Darren526

We need more information to answer your question.

Were you born in Australia?

Are your parents from another country?

Is this a spouse visa?

What evidence did they want?

What questions did they ask in the interview?

Sometimes if they ask alot of relationship questions focused on one area it is a sign for AP-administrative processing

Call DOS and ask What is the status of my case?

If they say it is in processing...ask is it Mandatory?

If they say NO then ask is it Internal?

If it is internal then the embassy is reviewing your documents and it can take 2 weeks till 1 year

If it is Mandatory it is in name checks with the FBI and it can take 2 weeks till 2 years or forever. Usually 6 months or less

Visa is finally approved. Just had to submit an extra document. Took 4 weeks longer. Got Visa in hand now. All those months to get a sticker in your passport

Hi VJ's

After weeks of frustration we have finally been approved a visa.

Hi all we are under consulate review at the moment. We had to summit more proof to them wondering if anyone else has been in this situation and how long they found they had to wait for an answer from the consulate. We are pulling our hair out as we thought we could have been over in the USA by now. We have a 6 month old baby we would like to be with family in the USA because they haven't meet her yet. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

So, what news from the DoS Hotline ?

My wife spoke to DoS helpline. They said on their system it showed that they could see that we hadn't sent the signed Tax return. We said that we have sent that to the Consulate. It's just not showing up on the DoS system yet. They also advised us to send a Tax transcript to the Consulate.

We have ordered a Tax Transcript, just waiting on it to turn up in the post and then we can forward an email to the Consulate.

Order an IRS tax return transcript: it's the ultimate proof that you have filed your taxes and it's by far the preferred document for NVC/embassies.

You can order it online and they send it abroad if that's where you live.

The Sydney Consulate gave us the wrong website. They told us to get an irs transcript from www.ssa.gov. My wife new this to be wrong but she phoned Social Security in the USA and they said that there is nothing on their site to do with obtaining Tax transcripts.

I got on to the irs website and found the link to obtain tax transcripts. Hopefully a tax transcript will turn up to my Australian address. Don't know how long it will take but hopefully soon. This is so dragging out.

Can't understand why the consulate wont except the email which was sent from the efile program saying that it was lodged to the IRS. You would think they would want our case completed and get along with other cases.

You need to send them a copy of your entire tax return. An email from the IRS is not sufficient. If you e-filed the program you used will give you the option to download your return into a .pdf file so you can print it off.

Take everything that is printed, put the W2 or 1099 with it and mail it to the consulate.

If you paper filed and mailed the return in, you should have kept a copy for your records. If you did not, you will have to wait until your return is processed and order a tax return transcript from the IRS and send that to the consulate.

We printed off a copy of the 2011 Federal Return from the .pdf that was created from an efile program(TaxAct). The Federal Return was signed then submitted by email to the consulate. Sydney consulate allows for copies.

Two weeks later they then requested proof that we did file with the IRS. We received an email from TaxAct to confirm that the Federal Return was successfully lodged to the IRS(Submission ID is given to confirm this). I forward this email to the consulate which states lodgement and also has the Submission ID which the Consulate could confirm if need too.

Hi;

Still waiting on Visa. Had interview 2 weeks ago and was given a 221g Refusal. Consulate required a 2011 US Federal Return which we submitted. Now 2 weeks after interview they want further proof that we submitted the US Federal Return. I have forward the email from the IRS saying we have lodged the Federal Return.

I don't know what other people feel towards the US Consulate in Sydney but for us it has been a struggle. We wanted to be over all of this and get our 4 month daughter settled in the US with family. I don't think we will be moving over to the US for many more weeks. The US Consulate now has all the documents they require but still no more progress towards being granted a US Visa. Our daughter has no grandparents here in Australia{my mother died 4 years ago and my father died 5 months before our daughter was born) but has grandparents in the USA which have not seen our daughter. That's the main reason we want to get over to the USA asap. Doesn't seem to be happening that way for us.

Hi;

Still waiting on Visa. Had interview 2 weeks ago and was given a 221g Refusal. Consulate required a 2011 US Federal Return which we submitted. Now 2 weeks after interview they want further proof that we submitted the US Federal Return. I have forward the email from the IRS saying we have lodged the Federal Return.

I don't know what other people feel towards the US Consulate in Sydney but for us it has been a struggle. We wanted to be over all of this and get our 4 month daughter settled in the US with family. I don't think we will be moving over to the US for many more weeks. The US Consulate now has all the documents they require but still no more progress towards being granted a US Visa. Our daughter has no grandparents here in Australia{my mother died 4 years ago and my father died 5 months before our daughter was born) but has grandparents in the USA which have not seen our daughter. That's the main reason we want to get over to the USA asap. Doesn't seem to be happening that way for us.

I emailed the US consulate in Sydney, received a reply in 3 days.

I got a reply today from an email sent to the US consulate on the 22nd March 2012

you can call DoS Hotline when they're open (# in my profile, click the girls, study left panel)

and

ask for casefile status.

Hi Darnell

Thank you for your response. Will contact DOS if Visa doesn't turn up by Tuesday this week.

Darren

when was the visa approved? I checked your timeline but couldn't tell...you may just have to wait a little longer. I got mine a week after approval but others have waited a few weeks or more.

My visa wasn't approved at the interview. They gave me a Refusal Worksheet 221g(They have my passport which is a good sign) saying they require a 2011 US Federal Return from my Petitioner. We have since sent that document to the consulate by email. Sent it two days after the interview. Still haven't heard anything from the consulate. Have sent emails but don't get any feedback to whether we have been granted or not. Interview was on the 13th March 2012.

Hi;

I sent an email to the US Consulate in Sydney on the 22nd with regard to our case and whether we have been granted a visa.

They wont even respond that a visa has been granted. Just left to wait it out. I'd like to know what they have been doing all week. How long does it take them to print out a visa and stick it in the passport. And then get a package together that goes in a yellow envelope that says "Do not open".

Hey everyone

(Sorry if this is in the wrong forum but I thought the best thing was to ask Aussies who have been through the same thing)

We aren't applying for the visa until a little bit later this year but I am wanting to do as much research as I can. How did everyone go about transferring money when they moved from Australia to the USA? Do you get taxed on how much you bring over? All my savings would already have been taxed in Australia (due to it being work wages) but was curious if the US taxes them again. I would have quite a lot saved so I dont want to carry it on me (for obvious reasons) and also dont want to send it through Western Union due to their charges - is there any other way?

Thanks in advance for anyone that is able to provide me with some insight

Hi;

I am about to use this company to transfer funds from AU$ into US$. HiFX(based in Sydney and around the world). Very competitive exchange rates. Way better than the banks. If you are transferring over $10,000, no charge to do this. They just get a small fraction from the exchange.

http://www.hifx.com.au/

You will be surprised how much more money you get in exchange when you use this company. Compare it to your bank.

I have not exchanged money using them yet. Will once my visa is approved. Have set up an account with them and been checking out how much money I will gain when exchanging.

eg AU$12000 = US$12520 on today's exchange rate at 1.043.

I was referred to this company by my overseas removalist

regards

Darren

I interviewed on the same day as Sassy+Swoop and she received a request for extra documents. Her husband emailed them the same day. I received my visa about 6 days later and she received hers about 10 days later. So, not long at all once they receive it.

Here's hoping it's the same for you ...

Hi Deb+Steve,

Thanks for letting us know this.

I emailed the US Consulate about whether they received our documents and if so have we been approved. All we got back from the Consulate was that they have received the document. No mention of if we have been finally approved. They must sit on it for a while before making a decision.

I see your not having much luck getting a response to your posts about this.

When I read your post the other day it kinda jogged my memory about the only problem I recall reading during interview at Sydney.

Anyway - I went looking for it. This person's situation wasn't quite the same, but it's the only time I have seen someone asked for info after the interview, so I thought their experience might help a little. They were told at interview that they needed further documentation to do with their co-sponsor.

The member I'm refering to posted the email response they got from the Consulate when they enquired as to their case - quoting it here for you

You can see the full posts here on pages 162-164 - member I'm talking about is Dave and Shannon.

It didn't take long at all to sort out their issue - I hope the same is true for you.

Thankyou so kindly for searching this out for me. I appreciate it. Its so frustrating for us as we so want to get to the States so we can show of our baby daughter to our family. Would like to be there before Easter.

Thanks

Darren

Hi All,

How long after you have submitted(due to 221g) a US Federal Return to US Consulate in Sydney will we have a Visa in hand?

Thanks in advance

Darren

VJer's,

I'm frantic again. Shannon had his interview this Tuesday the 13th. The CO told him he was approved and even commented on how organized we were and how impressed he was that we had all our correct documents ready. The CO asked him when he was planning on traveling to the US, in which Shannon responded "next week". The CO noted this on his form and said he would receive his visa in the mail by the end of this week or early next week.

I just got off the phone with DOS because I wanted to call and see if it had been issued and sent yet so that Shannon can go ahead and book his flight. The woman told me that his case is under AP and "wasn't sure why he was told he was approved". What the hell does this mean and what am I supposed to do? She couldn't give me much other information. This doesn't make sense to me. HELP!

Danielle

Hi Danielle

I had my interview on the same day Tuesday 13th and was given a sheet of paper Refusal Worksheet which is to do with section 221(g). I didn't have a US Federal Return from my Petitioning Relative. So my Visa was put on hold until I can email a Federal Return to them which I have done. I haven't received a response from the US Consulate in Sydney regarding my matter.

The Sydney Consulate doesn't really respond to many emails, you just have to wait. I spoke to one of the security Guards after my interview about emailing to the Sydney Consulate. He said they get 100's of them a day that they have to sort through. If you don't get a response to re-send every 3 to 4 hours. I'm not expecting to get a email response to say that my Visa has now been granted. It will just turn up in the mail. If and when it will come. It's a waiting game. My wife and I wanted to travel over to the USA next week, looks like we will be in Australia for another couple of weeks.

Getting to your situation. I believe you have been given the wrong information. If Shannon got the piece of paper that said "Congratulations you have been granted" then he has been approved. That's what I was hoping for but it didn't happen that way for me. At least I have hopefully sorted that out now. I reckon Shannon will have his Visa next week. Just give them more time. The US Consulate in Sydney have been busy of late. I guess everyone wants to move over to the US.

Good luck with your future

Darren

VJer's,

I'm frantic again. Shannon had his interview this Tuesday the 13th. The CO told him he was approved and even commented on how organized we were and how impressed he was that we had all our correct documents ready. The CO asked him when he was planning on traveling to the US, in which Shannon responded "next week". The CO noted this on his form and said he would receive his visa in the mail by the end of this week or early next week.

I just got off the phone with DOS because I wanted to call and see if it had been issued and sent yet so that Shannon can go ahead and book his flight. The woman told me that his case is under AP and "wasn't sure why he was told he was approved". What the hell does this mean and what am I supposed to do? She couldn't give me much other information. This doesn't make sense to me. HELP!

Danielle

Hi Danielle

I had my interview on the same day Tuesday 13th and was given a sheet of paper Refusal Worksheet which is to do with section 221(g). I didn't have a US Federal Return from my Petitioning Relative. So my Visa was put on hold until I can email a Federal Return to them which I have done. I haven't received a response from the US Consulate in Sydney regarding my matter.

The Sydney Consulate doesn't really respond to many emails, you just have to wait. I spoke to one of the security Guards after my interview emailing to the Sydney Consulate. He said they get 100's of them a day that they have to sort through. I'm not expecting to get a email response to say that my Visa has now been granted. It will just turn up in the mail. If and when it will come. It's a waiting game. My wife and I wanted to travel over to the USA next week, looks like we will be in Australia for another couple of weeks.

Getting to your situation. I believe you have been given the wrong information. If Shannon got the piece of paper that said "Congratulations you have been granted" then he has been approved. That's what I was hoping for but it didn't happen that way for me. At least I have hopefully sorted that out now. I reckon Shannon will have his Visa next week. Just give them more time. The US Consulate in Sydney have been busy of late. I guess everyone wants to move over to the US.

Good luck with your future

Darren

so, as the title of this post, could anyone of you tell me? what if we don't bring some documents,for example, i'll give you 2 cases, with police certificate (doc) as the problem here:

1. if i don't bring police certificate with me cuz i emailed them 1st asking for information if they would ask for a police certificate from the beneficiary, they answered me on THEIR EMAIL they don't need it...well kinda. so i think, it's not fully my fault?? can i say that? will they ask me for it still? what would happen to my interview? would my visa got rejected (God forbid) or delayed? (God forbid again)

2. if i don't bring police certificate with me cuz i forget to bring it? same qestions, what would happen? would there be a SECOND interview?

just my "think too much"-kind hehe...and honestly i would like to know really...it might happen, u know? I know some1 had her visa delayed cuz she forgot to bring one of documents asked by the CO during the interview she cried so much, but then she got the visa after her husband callling the embassy/CO...and of course, after the long explanation process. please share if u know. thanks

As said previously if you don't have all the documents required. Your Visa will be denied under Section 221(g). Meaning you would have to lodge those documents too them by email which can therefore hold up getting the visa to you asap.

I had my interview at the US consulate in Sydney and was denied a visa(under section 221(g)) until I email a US Federal Return I have since rectified this by sending them a 2011 US Federal Return of my Petitioning Relative. Now its a waiting game for us. We wanted to be moving over to the USA from Australia at the end of next week. Seems now we wont be over their for several weeks.

If I was you don't go to the interview until you have all the necessary documents required by the Consulate. You certainly don't want to go through what I went through being refused.

regards

Darren

Good luck

Hi All,

My visa was rejected due to section 221g. The US consulate in Sydney, Australia require a 2011 Federal Return from my Petitioning Relative. I have since emailed my Petitioning Relative 2011 Federal Tax Return to the US Consulate in Sydney.

What is the usual waiting time for a visa to be therefore granted once the consulate has the required documents. Are they likely to email us that we have been approved or do we just have to wait and hope my passport will be returned with a visa in it. I have the tracking number.

Any information greatly appreciated

regards

Darren

@darren526

i agree with all the posters here - slightly different skew on my answer but it still applies to you.

my wife - the benficiary - did not live in the US - but i declared her income - and as stated its below that 92000USD - note thats US DOllars - you will need to convert local currency to USD when you enter this into something like turbotax.

On the www.irs.gov site - search for 2555 and it will tell you what to do etc

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=130524,00.html

also you can use this site - its one of the choices linked from the IRS site to convert:

http://fms.treas.gov/intn.html#rates

I did turbotax entry at the weekend and can verify it does ask the pertinent questions.

And yes - its not a case of paying taxes - all USCs - regardless of where they live, must FILE their taxes.

you may have some trouble here... see if you can file your taxes for the previous years that you have not - and then send that it - with proof of filing - use the e-file if you can - not sure if thats going to be possible for previous years now- you may have to snail mail it.

The process clearly says - send your tax returns... they want to know that you make enough money to cover the Federal Poverty guidelines.

I'll get my wife to sort out her past taxes once we move to the States. Its not like she will owe any money to the IRS. Her yearly salary would be well below the threshold. I have her Australian Tax returns for the past years so will be able to get the information I require from them. We just didn't realize she had to be filling US Taxes. Wouldn't be surprised if their are other people around the world who haven't been filing US Taxes while living overseas..

I wont have to file Australian taxes while living in the States. I will do my last Australian Tax return after June 2012. We have the option of marking our tax returns as being the last if relocating overseas.

I am interested also in how you get to consulate stage without this information? What did you submit with your I864? We are in a similar position. My husband has never worked in the us and we are trying to get his tax returns done before we have to submit I 864. Also we are planning on proving support through assets. I am interested to hear your journey.

I was left a share of an estate from my deceased estate. And was using the funds that I have gained to use as support which totals well over the threshold which the US Government require. My wife(petitioner) living here in Australia with me for 8 years did not know she had to file US Taxes while paying Australian taxes out here. She has only been working out here for the last 3 and a half years.

What I submitted with I864 was a Statutory Declaration from our solicitor stating that I am entitled to funds from my deceased father's estate. The NVC accepted the Affidavit Of Support.

I was surprised that they also required a US Tax Return.We spoke to the NVC about whay to put down for the Tax sections on the I864, just said to leave blank and go with the assets that I have required, Never got rejected. I thought I would be granted a Visa at the interview. Was surprised to get rejected.

I have since got my wife to file a 2011 US Tax Return online to the IRS. And have sent a copy to the US Consulate in Sydney. I have no idea how long they will take to decide and grant me a IR1 Visa but at least I have done what they require.

Even when you live in another country for 8 years and has filed Aussie tax returns for the years she has worked in the Australia you still need to file in the USA as well even though she hasn't been there working don't they consider that double dipping? trying to get this matter cleared up so we can get approval .

Even when you live in another country for 8 years and has filed Aussie tax returns for the years she has worked in the Australia you still need to file in the USA as well even though she hasn't been there working don't they consider that double dipping? trying to get this matter cleared up so we can get approval .

Hi had interview today with consulate and they rejected us because my wife hasn't filed a income tax return for 2011. But she hasn't been living in the USA for 2011 how do they think we can do this. I will be using money left for me by family as they have passed away recently to help us to relocate to the USA. We have even proved it by using a solicitor letter what should we do next any help will be greatly appreciated.