Recently had interview at Sydney US consulate and thought I would share the experience:
Got there at 7:30am -first ones. Did not bring cell phones or bags - only documents. Through security then waited to be taken up to consulate, then enter consulate & take number and sit down.
Number comes up - go to window to present documents (this was the most stressful part of the whole process as they want documents in an exact order). Went away from window to re-order documents according to list they gave us. Came back to window but they wanted it re-ordered again. Re-ordered documents and went back to window-this time they took documents.
Sat down - 15 minutes later asked to go pay for visas. Paid, then back to window and this time whole family had to go to window and adults electronic finger prints taken. Then asked to sit down and waited for interview.
Interview questions/answers:
Q. First, can you please sign your applications?
Signed.
Q. Now, I am going to ask some questions I ask everyone, then some questions specific to your application. First, Confirm finger prints by placing right hand fingers on electronic finger print.
Done.
Q. Have you ever been to USA?
Yes, I told them when (the didn't ask exact days. Year and approximate month seemed to be enough.
Q. Did you have US visa problems before?
No.
Q. Have you ever lived anywhere else besides Australia and USA as an adult for at least 1 year?
Yes, we gave them details.
Q. Did you bring criminal records for those countries?
Yes.
Q. Have you or spouse ever been arrested for anything?
No.
Q. Have you or spouse ever been married before, or have other kids to other people?
No.
Q. Do you have high school certificate/diploma?
Yes. Also have University degree. (they didn't ask to see the degree, but acknowledged it verbally and wrote it into computer - I think).
Q. This ends the interview - congratulations we will process & mail you your visas next week. Did you bring self address return express envelope so we can mail you your visas?
No!
Interviewer: Please go to the post office (they gave us a map showing closes post office) and get 3kg express self addressed envelope and bring it back.
Note : the map they give states to get 0.5kg envelope, but you actually need to get 3kg (maximum mailing weight) envelope. Went post office and got an express envelope - returned to consulate & handed it in. And that's it! Now waiting for visas to arrive in mail. Time spent in consulate - about 50min. Some of this was time spent re-ordering our documents.
Some things to take note:
(1) The length of time before you must move to US can be influenced by when your police/medical records expire. All your records must be valid when you enter the US.
(2) Don't forget to bring 3kg self-addressed platinum express envelope from post office. There is a post office down the road from consulate.
(3) Get there early as possible and try to bring only documents so you get through security faster.
(4) They did not ask about proof of funds, or, where we were going to stay in USA - although we had proof of income with us and address of friends in USA.
(5) Make sure you photocopy documents & try to have them in correct order- and I mean ordered on top of each other according to requirements. We didn't know this beforehand - looking online now, it seems the polish embassy website gives information on this. But I could not find the document order for Sydney.
http://poland.usembassy.gov/poland/docs_checklist_dv.html
(6) We took our x-rays but they did not ask for them.
(7) From the talking between consulate staff we could hear from our seats, it seems that lots of people don't bring all documents. We were well prepared and went over our documents many times to make sure we had them all before the interview.
That's it. All the best to you.
Got there at 7:30am -first ones. Did not bring cell phones or bags - only documents. Through security then waited to be taken up to consulate, then enter consulate & take number and sit down.
Number comes up - go to window to present documents (this was the most stressful part of the whole process as they want documents in an exact order). Went away from window to re-order documents according to list they gave us. Came back to window but they wanted it re-ordered again. Re-ordered documents and went back to window-this time they took documents.
Sat down - 15 minutes later asked to go pay for visas. Paid, then back to window and this time whole family had to go to window and adults electronic finger prints taken. Then asked to sit down and waited for interview.
Interview questions/answers:
Q. First, can you please sign your applications?
Signed.
Q. Now, I am going to ask some questions I ask everyone, then some questions specific to your application. First, Confirm finger prints by placing right hand fingers on electronic finger print.
Done.
Q. Have you ever been to USA?
Yes, I told them when (the didn't ask exact days. Year and approximate month seemed to be enough.
Q. Did you have US visa problems before?
No.
Q. Have you ever lived anywhere else besides Australia and USA as an adult for at least 1 year?
Yes, we gave them details.
Q. Did you bring criminal records for those countries?
Yes.
Q. Have you or spouse ever been arrested for anything?
No.
Q. Have you or spouse ever been married before, or have other kids to other people?
No.
Q. Do you have high school certificate/diploma?
Yes. Also have University degree. (they didn't ask to see the degree, but acknowledged it verbally and wrote it into computer - I think).
Q. This ends the interview - congratulations we will process & mail you your visas next week. Did you bring self address return express envelope so we can mail you your visas?
No!
Interviewer: Please go to the post office (they gave us a map showing closes post office) and get 3kg express self addressed envelope and bring it back.
Note : the map they give states to get 0.5kg envelope, but you actually need to get 3kg (maximum mailing weight) envelope. Went post office and got an express envelope - returned to consulate & handed it in. And that's it! Now waiting for visas to arrive in mail. Time spent in consulate - about 50min. Some of this was time spent re-ordering our documents.
Some things to take note:
(1) The length of time before you must move to US can be influenced by when your police/medical records expire. All your records must be valid when you enter the US.
(2) Don't forget to bring 3kg self-addressed platinum express envelope from post office. There is a post office down the road from consulate.
(3) Get there early as possible and try to bring only documents so you get through security faster.
(4) They did not ask about proof of funds, or, where we were going to stay in USA - although we had proof of income with us and address of friends in USA.
(5) Make sure you photocopy documents & try to have them in correct order- and I mean ordered on top of each other according to requirements. We didn't know this beforehand - looking online now, it seems the polish embassy website gives information on this. But I could not find the document order for Sydney.
http://poland.usembassy.gov/poland/docs_checklist_dv.html
(6) We took our x-rays but they did not ask for them.
(7) From the talking between consulate staff we could hear from our seats, it seems that lots of people don't bring all documents. We were well prepared and went over our documents many times to make sure we had them all before the interview.
That's it. All the best to you.