BrendanT

Australian Embassy was on fire today!! Congrats to my fellow Aussies who got their visas issued today!! I have mine in hand and will fly out early Wednesday to be with my wife and will make our wedding celebration Friday!!!

Never felt this relieved, excited and happy!!!

Hello all,

My visa is in AP last updated today being July 10th.. (told all was approved at interview and they just needed a new police check that they got last Monday)

Have done everything possible to have it issued ASAP.

Need to fly out Wednesday to attend my own wedding celebration and can not miss it.

Does anyone know if I do not get my visa/passport issued in time can I go to the Sydney Embassy and get my passport?

If yes can I travel to the states for 2 weeks for my wedding and a friends wedding and then return to Aus and have them complete the visa process..

Thank you.....

Ohh so you finally get an email and they say 'could' be issued in 5 days. The email could be worse but certainly could be better. At least it's a reply and you hopefully have a day. .

Annoying they didn't work through the weekends as I feel a lot of other countries did!!

Ok may we both get amazing news tomorrow!!

Exactly the same as she told me just now, lol.

Said it had been escalated to a higher department on July 3, and I should hear back within 24 hours. If not, call tomorrow afternoon.

I guess that's something.

She sounded legit and just after I explained my wedding was next week and that I had to hae my passport she mentioned it was 'marked as urgent' and escalated to a higher department. . . Gives us some home at least!!!

Said we will here from them within the next 24-48 hours. .

Case being escalated? Do tell!

Hey there Tayurshu,

Just wanted to say thank you for the idea of calling the NIV department as I got a human being and got information about my case being escalated- thank you.

Also to the two of you, they helpful lady said there are no system areas and Immigrant Visa are being processed as per normal.

Far out - they haven't replied since Wednesday? Has the office just shut down for a week off or something?

Regarding the passport, I'd call them. Call the NIV number and at the same time tell them you've had to call that number because nobody is responding to emails

Mine has been in AP since my interview on June 30th

I wonder if us 3 are the only Aussies on VJ waiting for our visas to be issued. This site has lots of people on it but seems like Australians are one of the least represented countries.

Just wish they would email back!

I haven't got a reply from an email from one as long ago as last Wednesday! So much for 1-2 days!

Does anyone thing if I went there I could get my passport or just no chance in hell of that!!

Yeh I found the chat site today and they told me the IV department would email me today but could not guarantee that. Got real excited they replied but then would not assist with anything specific to my case!

I luckily got on to live chat. They didn't tell me anything I didn't know, but IVs are apparently being prioritised.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/au/au-main-contactus.asp

I'll get an email off to the Embassy to advise them that the Sydney Consulate is completely non-responsive.

Apparently there is no other way to contact the IV unit than via email.

I know what you mean, It is beyond a joke when you get it complete and still have to wait and wait until it is delivered!

Tried every way possible to contact the Embassy but you just can't. The fact that we pay so much and we pay our taxes yet there is no one who can take calls is ridiculous!

I'm absolutely over this - i've reached the end of my patience.

I NEED TO VENT.

Congrats to you both!!!

Same! So relieved!

Good afternoon all,

Firstly I am after some constructive comments or positive opinions only please. We started this process in January last year. .

I am absolutely desperate. I was hoping to fly out this Thursday to California with my family as my wedding celebration is next Friday over there. We really don't want to cancel it.

I had my visa approved on June 30th but received a yellow form as had the wrong police check. Had this in my hand within a few days and the embassy received it today Australian time at midday. Have sent many emails and tried calling but you cant call Sydney.

I just want them to stamp my passport and send it to me in Melbourne or if I could even he my passport temporarily back or something.....

Does anyone have any advice on how to get it processed quicker or anything at all. .

Even knows someone who works there or anything. .

Thank you

Good afternoon all,

Firstly I am after some constructive comments or positive opinions only please. We started this process in January last year. .

I am absolutely desperate. I was hoping to fly out this Thursday to California with my family as my wedding celebration is next Friday over there. We really don't want to cancel it.

I had my visa approved on June 30th but received a yellow form as had the wrong police check. Had this in my hand within a few days and the embassy received it today Australian time at midday. Have sent many emails and tried calling but you cant call Sydney.

I just want them to stamp my passport and send it to me in Melbourne or if I could even he my passport temporarily back or something.....

Does anyone have any advice on how to get it processed quicker or anything at all. .

Even knows someone who works there or anything. .

Thank you

Good afternoon all,

Firstly I am after some constructive comments or positive opinions only please. We started this process in January last year. .

I am absolutely desperate. I was hoping to fly out this Thursday to California with my family as my wedding celebration is next Friday over there. We really don't want to cancel it.

I had my visa approved on June 30th but received a yellow form as had the wrong police check. Had this in my hand within a few days and the embassy received it today Australian time at midday. Have sent many emails and tried calling but you cant call Sydney.

I just want them to stamp my passport and send it to me in Melbourne or if I could even he my passport temporarily back or something.....

Does anyone have any advice on how to get it processed quicker or anything at all. .

Even knows someone who works there or anything. .

Thank you

Im trying to see the post your referring to. Cant seem to find it. How i pray we'll have it before the week ends.

http://travel.state.gov/content/travel/english/news/technological-systems-issue.html

Interview was june 16 was approved officer said will take 1 to 2 weeks status updates are 16 18 20 23 24 25 was showing ready now changed to ap it says if u asked for papers or further processing need you will be contacted nd if u was approved u will get ur visa in 2 days

That's very exciting indeed!!! Great work!!

May you be holding your visa in just 2 days time!!!

Pretty sure k-1 is classified as non-immigrant visas(despite what it says in CEAC website)

I know we are waiting for Montreal as well. I am wondering if it is included in the "6 regional Offices"

Let's both assume Montreal and Sydney are some how classified as 'regional'. I keep telling my wife all we have is hope!

Sydney is still missing

I guess it's regional. .

Anybody know which are the "6 regional offices" that are missing from that list!?

This is wonderful mate as any good news is great! Now all we need is those systems I be working again so as your passport doesn't get sad and get offended that they have been delaying putting that visa in him.

Well, i've just received the greatest news ever. "Your application has been approved for issuance" YESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But, while the system has been down, the validity on our I-129F has EXPIRED. The Sydney Consulate has asked that my fiancee write a letter to extend the validity period which I can email to the consulate. So another little bump to get over before, finally, receiving my visa!

There is no update on when Sydney is expected online.

This is more user friendly. I guess I used up all my edits on my last post.

They definitely seem to focus on the busiest countries first. Hopefully Sydney is next!!

Some update, looks relatively promising...

Technological Systems Issue

JUNE 19, 2015

Visa Systems Issues

• The Bureau of Consular Affairs is in the process of resolving technical problems with our visa systems. Though some progress has been made, biometric data processing has not been fully restored.
• Our team continues to work on this 24/7 to restore the systems to full functionality.
• As of noon today, 22 posts have been reconnected, representing about half of the global nonimmigrant visa volume.
• We will continue to bring additional posts online until connectivity with all posts is restored.
• Last week, nearly 1,250 temporary or seasonal workers who had been issued visas in the past were issued new visas in Mexico, and we have issued more than 3,000 visas globally for urgent and humanitarian travel.
• We deeply regret the inconvenience to travelers and recognize the hardship to those waiting for visas, and in some cases, their family members or employers in the United States.
• We continue to post updates to our website, travel.state.gov.

This definitely sounds positive, my lawyer emailed me this morning with similar points to this.

Mentioned they are expecting to be back up and running this week and we just need to stay positive about the backlog.

Hi Brendan,

Where did you get the June 20th update from?

Sorry I got this from a post from someone else on here. Was posting links with articles so as the stories had more credibility. This one here I am not sure about. Maybe try placing it in google and seeing if it comes up on a news or embassy site on that day . Sorry

Hope and optimism is all we have! Without that we have nothing. Hopefully this team of '100' has the issues fixed Monday and they race through the back log . . .

These are the stories I have found at this stage

June 12th
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-state-dept-suspends-overseas-passport-20150612-story.html

4 days and counting before our big day (interview 6/5) so close to our finish line ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ahhh so close mate!!

I still have 28 sleeps!

Wishing you all the best for your interview!

Will be the best feeling to actually hold your visa when it arrives

4 days and counting before our big day (interview 6/5) so close to our finish line ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Ahhh so close mate!!

I still have 28 sleeps!

Wishing you all the best for your interview!

Will be the best feeling to actually hold your visa when it arrives

Yes well being an Aussie you most likely had all your vaccinations when growing up at the doctors, primary and high schools...

I called two councils and took me a while but eventually they emailed me stating what i had and when i had it growing up...

The doctor i had do my medical check with medibank was super nice --- Ohh she did however mention the flu shot and that those having a medical check in winter should have this..

For me as it was April she said she could state it was not winter yet and i could get away with not having the shot

Yes definitely need it in writing from the doc saying that you have had all your vaccinations or from the other sources i mentioned...

If you are unsure what shots you need for going to the states and don't see it online i would just call medibank as i am sure they will tell you or email a list to you..

Hope this helps and makes sense mate

T