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PLEASE make sure you read the FAQ (linked at the menu at the top of this page), as most questions are already answered there.
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November 27, 2017 at 11:57
Hello Brit,
I had this mail from Accra Embassy after my interview on Nov 20, 2017 and put on AP with original educational documents withheld;
“Please be advised, your interviewing officer would like to have a follow up with you.
You are advised to make a follow up 221G appointment via our online scheduling system.
Please go to http://www.ustraveldocs.com/gh to create an account and register a profile or log in.
For return 221G appointments and rescheduled cases, the case number is sufficient to create an account and register a profile.
Once your profile is registered you may schedule your appointment.
What does this mean to my case?
Is it a complete interview all over again?
In preparing my profile, what is priority number?
November 27, 2017 at 12:13
Sorry, I mean Priority Date?
November 27, 2017 at 22:51
Insert your case number there.
November 28, 2017 at 08:48
It’s a date form, doesn’t accept anything beyond mm/dd/yyyy
November 28, 2017 at 14:49
Pick a date then. Perhaps the date when your number became current.
November 27, 2017 at 14:24
Hi Brit,
I’m from Europe with CN30***. In Ds260 for the sponsor i have write wrong their address and phone number. What do you suggest? Thanks
November 27, 2017 at 20:27
Unlock the DS260 and correct it.
November 27, 2017 at 14:51
Hi Brit
My wife is dv 2018 winner. Is it an issue if she mentioned un employed in DS 260 because she was not able to locate her occupations in the list provided in the form. Her occupation is data entry operator. However, she has mentioned her educational details as university graduated.
Please advise if this issue will make her disqualified in her interview.
November 27, 2017 at 20:26
No problem
November 28, 2017 at 07:32
Thank you Simon
God bless you
November 27, 2017 at 14:58
hey Brit
i am from srilanka, 2nd nl will be available countries wise or ASIA wise?
November 27, 2017 at 20:26
Asia
November 27, 2017 at 15:33
Hi brit,
I am winner of dv 2018, I am from sudan my interview was in october, the council gave me a paper had a 7 questions and asked to reply in 7 days, i sent the information next day at email as he asked. Untill now no any relied from embassy.
My question,1. what is the reasons of this 7 questions, 2. why are these questions given to some while other are not given.
The questions is:
1.the travel history over the last 15 years.
2. The names of any siblings
3. All adresses where you’ve resided during the last 15 years
4.any previous passport number
5. Your perior occupations and employers for the last 15 years
6. Your phone numbers used during 5 years
7.your email and public-facing social media used during the last 5 years
November 27, 2017 at 20:26
They are trying to perform a more detailed background check. It is getting more common.
November 27, 2017 at 15:43
Hallo brit
How long time i can stay out usa after 1st visit ??
November 27, 2017 at 20:25
Please always check the FAQ
https://britsimonsays.com/faq/timeline-of-first-entry-and-absences-from-usa/
November 27, 2017 at 18:06
Hello Simon,
My interview is due in two weeks. EU region. I have found potential sponsor. Do you think that there is enough time for I-134, Affidavit of support ? I mean if he fills the application tomorrow, how long the process usually takes ? I need to wait for some kind of approval from USCIS ? Thanks so much.
November 27, 2017 at 19:04
There is no “process”. The sponsor fills in the form, and provides that and the proof to you. That’s it.
November 27, 2017 at 19:58
hello brit am a dv 2018, does kcc follow the case from low to high numbers in scheduling interview? or as ur ds260 is complete nomatter the higher the case
November 27, 2017 at 23:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-basic-questions
November 27, 2017 at 23:37
Hello. If i want to add my new baby in DS 260, i Need obligatorily his passport? Because i dont have yet and in venezuela it takes a few month to have it
November 28, 2017 at 00:19
You don’t need the passport to file the DS260, but will need it at interview.
November 28, 2017 at 01:33
Hi ! Im a dv 2018 selectee from SA, haven’t received my 2NL yet. im currently living in Dubai but Im moving back to my country in December.
I requested to unlock my ds260 to change the address in advance as I haven’t been schedule for the interview yet and Im afraid I can receive the Letter any moment from now, so of course I need to change locations.
Would you advise me what’s better to do? changing location pretending im already back home or waiting till next month to change it? not sure how long they keep the form unlocked.
Thanks in advance
November 28, 2017 at 01:40
What is your case number?
November 28, 2017 at 14:33
My case number is 11xx
November 28, 2017 at 15:01
When you give a case number, always include year and region. SA could mean South America region or South Africa. I’ll assume the latter.
Change the address now.
November 28, 2017 at 16:30
Sorry about that. Its for south america case 11xxDv2018. Thing is i cannot put future date (december) if i put november as my current address back home it’ll show a discrepancy given that my visa cancellation will be in December, which will show in my passport. Is that a problem or they don’t make a big deal out of
That? Thank you
November 28, 2017 at 19:15
Then your number won’t current for several months. Once you move you can update your address.
November 28, 2017 at 02:09
Hi,
Thanks for your help.
I wanna know whether IRS record and employment card are legal proof for that I lived in USA legally?
November 28, 2017 at 03:30
No
November 28, 2017 at 03:41
IRS record may be used for proof of residence but do not show legal presence in USA. Anyone with SSN or TIN can file tax returns. EAD by itself does not demonstrate legal presence. You need another supporting document such as valid OPT I-20, approved TPS, pending case with USCIS etc to establish legal presence.
November 28, 2017 at 02:28
I have a question about after winning the Green card.
After your green card is approved. You have 6 months to activate it? am I correct? and then you have a year to enter?
so If I am not misunderstanding. You can enter the USA once, activate your card, and then leave again, but you have to enter and start your American life within one year?
thanks for your answer in advance
November 28, 2017 at 03:29
Read the FAQ about absences.
November 28, 2017 at 02:39
Hii brit i have writen to u before,m deve selectee my interview is in jnury,i was single but got merried after filling ds260,u told me to tell the embsy,
What i want to ask u is,my interview is in ethiopia,should i tell the american embassy in ethiopia,where my interview is going to be held,or i should call to the american embassy in america
1,Is thete a chance i will be disqualified for geeting merried
2,if i dont mention it in my interview,cld i be disqualified for not telling them
3,Is there a possibility,for things to go smooth,pls help am a little bit worried
Thank u brit ur comment means a lot
November 28, 2017 at 03:33
I already answered. You don’t need to ask again.
November 28, 2017 at 02:58
I really need ur comment
If i didnt mention it in the interview,is this a good reason for disqualification,
Am worried if i told them i got merried,that i will be disqualified,
So if i just go on as a single,as it was in my interview,is it ok,coz i can take my husband if i pass my passport,
2 pls is it possible to get disqualified,coz u got merried
December 5, 2017 at 16:48
If u were married be4 the initial entry and didn’t mention it,it will cause u denial at ur interview if the consular ask u abt ur marital status but if u got married after entering the dv is ok it won’t cause denial so long as u can show proves of ur relationship with husband years back be4 ur marriage to mk them know that u were together be4 is cus of the lottery.
December 5, 2017 at 17:59
Please post in English (not text) and with punctuation.
If you lie by saying you are single but you were actually married, that will cause denial.
November 28, 2017 at 03:17
What i meant is go on as a single as it was in my ds260form,my interview is in january,sorry for the errors in writing
November 28, 2017 at 05:54
Hi Simon, Trust you good. I have my 2NL already but I want to print my 1NL as I understand I need to bring a copy of it to the embassy to but I can’t find it anywhere ? please guide me what page do I find the 1NL for print purposes?
Thank you and have a good day ahead.
November 28, 2017 at 06:03
The 1NL has been replaced by the 2NL. You cannot get the 1NL now. Take the 2NL.
November 28, 2017 at 06:31
Hello Brit
I am coming Again..you forgot to answer my question.sorry for taking your time but am worried .
The Question I would like to ask is ,MY friend is living in usa ,he got there by DV about 1 years ago..
Can he be my sponsor or he must live in USA for 5 years to be my sponsor..
Thank You for endless support.
November 28, 2017 at 14:44
I answered!
https://britsimonsays.com/ask-questions/comment-page-177/#comment-93903
November 28, 2017 at 08:27
Hi Mr.Brit,
Should my sponsor sent my affidavit of support by E-mail or by DHL please tell me the copy that will be the best at the embassy.
November 28, 2017 at 14:48
It is best that they send the form to you by mail, but email should also be OK.
November 28, 2017 at 08:32
Hi Kirubel. He can be your sponsor, so long as he’s an LPR and has enough financial backup/income to support you…..check the poverty guideline for the requirement.
November 28, 2017 at 09:17
Do you have DV2017 refusal rates and relative rates per region? Do you think writing an article about why has DV2017 went so bad? So we can make predictions/expectations about DV2018.
November 28, 2017 at 14:50
DV2017 was normal. Anyway – there is a lot of data here.
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2017-ceac-data/
November 28, 2017 at 17:30
It does not include the refusal rate. Do you have it?
November 28, 2017 at 19:11
No – but the rate is largely the same from year to year – so you can use the published analysis from previous years.
Remember, we don’t have DV2018 data yet – so until we do, we cannot perform sensible analysis.
November 28, 2017 at 12:03
Hello Brit
I am a winer of Dv llotery 2018 in EU. my case is 36000.What time my case with be called for interview and is my number secured
Thank you.
November 28, 2017 at 14:52
Wait and see.
November 28, 2017 at 13:11
Hello Mr. Britsimon
After my DV interview and recieving the congratualtions statment, an embassy officer contacted me asking to fill DS 5535.
Will that delay my visa issuance or may cause denial ?
November 28, 2017 at 14:53
It may cause delay, especially if you don’t get on with it. Your visa is safe once it is in your hands.
November 28, 2017 at 14:18
Hi brit…….my young sister won in a 2018 dv lottery I want to fill my young sisters ds260 form but am stack on her names…..in a dv lottery entry she entered three names as appears in her passport and birth certificate but in all of her school certificates appears two names first and the last no middle name what name to write then in a ds 260 form and in either way will there be a disqualification based on that at her interview?
November 28, 2017 at 14:58
Write the full legal name in the DS260. That should be fine.
November 28, 2017 at 17:06
Please the 2019 DV lottery will be my 6th time of participating in the lottery, please why don’t I win, I am from Ghana and I fill the information correctly as required, I even helped two people during the registration process and one of them won in this recent 2018 lottery, please is there something I need to know. Please I have 3 of my uncles in the United States will I need to consult them to follow up for me. Brit Simon please talk to me
November 28, 2017 at 19:14
The chances of being selected in the lottery are VERY small – around once in 200 or 300 years. So – 6 times is nothing – and many people will NEVER win. You enter and may be you’ll get lucky. It isn’t a plan, just a lottery.
November 28, 2017 at 19:20
Keep trying bro,i started this more then a decade buh im still pushing harder,lottery is favor n luck bro ..im from Ghana-Ksi
November 28, 2017 at 17:46
Hi, trust this note finds you well. My case number ends with 4400 around. And I am from south Asia countries. When I will receive the mail for interview.
Best Wishes
Abdul
November 28, 2017 at 19:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-basic-questions
November 28, 2017 at 19:07
hi Britsimon.. while filling the ds260 form I wrote the date of marriage as July 2017 when we legalised our marriage.. But we had been married since 2010 Under customary marriage which has no certificate …can this bring problem? Do I need to unlock and write the 2010? thanks
November 28, 2017 at 19:19
No problem, no need to unlock – just explain at the interview.
November 28, 2017 at 19:38
hi Brit,
have you seen Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances for october? what do you think?
November 28, 2017 at 20:39
They were as expected. AF is a slow start, that is as expected.
November 28, 2017 at 19:49
Hi brits..do police clearance letter and police certificate serve the same purpose?if not which one is needed in imigrant cases?thankyou.
November 28, 2017 at 20:39
you MUST check the reciprocity page for the country concerned and follow those instructions exactly to make sure you get the right document for the country.
November 28, 2017 at 20:48
Hi britsimon. During the interview if asked about work,is it okay to say she takes care of the kids since she is not employed
November 28, 2017 at 23:26
You just tell the truth. That’s all. The truth.
November 28, 2017 at 21:44
Sir, im planning to buy an airline ticket. Can i buy a return airfare and have my Legal Permanent Residency stamped and return back using that same ticket.
This is because my passport is expiring on may next year but im planning to go next year December forever.
November 28, 2017 at 23:23
No problem.
November 28, 2017 at 22:09
Hello brit,
I am a DV 2018 winner and I just got done submitting my wife and I DS 260 form,but my fear is I just discover that my wife is one 1 and the half month pregnant .
My questions are: 1. Should I write KCC letting the know that my wife is pregnant?
2.Will my wife pregnancy cause problem for us at the interview?
November 28, 2017 at 23:22
1. No (there is no need to do that).
2. No
November 28, 2017 at 23:02
Hello Sir Brit, please, when can I get an interview? My CN is 2018AF46XXX. Thanks
November 28, 2017 at 23:21
You will wait until late in the DV year. Patience.
November 28, 2017 at 23:20
Hows it going brit, I’ve been checking the timeliness for AOSers this year and not even one applicant has been scheduled for an interview since the beginning of the fiscal year and we already in December. If you look at 2017 and 2016 we already had around 10 people with notices for interview around this time of the year. What are your thoughts for us AOSERS this year with the new v.b process (slower)and the scenario we had during the end of DV 2017.
November 28, 2017 at 23:30
It’s November. We are two months in to the DV year. It is far too early to be jumping to conclusions, based on the small amount of cases we know of.
November 29, 2017 at 03:10
hi brti how are u
i have one question for today please
i have revived my green card before 8 months
now i want to travel outside united state for short time using my citizen passport, my my citizen passport was issued in 2015 and still its not expired. but when i was coming to united state my visa was stamped in a travel document( from the place i was a refuge) because my passport was not in my hand at the time of DV process. now can i use my passport and my green card to travel where i came and return USA safely
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT HELLP
November 29, 2017 at 04:55
Yes.
November 29, 2017 at 05:55
Hello Simon … when is exactly ethiopia and Egypt case number will be equal with the rest African countries?
November 29, 2017 at 14:41
I don’t know.
November 29, 2017 at 07:37
Hi Brit.. Thanks for your advice it’s so helpful. Am a DV winner 2018,AF18xxx.we have been living together with my wife since 2014 and had first born in 2016 and his birth certificate taken last year has both our names.we got our marriage certificate in August 2017after winning dv,and we wrote this as our date of marriage in the ds form.can this cause denial of visa?or should we change the date to 2014 Time we started living together?
November 29, 2017 at 14:42
Don’t change it.
November 29, 2017 at 07:50
Hello BritSimon,
I appreciate your good work.
I am @ AF35XXX
I am filling my DS260, and have one question.
I have two marriage dates.
1. Customary marriage that happened in 2012 and has no certificate;
2. Attorney Generals marriage that happened in October 2017 that we did purposely to legalise our marriage and was given a certificate.
Which one should I include in the form?
November 29, 2017 at 14:42
2
November 29, 2017 at 08:16
I am a 2018 dvlottery winner, I have filled my ds 260 form including my spouse. I have just receaved my 2nL where my interview appointement is scheduled for january, 9 of 2018. Now my wife has just given birth to a new baby by caesarean section the night before yesterday night. In this situation I would like to know if it’s possible for me to go alone for my medical exam and my interview appointement. Please help me I ‘ve not got time enough and must make the right choice. Thanks
November 29, 2017 at 14:45
It’s still November! You have weeks before the interview and the medical should take place shortly before the interview. So – you should BOTH go – AND you should now contact the embassy to add the child. You will need a birth cert and passport for the child.
November 30, 2017 at 13:44
Thanks so much Mr.for your time, Please for my certificate to be available before my interview date I want to send my DS260 in January because the certificate will be available in first week of March,is it advisable to do so,please help me.
November 30, 2017 at 15:04
That’s OK.
November 29, 2017 at 10:23
hi brit photo i have given for medical checkup in that photo i wear a locket will that give any trouble in interview
November 29, 2017 at 14:47
No
November 29, 2017 at 11:31
Please am a high school leaver in Ghana do I have to obtain a certain grades in my exam before I can continue with my processing, am a dv2018 selectee
November 29, 2017 at 14:50
Yes. Perhaps people from Ghana will answer on the specifics.
November 29, 2017 at 20:18
You might want to check this out. There has been some changes to acceptable grades by the US consulate at Accra in accordance to grades accepted by tertiary institutions in Ghana.
https://gh.usembassy.gov/education-culture/educationusa-center/educational-system-ghana/
November 29, 2017 at 21:44
Thanks.
November 29, 2017 at 18:27
Hi
This is Shad. My sister and her husband will have their interview soon. Her husband is winner and my sister is beneficiary. They come from Iran, and in Iran men have to go for a mandatory military service for 2 years, but no expertise or especial training in any field.
So that cause 98 percent of male applicants from Iran require AP which takes at least 60 days to be proceeded. Now my question is that if it is possible that main applicant requires administrative process for visa but they give my sister, the beneficiary on that case, her visa without needs to go for a AP or not.
Thank you in advance and waiting to hear back from you.
November 29, 2017 at 18:55
If the principal selectee is on AP, the beneficiaries have to wait for the outcome of that AP.
November 29, 2017 at 19:48
Please my husband has won the lottery so what do I need to win too
November 29, 2017 at 21:47
You will be a derivative on his case. He must read the instructions.
November 30, 2017 at 02:10
Hi Brit,
I came to America through dv lottery this year
Fortunately my wife came to America since 2010 through her mother (filling) and she is an American citizen
My question is, is my wife eligible to file for me for citizenship ?
November 30, 2017 at 02:25
Hi Simon, I was recently awarded a Greencard! Thank you for your website and all your help and blog posts you have been my source of all knowledge and updates and I really appreciate it!
I am headed over to the states for some time without my partner to begin with and will have to apply for a re-entry permit after a while to head home for our wedding. Do you know much about re-entry permits, will I still have to prove a life in the states if I have a re-entry permit? Or do you have to be in the states for a certain amount of time before you can apply for one?
November 30, 2017 at 06:44
Hi Brit,
Good morning
A friends case number is current AF11××× but have not received the 2NL yet. The question is when he was filling Ds 260 form, he said he didn’t know what to put at the state or province under where he entered his eduction information. So he check does not apply.
It is advisable to request to unlock his case and correct that part or leave it if it won’t affect his case.
Thank you.
November 30, 2017 at 16:12
It won’t affect his case.
November 30, 2017 at 17:04
Thank you for your response, much appreciated
November 30, 2017 at 07:53
Hi simon i have .all my document and certificate as well as citizenship and passport without middle name but my in my birth certificate i have middle name … would it create problem in interview or what reaction do i get ..or what should i do plz help me …simmon
November 30, 2017 at 16:10
Your DS260 should show BOTH versions of your name (using other names used). If you do that, there should be no problem.
November 30, 2017 at 08:34
Dear Brit, I am legally married since sept, 15 of 2016 and since this date I didn’t use to mention it on our birth certf. For the interview, I would like to know if we are obliged to mention on our birth cert our new marital statut. Thanks.
November 30, 2017 at 16:08
THat depends on procedures in your country – so I don’t know. In my country a birth cert is issued at birth and never updated.
November 30, 2017 at 09:42
Hi dear Simon!
Yesterday, statistical informations about visa issuance in fiscal year 2017 have been released. 49067 DVs have been issued. That means 933 visas were remaining. And for example, iran has received 2070 DVs. Now i have a question. Why the embassies told that all diversity visas are already issued and there is no more visa available?!
November 30, 2017 at 16:02
Because those numbers do not include adjustment of status cases which account for 1000 to 1500 visas each year. In other words they were over the annual limit of 50,000.
December 3, 2017 at 11:03
Melvi
Hi Brit I want you to tell me again why is it that not all DV visas were issued in 2017 as someone made a remark it been said officially that 50000 visas will why give only 49067DVs i need a clarified answer
December 3, 2017 at 15:03
READ MY ANSWER!
November 30, 2017 at 10:05
Thank u Brit,
We had our interview at the US embassy in Yaoundé on November 28th and our visas were Approved. Our interview story will be here as soon as we collect our visas.
November 30, 2017 at 10:22
Woooo Bez. Wonderful. Excellent. Am really happy for yall. Am from cameroon too. Our interview is in 2 weeks in brussels. Your story will help us prepare. Awesome again.
November 30, 2017 at 11:52
Hi Brit,
Am a DV winner 2018, i have high school Diploma and one year plus in a university and currently and working in UAE as a security officer with one plus experience. I did some short courses like fire fighting, first aid and guarding which i have all this certificates with me.
-My worry is i do not have the exact two years work experience as required.
– Can i still continue in the same filed?
November 30, 2017 at 15:06
Your education alone should qualify you. Your work experience isn’t relevant.