kurto

Any updates to share?

How did your interview go?

Would be great to get an update

I'll create a new thread to go into detail and let people ask questions, but interview was fantastic! My fiance was approved that day and we picked up the Visa package yesterday! Her passport has the Visa in it and we also received the yellow package which we know we're not allowed to open.

The interview itself was so easy we thought something was going to go wrong. We rocked up at 7 and sat in foyer until they let us up to level 10 (7:30) where a very kind officer explained how the day was going to go and he had a lot of humour and was very friendly. We then went through the security screening (very airport style). I wasn't allowed to proceed from there as we were supposed to indicate prior to the appointment if US citizen was attending or not, this part I wasn't aware of. My partner proceeded to the waiting room, I sat in the foyer on level 10. Within about half an hour she returned with a smile on her face, approved! There were about 10 other people with us at 7:30, but more people kept rolling in while I was waiting. There were even a few gay couples which I was proud to see (wasn't sure what the laws were around that). We were out of the building before 8:30 when we were expecting to be in there until 3pm (based on many other stories I had read). We also got a copy of the medical and received all original documents back. I've read online that the yellow "do not open" package also contains the medical so I assume it's very important for immigration.

Now we're looking up flights to US in October / early November. Getting very excited!!!

Thanks for all the help I'll create a thread soon

Not required but you're welcome to bring it with you. The main part is make sure everything is organised because they will ask for certain documents throughout the interview process and it's important you're not wasting their time trying to find these documents.

Definitely allowed in Australia. I'm the USC living with my partner in Aus, went to the interview in Sydney without a sponsor but I have a letter from my employer stating my work will continue when we move overseas, we were approved straight away and interview was easy. I haven't earned a single USD or filed any taxes (because I've only been a citizen for less than a year) and had no problems.

Hi Kurt,

I had my K1 approved through the Sydney Consulate. I can definitely say to make sure you get there early to make sure that you know where to go. You will enter the consulate through the 10th floor of the MLC building and go through security.

This is exactly the same procedure as the airport so make sure you don't have anything you are not allowed. You are not able to take ANYTHING besides you documentation in a folder, no cell phones, no laptop's, no picnic tables, etc so make sure you have EVERYTHING you need in that folder. They do have storage facilities for a small bag and will give you a coupon to get your bag back once you return.

After you are through security you will be escorted to an elevator and taken to the 56th floor. This is the actual consulate, you will need to show your passport and have it checked off with the security officer before you go through the big heavy door. Once inside you will get a ticket and sit to wait for your number to be called.

Use this time to get everything arranged and ready in your folder. You will be called up multiple times so don't be worried. The first time you get called up the officer will take all required documentation, medical information, passport and ask for anything else they may need or have lost. (Make sure you take copies of everything sent so far, they have a tendency to loose things)

You will then sit down and wait, wait, wait and wait some more...... Eventually you will be called up again and the actual interview begins.

You will be asked a variety of questions relating to the relationship, where you got engaged, family, friends, what your fiance does for a job etc.

If everything goes well the CO will tell you congratulations and give you a cheap crappy photocopied piece of paper with your name written on it.... Whheeee.

That is it, it's over. Exit the consulate, go back downstairs to level 10 and get your bags.... Total Anti Climax I tell you.

Your passport and visa will be sent via express post within approx 14 days.

Don't hesitate to ask me any other questions you may have.

Thanks Captain! This was a VERY helpful response. I feel like the Sydney Consulate should include this sort of information in the Interview Confirmation Email which has the instructions on what to bring etc. They don't mention anything about what you can/can't bring to interview (like phones), or even a basic "here's what to expect on the day". I'll make sure I have a printed copy of every document.

Hey, being that this is 20 days ago I assume you've got the interview scheduled by now? When we completed the DS160 we eventually got an email from Sydney consulate advising an interview date, it took a while to do!

Hey guys,

So I'm the USC living with my partner in Australia. Next Tuesday is our K1 Visa interview at the Sydney Consulate. We have the medical and everything on the checklist. Does any one have any final tips or advice? I've read a bunch of people's experience at the interview on this website, but not many specific to Sydney. If anyone who's completed the interview has any advice, I'd love to hear it!

I'll also provide my experience once the interview is done. Fingers crossed we get approved! The only thing I'm a bit worried about is the Domicile part, I've NEVER been to the US before (got my citizenship due to father) and I tried to register to vote, open a bank account, get license but was unable to do any of those without first going to US. I'll be living with cousin for a bit, so have facebook chat logs but that's it. I've only been a citizen for a year so not enough tax records.

Thanks,

Kurt

Cool, thank you. Something to look forward too lol. Off to my doc this week to get proof of my vaccines, so pretty much got everything covered. One more thing though, the price they charge does that include X-rays and blood tests?

No problem Yes, the $465 fee includes the x-ray and blood tests, it's just vaccine shots that will cost extra. After paying, they give you a receipt showing what the $465 covered (appointment fee, blood, test, x-ray etc). Also make sure you bring drivers license and passport when going to the appointment AND when picking up your results. They will NOT let you pick up the results without photo ID and you can't get anyone else to pick it up for you. If you haven't already, you also have to pay a $100 deposit to secure the appointment

That's where I'll be going, how long did it take? Thankfully all my immunisations are up to date ?

About 3 hours. Our appointment was meant to be at 1:15 but doc was running behind. The actual appointment was probably an hour, then you have to go to the nearest bathroom in Sofitel to the urine sample, then over to the nearest pathology for the blood test (it's to test for syphilis but its required even if you have already tested for it). You also need to go somewhere for the chest x-ray. The machine was broken so my partner had to go back the next day, her documents were then ready for pick up 3 days later. Make sure you DO NOT open the results!!! It doesn't say on the envelope but the lady told us not to open, it's for the interview.

Happy to provide more notes on the medical if you want. You'll need medical records that prove you've had those vaccines, if you can't get the letters, they'll give you a booster or the vaccine again.

My partner had her medical at ANZAC Square in Brisbane last week. It costs $465 AU + any required vaccines. There are 3 - MMR ($50?), Influenza ($20) and DTP ($30?). The websites say you need like 8 vaccine shots and that they cost a million dollars, ignore them. Our total cost was $550 including vaccines

I'll give you an overview of my current process. We're currently awaiting the interview in 2 weeks time in Sydney but other than that everything is complete. You can most certainly do it yourself, I would NOT waste money on a lawyer. Literally all they do is fill the applications for you and help avoid getting an RFE. They do not prioritize anything, they don't guarantee that you'll get accepted or any of that, just filling out some forms and charger you a ####### load. This entire process is already going to cost at least $2000 without a lawyer, I'll breakdown the costs below more.

The most important thing here is you take your time and thoroughly research each part of the step. If ever you get to a stage and think "I don't understand", just Google it. If you see a question on an application form and not entirely sure, just Google it. Next thing is organisation. I setup a shared Google Drive folder that my partner and I have access to with a folder for the petition and K1 visa. I then store EVERYTHING in here - scans of ID, passport, birth cert, the completed petition, K1 visa, all of the various documents. Any document I have to scan, I save it there. Any email I send, print to PDF and save. I then used Google Keep (yes, I'm a Google fan as it's all online) to track all of my notes and everything that's happened, dates etc.

I used the following guides to help the process:

- K1 flow chart http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Congrats! I know the feeling, got my interview in 2 weeks time Now you've got the fun medical appointment to do

Hi, have not had interview yet but scheduled for 2 week away. I'm the the USC living with fiance in Australia, going to Sydney consulate. I have read on a number of forums that going will make your relationship seem more real, so if you feel that could be your weak area then by all means do it. From what I've also read, you will not get questioned at all, just the benficiary. Being there to provide support may also be a big one. I know my partner is very nervous so me being there will really help her.

Happy to answer more questions after I've had the interview!

Hi, I'm in the same position as you. I'm the USC and Australia citizen, living in Australia with my partner. You can do the entire process in Australia with no problems! The petition fee can be filed via a foreign bank cheque which you can get at Australia Post, that's what I did. It cost an extra AU$40 for the cheque and conversion fee so it was about AU$500. Follow closely online as it took us a good 2 weeks to receive the letter confirmation in the mail, when the website had said a couple weeks before that, that they had received our letter etc.

As mentioned, you do need a USA address. I have cousins over there so I've provided their address. The US need to mail certain documents once you're over there and they also want to make sure you've got somewhere to stay when you arrive.

The interview can only be performed in a few areas in Australia, we've chosen Sydney as it's the closest to us. The actual K1 visa form is completed online. The medical must be completed at an authorized medical centre (for us, ANZAC Square Medical Centre in Brisbane).

We sent the petition away in November last year, had it all approved by January and were in the process of completing the K1 Visa. They initially had our interview booked for March but it was too soon for us so we asked to reschedule to end of May which they did.

Keep in mind it's an expensive visa! $500 for the petition, another $300 or so for the K1 Visa, another $460 for the medical (NOT including vaccinations!). Plus we've spent $1000 on the interview (flights and accommodation - could've been cheaper but we're making it an exciting holiday). AOS also cost over $1000 I believe.

Let me know if you have any further questions!

Hey Sukran,

How'd the interview go? Did your fiance get approved?

My partner's interview is at Sydney in about 6 weeks and we are very nervous/excited! Medical is scheduled in a few weeks and we don't have the police certificate yet. How long did it take for the police certificate to be mailed?

Do you mind providing a quick summary of how the interview went?

Thanks

Hi kurto,

Are you applying for a fiance' visa? I'm not sure about that one specifically, but it may help to do a few bits and pieces around domicile. You may already have some of these, but things like: ensure you have a US bank account, register to vote (if not already), register kids for school (if appropriate), line up a job or at least have evidence of applying for jobs, and even a letter from your relatives stating that you'll be living with them. They're all pretty easy things to do and may help prove domicile. I've been out of the US for about 10 years now, so will definitely have to re-establish domicile before we get to the end of the process.

Cheers

Hi Josh,

Thanks for that. Yeah, I'm applying for the K1 visa. I'll be opening a US bank account via citi bank in Brisbane, no kids. I've actually tried to register to vote but was told by a local county in Boston that I can't because I've never been to the US before (despite the vote website saying I can register to vote while living abroad). I didn't think about the letter from relatives - I'll ask my cousin for one . As for the job, yeah I can get a letter from my current employer to state that I will be continuing to work when I move. That will also be what I use for my Affidavit, because I have no US income but will continue my current job.

Thanks

Thank you very much, yeah we will probably use her Mom as she is a Nurse. Do they see it as a negative if you need a Co Sponsor?

I've heard it's up to the embassy to decide if they are OK with you using a co-sponsor, and some embassies in certain countries will deny you. HOWEVER, all the stories I've read so far (especially for Australia) - everyone has been approved with a co-sponsor, so can't see it being a problem. Not much of an answer but it's all I know

Neither of our jobs will be continuing over there. So just to clarify even if she's not working she still has to fill out the form? I think we will get either her dad or mom as the sponsor. Thanks very much!

Yep, your partner is sponsoring you as she filled out the petition, no one else can sponsor you. It just means she will complete the affidavit with $0 for income. She can get a co-sponsor, which you said will be her mom or dad, so they will have to complete the relevant forms and provide proof of income and tax documents etc. As far as I know, you can only have 1 co-sponsor, so make sure they meet the minimum income requirements.

HI Jamie, is your partners current job continuing in the US or does she already have a job lined up? If so, she can use that as income BUT needs a letter from employer advising of the situation. The USCIS doesn't care at all about any income unless it's USD. You can also use US assets to offset missing income.

I'm in the same boat - I'm the USC living in Australia with partner. My current job will be continuing in US so I'm getting my boss to write a letter. K1 visa interview is scheduled but we haven't got there yet. If they reject the letter I'll get my cousin to co-sponsor me.

IF you don't have the income then she can ask a relative who's earning above the poverty line (around $20,000 USD) to co-sponsor her. The USC must fill out the affidavit of support, regardless of whether they are earning US income. If her income isn't enough then a co-sponsor will cover it.

Keep in mind, you'll have to do 2 affidavits - one is for the K1 visa which isn't legally binding, just to convince the USCIS that you won't become a public charge. The second affidavit is when applying for AOS (after marriage) and IS legally binding - so if you get a co-sponsor they are legally responsible for your debt etc.

2 quick questions ...preparing the documents to email to NVC and I was just wondering can I send them in one file as PDFs, or do they have to be individual? ( if anyone understands what I mean) & secondly in the required documentation for the IV form, it says I need to supply to passport photo's, do I send these to NVC or hold onto them until interview? Thanks once again

I don't believe it matters, as long as you provide the required documents. However, I provided mine in separate PDFs - one PDF per document / application, so some PDFs had multiple pages. It made it easier to organise and I named the files according to what they contained (e.g. letter_of_intent.pdf).

As for the passport photo, you will need to scan and upload one when completing the online form DS160. We had to provide passport photos with the petition application but not to the NVC. We will be bringing them with us to the medical interview and K1 interview.

No, they were like timeline graphs I found on this site, but I don't remember how I found them..so nm on that.

However, I have notice on the processing page that they mention all the centers except the Potomac. So how in the world can ppl assigned to the Potomac Center know when Potomac is processing?

Oooh, thanks for the link, this is great! I've heard about (unofficial) expediting from a FB expat group.

Hi kiandi,

Have you seen this flow chart page? http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow It has helped me a lot through the process. I'm the USC living in Australia with my partner, we've got the interview scheduled and very nervous/excited! Whilst I know people say you need to prove domicile, nothing in the process has mentioned this and the Interview documents didn't say anything either. I'm moving with relatives so hopefully that will be fine.

Sorry to jump in here - but I'm a US citizen, born and lived in Australia my life. K1 interview has been scheduled for my partner who lives with me. My current job will be continuing when we move to the US - so what documents would I need? I've technically only been a US citizen for a year (got my passport jan 2015).

I can get a letter from my employer, but would I need to file a US tax return for $0 and include that? Or should I include my AU tax return instead?

Thanks,

Kurt

Hi,

If your embassy hasn't received your documents yet, just wait. There's not much you can do while it's processing at the National Visa Centre in America. ustraveldocs.com/au is the embassy site where you create a profile and complete the DS-160 and pay for the visa electronically. Once you lodge it, you follow the instructions and print the confirmation page. You will know when the embassy has it as they will email you as soon as it's processed AND you'll receive a letter in the mail stating so. This email also includes a scanned copy of your petition and other documents required for the interview. They provide a detailed list of documents you need and what to do next, everything is there.

Hey guys,

I'm currently at the K1 Interview stage and I will say - calm damn and take it easy. If you've read other stories, people talk about how it takes 6 - 9 months for the entire process. Ours actually went quite quick, but here's a break down. We're in Brisbane Australia.

Petition lodged on 7th December 2015

USA Received on 14th December 2015

Approved on 28th January 2016 (yes, it took about 6 weeks)

Sydney embassy received on 23/02/2016

Once it gets to the embassy, everything moves quickly. We completed the DS-160 online form and within a week the interview was scheduled for 3 weeks later.

Hi Thomas,

I'm also a US citizen, living in AU (have never been to US) and currently at the interview stage for my fiance's K1 visa.

As everyone has stated, they only care about US income. The whole thing is, they need to make sure neither of you will become a public charge (ie go on the dole), so having US income above the poverty level is mandatory. I checked a lot of states are around US$20,000. If you have any relatives there that are working, ask them to be your co-sponsor. You still have to fill out the affidavit, but they also have to fill out a form where they provide their US income, tax returns etc etc.

I read on a few forums (I think on this site) that IF your current AU job will be continuing when you move to the US (that's my plan), get a letter from your employer that states you will continue to be paid etc etc. This should be enough for the embassy to be confident you have the money. Or, if you have a NEW employer in the US already, get a letter from them. If you are not planning on being employed straight when you arrive, you'll need to go with my first suggestion of a co-sponsor.

We've made it to the interview stage without needing any info on my income, so if they reject it, it'll be them asking for more proof of income, at which point I'll get my US cousins to be my co-sponsor.

A quick summary of our progress - we submitted the petition in November last year, approved a few weeks later, we completed the DS-160 and paid for it, approved a few weeks later and the interview was booked for end of march (we had to reschedule as it was too soon for us). Many people say it takes 6-9 months, but for us it's been a breeze!