DV 2022 OC Selectees

[SusieQQQ]

When they say the payment needs to be in cash, do they mean immediate payment (rather than cheque etc)? Or do they mean literal cash?

“Diversity Visa Application Fees of USD330 or FJD726 per person. The fees is payable in cash at the Embassy on the day of your interview. Please note, the Embassy does not accept pre-2006 series in US currency. As with all consular services fees, this fee is non-refundable regardless of the decision on the application”

Never heard of any embassy accepting a cheque. Some accept debit or credit cards, all accept cash. Cash must usually be exact.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Great thanks that’s good info. I requested to change my embassy from Auckland to Suva and they have sent the request to the KCC. They said they’ll be scheduling interviews for August/September next so if I get one and as long as the visa bulletin doesn’t retrogress and make me uncurrent I should be ok. Where is the info on Regional Quotas?

The “regional quota“ is irrelevant, it’s not a hard number. The only two hard numbers are the per-country limit of 3850 visas and the total limit of 55000.

 

[LuckyOneTwo]

I’d like to hear more about the group if anyone wants to share. I’m in my mid thirties, already in the US working on an E3 visa. I’ve been here for almost 3 years. I live in Los Angeles and did not think I would love it here as much as I do.

I came to the US thinking I would be here for a very short time.

What jobs are you all hoping to explore in the US? Which areas of the country are you looking to live in? There is so much opportunity here. If you have any questions about the move feel free to message me.

 

[BrisOC22]

I’d like to hear more about the group if anyone wants to share. I’m in my mid thirties, already in the US working on an E3 visa. I’ve been here for almost 3 years. I live in Los Angeles and did not think I would love it here as much as I do.

I came to the US thinking I would be here for a very short time.

What jobs are you all hoping to explore in the US? Which areas of the country are you looking to live in? There is so much opportunity here. If you have any questions about the move feel free to message me.

Ill be in LA, was there for 14 months on a J1 visa and then covid hit and then the work visa ban so was forced to come back to Aus at the end of it. So will be heading right back to there Work as a software engineer, will continue to work for my the Aus company I'm with at first since its fully remote but will look into some US jobs after settling in again since the pay is so much higher + a lot offer healthcare benefits/other benefits there.

I know quite a few others are heading to NY.

 

[TWI]

What jobs are you all hoping to explore in the US? Which areas of the country are you looking to live in? There is so much opportunity here. If you have any questions about the move feel free to message me.

I’m starting in LA cause I’ll be living with friends but I’d love to spend a year working remotely or in hospitality/retail in different cities for 2 months at a time. I think it would be a great way to explore heaps of the US but very painful at tax time hahah

 

[LuckyOneTwo]

Ill be in LA, was there for 14 months on a J1 visa and then covid hit and then the work visa ban so was forced to come back to Aus at the end of it. So will be heading right back to there Work as a software engineer, will continue to work for my the Aus company I'm with at first since its fully remote but will look into some US jobs after settling in again since the pay is so much higher + a lot offer healthcare benefits/other benefits there.

I know quite a few others are heading to NY.

Nice. USD pay is definitely a bonus. Great you get a soft landing with a remote job. I’m in Santa Monica and happy to welcome you back with a bevvy

 

[LuckyOneTwo]

I’m starting in LA cause I’ll be living with friends but I’d love to spend a year working remotely or in hospitality/retail in different cities for 2 months at a time. I think it would be a great way to explore heaps of the US but very painful at tax time hahah

That sounds great. I’d love to work remotely and RV across the country at some point. Same goes when you arrive in LA we should all have a catch up drink, it’s been a long process to get these golden green cards

 

[LuckyOneTwo]

I’ve reached out to Epworth about the medical. How many of us are interviewing the week of July 4th? Wondering whether I can get away with medical Tuesday, interview Wednesday? Otherwise the flights in for the prior week are already looking expensive

 

[BrisOC22]

I’ve reached out to Epworth about the medical. How many of us are interviewing the week of July 4th? Wondering whether I can get away with medical Tuesday, interview Wednesday? Otherwise the flights in for the prior week are already looking expensive

I am doing Medical Monday, interview Wednesday (but early morning Wednesday). They told me my medical would be ready for pickup the next day. So you MIGHT be okay depending on your interview time on the Wednesday I think, but cutting it close for sure. And Im down for a drink! I was in Highland Park and will probably be looking to rent close to there, need to figure out the living situation though/find some roommates. Was living with my gf and her family there previously, but now that Im working from home it won't really work staying there so gotta figure something out before I move

 

[Sm1smom]

Ill be in LA, was there for 14 months on a J1 visa and then covid hit and then the work visa ban so was forced to come back to Aus at the end of it. So will be heading right back to there Work as a software engineer, will continue to work for my the Aus company I'm with at first since its fully remote but will look into some US jobs after settling in again since the pay is so much higher + a lot offer healthcare benefits/other benefits there.

I know quite a few others are heading to NY.

I hope you're aware of the tax implications of working remotely in the US for a non-US company. The Australian company will need to be set up to withhold US (federal and state and other payroll) taxes on the income.

 

[SusieQQQ]

I hope you're aware of the tax implications of working remotely in the US for a non-US company. The Australian company will need to be set up to withhold US (federal and state and other payroll) taxes on the income.

This, or you’d have to set yourself up as a self employed contractor working for the foreign company, which has its own tax headaches.
Plus the fact that I guess one would essentially have to be paying privately for medical insurance in the US, which works out way more expensive than getting it through an employer.

 

[AUMatt]

This, or you’d have to set yourself up as a self employed contractor working for the foreign company, which has its own tax headaches.
Plus the fact that I guess one would essentially have to be paying privately for medical insurance in the US, which works out way more expensive than getting it through an employer.

This is great to know - I work as an independent contractor and an employee at the same time, so even if I work for a US employer, I'll be contracting for AU clients. Looks like I should get some pro tax advice.

 

[AUMatt]

This is great to know - I work as an independent contractor and an employee at the same time, so even if I work for a US employer, I'll be contracting for AU clients. Looks like I should get some pro tax advice.

One other question about this - I got the impression from Brit Simon that I'd need to start filing taxes once the green card is activated. I probably won't be moving to the US for a while after that first entry - does anyone know what the deal is if I don't move for say a year or so?

 

[Sm1smom]

One other question about this - I got the impression from Brit Simon that I'd need to start filing taxes once the green card is activated. I probably won't be moving to the US for a while after that first entry - does anyone know what the deal is if I don't move for say a year or so?

Tax filing obligations kicks in from the day you become a LPR regardless of where you’re residing after that initial activation.

 

[BrisOC22]

I hope you're aware of the tax implications of working remotely in the US for a non-US company. The Australian company will need to be set up to withhold US (federal and state and other payroll) taxes on the income.

My company is aware I plan on moving, and has hired quite a few remote people in the past few months (Sweden, Brazil, Canada) so they're starting to understand the process and options a bit more so I'll discuss it with them. Their original suggestion when I joined was that I would have to set myself up as a contractor in the US and work for them that way, but I think since then they're changed to keeping people on their AU payroll (that's what they did for our Aussie living in Canada). Will discuss it more with them once I am actually approved though, I won't move for a few months until I've got it sorted with them.

And yeah Im definitely going to need some more advice on the tax and health care side of stuff, and staying under the Aus payroll kind of helps with that as we are still technically part of our Medicare system in Aus as long as we are paying tax for that year I think. After a year of being in the US though I would be removed since id no longer be a resident, so I will most likely start looking for US work once I arrive (for the health care benefits mostly), this is just kind of to help me transition. But I definitely don't understand it well enough yet, do you have any good recommended sources of info (videos or articles that discuss it?)

 

[DV2022OC]

Sorry I have been off this forum for about 4 weeks.

How is Sydney consulate opening progressing, any chance of it opening soon and scheduling interviews?

Can you please guide me on how you requested the transfer to Suva.

 

[BrisOC22]

Sorry I have been off this forum for about 4 weeks.

How is Sydney consulate opening progressing, any chance of it opening soon and scheduling interviews?

Can you please guide me on how you requested the transfer to Suva.

Sydney hasn't provided any update. So no one knows still.

For transferring, I sent this email to suvaiv@state.gov , I also included my passport/police certs/birth certificate just incase they needed it. Don't think they do but I wanted to save as many back and forth emails as possible of them requesting info.

Hi Suva!

I would like to request a transfer of my case from the Sydney US embassy to the embassy in Suva due to the Sydney embassy being closed for a long time and currently not conducting DV interviews. I have a relatively close number and have been waiting for an interview since January of this year with no movement in Sydney. I have included all of my case information below, please let me know if you need anything else from me in order to help with the transfer!

Name: First Middle Last
Case Number: 2022OC00000XXX (Your CN here)
Date of Birth: DD/MM/YYYY (DDth of Month YYYY)
Relationship : Single, no children
Nationality : Australian
FSC : Australia (This is your country of chargability I think)
Current Interview post: Sydney

 

[PixelDV]

Chiming in to say that I got my 2NL yesterday too for the 14th of July, OC14XX!

I’m curious how much time I’ll need between the medical and interview, and also between the interview and getting my passport back.

 

[AUDV2022]

Currently in Sydney and will be based in LA in the finance industry. We haven't had our interview yet though flights booked in for September to LAX. I have faith we will be interviewed and will go over and activate our visas and return to Sydney in October to map out our plans...

 

[SusieQQQ]

This is great to know - I work as an independent contractor and an employee at the same time, so even if I work for a US employer, I'll be contracting for AU clients. Looks like I should get some pro tax advice.

You’d have to pay “self employment tax” as well as income tax; generally one ends up paying more tax this way than earning the same gross income at an employer. Plus, the healthcare costs. Definitely worth spending some time with a tax expert.