US Embassy Melbourne VIC, Australia Reviews 2025

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 4 years ago)

I’ve been on administrative processing since lodging the application and still haven’t heard anything
- Alex (about 4 years ago)

It's been under AP for the last 7 months and I'm still awaiting the visa to be issued.
- Alex (about 4 years ago)

staff were mean 🙁
- (about 3 years 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 3 years 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 3 years ago)

New E3 Visa Melbourne Review June 9th - Interview June 14th - Received email that passport is ready to collect June 15th - Collected passport LCA - you can book an interview without your LCA, just put a placeholder ‘000’ in that section. When you get your LCA, update your DS-160 with the new LCA number and call +61 1300 139 399 to update your interview details with the new DS-160 number. Finding an appointment - keep refreshing as new appointments do open up. To find out earliest amongst Melb/Syd/Perth just call +61 1300 139 399 and ask them. This avoids needing to cancel one appointment at risk of losing it if a sooner one isn’t available at another consulate. Interview - make sure you bring a passport photo that is less than 6 months old, even if your DS-160 application photo was approved. Otherwise you have to go down the road for a new passport photo at Aus Post. Interview - they just asked to see my LCA, Job offer letter, passport photo and passport. Quick process less than 30 mins all up. They only asked what my job was and my highest level of education. Arrive at least 15mins before and review the security email to know what you can/can’t bring in. Visa status post interview - mine never updated on the CEAC website. I found this website helpful for some extra tracking steps you could look into. You can also email the Melbourne consulate. https://www.ustraveldocs.com/sk/sk-niv-passporttrack.asp#:~:text=Email%3A%20Send%20an%20email%20to,automatic%20response%20with%20the%20status. Passport collection - it’s on level 11 of the VFS Global building on Swanston Street. Collection is only between 10am - 12pm. Bring a proof of ID with you to collect. Pick up vs Post - I personally would recommend opting for pick up. Firstly you don’t need to pay. Secondly it seemed to be approx 1 day earlier than waiting for delivery. And lastly it reduces the stress of having to stay home waiting for it to show up.
- Kate (about 2 years ago)

Visa wait times following COVID were astronomically long : 8+months.
- Gargi (about 3 years ago)

*Interview waiver/mail in application: Mailed in my application package from a regional post office box on a Thursday (Express/overnight) and it was marked as delivered on the Friday morning by Australia Post. US embassy internal tracking recorded as processing only on the Monday afternoon and at 5PM on the Tuesday I received notification it was ready to collect (NB: I selected this option vs. return to sender mail). I left a VERY tight travel window for my return flight (< 5 business days) and indicated this on the paperwork (not sure if this influenced the expedited processing time) but all told it was a three business day turnaround. I collected the passport in person to save a day and any potential issues receiving the passport back in the mail. This was my fourth E3 renewal and the most straightforward from this location.
- Heidi (about 2 years ago)

Had an appt for 8:30, got there at 8 and the security line was already about 20 people deep. Security took about 30 mins all up - make sure you don't bring any electronics besides your phone (i.e. no laptops/ipads) - they were turning people away who had them. At security, they checked that I had physical US passport-size photos and my LCA. Post security, another 10 mins waiting upstairs for the first interview (where they review your docs again and take fingerprints). Then about 20 mins wait in the final queue for the final interview which took 2 minutes. I was asked the name of my company, the role, and then was approved. That was a Thursday and I got the email to pick up my passport on the Tuesday.
- Kim (about 2 years ago)

E-3 renewal, and changing partner's status from E-3 to E-3D. Appointment went smoothly, although the consulate required copies of documents, not originals (previously they had made copies on the spot if required) - we had to submit a copy of one of our documents via email after the appointment.
- David (about 2 years ago)

This was a mail-in renewal; new job at a new company but I had most recently renewed in Ireland in October ‘23. Over all it took 2 weeks from posting to pick up. I actually forgot to include new physical photos but they used my digital photo from the DS160. Express posted Tues 23/4, aus post tracker said it was delivered Wed 24/4. The CEAC tracker said ‘No Status’ until Tuesday 30/4. Tracker changed to ‘Application Received’ 30/4, and ‘Approved’ 7/5. I got a text that my passport was ready for pick up later that day. Pick up is on Swanston St 10am-2pm, very fast and easy.
- Al (about 1 year ago)

We flew in from our home overseas for the first E3 + E3D application. The company and immigration lawyer had already prepared LCA and supporting documents. Due to the travel I also didn't take the first available appointment (booked on April 22). Interview day was exactly as everyone else described, more time waiting than talking. We had recently married and so had only the ceremonial certificate (my home state's Births Deaths Marriages is heavily backlogged currently, plus an overly complicated process to validate foreign address which would have taken another month + money). They questioned but the interview was enough to validate to the consulate's satisfaction, but this could have been an issue. There was an unusual delay in processing at this time. My lawyer said another client had been told 10 days to get passport back the week before, we were told within the week. Watching the CEAC site, there was no action on the application until Day 6, then everything all at once - after Issued status, GTS emails received 2 hours later for pickup the next morning. Pickup was super easy using overseas driver's license as ID. We had to move our flights and extend accomodation which was annoying but that's life moving between overseas postings I guess.
- Josh (about 1 year ago)

Mail in visa. I sent it on 5/11 (sat) via auspost express (do not advise, they do nothing on Saturday, i recommend just posting on monday). Delivered 5/15. It first goes to post office mail box, which they then pick it up. CEAC tracking noted application received 5/15. Accepted 5/20, issued 5/21. I originally had nominated for premium delivery, but i was able to contact VFS to change it last minute for pickup at the swanston st location since i have a tight flight schedule. Use email: [email protected] for the melbourne VFS location.
- D (about 1 year ago)

I was getting a new O1 visa stamp (approved in the US way back in April). Did the DS160 for Melbourne early June to look at available interview dates and using the US Travel Docs site (for Australia consulates) was surprised when using the Visa wizard that I was eligible for a mail-in despite status change to first-time O1. I was nervous this may have been an automated thing so I wrote an email via the Travel Docs contact form and a human replied within 2 days that I was indeed eligible for a mail-in and that it may take up to 10 days to get my passport back, which is quicker as it would otherwise take 'up to a few weeks for interview'. I just needed to follow the mail-in instructions sent to me when my appointment was confirmed as a mail-in instead. The wizard pretty much determines you are eligible for mail in if you satisfy ALL the conditions: https://au.usembassy.gov/visas/ (scroll to the bottom and click on the Australian consulate you completed your DS160 for and it will take you to a new tab for the wizard). Arrived in Melbourne June 14 (Friday) so decided to wait till after the weekend to Express Post it. Sent it Monday 17th, CEAC (status tracker: https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx) confirmed receipt Tuesday 18th. Received email Monday 24th that the passport was ready for collection from the VFS collection point in the Melbourne CBD. Collection point is actually inside the India Visa office (it is confusing as there is no sign until you walk INTO the India visa office), and then you will see a sign for FRENCH visa collection and that is where you go in to collect your passport! All in all it was so straight forward and easy and no need to worry at all.
- Selene (about 1 year ago)

My 7/8th E3 but had to do it in person due to some logistical issues. I had my LCA approved on June 24, and the earliest available appointment was July 22. Kept looking and was able to reschedule to July 9th. Standard affair, waited for an hour and the interview lasted less than 30 seconds - the visa officer noticed I had a bunch of previous E3s so didn't ask any questions, only wanted to see the LCA and offer letter. The status changed to 'Issued' on CEAC on July 10th but I didn't receive any email to pick up the passport from VFS. After a day of waiting, I rocked up to the VFS office on the afternoon of July 11th. The passport was already there, and I was able to pick it up with an ID even though I didn't have a confirmation email. It looks like they're a bit backlogged with returns, so I recommend going in once the status changes to 'Issued' if you're in a time crunch. Overall, super smooth and a very quick turnaround.
- Ryan (about 1 year ago)

My E3R was approved on the spot on June 11th. Couldn’t do mail-in renewal according to their website but person who checks DS-160 etc said that I could have. There were so many people at the embassy in line waiting for their appointments. The VO only asked one question about my qualifications and said that Ill get my passport in a week. I got my passport back on 18th business day. In the past, it took them 2 days and 3 days to return my passport. They have also changed their pickup location its not in swanston street anymore even though it says on their website and the email that you will get when your passport is ready to be picked up. The new location is at level 5/332 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 3004. There is something going on at the embassies/consulates in Australia. They aren’t efficient these days.
- Mahi (about 1 year ago)

This was my first E3 with all of the documentation prepared by my employer. I was awaiting for an approved LCA but had read information that I could fill out the DS160 prior to gaining the approved LCA (I knew it was coming within the next few days but wanted to get my appointment booked in). I filled out the DS160 successfully without LCA on 13 August and was able to get an appointment for the following Tuesday 20 August - Melbourne was very open for appointments when I looked. Consulate interview was very straightforward, no detailed questions about my role except what my position was and my employer. I was in and out within 30 minutes. I was told the passport would be available to pick up (I chose pick up rather than delivery) within a week. Received and email on Wednesday August 21 that passport will be available to pick up the next day.
- Ellen (about 1 year ago)

Successfully got a new O-1 visa approved after being on an E-3 for the last ~10 years. I was eligible for a mail-in application and was therefore required to do it via mail, so no appointment. Here's my timeline: Monday, Nov 4th: Mailed in application from Perth to the Melbourne consulate (as reviews here seem to show that Melbourne is faster than Sydney, also backed up by anecdotal evidence from friends on E-3s). Thursday, Nov 11th: Postal tracking showed that my application was delivered, and the CEAC visa status site also showed the application as received - I had to check all this myself, I did not get any email or text notifications that my application was received. Thursday, Nov 14th: Got an email and a text saying my visa was approved and passport was ready for pickup in Melbourne - so 5 business days from when it was marked as received. No other notifications in between. I flew to Melbourne to pick it up and flew out from there back to the US. Important tip when mailing in your application via express post: check that the postcode you send from and the receiving postcode are eligible for the next day delivery guarantee (which isn't really a guarantee). I mailed mine in from a postcode that wasn't eligible, which is why I think it took 3 days to deliver. Huge delay.
- David (about 10 months ago)

This website has been so helpful, providing our full timeline below in the hopes it helps someone else! Everything was incredibly seamless, other than the communication from VFS around pick up. We were getting an E3 (my husband) and an E3D/S (me). For context, my husband received the job offer on November 21 and the visa was in our hand on December 16 - so a 3 week turn around from offer to visa, including closures for Thanksgiving in that period! - Wednesday December 11 - Interview in Melbourne - Friday Dec 13 - Status changed to “issued”. We decided to go to VFS in the hopes our passport was there, but we were told it wasn't. - Monday Dec 16 - Still hadn't received an email from VFS, but we had our flight booked for the next day and really didn't want to miss it. We went back to VFS at 10am and our passports were there! At about 2pm that afternoon, my husband received a text message saying our documents had been picked up from the consulate and were on their way to VFS... so I'm glad we just went and checked up on it, we would have missed our flight if we had waited to receive the text. All in all, really seamless and fast.
- Ruby (about 8 months ago)

Dec 17 appointment - used a DS-160 without the LCA number filled (bcos my LCA was obtained later) which was ok. Status changed to issued on Dec 20. But it took so long to get the pick up email - I had flights booked after Xmas and VFS is closed on public holidays so I went to VFS on Dec 23, they turned me away and say must have the email printed. Managed to receive email to pick up on Dec 23 evening, so got my passport on Xmas eve.
- Joe (about 8 months ago)

Booked appointment two weeks out, lots of appointment slots available when I went online to book. Super smooth process, we were there for 8am appointment and out the door by 9am. Interview portion only went for a few minutes. Family of 3, child's E3D visa issued same day and passport back next day. E3 and E3S visa issued second day and email to collect came through morning of day 3. Super efficient at Melbourne right now.
- Jack (about 7 months ago)

My appointment was 8am Thursday and I received my passport in the mail the following Wednesday morning, so three days total excluding the Anzac Day public holiday and weekend.
- Rebecca (about 4 months ago)

Very easy process of 6 business days in total. I posted my application on Friday, they received it Monday. That same week on Friday I got a message that it was ready for pick up I chose pick up as I’m close to the location and didn’t want to wait for postage
- Julie (about 3 months ago)