Consulate Visit

Well we arrived nice an early for our appointment on a cool morning in Sydney. It took us a little while to find our way into the consulate they don't exactly advertise it with a big sign. Getting into the actual US consulate is not easy as you would expect.

We stood in line with our pre paid self addressed envelope and waited for our turn. First step is to offer up your phone, handbag if you have one, or any other type of bag, you even have to remove any jackets you're wearing. A quick walk through the metal detector, oops remove belt and shoes just like getting on a plane. You get your shoes and belt back but not your bags - you have to check these in with the security guard.

Next step is a check of your application by consulate staff to ensure you have all the correct stuff including a confirmation of your appointment (including a receipt), no confirmation your visit stops here. Very efficient staff run quickly across your actual application, bind it all together with a rubber band and it's take a seat and wait. Step one completed.

Next an armed guard motions you towards the lift, swipes his card and pushes the appropriate floor button for you, he gets out and away you go!

Next stop the "actual consulate" but wait not yet. Another guard behind what appears to be bullet proof glass and I would hazard a guess, bomb proof, requests your neatly bundled application. Again it is checked making sure you are there for legitimate reasons. Once you're confirmed you are motioned to a door, a loud buzz to release it and you enter a small part of the USA. Front up to a console put your appointment number in and take another seat and wait, I must say they have great views.

Processing your application takes most of the day. Call your number go through your application take a seat, call your number get your fingerprints taken, take a seat an so on till finally you get to the "big" window. Here we provided our payslips, employment letter, bank account statements etc and finally we get the nod, your visa is granted! Woo hoo! The scary part is leaving your passport there and hoping it does not get lost in the "system". This is where your self addressed envelope comes in, two weeks later we had our five year visa.




- Posted by RnR on their IPad

Location:Sydney