My NZ Criminal Conviction History (police clearance) arrived by mail today.
Clearance from the Department of Internal Affairs (I had it authenticated)
I photocopied it and took the original and photocopy to the post office to send to the US Consulate, as requested. Now all I have to do is hope my outstanding police clearance makes it to the Consulate.
Addressed to go!
Cost: A$10.15 with registered mail, with tracking and signature on delivery (US$7.71 at A$0.76 to US$1)
After my US visa interview (see here) I was left to check up on my outstanding police clearances.
I emailed the Hong Kong Police, who told me that their clearance had been sent directly to the Consulate on March 17. I checked (twice) with the Consulate, who confirmed they had never received it.
I asked HK for the tracking number (they send my registered post) and checked that with Australia Post who told me that they never had the item released to them on arrival in Australia. That’s right: my police clearance had officially gone missing.
What followed was a back and forth with HK over the police clearance, as according to their records, it has been delivered, although when I checked the same tracking number with HK Post, it only shows the item as having left for its destination on March 18. It seems I’m in a complete bind because HK refused to send another clearance, while the US has definitely not received it. Reapplying for the clearance from overseas will require me to have my fingerprints taken, a service the Australian Federal Police provide (cost: A$26), the filling in and resubmission of the forms (and another HK$210) and of course, a nervous wait to see if that copy is delivered or lost.
Today, HK told me they will send another copy of the police clearance to the Consulate, so fingers crossed this copy is received and does not become another piece of lost mail!
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
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
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
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!
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