Lelly

8 hours ago, John0990 said:

Howdy all, an update,I am finally in Sydney (not an easy task let me tell you.)

 

Some info - I applied for NSW border permit under the ( Attending Court / or legal obligations) it came through almost instantly, so for safe measures I rechecked everything, booked a flight from Melbourne to Sydney. Arrived at the Airport had to show my permit and documents to, no issue sent through security down to board the plane (All Good) so far.....

 

Then the fun/BS started, upon exiting the plane we were walked through the corridors (Single file) to the bag pick up area (a make shift waiting area.)

 

Then for the 35 people on the plane each one was processed one by one which took just over 3 1/2 hours (Yes 3 1/2 hrs) Mind you we ALL had to sit and wait until everyone had been processed.....Finally it came time for my turn (well OMFG) after 4 hour drive to Melbourne airport, then the flight, then the 31/2 hrs wait I was sat aside and told I may be detained and returned to Melbourne (No BS)

 

I was told those now entering from Victoria for US embassy visit does NOT come under the legal Obligation listing. So check and double check your info and permits before boarding. Luckily I was able to convince the Health Official to send me to 14 Quarantine and not send me back to Victoria after giving her the full story of how we had been separated  for over 7 months now etc etc.

 

This is NOT to scare anyone or put you off just letting you know what you may encounter under the current NSW border entry issues.

 

Hopefully the borders open soon for all.

 

Regards All.

Did you have the relevant Act printed out as evidence to show it is a legal obligation to personally appear in front of the consular officer (seeming the border permit category specifies in order to "comply with an Act"?). I had no issue with the NSW authorities when I entered NSW but I had that evidence. It is a legal obligation as they have defined it and I printed out the relevant legislation. Both NSW Health and NSW Police (and Service NSW on the phone multiple times before I flew) were all completely supportive and all said yes, legal obligation. But I believe you have to show how it fits under legal obligation as they have defined it (show the relevant Act).

I'll agree though that the process is insane. And I think it's ridiculous they are not checking people's evidence before they fly (and it's cruel, to be honest, especially when you believe you fit under a permit category and are even assured by Service NSW that they believe you do too). 

2 minutes ago, John0990 said:

Hi Lelly, thanks for the info I was so stressing on the Border permit part of things.

You'll be fine. It's a legal obligation. The border permit category defines that to include needing to comply with an Act (personal appearance at the consulate is an obligation under an Act). Just print evidence of that as well as showing that the only consulate in Australia that does interviews for immigrant visas is the Sydney Consulate (you can find this on their website). And communication with the Consulate about your visa and approved expedited interview. Depending on when you travel and if mandatory quarantine is still in place you may need to go to a "Police hotel" (this is even though the permit will say you can self isolate for this permit category) but you could leave quarantine to attend the interview if it is scheduled for within the 14 days (this is also on the permit), you would just need to organise that with NSW Police if you're in a quarantine hotel. 

Just now, John0990 said:

Ok thank you so much. It was the email giving me the three options, naturally I cant choose number one as I'm not in NSW right now but at least can with number 2 and get asap. Fingers crossed from here.

Also with the border permit, you can apply for that whenever, it gets approved automatically (you have to prove your case upon entry, which should not be a problem as you fit under a border permit category - just print out evidence to support that). The permit will be emailed to you within minutes of applying. It is valid for 14 days once you get it, but that doesn't really matter because if it expires you can just apply for another one.  

3 minutes ago, John0990 said:

G'Dy all hope y'all are doing well on your journey's. A question, today I have received and answer from the Embassy in Sydney stating my expedite has been accepted

 

(Our office is pleased to announce that we are now scheduling immigrant visa appointments for certain visa classifications, including applicants from Victoria.) Thats a good thing for us all down here.

 

My question is when i apply for a border permit it asks for - (Address of your location in NSW) would this refer to where I would plan to stay or the Embassy address- any info greatly appreciated.

Cheers

John.

this is where you plan to stay. 

2 minutes ago, B&ANZ said:

What a roller coaster! My husband got his interview canned an hour before his interview time due to the last minute lockdown of Auckland last month. We were finally rescheduled for today and my husband has been APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was in and out of the embassy in 20 minutes. We were worried about my income because I moved from NZ and have only been working for 4 months in the US and a co-sponsor was not an option for us. They did not ask to see any paperwork or more financial evidence. I get to see my husband for the first time since Janaury!!! Whoooo!!!

Congrats!!!!!!! What a relief for you!!! So happy to hear you guys are all sorted now!

19 minutes ago, Spencer_Kyle said:

Hello! Oh my gosh! I feel so embarrassed now :(!!! Thank you so much for letting me know that! I’ll remember to look at their visa types when asking from now.

thank you for giving me correct information regarding the K1 fiancé visa! Means a lot 🙂 

You're fine! Don't stress! And you're not the only one so I thought clarifying the process for K-1 not just for you but for others with the same questions might help 😊 we have all had to ask plenty of questions along the way too and also had to get used to the forum etc (there are still lots of things I don't know how to do in here 😊). Also, this situation with the pandemic is creating some entirely new processes and so some of it has come about through trial and error and the early lot of K-1s getting expedited processing (because in normal times K-1 already is "expedited" - but with cases just sitting at NVC now until the Consulate resumes regular processing, it has changed things). 

@Spencer_Kyle just jumping in quickly to help you out because I'm noticing you're asking people who filed spousal visas (not K-1) about their process and expediting and what you need to do next for your case. It's going to cause you some confusion. You'll notice often under people's names it says what type of visa they filed. The process is different for IR-1/CR-1 than K-1. 

Seeming you are K-1 your process will be this: you need to wait for NVC to give you a case number before you can request expedited processing. At the moment that is taking anywhere from around 3 weeks- 7 weeks from NOA2. It took me 7 weeks for them to generate a case number from NOA2. At that point you can request expedited processing but you need to ask the Consulate. If approved they will request your file from the NVC. I'm not sure how things will change between now and when you get a case number but that's the process at the moment. 

Just now, zochu said:

what’s your final port/destination? Mines LAX, but there’s no flights to SeaTac 🤷‍♀️ Either way I can’t wait to be in California again. It’s been 2 years since I’ve been on US soil. 
 

I just think air NZ is the cheapest and safest airline. I would have travelled qantas but air NZ is the next best thing. 

Final destination for me is HI although now that I'm looking up flights again it looks like they have cancelled their flights to HI! Hopefully that will change before I'm off! Otherwise it looks like it would be United for me. 

And the countdown is really on for you now! So exciting! Look forward to hearing that you have arrived safely. What a journey!

1 minute ago, zochu said:

if you’re travelling on an Australian passport then you can go through NZ as a layover if it’s less than 24 (or 48) hours. No visa is needed. 

Thank you! I like the idea of an Air NZ flight because then my first US port is my final destination 😊 it would feel nice to hear that "welcome to the US" and know that I am in my new home State and steps away from my loved ones. I am fairly certain there will be many tears at that point. 

On 8/18/2020 at 1:52 PM, zochu said:

 

If anyone is moving October. I’m taking air NZ flight. Someone take the flight with me too ahahaha 

Did you need to organise anything to travel through NZ or are we just allowed to go through NZ as a layover?

2 minutes ago, ChelseaLAllen said:

Hmmm interesting! AT least you know its moving forward in the process. I guess we will just have to wait and see

Unless I've been put in a pile of "you're from VIC, we are going to ignore you for a while" 😂

1 minute ago, ChelseaLAllen said:

Hi Lovely People!

 

We sent through our expedite to the SydneyIV email address along with a doctors medical certificate just for extra leverage. Does anyone know how long it'll take for them to reply!? I am so nervous, my fingers and toes are crossed.

I was approved the following day BUT I am now not hearing back from them that quickly. I haven't even been sent packet 3 since my case arrived from NVC. But hopefully the response is fairly quick for you! 

1 minute ago, zochu said:

I didn’t always get an automated email back straight away. Sometimes it was delayed. You can send again, or check your “sent” box. 

Maybe I will wait until tomorrow. It looks like it is sent from the sent folder. I sent it this morning so it has been quite a few hours and usually I got an automated email back immediately saying it was received. Hopefully I hear from them soon! They haven't responded to my email from last week so I'm unsure if that affects things (like maybe if you have an email case still open then any new emails just get added to that and so you don't get a new email case number? I don't know, I'm thinking of all possibilities hahaha).

5 minutes ago, zochu said:

What does CEAC say? 

My case status is "Ready". My case arrived at the Consulate yesterday from NVC. Haven't heard from the Consulate since it arrived but wanted to email them today about a couple of things. 

So today I emailed the consulate and for the first time I did not get an automated email back saying my email has been received and giving me an email case number. Does this mean it didn't go through? I'm unsure whether to send it again or not. I also don't want to be a pest if they did in fact receive it. Has anyone had this happen before?

22 hours ago, MissOphelia said:

After submitting our expidite and attending my interview today, it was approved pending the arrival of my medical 😻 

The interviewer was really nice, and they barely had any questions for me at all! Now I've just got to wait for the visa in the mail ❤🤘

Congrats!!!!! I hope I get your nice interviewer. Or someone else nice. Lol

4 minutes ago, zochu said:

Awesome! Time to get ready for the interview 🙌
 

let us know how you go with getting an interview! I am eager to know if they will schedule you from VIC. I know someone else waiting and they are really needing an interview ASAP (also from Melbourne) 

So the Consulate is saying they are not  scheduling interviews for people who need to travel from VIC right now. However, I plan to try my absolute best to get a permit. If I by some chance manage to do that and get into NSW and am in quarantine, then I'll contact the Consulate and ask to schedule the interview for after I'm done with quarantine. I have to try... 😥

My expedite request was approved 😊

The consulate said they now need to request my case from NVC and it could take up to 30-60 days to get it (I'm hoping they added a massive buffer to that timeframe).

59 minutes ago, GiggsMcGill said:

Wow - I just got the email accepting my expedite!

Congrats!!! I sent my expedite request in and feel like I'm going to be sick I'm so nervous about it 😆. 

2 minutes ago, zochu said:

 

If anyone is moving October. I’m taking air NZ flight. Someone take the flight with me too ahahaha 

Haha that would be so fun if multiple people from here ended up on the same flight! ❤

Just now, zochu said:

I would apply for expedite ASAP. That way all your waiting for is them to contact you for an interview date.

 

then you can go get a Medical. I recommend the DR clinic in Melbourne CBD - NOT TOORAK. 

OH thank you for that heads up on the medical! Noted! 

And yep, going to apply asap. NVC asked me last week to email them documents about my case because they couldn't find it, but they have advised me they now have it! Phew! So I have been waiting on the number to send through the expedite request 😊 I should be good to go any day now (and I've drafted the email, although the situation on my fiance's end has continued to go from bad to worse so it has gone through a few edits now lol).

3 minutes ago, zochu said:

 

flights are so limited. I’ve booked my flights but I am watching the same flight get cancelled everyday. 
 

 

Wow!!! I looked up flights yesterday (we were doing the sums for an in between trip for me). There were definitely less options than I had seen a few weeks ago but I had been pleasantly surprised that there were multiple flights that were a return ticket for me around $1200 (I was expecting way worse). But I didn't realise so many flights are getting cancelled on the way out too. Ugh. 

2 minutes ago, zochu said:

 

I don’t know, have you applied for the expedite yet? 

I haven't yet, I plan to soon. I would rather have it approved and sitting waiting to be scheduled. I'll absolutely update people here on what happens though.

6 hours ago, aus2tx said:

Heads up, it’s being reported now that the consulate will not schedule you for interviews if you say you’re from VIC. A friend had their case expedited, then asked for an available interview date around September b/c Covid/VIC and were told to contact the consulate again once restrictions went down.

I wonder if this will also effect them granting an expedited interview right now if you're from VIC and put in the request now. Or if they'll assess it regardless of that and then just have it sit there waiting for an interview to be scheduled once restrictions have eased.

5 hours ago, Duke & Marie said:

 

 

i think you might just be better off waiting it out.. it’s a significant financial risk only to get turned away at the gate.. 

I'm also nervous about being bumped off a flight back to Australia again and again. Although if I made the trip 4 weeks or gives me a fair bit of wiggle room to get on a flight without overstaying.

Thank you for all your input. I was worrging about this all night. 

We've decided to watch the numbers over the next 1-2 weeks and hope we see some improvement. We've been in panic mode thinking the interstate border may stay closed until the end of the year. Things are just so fluid it's hard to know. Going to wait and watch a bit. Always so grateful for everyone's help. Thank you.