Dekka's Angel

Well, actually Derek is, but I'm feeling it all the way over here in California.

We're dotting the eyes, crossing the /ts for Dekka's interview in 7 days. Wanting to make sure we understood the all fees charged for the K-1 visa (he wants to bring the money with him and not use his EFTPOS), we sent a fax inquiry a week and a half ago, but have had no response. So today, Dekkie sucks it up and calls the main inquiry number (the secret number someone posted once we have never been able to get answered, including today).

After transfering hither and thon for about 5 minutes, the daft cow (his words, not mine) on the telephone tells him that because a fiance visa is an immigrant visa (despite their own website saying it's a non-immigrant visa) the issuance fee payable at the consulate is $585AU, instead of the just under $200AU for a non-immigrant visa. In addition to the $175AU he's already paid for the application fee.

I realize that very few people do K-1 through Sydney as opposed to DCF, but for anyone who has recently, what if any fee was payable at the interview (as opposed to the advance fee payable at the post office?) Nothing on the website indicates anything other than that a fiance visa is a non-immigrant visa (thus subject to the lower fee).

Thanks for your help.

Shani

Hi, Angel...

I'm sorry that I can't really help you here, other than to say that that
sounds like a whole s**tload of money!! It doesn't sound right. I mean,
for my sweetie and I, it's gonna cost $100 US in Vancouver for his K-1. I
don't know what the AU to US conversion is, but it still sounds like he was
quoted the wrong fee.

Good luck!!

- shani


"Dekka's Angel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Well, actually Derek is, but I'm feeling it all the way over here in
    > California.
    > We're dotting the eyes, crossing the /ts for Dekka's interview in 7
    > days. Wanting to make sure we understood the all fees charged for the
    > K-1 visa (he wants to bring the money with him and not use his EFTPOS),
    > we sent a fax inquiry a week and a half ago, but have had no response.
    > So today, Dekkie sucks it up and calls the main inquiry number (the
    > secret number someone posted once we have never been able to get
    > answered, including today).
    > After transfering hither and thon for about 5 minutes, the daft cow (his
    > words, not mine) on the telephone tells him that because a fiance visa
    > is an immigrant visa (despite their own website saying it's a
    > non-immigrant visa) the issuance fee payable at the consulate is $585AU,
    > instead of the just under $200AU for a non-immigrant visa. In addition
    > to the $175AU he's already paid for the application fee.
    > I realize that very few people do K-1 through Sydney as opposed to DCF,
    > but for anyone who has recently, what if any fee was payable at the
    > interview (as opposed to the advance fee payable at the post office?)
    > Nothing on the website indicates anything other than that a fiance visa
    > is a non-immigrant visa (thus subject to the lower fee).
    > Thanks for your help.
    > --
    > Dekka's Angel
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Tracey Bonavita

Hiya Dekka's Angel,

I did my Fiance Visa through Sydney last year and I can understand your
fiance's frustration with them - especially with calling them. As far as my
interview - even though it was in July 2002 - I was charged the fee for the
Non-Immigrant Visa. I don't think things have changed. The K-1 as far as I
know is classed as a Non-Immigrant Visa. There was a couple when I was being
interviewed who won the Diversity Lottery and they had to pay the
Immigration Visa fees. I know because i can't give you current details i'm
not much help. Here is a link on the US consulate (Sydney) website that
states that the K visa is a Non-immigrant Visa and what the fees for that
are. http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular/niv.html This was updated
February 28, 2003. My interview with them was a breeze. Dekka will do just
fine, good luck to the both of you.

Hope this helps a little bit.

"Dekka's Angel" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Well, actually Derek is, but I'm feeling it all the way over here in
    > California.
    > We're dotting the eyes, crossing the /ts for Dekka's interview in 7
    > days. Wanting to make sure we understood the all fees charged for the
    > K-1 visa (he wants to bring the money with him and not use his EFTPOS),
    > we sent a fax inquiry a week and a half ago, but have had no response.
    > So today, Dekkie sucks it up and calls the main inquiry number (the
    > secret number someone posted once we have never been able to get
    > answered, including today).
    > After transfering hither and thon for about 5 minutes, the daft cow (his
    > words, not mine) on the telephone tells him that because a fiance visa
    > is an immigrant visa (despite their own website saying it's a
    > non-immigrant visa) the issuance fee payable at the consulate is $585AU,
    > instead of the just under $200AU for a non-immigrant visa. In addition
    > to the $175AU he's already paid for the application fee.
    > I realize that very few people do K-1 through Sydney as opposed to DCF,
    > but for anyone who has recently, what if any fee was payable at the
    > interview (as opposed to the advance fee payable at the post office?)
    > Nothing on the website indicates anything other than that a fiance visa
    > is a non-immigrant visa (thus subject to the lower fee).
    > Thanks for your help.
    > --
    > Dekka's Angel
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Tracey Bonavita

Oops my apologies. I missed the bit at the bottom where you said you'd
checked their website. I can only reiterate that I paid the Non-Immigrant
Visa fee for my visa and I am 110% positive of this. I know what its like
wanting to have everything just right - but i really do think the person he
spoke to on the line got it wrong. The people at the consulate told me that
that "customer service line" isn't manned by people who even work at the
consulate, but by a call centre who only put calls through to the consulate
that are warranted. They are about as useful and accurate as the BCIS
customer service line here. I hope this helps set your mind at ease a
little. I paid A$123.50 at the post office (boy its gone up a lot!!) and
A$183.75 at the consulate on the day of the interview which doesn't seem to
have changed. I just checked my receipt - which i kept.

"Tracey Bonavita" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hiya Dekka's Angel,
    > I did my Fiance Visa through Sydney last year and I can understand your
    > fiance's frustration with them - especially with calling them. As far as
my
    > interview - even though it was in July 2002 - I was charged the fee for
the
    > Non-Immigrant Visa. I don't think things have changed. The K-1 as far as I
    > know is classed as a Non-Immigrant Visa. There was a couple when I was
being
    > interviewed who won the Diversity Lottery and they had to pay the
    > Immigration Visa fees. I know because i can't give you current details i'm
    > not much help. Here is a link on the US consulate (Sydney) website that
    > states that the K visa is a Non-immigrant Visa and what the fees for that
    > are. http://usembassy-australia.state.gov/consular/niv.html This was
updated
    > February 28, 2003. My interview with them was a breeze. Dekka will do just
    > fine, good luck to the both of you.
    > Hope this helps a little bit.
    > "Dekka's Angel" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > > Well, actually Derek is, but I'm feeling it all the way over here in
    > > California.
    > >
    > > We're dotting the eyes, crossing the /ts for Dekka's interview in 7
    > > days. Wanting to make sure we understood the all fees charged for the
    > > K-1 visa (he wants to bring the money with him and not use his EFTPOS),
    > > we sent a fax inquiry a week and a half ago, but have had no response.
    > > So today, Dekkie sucks it up and calls the main inquiry number (the
    > > secret number someone posted once we have never been able to get
    > > answered, including today).
    > >
    > > After transfering hither and thon for about 5 minutes, the daft cow (his
    > > words, not mine) on the telephone tells him that because a fiance visa
    > > is an immigrant visa (despite their own website saying it's a
    > > non-immigrant visa) the issuance fee payable at the consulate is $585AU,
    > > instead of the just under $200AU for a non-immigrant visa. In addition
    > > to the $175AU he's already paid for the application fee.
    > >
    > > I realize that very few people do K-1 through Sydney as opposed to DCF,
    > > but for anyone who has recently, what if any fee was payable at the
    > > interview (as opposed to the advance fee payable at the post office?)
    > > Nothing on the website indicates anything other than that a fiance visa
    > > is a non-immigrant visa (thus subject to the lower fee).
    > >
    > > Thanks for your help.
    > >
    > > --
    > > Dekka's Angel
    > >
    > >
    > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

dbark

I wonder if you have tried emailing them. An email may reach a different person, who may just provide you with the correct answer, i.e. the fee for a non-immigrant visa. Then Dekka could take the printed email with him as absolute proof!

Fax (61-2) 9373-9185 (Visas)
E-mail: [email protected]

(from their website)

Good luck

Debbie

Dekka's Angel

Sydney has a strict policy - you cannot use e-mail to make inquiries once you have a case pending there.

Despite this, we tried that a couple of days ago. Got back a very snippy e-mail saying they were too busy to answer our e-mail inquiry right now, and would get to us, but in the meantime we should feel free to send a fax (Sydney's required method for inquiries when you have a case pending). All the e-mail did was ask about fees. With no mention of our pending visa application. I suspect we were the victim of the "sneaky visa petitioner trying to get useful general information fashion as if they were just intellectually curious" bouncer living somewhere on Sydney's e-mail server.

This consulate is like Jekyl and Hyde, I swear. As long as you are not actually under its jurisdiction, the customer service is unbelievable. High quality, proactive, friendly, and helpful. Especially compared to CSC. But once you come under Sydney's jurisdiction, it seems as if a 10-foot-thick giant metal wall drops down to nip in the bud that approach, even for small things. I hear that things are somewhat better when you are at the consulate itself (as long as you do everything exactly as instructed in your Packet 4), but who knows /shrug. We'll see next week.

Thanks for the suggestion though

desusa

Hi there Dekka's Angel.

The lack of information available through the official sources is terribly frustrating during this process. I think Dekka was given incorrect information. To be honest, I never found the people on the phones in Sydney to be particularly knowledgable and they often had to put me on hold while they checked elsewhere for the answers to my questions. It never gave me much faith that the answer would be concrete when I actually turned up at the consulate on the day. I'm sure that the K1 visa would still be classed as non-immigrant as it has always been priced at the lower fee.
Take no notice of any of the fees on the website as the fees listed current as at 28th February are not reliable. We went to the trouble of purchasing USD to pay (it was actually more economical to buy the USD cash, than pay with AUD) only to find out on the day that those fees are not correct (of course there was no apology mind you) and we had to pay with a credit card which was very inconvenient. It sounds like they haven't amended them yet if that if the date that is still listed.
I can't help you with the exact cost but would try calling again and see if you can get someone with more knowledge this time. I don't think you'll have a problem if Dekka turns up with just enough to cover the non-immigrant visa fee. I would go by the fee that was listed on his paperwork from the consulate if nothing else and ensure he takes it with him on the day.
Best of luck with his interview!

jg1012002

The fee is $100 regardless of consulate. It is somewhat confusing, which is why the person on the phone told you wrong. The K1 visa is treated as an "immigrant" visa during processing and most embassies list the process for K under the Immigrant Visa section of their website. However, it is actually a Non-immigrant visa and, therefore, the fee is $100 which according to the currency converter is $150.223 Australian Dollars.

One thing to note DA, don't be surprised if they request fingerprints, which is an additional $85.00. I have been surprised at the number of applicants that were requested for fingerprinting from Australia. This is now routine with at least 26 countries -- Australia is not on that list -- however they have been requesting them lately, especially males. This procedure - "fingerprinting" is totally at the discretion of the interviewing officer and will delay visa issuance for 4 weeks. I was not forewarned and was devasted to say the least when my fiancee told me after the interview. I thought my fiancee had a "hit" on his name but I have since learned that with the US VISIT coming online soon, embassies are asking for fingerprints more often now.

I'm definitely not trying to rain on your interview date but it helps to be prepared for everything that could possibly happen.

Good luck!

Khadija

Hi

Perhaps you could email the Consulate? I've had fairly decent luck emailing the folks in Cairo whey I have questions on what to do/expect for my husband and our K3 experience. The fee they quoted me was 110USD plus the medical.

I think you need to either call or email Sydney to get a straight answer.

Patty