DV 2022 OC Selectees

[LuckyOneTwo]

Why not go the AOS route?

Los Angeles field office did not appear to be particularly fast, and if they waited until closer to the end of the financial year to process my application all the visas may have gone. Suva appear to be efficient at taking the Sydney cases, thus I decided to go consular processing.

If it wasn’t for Suva I would have continued with adjustment of status.

 

[christopher-christopher]

Probably my last post as I'm posting this message from an apartment I've rented in San Francisco, U.S.A.
My Point of Entry (POE) was Honolulu, Hawaii, entered the customs line, showed my passport and document pack (the US embassy in Suva gave me), they took me to a side room where I waited 15 minutes with others in a similar boat (immigrant visa first-time entrants). They asked me a couple questions... What job do you plan to do here? Are you physically carrying cash over 10k with you? What will be your address in the U.S.? Any food/agricultural items with you? Then they stamped my passport on the same page as the visa sticker page, and told me this will stamp will last you 1 year, but you will have the green card posted to the address you provided within about 60 days. And that's it.

 

[aussiechris]

Probably my last post as I'm posting this message from an apartment I've rented in San Francisco, U.S.A.
My Point of Entry (POE) was Honolulu, Hawaii, entered the customs line, showed my passport and document pack (the US embassy in Suva gave me), they took me to a side room where I waited 15 minutes with others in a similar boat (immigrant visa first-time entrants). They asked me a couple questions... What job do you plan to do here? Are you physically carrying cash over 10k with you? What will be your address in the U.S.? Any food/agricultural items with you? Then they stamped my passport on the same page as the visa sticker page, and told me this will stamp will last you 1 year, but you will have the green card posted to the address you provided within about 60 days. And that's it.

Amazing. You certainly relocated quickly!

 

[090521@0411]

Yes absolutely, happy to answer any questions u guys may have .. I can speak about my experience, I'm sure others may differ ..

I requested my case to be transferred from Sydney to Suva on 28/3/22

Received 2NL 19/4/22 for an interview today 2/5/22.

I'd say the amount of time you need to travel to Suva may depend on what day your interview falls. The Epworth Clinic are open Mon - Sat and very efficient in the process and reliable in returning the results within 24 hours. So technically you would need to arrive at least 2ish business days prior to your interview ..

The actual interview process was very straight forward.. You enter through security into a waiting room and take a seat. When called you check in at the first window and provide copies of your civil documents then go to another window to pay your fee. Once your fee is paid you take a seat and wait.

I waited about an hour and was called up to the window .. I'd say the interview took no longer than 3 minutes for me. Very basic questions, such as confirming your education, where you work, if you have ever been married, children, criminal history and where and if you have previously lived over seas for longer than a year. Obviously the civil documents are different for us Australian's than they are used to, so I had to explain a little about my education certification.

Then that's it, approved then and there. They say 3-5 business days to collect the passport from the interview, so just waiting to see now.

Happy to help if anyone else has any other questions, if not, best of luck to you all in getting an interview / visa

Sounds like you and I have the same time line.

I reached out to Suva on 29 March after seeing on BS's YT video saying Suva were offering interviews to those meant to be interviewed in SYD.

Suva replied within 5 minutes asking for a link to BS's video.

Within an hour of sending Suva a link to BS's video (about the time it took to watch BS's video) Suva replied advising I would be interviewed in Suva.

After I communicated with KCC in early April i got my 2NL on 19 April, for a 2 May interview.

Due to the short notice to schedule travel and the medical I asked Suva if I could postpone my interview. Suva immediately replied with a list of alternative interview dates and allowed me to pick my own interview date, how laid back is Suva?

Can I ask what state you were educated in AU? Because Suva has advised me I need to bring ALL my primary and high school transcripts to my interview.

I'm Qld educated, and to get my HSC only your results from year 11 and 12 count towards the your HSC. When I did my schooling in the 70s and 80s there were no "transcripts" you got a report card at the End of each term which was addressed to your parents.

I have contacted my old primary and high schools from back then, and while they can confirm my enrollments, nothing was stored on computers from back then, probably because computers didn't exist back then, and therefore they cannot locate copies of my report cards from back then, and I certainly don't have my copies.

I have my junior certificate from Year 10 and my year 11 and 12 results for my HSC, ALL passes. Do you think this will be enough for the interview? Can I ask what you produced and what you explained to the CO in regards to your education?, Otherwise I'm thinking I may need to prepare an employment based submission as a backup.

 

[Joseph ATT]

I only put my request in this week, but my response from Suva said 'KCC may schedule your interview in June and/or in a later month.'

are you already DQ ?

 

[BrisOC22]

are you already DQ ?

Everyone is DQ. They changed the process awhile ago due to covid and needing to speed things up. Its not required anymore

 

[Britsimon]

Everyone is DQ. They changed the process awhile ago due to covid and needing to speed things up. Its not required anymore

That's not actually correct.

There is still some level of processing - and there are many people not DQ. The DQ status is a status, not just about the document procedure.

 

[Britsimon]

Sounds like you and I have the same time line.

I reached out to Suva on 29 March after seeing on BS's YT video saying Suva were offering interviews to those meant to be interviewed in SYD.

Suva replied within 5 minutes asking for a link to BS's video.

Within an hour of sending Suva a link to BS's video (about the time it took to watch BS's video) Suva replied advising I would be interviewed in Suva.

After I communicated with KCC in early April i got my 2NL on 19 April, for a 2 May interview.

Due to the short notice to schedule travel and the medical I asked Suva if I could postpone my interview. Suva immediately replied with a list of alternative interview dates and allowed me to pick my own interview date, how laid back is Suva?

Can I ask what state you were educated in AU? Because Suva has advised me I need to bring ALL my primary and high school transcripts to my interview.

I'm Qld educated, and to get my HSC only your results from year 11 and 12 count towards the your HSC. When I did my schooling in the 70s and 80s there were no "transcripts" you got a report card at the End of each term which was addressed to your parents.

I have contacted my old primary and high schools from back then, and while they can confirm my enrollments, nothing was stored on computers from back then, probably because computers didn't exist back then, and therefore they cannot locate copies of my report cards from back then, and I certainly don't have my copies.

I have my junior certificate from Year 10 and my year 11 and 12 results for my HSC, ALL passes. Do you think this will be enough for the interview? Can I ask what you produced and what you explained to the CO in regards to your education?, Otherwise I'm thinking I may need to prepare an employment based submission as a backup.

This made me chuckle. They watched my video. Jeez. I should do one for Sydney explaining how to organize an office move.

 

[090521@0411]

This made me chuckle. They watched my video. Jeez. I should do one for Sydney explaining how to organize an office move.

.....alleged video

 

[Shezza85]

So I emailed Suva embassy on Sun night as well to request case transfer and they responded yesterday, said something about them notifying KCC and I should hopefully hear back from them sometime in June or after.

 

[jbsydney]

Is there anyone on here who is having or has had their medical in UK and who was vaccinated with AstraZeneca for COVID?
I'm not sure 100% if it is eligible for US migrant visa applications even though it is a WHO approved (for emergency vaccinations). Cheers

Can confirm that I have astra and there was no issue with medical and we have been approved.

 

[Groovy times]

Can confirm that I have astra and there was no issue with medical and we have been approved.

Great news, thank you and congratulations

 

[Syd2022]

Hi All, just wondering how many have requested to transfer to Suva and awaiting a 2NL if you are happy to share? Trying to gauge the length of time firstly between requesting and receiving a 2NL and secondly if anyone has been scheduled for a june interview? As I wonder if transferring to Suva might mean no interview until July or later. I realise the first group who requested in march were interviewed in May, but wonder whether there will now be a backlog if people want to transfer. Cheers

 

[BrisOC22]

Hi All, just wondering how many have requested to transfer to Suva and awaiting a 2NL if you are happy to share? Trying to gauge the length of time firstly between requesting and receiving a 2NL and secondly if anyone has been scheduled for a june interview? As I wonder if transferring to Suva might mean no interview until July or later. I realise the first group who requested in march were interviewed in May, but wonder whether there will now be a backlog if people want to transfer. Cheers

The first group was told they would be interviewed in May. Anyone that has requested transfer recently has been told "KCC will schedule your interview appointment date/time and transfer the case to Suva for processing which could be in June and/or later."

So most likely will be July interviews Id assume, maybe a few crammed into the end of June if they have capacity. There are quite a few that have transferred I believe, from talking to others and this forum I know of at least 4/5 that have requested transfer. But there are also some that have posted on britsimons faq page asking about transferring to. I believe theyre also taking other regions (but mainly focusing on OC). So hard to give an accurate estimate of how many have transferred and are waiting, but I think its safe to assume interviews will probably be in July if you transfer now.

Few posts up (https://forums.immigration.com/threads/dv-2022-oc-selectees.344384/post-2584854) someone else transferred but wanted more time to plan so asked to reschedule and was given a few different options. So if you're trying to get a specific time youre probably best off just transferring now and then rescheduling to the date you are aiming for.

 

[Freya]

Hi Everyone, thanks as always for sharing your knowledge and experiences, it's really appreciated.

I'm OC4XX and due to various personal factors would much prefer to wait a little longer and hopefully be interviewed in Melbourne or Sydney (based in Melbourne), but I have a few questions I don't believe have been answered yet.

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?

2) I've always thought we had to receive our visa and arrive in the USA / pass through customs before the 30th September, but noticing some recent comments, do we just need the visa, and we have 6 months from date of medical regardless? Eg if I hold on and manage to get interviewed in Sydney or Melbourne on the 20th of September, do I have 10 days to move? Or just shy of 6 months?

Thank you

 

[BrisOC22]

Hi Everyone, thanks as always for sharing your knowledge and experiences, it's really appreciated.

I'm OC4XX and due to various personal factors would much prefer to wait a little longer and hopefully be interviewed in Melbourne or Sydney (based in Melbourne), but I have a few questions I don't believe have been answered yet.

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?

2) I've always thought we had to receive our visa and arrive in the USA / pass through customs before the 30th September, but noticing some recent comments, do we just need the visa, and we have 6 months from date of medical regardless? Eg if I hold on and manage to get interviewed in Sydney or Melbourne on the 20th of September, do I have 10 days to move? Or just shy of 6 months?

Thank you

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.

 

[090521@0411]

Hi Everyone, thanks as always for sharing your knowledge and experiences, it's really appreciated.

I'm OC4XX and due to various personal factors would much prefer to wait a little longer and hopefully be interviewed in Melbourne or Sydney (based in Melbourne), but I have a few questions I don't believe have been answered yet.

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?

2) I've always thought we had to receive our visa and arrive in the USA / pass through customs before the 30th September, but noticing some recent comments, do we just need the visa, and we have 6 months from date of medical regardless? Eg if I hold on and manage to get interviewed in Sydney or Melbourne on the 20th of September, do I have 10 days to move? Or just shy of 6 months?

Thank you

I fly out soon for Suva, my costs unique for a Suva interview in AUD so far are:

Airfare Brisbane to Suva - $335

Accommodation $45/night

Medical (Epworth clinic) $264

Travel insurance $125

Airfare Suva to Brisbane - $400

My advice to everyone, there is a small window of opportunity to be interviewed in Suva that may not last much longer, make it happen NOW, don't let lifestyle, circumstances or pride that you paid 6k + AUD for a "decision" in a lawsuit cloud your judgement, do you want a Green Card or not? A decision in your favour in a lawsuit is no good to you if by the time the decision is known all visas for OC have been issued, do the maths, research how many visas on average are allocated to OC each year, then look at how many have been issued in OC this year, along with cases that are now ready or are in AP. There were around 150 2NLs issued for Suva interviews on 19 April alone, that's cases, so factor in derivatives and that could be 300 visas easy now potentially issued within the next 2 months for OC.

A decision in your favour on paper is worthless if all the visas are gone, and DOS wins their reservation of visas appeal. Why do you think 9FAM says "if there are visas still available" when saying you have until 30 September to prove education or employment requirements if you can't prove those requirements at your interview?

Where is the flood of interviews for Sydney/Melbourne some of the know it alls on here said would happen over a month ago?

Why I choose Suva?

I have been told by others in Suva when booking accommodation that ALOT of Australians are booking accommodation there for their visa interviews,
so don't assume it's a secret only known to those on this forum that Suva is the pathway to your green card.

I reached out to a number of embassies in January this year when my case became current trying to transfer my case, most, including Auckland and Suva, refused to accept My case, however PNG agreed, but only if KCC agreed and I stayed in PNG for as long as my case took to be decided, including possibly months on AP. KCC refused to transfer.

Suva have even agreed to give me back my passport after my interview if my case goes into AP, so I can travel back to Australia, then I can mail my passport back to Suva. This is what I wanted to do if KCC had of transferred my case to PNG but PNG required me to stay in PNG until my case was decided.

You can be gone from Australia for 3 days theoretically for your interview in Suva, fly out on a Monday, medical on a Tuesday, interview on a Wednesday, and fly back to Australia that same Wednesday.

Suva interviews on Mondays, wednesdays and Thursdays.

No visa is required to travel to Fiji for a DV interview, I emailed the Fijian high Commission and had them confirm in writing no visa was required for a DV interview, you do need to have your 2NL and proof of booked accommodation to show Fijian immigration officials when you land there. Beware of saying your just there as a tourist, if you do and they search your luggage and find your education/employment paperwork, they may think your there to look for work, and send you back to Australia.

You have six (6) months from the date of YOUR MEDICAL to enter the US to activate your DV, then you can fly back to Australia and safely stay in Australia for up to a year while you finalize selling your house etc.
--------------------------
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

 

[Sil2022]

Hi All, just wondering how many have requested to transfer to Suva and awaiting a 2NL if you are happy to share? Trying to gauge the length of time firstly between requesting and receiving a 2NL and secondly if anyone has been scheduled for a june interview? As I wonder if transferring to Suva might mean no interview until July or later. I realise the first group who requested in march were interviewed in May, but wonder whether there will now be a backlog if people want to transfer. Cheers

Don’t over think this….just wait they will interview if u have requested…..

 

[BrisOC22]

I fly out soon for Suva, my costs unique for a Suva interview in AUD so far are:

Airfare Brisbane to Suva - $335

Accommodation $45/night

Medical (Epworth clinic) $264

Travel insurance $125

Airfare Suva to Brisbane - $400

My advice to everyone, there is a small window of opportunity to be interviewed in Suva that may not last much longer, make it happen NOW, don't let lifestyle, circumstances or pride that you paid 6k + AUD for a "decision" in a lawsuit cloud your judgement, do you want a Green Card or not? A decision in your favour in a lawsuit is no good to you if by the time the decision is known all visas for OC have been issued, do the maths, research how many visas on average are allocated to OC each year, then look at how many have been issued in OC this year, along with cases that are now ready or are in AP. There were around 150 2NLs issued for Suva interviews on 19 April alone, that's cases, so factor in derivatives and that could be 300 visas easy now potentially issued within the next 2 months for OC.

A decision in your favour on paper is worthless if all the visas are gone, and DOS wins their reservation of visas appeal. Why do you think 9FAM says "if there are visas still available" when saying you have until 30 September to prove education or employment requirements if you can't prove those requirements at your interview?

Where is the flood of interviews for Sydney/Melbourne some of the know it alls on here said would happen over a month ago?

Why I choose Suva?

I have been told by others in Suva when booking accommodation that ALOT of Australians are booking accommodation there for their visa interviews,
so don't assume it's a secret only known to those on this forum that Suva is the pathway to your green card.

I reached out to a number of embassies in January this year when my case became current trying to transfer my case, most, including Auckland and Suva, refused to accept My case, however PNG agreed, but only if KCC agreed and I stayed in PNG for as long as my case took to be decided, including possibly months on AP. KCC refused to transfer.

Suva have even agreed to give me back my passport after my interview if my case goes into AP, so I can travel back to Australia, then I can mail my passport back to Suva. This is what I wanted to do if KCC had of transferred my case to PNG but PNG required me to stay in PNG until my case was decided.

You can be gone from Australia for 3 days theoretically for your interview in Suva, fly out on a Monday, medical on a Tuesday, interview on a Wednesday, and fly back to Australia that same Wednesday.

Suva interviews on Mondays, wednesdays and Thursdays.

No visa is required to travel to Fiji for a DV interview, I emailed the Fijian high Commission and had them confirm in writing no visa was required for a DV interview, you do need to have your 2NL and proof of booked accommodation to show Fijian immigration officials when you land there. Beware of saying your just there as a tourist, if you do and they search your luggage and find your education/employment paperwork, they may think your there to look for work, and send you back to Australia.

You have six (6) months from the date of YOUR MEDICAL to enter the US to activate your DV, then you can fly back to Australia and safely stay in Australia for up to a year while you finalize selling your house etc.
--------------------------
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

You are claiming people in here are “know it alls” when no one has come across that way or claimed that. The only person I’ve seen come across this way on this forum is you. Everyone else here has just answered questions to the best of their ability to try and help others. No need to insult them. I also never saw anyone claim there was going to be a flood of Sydney/Melbourne interviews in April either.

And as far as all the claims YOU are making from all YOUR research. It’s also not entirely accurate but you’re claiming to know it all. For instance today in the DV22 global group on telegram jesse posted an update from the depositions done under oath saying that there was no regional quota issues.

No need to be so critical of others all of the time, you can simply just post what your total cost came out to.

The main issue for those waiting on Sydney is just the time constraint. Sydney will open, Melbourne may help, it’s just a matter of when and how much time they will have to process DV and whether or not they will prioritise it.

 

[Sil2022]

so I just had my interview today and my visa was approved now I am just waiting for my password and I don’t think I need to explain the details as most people have already explained things in detail on this forum….. so all the best to rest of you…