interviews. You might all be interviewed on the same day. Like almost everyone one else we are patiently waiting and will keep people updated if we hear anything from KCC. warm regards Charli.

 

[RPSCHAND]

There are not enough hours in the day BrisOC22 to properly respond to your above post, however I do note as recent as within the last week BS himself had to correct you on one of your pieces of "advice" in this thread. Wasn't it you who also posted some may not be able to afford a transfer to Suva? more of your speculation or you know this as fact?

What a foolish thing to say on a Forum almost certainly monitored by DOS, kind of subjects us all to public charge vetting if read by DOS, that won't affect me, but if your comment is based on fact, it may affect others, maybe you and your spouse?

A question for you and any other plaintiff - DOS offers a deal to your lawyers, drop the lawsuits and we will arrange for interviews for all your clients at a post OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA WITHIN A MONTH, what do you do?, Accept the deal or wait for Sydney to open?, If your answer is accept the deal why on earth are you not transferring to Suva NOW? Are you aware as of 20 April 2022 Suva had available interview slots for May?, They actually let me pick my own slot from a list of slots they provided me when I asked to reschedule my interview.

As for your "telegram group screen shot evidence" my DOS issued 2NL trumps that any day, but this is not a contest. Read between the lines, I'm actually trying to help, even you, maybe you and others can reach out to PNG, if Suva are now accepting Australians and allowing them to return to Australia, then post their passport back to Suva, maybe Port Moresby will too, and Port Moresby is closer to Brisbane than Suva is.

I can supply a screen shot of Port Moresby offering to accept my case back in January if KCC allowed it if anyone wants to contact Port Moresby.

Or you can wait for Sydney to open, but read the comments by others who have or are trying to now transfer to Suva, we all can't be wrong, and unfortunately, apart from the FACT others not on this forum are doing the same, as of last Sunday KCC is now being flooded with DV 2023 enquiries and DS 260s, so they may not have the time they had a month ago to respond to transfer requests to Suva in 24hrs like they did with me and others, and you need KCC onboard to do this because relying upon Suva to may not work, I emailed Suva late March, and no movement happened until I emailed KCC in mid April. When I emailed KCC I had my 2NL within a week.

Just my know it all opinion, but considering our case numbers are close, maybe you should ask yourself why you don't have a 2NL?
--------------------------
2022OC5XX
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
2NL received 19 April 2022

Hi,
2022OC15xx here,

Would you mind sharing the Port Moresby email address please.
Ready to be schedule for interview 4 May 2022.

Thank you
CHAND

 

[PixelDV]

OC14XX here, finally decided to take the plunge last night and request a transfer to Suva thanks to the instructions a few pages back. Received a reply today from the embassy in Suva saying that they are going to request the transfer of my case from KCC! Let’s see how things go from here.

 

[090521@0411]

Hi,
2022OC15xx here,

Would you mind sharing the Port Moresby email address please.
Ready to be schedule for interview 4 May 2022.

Thank you
CHAND

ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov

--------------------------
2022OC5XX
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
2NL received 19 April 2022

 

[car8870]

Se

There are not enough hours in the day BrisOC22 to properly respond to your above post, however I do note as recent as within the last week BS himself had to correct you on one of your pieces of "advice" in this thread. Wasn't it you who also posted some may not be able to afford a transfer to Suva? more of your speculation or you know this as fact?

What a foolish thing to say on a Forum almost certainly monitored by DOS, kind of subjects us all to public charge vetting if read by DOS, that won't affect me, but if your comment is based on fact, it may affect others, maybe you and your spouse?

A question for you and any other plaintiff - DOS offers a deal to your lawyers, drop the lawsuits and we will arrange for interviews for all your clients at a post OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA WITHIN A MONTH, what do you do?, Accept the deal or wait for Sydney to open?, If your answer is accept the deal why on earth are you not transferring to Suva NOW? Are you aware as of 20 April 2022 Suva had available interview slots for May?, They actually let me pick my own slot from a list of slots they provided me when I asked to reschedule my interview.

As for your "telegram group screen shot evidence" my DOS issued 2NL trumps that any day, but this is not a contest. Read between the lines, I'm actually trying to help, even you, maybe you and others can reach out to PNG, if Suva are now accepting Australians and allowing them to return to Australia, then post their passport back to Suva, maybe Port Moresby will too, and Port Moresby is closer to Brisbane than Suva is.

I can supply a screen shot of Port Moresby offering to accept my case back in January if KCC allowed it if anyone wants to contact Port Moresby.

Or you can wait for Sydney to open, but read the comments by others who have or are trying to now transfer to Suva, we all can't be wrong, and unfortunately, apart from the FACT others not on this forum are doing the same, as of last Sunday KCC is now being flooded with DV 2023 enquiries and DS 260s, so they may not have the time they had a month ago to respond to transfer requests to Suva in 24hrs like they did with me and others, and you need KCC onboard to do this because relying upon Suva to may not work, I emailed Suva late March, and no movement happened until I emailed KCC in mid April. When I emailed KCC I had my 2NL within a week.

Just my know it all opinion, but considering our case numbers are close, maybe you should ask yourself why you don't have a 2NL?
--------------------------
2022OC5XX
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
2NL received 19 April 2022

Please. Just stop now.

For months you’ve been banging on with these secretive, cryptic posts, indirectly claiming to have case transfer figured out. Not once was there any real time information, advice or offers of help.

Now everyone is having success with their cases and transfer to Fiji and being extremely forthcoming and helpful ASAP with experiences, you jump on the bandwagon, claiming you are here to “help”. Are you joking?
On top of all this, you persist with the superiority complex when addressing others. You don’t know more than anyone else about this stuff!

Do you read peoples historical OC interview experiences? It’s actually absurd that you are pre-occupied with primary school reports, crazy public charge theories and your 20 previous addresses that you have lived. Among a long list of other useless information.

 

[miiint]

Hi all, I am submitting my DS260 now (late, I know, but what the heck). I am living in Melbourne but have read through and seen people are having luck with getting their cases transferred to Suva.

On my DS260 can I elect Suva in the first instance rather than selecting Sydney and requesting a change?
Or should I be selecting Sydney, and then requesting the transfer? Unsure what's best.

Thanks for any advice!

 

[aussiechris]

Hi all, I am submitting my DS260 now (late, I know, but what the heck). I am living in Melbourne but have read through and seen people are having luck with getting their cases transferred to Suva.

On my DS260 can I elect Suva in the first instance rather than selecting Sydney and requesting a change?
Or should I be selecting Sydney, and then requesting the transfer? Unsure what's best.

Thanks for any advice!

Hello.

All you need to do is contact the Suva embassy and they will look after it for you.

 

[aussiechris]

If this wasn't more of a reason to request a transfer of your case to Fiji...

Australians face 10-month wait for visas to enter the US

When Sydney-based Ben Adamson was invited to a friend's wedding in Seattle, he knew his chances of entering the US were bleak, though he couldn't have guessed just how bleak.

www.traveller.com.au

 

[Ckb]

Se

Please. Just stop now.

For months you’ve been banging on with these secretive, cryptic posts, indirectly claiming to have case transfer figured out. Not once was there any real time information, advice or offers of help.

Now everyone is having success with their cases and transfer to Fiji and being extremely forthcoming and helpful ASAP with experiences, you jump on the bandwagon, claiming you are here to “help”. Are you joking?
On top of all this, you persist with the superiority complex when addressing others. You don’t know more than anyone else about this stuff!

Do you read peoples historical OC interview experiences? It’s actually absurd that you are pre-occupied with primary school reports, crazy public charge theories and your 20 previous addresses that you have lived. Among a long list of other useless information.

I don’t connect previous posts to usernames besides the one you replied to. Always an essay, written in a superior tone, providing others with no help, more or less “you’re wrong, I’m right”, with nothing but fluff “facts” for backup.

I don’t need to read this specific thread, nor do I add any value. I just like to read through the posts from other OC winners (those doing CP). This forum is helpful, and overall pretty civil. I’ve found value from the threads that are relevant to me but, I can’t help myself…

They sound like an absolute know-it-all twat. I hope everything works out for everyone in this thread… except them.

 

[Syd2022]

If this wasn't more of a reason to request a transfer of your case to Fiji...

Australians face 10-month wait for visas to enter the US

When Sydney-based Ben Adamson was invited to a friend's wedding in Seattle, he knew his chances of entering the US were bleak, though he couldn't have guessed just how bleak.

www.traveller.com.au

Interesting read.

I recognise that this is media talk and that you can't believe everything you see written in the media, however, this statement from the article caught my curiosity....when the tier 4 priority should no longer be in existence.

"The Sydney outpost is set to resume full services again in coming months, and tackling backlogs for services for US citizens, students and workers will be first on the agenda."

We are all so keen and excited to start our new journey's in the states. It would be wonderful, if Sydney, which in previous years has had a great reputation, could open and start interviewing for all those eager to be interviewed in Sydney.

At least we can be united in having everything crossed for a positive outcome for all.

Best of luck to each and everyone of us, but especially those who are helpful.

 

[090521@0411]

I don’t connect previous posts to usernames besides the one you replied to. Always an essay, written in a superior tone, providing others with no help, more or less “you’re wrong, I’m right”, with nothing but fluff “facts” for backup.

I don’t need to read this specific thread, nor do I add any value. I just like to read through the posts from other OC winners (those doing CP). This forum is helpful, and overall pretty civil. I’ve found value from the threads that are relevant to me but, I can’t help myself…

They sound like an absolute know-it-all twat. I hope everything works out for everyone in this thread… except them.

Who are you referring to when you say "them'?

 

[Shezza85]

Hello.

All you need to do is contact the Suva embassy and they will look after it for you.

I think though what @miiint is asking to know whether to select Sydney on his DS 260 as I'm assuming he/she is from there and then email Suva embassy or just select Suva on the DS 260. Its a good question might be something to ask BritSimon on his website.