The Price of Love – Part IV

lisasoh — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 13:58:01 +0000

This morning, I went for a run and on my way back to the hotel, I was handed a free box of belVita Breakfast crackers in Martin Place.

Free crackers!

Later in the morning, I headed to my appointment at the US Consulate.

MLC Centre, where the US Consulate is located

Lift bank

Once up there (on Level 10), I passed through security and had to leave everything except the documents the Consulate had asked me to bring with security. It was pretty much like airport security, although unlike US airport security, I got to leave my shoes on.

The appointment was fine. They asked a lot of questions, but nothing I couldn’t answer. I read Martha Stewart Living magazines from 2006 and 2009 while I waited. I thought the content had aged reasonably well.

As a few of my required documents (my police clearances) had not arrived yet, I was given a document requesting these documents to be sent to the Consulate. When they arrive, they will process my case further.

After a lovely lunch with a friend, I killed time by walking around Sydney before catching my transfer to the airport.

Airport check-in

Inflight meal: lamb curry

Having costed out my flight and accommodation in Sydney here, the remainder of the costs of my actual stay in Sydney are:

Cost of meals in Sydney: A$27.01 (I had meals of chicken, salad and quiche)

Cost of my return airport transfer: A$15, cheaper than my transfer to the hotel because I booked a car transfer via the hotel rather than taking the train.

Cost of WiFi: Free – but only for the first 100MB, which runs out crazy fast. I had to rely on my cellular data plan instead. When I’m travelling and without WiFi, I am always reminded of Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs.

Total: A$42.01 / US$31.93 (at A$0.76 to US$1) + my despair at only having 100MB of free WiFi in my room

The Price of Love – Part III

lisasoh — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 08:53:07 +0000

Virgin Australia a330-200 short final by Jordan Vuong, CC-BY-2.0

Today I am flying to Sydney, as my interview with the US Consulate is tomorrow. In Sydney, the US Consulate only holds K1 visa interviews on Tuesday mornings, and I was lucky to get my interview date for April 7 at 10.15AM. I’m flying out today to spend the night in Sydney, rather than on the red eye Monday night (that would arrive early Tuesday morning) to avoid issues with tiredness or flight delays.

My boarding pass

My return ticket to Sydney was free (!) as one of the benefits my credit card gives me is a free domestic flight each year on Virgin Australia. I haven’t flown Virgin Australia in years and was surprised when I called the credit card hotline and was able to book this redemption ticket for my visa interview! I had checked in case tickets weren’t available, and the return flight was going to cost me around A$650, so I was super delighted.

Inflight meal: frittata

The crowd at baggage claim. So glad I only had carry on!

The US consulate is located in the middle of Sydney, a city I’m very familiar with, having lived and worked there before. I am staying at Travelodge Sydney, and was able to book online for a rate of A$106.25 at their 30 day non-refundable advance purchase rate. I caught the train to Museum Station and walked to the hotel to check in.

My exit out of Museum Station

I also paid the DS-160 fee, which is the fee for one of the online immigration forms the US Consulate requires. It cost A$344.50 (or US$265) at the US Consulate’s self assessed exchange rate of US$1 = A$1.30, which is not too far off the current exchange rate.

Travelodge Sydney

My room

Cost of ticket to Sydney: Free! (Thanks, American Express)

Cost of hotel in Sydney: A$106.25 (US$80.75 at US$0.76 to A$1)

Cost of train ticket from the airport to the hotel: A$17

Cost of DS-160: A$344.50

Total: A$467.75 / US$355.49

My Life, by the Numbers » interview

The Price of Love – Part IV

The Price of Love – Part III