My OC Experience DV 2005 - Immigration Forum Discussions about Visa Issues Green Card Diversity Visa Help Immigration Laws H-1B Fiance Visa

administrator · 12-02-2005, 09:52 AM

My Experience:
Background
I am 28 years old, single professional female. I entered the DV2005 lottery for the first time in November 2003 through Steven’s service at http://www.greencards.com.au after several visits to the US where I tried and tried to get New York out of my system and just couldn’t!
I had all but given up on winning when I received the phone call from Steven in June 2004 to say I had been selected from the lottery. He explained to me that it did not guarantee anything until I had been through the interview stage and advised me to start saving and to avoid recreational drugs of any kind. I am sure he said a lot more than that, but at the time I was just too excited to think of anything else. Despite Steven telling me, I didn’t really comprehend what a long and nervous process I was about to go through.
After that, I didn’t hear anything for quite a while and began looking around the web for info as I assumed there were others in the same position…that’s when I found this board which became a daily part of my life for the next 12 months. Finally in July the visa bulletin came out, my number became current, and an interview was scheduled for 14th September – way to close to the 30 September cut-off for my liking, but an interview all the same!.

Police Checks
As soon as I found out my number was current I started trying to get the police checks done based on the advice from the board. I had a big challenge getting this complete. Every time I contacted my local police they said they were to busy, and twice when they said I could come down they then sent me away when I got there. After about 3 weeks of consistent trying I finally cracked it and pleaded with a police officer who agreed to see me. I took the form from the NSW police website P799: Application for National Criminal History Record Check (Standard Disclosure) and the processing fee with me in cash with me. Nobody at the police station seemed to know what needed to be done so I really had to be sure of what I was wanting. She took the fingerprints, reviewed the form, took my cash and 2 weeks later my national police certificate arrived at my home.
Medical Check
Once the second packet arrived the first thing I did was book in for a medical. I got in easily through Dr Millar which was excellent because the medical, x-ray and blood tests were all in the same building. I arrived slightly before my 11am appointment and was given some paperwork to complete. I was also given the cup for the urine sample. I had read from everyone else to make sure you drink a lot of water before the medical for this reason but I had gone a little over-board and couldn’t wait until the appointment and had to race into the bathroom at the State Library only about 20mins before my medical! But luckily, I had gone so overboard that there was no problems going a second time! I went in to see the doctor who asked a series of questions – some rather strange like have you ever tried to take your own life or someone elses? And just some other things about medical history. Then had the physical exam which involved bending down to touch my toes, blood pressure, listening to my heart and a simple eye test. Some other people had a few other things but that’s all mine was. I then had the injections for Rubella and Hep B… I had previously had them and couldn’t locate the records so it was just easier to re-do. I opted to have the blood test for Varicella as I have had chicken pox before.
Next was off to the X-ray centre for a chest x-ray. This was very easy, just stand there and they take it and you’re done in 5mins. Then off to the blood test which was also fine – the ladies there were great as I don’t have the best veins apparently and usually have no ends of problems getting blood, but she had it first go and I was out of there in 5mins. I then picked up the x-ray results and went back up to the doctors surgery where she checked the x-ray results and collected all of the signed paperwork. She advised me that she would call when the blood test came back and then mail all paperwork back to me. She said it is fine to open the results and that I need to take out some info for myself, but just re-seal it in the envelope after.
The next day I had a call to advise that the blood tests were fine and I had the varicella in my blood so all good. About a day or so later I received the results in the mail.

administrator · 12-02-2005, 09:54 AM

Interview
On the day of my interview I arrived at the consular very early….I think a little before 7am. I was absolutely the first one there and waited patiently until the lifts opened – a large number of people arrived about 10mins before the lift opened. I was a little annoyed because a family arrived about 20mins after me, and some other people working in the building must have given them access to level 10 so they were up there ahead of me. I got in the lift last and was therefore 1st out on the other end. Went through the security screening and waited for the lift to go up to the consular floor. I was again very annoyed because there was a huge scramble to get to the front of the line and I ended up quite a few places back – frustrating after having been there so long. Went through security check 2 and then into the consular. I ended up with ticket number 5. After about 45mis wait, I was called to the window to hand up my paperwork. I had everything in order so this took only a couple of mins. I was then instructed to go and pay my processing fee which was a little over $1000. I paid in cash and sat back down. I then waited about 2 hours for the next call to the window. This time a lady went through my paperwork in some more detail.
As background, I had $22,000 AU in cash but had some concern because I had recently transferred most of that money from various sources into my ING savings account – ie. Some of it was money I had been giving to my parents each fortnight for a number of years as savings, some was some $$ my company owed me for expenses, etc. I had all the evidence on file, but only handed over my bank statement in the first place based on info from Steven and the board. I also had a notarised letter from my US-Based employer who said that if my application for a green card is successful they believe they would be in a position to transfer me to USA. That had my current salary and position details on it, but nothing definite regarding what the deal would be in the US. I also have my HSC, a bachelors degree and a masters degree.
The lady who went through my paperwork said all looked fine but it would be up to the Consulate Officer. She said the only thing he may query is that for job offers they usually prefer definite details, but could see it was a transfer in my case so she was just flagging he may query that.
I sat back down and waited about another 15 mins when I was called to the interview with the Consulate Officer. I had my finger prints taken then he asked me to raise my right hand to take the oath…I was so nervous I raised the left and we both had a good laugh about that. He then asked:
- What are your plans, what are you going to do in the US? - Who is this (referring to the author of the letter I supplied)? - Where would you be located? - What is Human Resources (which is my profession)? - Do you have 12 years education
He did briefly look at my bank statement and just asked me to point to the balance. He did not ask anything about the recent funds. He then said “that’s all fine, you can come in tomorrow and pick up your passport and visa”. I was shocked that it was all so easy! I thanked him and walked out of there absolutely elated.
While I was there I got some insight into what others were having issues with….one guy had a different name on his birth certificate and passport and was sent away to get one or the other changed, one person was knocked back based on insufficient funds and the rest were there applying for spousal visas (and I have to say those people were getting much more questions than I got).
The next day I went in and collected my visa with the yellow envelope to give over at POE. I couldn’t stop looking at the visa for days afterwards and still can’t believe it when I look at it.
In all, I would say the process was stressful, but that was mainly due to the wait. For that 16 months, I basically had my life on hold not sure if I was going to be moving to the US, or if I should buy a house here, or go travel somewhere else etc. I don’t think the actual process itself is in any way unfair, or overly difficult, it really was just the waiting and uncertainty. By the end I had almost convinced myself that I would not be successful at the interview (based on some of the other things I had heard people were challenged on). The strangest thing happened though, about 2 days before the interview I became incredibly calm about it as I realised that my anxiety was not so much about if I do/don’t get the green card, it is more about having my life on hold and the uncertainty of it all. When I realised that, I became very calm because I knew that would be resolved either way in the following days. For us in countries like Australia and New Zealand, there is re! ally a no-lose situation…life here is so great its not like getting knocked back for a green card means we won’t have the opportunity of an outstanding life…we are very lucky. Realising that put things into perspective for me and I am very glad that I had come to that point before the interview.
In terms of where to from here…I am leaving to go to US for 5 weeks on 2nd December and will have my first Christmas and new years there this year. I will be going with a few friends for a holiday / getting organised trip. I will then return to Australia in January and start winding things up here with the intention of moving in April/May. I would love to go sooner, but want to go with my life here in order, and a good bank balance!
I would like to thank everyone from the board who I have learned a lot from. Especially Steven, Wikas, Fi and all the other OC’ers who have been just so supportive of each other. Good luck to all of you about to start, or having already started, your new lives in the USA. I will definitely keep looking back to see how people are going and hopefully share some of my experience with future winners. Good luck to all the 06 winners!! Yesterday I stumbled across a personal profile I had completed for a professional magazine about 3 yrs ago…one of the questions was “if you could have one wish, what would you wish for?” My answer: to live and work in New York City. It sent chills up my spine to see that as it is now a reality….what should I wish for next??