Consulate General of the United States of America

The security protocol is quite imposing here (as you'd expect, I suppose). It took me about 30 minutes to clear security and go up in the lift to the main consulate offices. They really are serious when they say that you can't bring in large electronic devices - I saw several people come in, only to be kicked out by the quite serious looking diplomatic security staff when they said they'd brought laptops and iPads along. Probably best to wear pants without a belt if you don't want to have to fuss with putting it on and off before a metal detector. Once you get to the main consular offices up near the top of MLC Centre (escorted by a diplomatic security officer inside the lifts!) and open the very weighty door to enter the waiting area, make sure you head to the correct side - US Citizens can take a ticket straight away and wait in the waiting room, all other visa applicants need to line up in a queue on the left and see someone at the first few counters before taking a ticket and waiting. If you're going for a visa interview, it's actually faster than what I initially thought (I thought it would be a full sit down in an office like being under questioning...). Once you're in the waiting room, the actual interview process is simple as getting your driver's licence renewed at a registry office. You just speak to someone at the counter, and they ask you questions about what you're doing in the USA. From what I saw, it took 3 or 4 minutes tops for most people to get their visas approved. Still, expect to wait a while. They do have some large tourism booklets available for you to read and pass the time with.

No star for them at all, my parents went to there with their Chinese passport and been treated with absolutly no respeact. The staff there are so rude. They have got their visas but decided not going to US any more. Just dont think they will have a nice holiday in such a country. With all the people who awarded them 5 stars, the only reason i can give is that they are doing some sort of experienment on human.

TERRIBLE SCAMMERS. I applied for a Diversity visa and although the officer knew I had made a mistake with the application, he still proceeded to charge me to proceed with the Visa, even though he knew I would be rejected. This consulate is highly disingenuous and there are scammers working within. Please beware.

God bless the the United States of America

Consulate has very cheerful and friendly officers, its very simple and easy to get access to information here. There is ample space to sit in the waiting area for appointments.