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Oceania OC 2026 Winners Thread

CoffeeandTea said:
I’m actually shocked how easy it was to become a permanent resident. I’ve had to provide far more documentation and background checks to get a job!
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You don’t provide background checks but they do them. There’s a reason these visas are harder to get in countries whose authorities don’t cooperate with the US.
 
Has anyone been able to pay their fees via the USCIS website yet? Stating my A-number does not exist. USCIS states it's recommended to pay prior to arrival into the US. Anyone else having issues paying this fee?

Cheers,
 
HSD123 said:
Has anyone been able to pay their fees via the USCIS website yet? Stating my A-number does not exist. USCIS states it's recommended to pay prior to arrival into the US. Anyone else having issues paying this fee?

Cheers,
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Hi @HSD123 ,

What browser are you using? (they recommend Chrome). Are you using the correct A number? (it should be 9 digits) and DOS Case number? (remember to remove the last two digits).

Regards,
Happy2BeHere
 
HSD123 said:
Has anyone been able to pay their fees via the USCIS website yet? Stating my A-number does not exist. USCIS states it's recommended to pay prior to arrival into the US. Anyone else having issues paying this fee?

Cheers,
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Happy2BeHere said:
Hi @HSD123 ,

What browser are you using? (they recommend Chrome). Are you using the correct A number? (it should be 9 digits) and DOS Case number? (remember to remove the last two digits).

Regards,
Happy2BeHere
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I seem to recall we had to put a 0 in front of our A number to get it to 9 digits - if yours is 8, try that.
 
Thanks all,

I have tried both of those things and unfortunately it is still saying the below:

We could not find the A-Number or Department of State Id you entered​

Contact the USCIS Contact Center for assistance.

Looks like I'll be contacting the USCIS contact centre for assistance.

Thanks for the tips regardless.

Cheers,
 
HSD123 said:
Thanks all,

I have tried both of those things and unfortunately it is still saying the below:

We could not find the A-Number or Department of State Id you entered​

Contact the USCIS Contact Center for assistance.

Looks like I'll be contacting the USCIS contact centre for assistance.

Thanks for the tips regardless.

Cheers,
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That validation has been too eager forever. Ignore that message and proceed with the 2nd field (DOS id, just remember to skip last two digits of you're copying it from visa stamp). Once you have both numbers in, message will most likely disappear and form will let you hit next button.
 
Thanks for that - that worked.

Appreciate the assistance on this.

Cheers,
Xarthisius said:
That validation has been too eager forever. Ignore that message and proceed with the 2nd field (DOS id, just remember to skip last two digits of you're copying it from visa stamp). Once you have both numbers in, message will most likely disappear and form will let you hit next button.
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aususa2026 said:
We are also in the states at the moment. We got our fingerprints done at the local sheriff's office and sent the physical prints along with the printed offline form to Canberra. We got a link to download our approved certificate about 2 weeks after they received our documents.

As a side note, Fedex, UPS and DHL don't directly deliver to the locked bag address provided on the form. We used DHL and received tracking to Canberra, but a third party completes the delivery so you won't actually get confirmation it has made it all the way. I emailed for an alternate address in case it had to be diverted, and they suggested;

AFP Criminal Records
Level 1, 53-73 Alinga St
Canberra City ACT 2600

You should get tracking the whole way with that address, but ours made it to the locked bag eventually so maybe not necessary.
Good luck, postage from the US isn't cheap!!
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Hi there. I am surprised they provided you with a download link - as they ask for a postal address for the certificates.
But that's good, because it seems to take many weeks for our mailed forms and fingerprints to arrive in Canberra from Switzerland (we mailed it off on Oct 14 and the last tracking scan by DHL was from Oct 19, just indicating that the letter was being exported).

Can you tell me if you were able to track your letter containing the completed forms and fingerprints all the way into Australia? Was your credit card charged successfully? How long did it take for your letter to arrive in total?

Thanks
 
OnTheGo said:
Hi there. I am surprised they provided you with a download link - as they ask for a postal address for the certificates.
But that's good, because it seems to take many weeks for our mailed forms and fingerprints to arrive in Canberra from Switzerland (we mailed it off on Oct 14 and the last tracking scan by DHL was from Oct 19, just indicating that the letter was being exported).

Can you tell me if you were able to track your letter containing the completed forms and fingerprints all the way into Australia? Was your credit card charged successfully? How long did it take for your letter to arrive in total?

Thanks
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We were only able to track ours through DHL to the Canberra distribution centre, but it was then handed off to Australia post to be delivered to the locked bag address so we didn't get any further notifications after it was handed over to AusPost. Credit card was charged fine, a few days after I assume it was delivered to the AFP, certificates were available approximately another week after that.
 
CoffeeandTea said:
Don’t worry, you will be fine!
My “interview” was perhaps 3 questions?
I’ve travelled extensively too and was not asked about finances at all. She just approved it imme diately.
My entire process from arriving to leaving was less than 30mins. If that.

They seem far more strict about short term non-immigrant visas than immigrant visas. I had to interview for a short term visa and was asked maybe 7 questions? Significantly more than this green card interview.
I’m actually shocked how easy it was to become a permanent resident. I’ve had to provide far more documentation and background checks to get a job!

Also, it was sooooo much more relaxed on this green card day than when they are doing other visas.
I absolutely assure you that you will be fine!!
If you have ever been to the USA the border guards there ask far harder questions than this.
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Thank you so much for the reassurance, I really appreciate it!! My interview is tomorrow, I'll let you guys know how I go! ;)
 
aususa2026 said:
We were only able to track ours through DHL to the Canberra distribution centre, but it was then handed off to Australia post to be delivered to the locked bag address so we didn't get any further notifications after it was handed over to AusPost. Credit card was charged fine, a few days after I assume it was delivered to the AFP, certificates were available approximately another week after that.
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I thought I'd give an update on ours. Our DHL screening ended overseas (where we posted the envelope with DHL) and never again in Australia. About two weeks after that last scan our credit cards were debited, and two days later they emailed me with the payment receipts and login credentials to enable us to check how our applications were progressing. This is now one week ago, so according to your experience we should hopefully receive ours soon.
 
Hi all,

Am sure some of you heard the news of the pending incoming pause. Obviously there hasn't been any news of how it will unfold but nevertheless, I thought it might be a good idea to start thinking of a few contingency plans.

My current situation has me finishing up my school shortly in the US with my school giving me a job offer to return as an instructor. Initially, I had planned to do this on the E3, as others before me had too. However, I was selected in the DV2026 (OC12XX) and subsequently submitted my DS-260 and had planned to go home after the conclusion of my studies and wait for my number to become current before returning.

In the very worst case scenario, they pause/cancel the program before I am able to get the green card and I'm stuck in a pickle where I have previously applied for an immigrant visa and it will not look good if I try to apply for the E3 which is a non immigrant visa.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed with this?
 
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sevenstars said:
Hi all,

Am sure some of you heard the news of the pending incoming pause. Obviously there hasn't been any news of how it will unfold but nevertheless, I thought it might be a good idea to start thinking of a few contingency plans.

My current situation has me finishing up my school shortly in the US with my school giving me a job offer to return as an instructor. Initially, I had planned to do this on the E3, as others before me had too. However, I was selected in the DV2026 (OC12XX) and subsequently submitted my DS-260 and had planned to go home after the conclusion of my studies and wait for my number to become current before returning.

In the very worst case scenario, they pause/cancel the program before I am able to get the green card and I'm stuck in a pickle where I have previously applied for an immigrant visa and it will not look good if I try to apply for the E3 which is a non immigrant visa.

Anyone have any advice on how to proceed with this?
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I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you're a flight instructor? I've been over here on an E3 as a pilot for the last few years before getting our green card and was in a very similar situation. We submitted our DS160 for E3 renewal, and then our DS260 for the green card on the advice of our companies lawyer that provided we could show we weren't a risk over staying our visa we shouldn't have an issue. That said, I would say it depends greatly on the embassy and consular official you get, some people at our company have recently had issues just renewing their E3's despite having no other pending submissions, however they've generally been at embassies overseas rather than Australia. (Our green card ended up coming through before our E3 renewal though so I can't offer any first hand experience sorry)
 
G'day everyone.


With the new news about suspension of I-485, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say G'day! OC13XX here who will more likely be doing Consular Processing in the future.
 
aususa2026 said:
I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess you're a flight instructor? I've been over here on an E3 as a pilot for the last few years before getting our green card and was in a very similar situation. We submitted our DS160 for E3 renewal, and then our DS260 for the green card on the advice of our companies lawyer that provided we could show we weren't a risk over staying our visa we shouldn't have an issue. That said, I would say it depends greatly on the embassy and consular official you get, some people at our company have recently had issues just renewing their E3's despite having no other pending submissions, however they've generally been at embassies overseas rather than Australia. (Our green card ended up coming through before our E3 renewal though so I can't offer any first hand experience sorry)
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You've hit the nail on the head there, I'm currently waiting for my CFI-I checkride and plan to go home immediately afterwards. Thanks for sharing your experience, definitely feeling a little stressed after reading that. If worst comes to worst and I have to apply for the E3, I might have a look at finding a lawyer for this whole ordeal. Also, I'll try to keep any potential interview processes back home at the Sydney Consulate.

Thanks again for the message.
 
For those who have had green cards issued in their passport are you concerned about the suspension just announced? We obviously could still be denied at the border, is there any info on how this will affect us?
 
abbeys207 said:
For those who have had green cards issued in their passport are you concerned about the suspension just announced? We obviously could still be denied at the border, is there any info on how this will affect us?
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Sounds like if you have the visa in your passport already you should be fine. Britsimon talking about it in his latest video.
 
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