Bulwara Road

Hi

We are moving over early next year (I'm Australian and my wife is a USC).

One thing I think I might miss is Australian sport. I realise I will be able to get bits and pieces when I am over, but I think I will miss being able to watch what I want, when I want. So I bought a device called Belkin @TV. It is similar to a Slingbox, but is sold here and supported here (they sell them at some Telstra shops).

What this device does is that it allows you to watch Australian TV over the internet. It is very simple to set up, and works very well. It uses a bit of data (a touch less than a GB per hour at each end), but having the freedom to watch Australian TV when I want is well worth the expense.

The boxes cost around $100 and are well worth looking at.

How long did it take to get an appointment after getting a case closed ?

Hey

Just got off the phone with the NVC and we have a case complete!!!

It was completed yesterday (8th October), and our last scan date was August 20th (which was because of being checklisted for the stupid military question).

Anyways, it is a big relief!!

Big thanks to Saylin for her wiki, and also for all of the people who post here regularly to let people know where the NVC are up to in regard to processing scan dates - I made a calculation about 4 weeks ago in regard to when we could expect a CC, and I estimated it would be either the 9th or the 10th. I am amazed as to how accurate I was!

Now for the next stage. From what I have read the Sydney consulate moves things fairly quickly, so I imagine I will be scheduled for a November interview and then moving early in the new year, with our POE being Hawaii.

Honolulu here I come!!!

Hi

Our AOS fee changed today to N/A - last scan date 20/08.

Will call tonight (Australian time), so with a bit of luck we will have a CC.

We got check listed on our AOS in early August - resubmitted a week later. My part IV is due to be looked at (given the 60 day email) around about the 20th of this month - expecting a checklist, seeing I didn't have Willard Scott witness it.

Given all these delays, I reckon we will get our CC at best in late November.

Hi all

I just got off the phone to the NVC and the news was as expected - 60 business days to review any correspondence.

This made me wonder when we can expect this whole shemozzle to be completed. Our AOS scan date was 27/06 and my Part IV scan date was 24/07. This means our AOS isn't going to be touched until 19/09 at the earlist, and our Part IV isn't going to be looked at until 16/10 at the earliest.

If either of these gets a checklist, is it correct to assume that it will take an additional 60 business days to review each packet?

If this is the case we could be looking at a CC in mid January!!! And that is if the NVC is able to keep it's processing times to 60 business days (what if it blows out to 90 or even 120 business days??).

We might even be stuck until the middle of next year!

I think the only way I can stay sane is to just forget this is all happening, and hope that one day later this year I might get a nice email from the NVC, but the way things are going I really doubt this will happen.

We do have upside though - at least we will get to spend another summer here!!

I would included them. You don't know what kind of background checks (if any) the sydney embassy might run against your name. If you have the court documents, had them over. If your police check came through clean, then showing them the court files wont change the fact that your police check is clean.

Its what I would do in your case. Good luck!

That's what I thought would be best - at least this way I am showing that I am "overhonest" if that is a word.

I have just received my Police Record in the post and I have a query as to what I should do.

The certificate itself says that there are "no disclosable court outcomes" against my name - fantastic news.

The reality is that I have gone to court twice - once over 20 years ago for a minor offence, the second time 16 years ago for a traffic offence. Now I have gone to the trouble of getting court certificates for both of these offences, but am unsure as to whether I should declare them - as far as the Australian Federal Police are concerned, there are no disclosable court outcomes against my name.

What do you think I should do?

Hi

I am about to send off my part IV packet, and I am wondering about 1 thing.

I need to send a police record and also any details of any court matters (I have a traffic offence and also a minor offence from years ago). Now I have obtained a letter from each court, but noticed today that I require a Court Certificate from each court - I have arranged today to get these certificates.

Now would it be best to wait until I receive these certificates before I send off the packet, or should I send the packet and hope it doesn't get checklisted, and if it does then just send the Court Certificates? Will it endlessly delay our case complete?

Thanks

Well I'd received DS-261 on 05272014 and paid AOS fee on 05292014. I did call NVC today and was told that allow 30 business days for next step/ receive instructions from NVC. So I guess I've to wait another week.

30 business days hey - well I think I'll wait a few more days, but if there is no action I'll call them on Friday US time

Damn, my third NVC thread. Time flies...not. Hoping to finally be able to pay the IV fee and send that this week. I filled out the DS 261 on June 3, so we'll see. It's "only" been 20 business days, so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up.

I searched and for some reason can't find the answer to this question-- When people find out that their AOS/IV package was scanned in, did they have to call to get that info? Or does something change on the forms page? Sorry for asking a question that I'm sure has been answered a million times...

Good luck to everyone this month!!! And as always, thank you to our immigration fairy godmother Saylin for running this thread every month.

We are at 25 business days and still waiting!

Hopefully we can part our IV fee soon. I wasn't expecting this sort of delay - am now wondering if this whole thing will be over by the end of the year.

I think I waited about 3 weeks. Seems insane that it takes so long to generate an invoice when all you did was submit a very simple form online. Who knows what's going on behind the scenes to prompt that sort of delay!

We are still waiting - received notice from CEAC re the DS-261 on May 23rd - 25 business days!!!

Spoke with the NVC last week, and they said wait another week - is anyone else encountering delays like this?

Hi all

It has been a while since I visited VJ as I am finding the while process extremely tedious to the extreme.

I am wondering what I should do here.

We received a receipt from CEAC regarding the DS-261 form on May 23rd, and still amn unable to pay the Part IV fee and keep this very slow ball rolling.

Is anyone else encountering this?

Thanks

Actually for most of us its going on 4 weeks from the DS-261 submission.

I'm still waiting for my IV invoice and I submitted my DS-261 (for the second time but that's another story) on May 21st.

We called the NVC last night, and they said we should be able to pay by the end of the week, so 4 weeks seems to be about where they are at right now.

This truly is The Never Ending Story!

Hi

How long does it normally take before the Part IV fee can be paid?

We got our case number back on May 20th.

I decided a little while ago to get basically all of the immunisations that were on the list - quite a costly exercise!

Yay! Good for you!

And hello to all on our 3rd NVC monthly thread... I'm not holding out too much hope on it being our last, after the screwup with our DS261 and no IV fee invoiced yet, and now this stupid backlog catching up with us again...

But with a great deal of luck, we may get through it pretty soon!

Good luck to all and congrats on all the case completes and interview dates that we got last night! So happy for all of you!

Hi

Is it "normal" for a delay in the invoicing for the Part IV?

Hi

I am still very confused about the whole process, and still after reading Saylins wiki I just cannot get my head around this whole process (and it makes me feel dumb)

Here is where we are at.

We have our case number, and we paid the $88 fee about a week ago. After a few days of waiting, I worked out where the AOS forms (I-864) were and we printed them off.

Now it seems that seeing both my wife (who is the USC) and myself are both together in Australia, we are very confused as to what we are meant to do with Part 6 of the form. She is currently employed in Australia, so should we be filling in Part 6 with her Australian income and job?

Will this income be taken into account?

It makes sense that it doesn't, but I can't find anything that tells us one way or the other.

The other thing I can't find any information on is when I am able to pay the Part IV fees. Am I able to access whatever form I need to complete before we pay this fee, and what things will I need to lodge with the fee (like a police certificate, and can I get this now or does it have to be obtained within a certain timeframe in regard to the filing of my visa application).

Thanks

I emailed the consulate a couple of weeks ago asking whether the name check would be sufficient or if they also required the fingerprints... Finally got a response yesterday saying that their initial requirement is for a name check only, however IF at the interview they have reason to believe that you haven't fully disclosed your name and that there may be additional records out there, they may request a fingerprint check as well.

Just realised it doesn't specify whether that was at a state or federal level,, but can't hurt to go federal, right?

I will probably go federal, as I have lived in several states - will take my chances re fingerprints.

Hey Bulwara Road, and all Australians in the pipeline...we've had a terrible time with NVC and police reports. The reviewer of our file has coded that my partner needed a police report from EACH state in which she has lived. Of course, Australia now has a federal police check, and you only need ONE report. We would have had Case Complete as of April 29 if the reviewer had not misinterpreted the rules for Australia. Neither I nor my attorney has been able to get them to rectify this situation yet.

If you are in Australia, and you have lived in multiple states, in your IV cover letter you might want to mention that you are including the FEDERAL Fingerprint report that you have received through applying via your state of residence. And then, mention that Australia requires you to request your FEDERAL report through your CURRENT state of residence.

If you are a residence of QLD or NSW, you should mention that your FEDERAL Fingerprint report, which MUST be obtained through your CURRENT state of residence, and ONLY through your current state of residence, will be sent directly to the Consulate.

Our file was perfect - and NVC screwed up. This is delaying us by at least six weeks, unfortunately, as we have missed the June interview cut-off, and, if they take the 30 business days to address the issue, as they keep telling me, we will miss the July cutoff for interviews too.

Sukie

Hey Sukie

So when I need to get a police report is it best that I get a Federal police report and a Federal fingerprint report?

I have lived in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia - currently live in NSW, so I assume you go through the Federal police to obtain this, or do you go through my local (NSW) police?

Thanks

Hey Bulwara Road, and all Australians in the pipeline...we've had a terrible time with NVC and police reports. The reviewer of our file has coded that my partner needed a police report from EACH state in which she has lived. Of course, Australia now has a federal police check, and you only need ONE report. We would have had Case Complete as of April 29 if the reviewer had not misinterpreted the rules for Australia. Neither I nor my attorney has been able to get them to rectify this situation yet.

If you are in Australia, and you have lived in multiple states, in your IV cover letter you might want to mention that you are including the FEDERAL Fingerprint report that you have received through applying via your state of residence. And then, mention that Australia requires you to request your FEDERAL report through your CURRENT state of residence.

If you are a residence of QLD or NSW, you should mention that your FEDERAL Fingerprint report, which MUST be obtained through your CURRENT state of residence, and ONLY through your current state of residence, will be sent directly to the Consulate.

Our file was perfect - and NVC screwed up. This is delaying us by at least six weeks, unfortunately, as we have missed the June interview cut-off, and, if they take the 30 business days to address the issue, as they keep telling me, we will miss the July cutoff for interviews too.

Sukie

Hey Sukie

So when I need to get a police report is it best that I get a Federal police report and a Federal fingerprint report?

I have lived in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia - currently live in NSW, so I assume you go through the Federal police to obtain this, or do you go through my local (NSW) police?

Thanks

her reminder is towards everyone. Don't take it personally! Sometimes we have the same people asking the same question over and over, even when we tell them where to refer to for the answer.. and yet still ask!

That's a relief!

I don't post here very often and realise it probably gets frustrating to see the same dumb questions being asked over and over - that being said I'll have another look at Saylins wiki and see how I go!

Also, weekly reminder (since some people are clearing not doing this): READ POST 1!!!!!!! I just went through a bunch of questions this morning which could have been answered if you simply read. There's such a plethora of information out there, folks. Use it to your advantage!

Saylin, I'm sorry but for some reason none of this really makes sense to me - even speaking to the operative at the NVC left more questions unanswered than it answered!

I'll just try and make sense of what we need to do by reading other peoples posts rather than asking as I know you have a very thorough wiki on the first page and it probably seems that I am lazy asking for advice...

Congratulations! So did you get your case number and IIN?

The next step is you will go on the https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/ and do the ds261 choice of agent first.. It will probably take a few days until it becomes available as they are still putting your case into the system. Then your AOS will be invoiced, send the package, then your IV will be invoiced, and send the package.. wait for any checklists or case complete then interview..

That's a short run of it.. but go to the Wiki on the NVC process under Saylin's signature.. It's very helpful, and it's all in the right order of steps you need to take. Hopefully you have all your paperwork ready to fire off ,

And happy early birthday!!

Thank you!

I got my case number but no IIN. I think I will call back later today to get the IIN number.

Does this allow me to log into the system? The bloke I spoke to seemed to say that all correspondence needed to be done over the phone (which didn't make sense), but I have to admit. Was a bit too excited at getting a case number to remember everything I wanted to ask.

I have looked at other timelines and the remainder of the process (without any hiccups) appears to take about 6 weeks. Is this about right?

A good nights sleep and more vivid dreams of moving stateside will have my mind clearer in the morning (that's an Australian morning).

And so it progresses..we finally recieved our case number!

Now I regard myself as reasonably intelligent, but I confess that I find this whole confusing to say the least. I spoke with a really nice bloke (I can't remember his name) who told me that we now have a case number that was generated on May 15th.

He then told me I had to wait 15 - 30 days for the next step - I had a pretty bad connection, and found it a little difficult to understand exactly what he was saying.

Can somebody please let me know what will happen next?? If we have all of our ducks in a row what is a reasonable timeframe to get our case complete and an interview In Sydney?

Can hardly contain my excitement that we are getting close - and it was a nice early birthday present (it's my birthday tomorrow)

Correct, but I doubt your equity in the family home in Australia will be considered a "liquid asset". See that section of the I-864 instructions. If you sell the home, then it will be a cash liquid asset. I expect that's what you'll need to do.

Please be aware though that it will only be the equity, not the full value that will be considered, unless there is no mortgage, in which case the equity and full value are the same.

You'll need a minimum of three times the liquid assets, as the income requirement.

I have a query in regard to this too.

We have currently aboit $25K in a US bank, about $10K in our Australian bank plus a property in the US which is probably worth $190K with an outstanding mortgage balance of approx $110K.

We have no children, and only my wifes student loans (about $40K outstanding).

Does this amount of cash and assets put us above the requirements, or will we need a sponsor?

Correct, but I doubt your equity in the family home in Australia will be considered a "liquid asset". See that section of the I-864 instructions. If you sell the home, then it will be a cash liquid asset. I expect that's what you'll need to do.

Please be aware though that it will only be the equity, not the full value that will be considered, unless there is no mortgage, in which case the equity and full value are the same.

You'll need a minimum of three times the liquid assets, as the income requirement.

I have a query in regard to this too.

We have currently aboit $25K in a US bank, about $10K in our Australian bank plus a property in the US which is probably worth $190K with an outstanding mortgage balance of approx $110K.

We have no children, and only my wifes student loans (about $40K outstanding).

Does this amount of cash and assets put us above the requirements, or will we need a sponsor?