Getting a U.S. Visa in Australia 2023

It was a renewal by mail…passport and application sent on Jan-10th, received by consulate on Jan-11th…then waiting on CEAC status to be updated till Jan-24th, status changed to administrative processing on Jan-25th, then status updated issued on Jan-27th & passport sent back on the same day, delivered on Jan-28th…overall good experience but never received any reply from consulate for query…please note there were 2 public holidays and 4 days of 2 weekend.
- Sam (about 1 year ago)

I’ve been on administrative processing since lodging the application and still haven’t heard anything
- Alex (about 2 years ago)

It's been under AP for the last 7 months and I'm still awaiting the visa to be issued.
- Alex (about 2 years ago)

staff were mean 🙁
- (about 7 months ago)

Getting the visa appointment took 6 months but the actual consulate process was extremely easy and quick. I originally had a Sydney appointment but that was cancelled 2 months before the date and then I had to reschedule (and get back in the queue) for Melbourne.
- Sam (about 7 months ago)

Interview was very quick. A worker reviewed the requested documents & scanned in my passport photo. I then waited in a small queue for the actual interview which only lasted 1 minute at most. Only asked what my roll will entail and what the company does. Overall a quick and painless process!
- Thomas (about 2 months ago)

Had a 24 day wait for the interview. Checked in on the day 15 minutes early on floor 4 (8:30am interview), security put our phones in a locker, then too us up to a higher floor, and took a ticket and sat down waiting to get called to one of the counters. After 5 to 10 minutes we were called up, asked for the DS-160 forms (mine and my Wife's), Passports, LCA, letter of offer, Marriage Certificate, Express post satchel, and degree. I don't have a degree and offered the equivalency assessment but was told to hang on to it. We were both finger scanned and told to sit back down and wait to be called. We waited about 15 minutes and were called to another counter, re-scanned one hand, asked when I started in my career (21 years ago), who I was going to work for and what they did. After only a few minutes there they told me we were approved, handed back most of the documents and to expect our Passports in 5 to 10 days. Tracking showed the Passports were posted at 14:03 that same afternoon and have the Passports 5 days later which included the weekend, otherwise I would have had them in 3 days. All were great people to deal with.
- Michael (about 1 year ago)

Had to book perth due to Xmas being a popular time for booking appointments. I used Tara Grey as my lawyer. First window i was asked very bluntly for what documents he wanted. LCA, letter of offer, Degree equivalency. then sit back down and waited for 20mins 2nd window, as 3 questions. Whats your role, are they a new company, what does the company do. Visa Approved, 8 days after i recieved my passport in the mail. Anyone doing degree equivalency, do it as soon as you can. Mine dragged out. But lastly, just relax, it was really an easy process. I was stressing like everyone else, but aslong as you have all the require paper work in order then you will pass.
- Nick (about 3 months ago)

Appointment was not cancelled, but when I turned up they told me they weren’t taking any appointments due to construction (which was visible behind the security door). They would not reschedule my appointment to the next available time but instead ask me to do it myself which meant a 5+ month wait if done in Australia. I’ve only been to the Sydney consulate twice and both times were terrible experiences.
- Adam (about 11 months ago)

The hardest part of the process was actually getting the visa appointment - otherwise the process was super simple, including a 2 minute interview (so fast)! Also I had an email 24 hours later that I could pick up my passport - if it wasn't a weekend, you'd have it back 2 days after your appointment. Highly recommend
- Holly (about 8 months ago)

I had my appointment on Monday morning, by late Tuesday afternoon I received an email saying my passport was ready to collect. Collected it on the Wednesday morning. The interview itself went for less than five minutes. Very easy process overall.
- (about 7 months ago)

1) Note that the Embassy had recently moved and the some paperwork (and google maps) still refers to the Martin Place location. The new location is in North Sydney. 2) Also, a third party sent me the notification that my Visa was ready for collection (after 10 days) although I had selected mail as my option. The email came from an individual using email address [email protected] asking me to pay the delivery fee at a link (the link was incorrect the first time). Definitely felt scammy, but the passport did eventually arrive (albeit 4 days later).
- Kate (about 7 months ago)

No more prepaid Express Post Satchel. You will be emailed with instructions on where/how to pick up your passport when it's ready. They provide a delivery option for an additional cost. Do not bring large electronics as they may not fit in the lockers provided and you can't take them in with you. At the interview provide what they ask for, no more, no less. The interviewer will get testy if you start giving them your story.
- Alex (about 5 months ago)

March 2023. Smooth. Got the email the next day after my appt. Ready for pickup the day after that. Most annoying part is the queue outside north syd loc. The guards are not announcing what interview time they are up to and if you’re lined up down the street you basically can’t hear at all. The pickup spot is also a bit of a mess so I don’t recommend flying out on same day as pickup
- Chazza (about 24 days ago)