U.S. Consulate Sydney Delays Reopening

Since June, when Sydney entered its latest lockdown, the U.S. Consulate in Sydney has been closed for routine visa processing services and U.S. Citizen Services have been drastically reduced. In addition, emergency appointments for Non-Immigrant Visas have been curtailed and Immigrant Visa appointments have been cancelled across the board.

With the lifting of lockdown measures in the Sydney area, it was expected that visa appointments would re-start. However, the Sydney Consulate is moving to a new location in North Sydney and that move has delayed the reinstatement of regular visa appointments, to the dismay of many applicants waiting for their final appointments, essentially stranding them in Sydney.

Melbourne temporarily the only option for U.S. Consular services for many in Australia

With the opening of the border with Victoria, Non-Immigrant Visa appointments may now be made at the Melbourne Consulate, subject to availability. The Perth Consulate is still bound by the travel restrictions imposed on out of state applicants.

For now, for applicants in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, NT and Tasmania, getting an appointment in Melbourne seems to be the best immediate option.

Immigrant Visa appointments have not been moved from Sydney to either Melbourne or Perth, so applicants waiting for these appointments are subject to the restrictions that have been in place since late June.

The most recent update from the official US Consulate General Sydney Twitter account states:

"The U.S. Consulate Melbourne has opened additional appointments for immigrant visa applicants to address the reduction in services caused by the U.S. consulate Sydney move delay.

U.S. Consulate Sydney is contacting immigrant visa applicants who require a personal interview to provide the option of scheduling an interview in Melbourne.

If you intend to travel interstate in Australia, please make sure to check the guidelines of the state you are travelling to and from for the latest advice around permits and quarantine requirements due to COVID-19"