So just around 24 hours ago I published a form where people could provide their details in order that the legal team from the AILA could pick some representative plaintiffs in various countries, regions and stages of the process.
The response has been overwhelming – we have over 1100 cases who have offered to be plaintiffs – covering well over 2000 selectees with family. At this point I am going to close the form, because pretty much every scenario and region has been represented, and from many countries. Some of you decided to describe your circumstances, and what the lottery has meant to you and your families. The stories are heartbreaking, and I don’t believe any decent person could remain cold-hearted when reading these stories. I won’t be publishing any specifics from these stories to respect your privacy, but you have been heard, loud and clear.
The team of lawyers at AILA and the Justice Action Center wanted me to make sure that you all know they have heard you, they aren’t ignoring you, and they will do all they can to fight for you.
So what will happen next.
Well the lawyers have had realtime access to the data collected in the form. So they have all the names, case numbers family names and so on. They need to go through the list and pick (somewhat randomly) cases that “represent” a group of people. So – that means if they had 100 cases from a region all at the same stage, they would not need to list all 100 names as plaintiffs, but they would pick one or two of those names. In that way they will build a list of cases/names that represent all selectees in the same position. This is important because if they win, they win for ALL the selectees, whether you are named or not, whether you filled in your details or not. That is what they are trying to achieve.
Now – it is NOT possible to predict the outcome. These are an excellent team of lawyers and have been successful in challenging and blocking the government multiple times before. But there are no guarantees – it will be up to a federal judge to decide.
Some have asked when the court case will be filed and heard. I can’t predict that exactly, the lawyers need time to prepare a case, it is not something they should rush, but they are aware of the time sensitivity.
Some have asked will this go to the supreme court. Well – to get to the supreme court, a case must first be heard in a lower court – in our case a federal court. But it’s important to note that a federal court has the power to issue a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) which could immediately block the Executive order. That court would consider doing that if people are being harmed by the EO (which of course, is clear). That is one possible outcome, though not guaranteed. The court would then set a date for a later hearing, but in the meantime the EO would be blocked. So – that would be a great outcome. There are perhaps other ways it could work out, but we will see in due course.
Of course, we STILL have the problem that the embassies are closed. Challenging the ban does NOT force the embassies to reopen. So – we much continue to monitor the opening strategies by the embassies. But the legal challenge, if successful, would at least give us the most time possible before the deadline of September 30th.
Regarding the deadline of September 30th – it cannot be extended. Once we are past that date, any remaining chances are gone. All we can do is hope the legal challenge works AND that the embassies reopen.
June 24, 2020 at 19:21
Let’s hope they win.
June 24, 2020 at 19:27
I couldn’t fill it in time unfortunately. The class action if it will succeed will benefit all the dv selected of each region or state so for all 83k selected minus those already holding a visa? Thanks
June 24, 2020 at 20:12
Well yes – but of course many have not proceeded with filing DS260s, or supplying documents, so not the full 83K. And of course the embassies are closed so there is not enough time anyway – so we are clutching at straws, trying to get some cases issued, but not expecting to get all cases issued.
June 24, 2020 at 19:29
Many thanks Simon, you are indeed a very wonderful man, God bless you ?
June 24, 2020 at 19:44
Thank you soo much sir, doesn’t matter we succeed or not, i would like to thank you for your effort for your enthusiasm trying to help us, we really appreciate your assistance, thank you sir , God bless you and your family
June 24, 2020 at 19:31
Thanks, we are hopeful by God Grace.
June 24, 2020 at 19:35
Thank you Brit for the struggle and the great work you doing for us .May God see us through this difficult times and make a way for us
June 24, 2020 at 19:36
Win or Not Simon, noble men like your are rare. THANK YOU for everything
June 24, 2020 at 19:38
Thank you for your time, efforts and everything you’re doing.
June 24, 2020 at 19:38
Brit I have some questions
1. If I decide to participate in Curtis Morrison’s case, are there any risks, related to the AILA case, or some other risks?
2. if AILA wins the case, does it mean that the process will continue as before since that time?
June 24, 2020 at 19:45
We are the ones who must thank you for your help and your efforts . Thank you so so much , we pray that the EO will be blocked , and give chance to at least , even a few people to get their visas . Thank you Brit .
June 24, 2020 at 20:08
Good day ,Brit i am very sorry ,i have a problem with my connection , i just try to file the form, the page is not anymore, please i do not know what to do now, i hope the is no problem as i do not file my own case number ,as i still wish to apply for the form
June 24, 2020 at 20:18
Embassies in Italy are open from June 17 but for citizens. I wanted to add the screenshot of the page but unfortunately it is not possible to do here. So I add a link https://it.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/
June 24, 2020 at 20:19
Thank you Mr Brit you are the best
June 24, 2020 at 21:47
Thanks a lot for everything Brit.God bless you and your family.I hope in God to do this all together and to battle successfully this proclamation.Wish you the best!
June 24, 2020 at 20:20
Hi Brit, I am so so overwhelmed with joy. You wiped away my tears and have given me another hope. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. You are doing a great job. May God continue to bless you and take you to the highest height. Thanks
June 24, 2020 at 20:28
Hi Brit ,
Indeed you are a God sent ,God is using you to fight our battles,once again many thanks ,may God blessed you for us all.
June 24, 2020 at 20:32
First of all we are so grateful for your help and begging you to do your best as we know you and we put our trust on your Team thank you very much. Some people about to suside can you imagine we are suffering with a Broken heart Broken dreams, Broken hope, Broken life. Please please help us i aam taking to you on behalf of hundred people in our WhatsApp group all of them says the same again and again TILL DOOMSDAY thank yoh
June 24, 2020 at 20:42
Thanks Brit for your efforts to help us,God bless u and your Family.
June 24, 2020 at 20:46
1. If AILA successfully challenges the ban does that mean DV2020 selectees will be able to take their interviews?
2. Does it also mean DV2021 won’t be affected at all and be processed normally like in the previous years?
3. I am a DV2021 winner with a cn of eu27k and regarding the current situation (if the immigration ban isn’t removed) and most likely interviews would start in late Jan, definitely Feb (I hope) -that’s 4 months lost- which means my number will stand no chance into becoming current and making it to the interview. Actually anything over eu15k is risky by the looks of it. If only it would be possible to extend the first months lost but I know that’s never going to happen. Do you think a case number like mine would be able to make it at the very end in September? That’s the only hope I have and I know it’s too early to predict, so many things can happen until then so I will save you time into answering this question by using common sense and answering myself: to wait and see.
June 24, 2020 at 22:10
1. Well that would still depend on embassies being reopened – but I am assuming that there might be some embassies able to open soon. BUT again – this lawsuit cannot force the embassies to open.
2. Again – that would depend on embassies being open – but since that is October, I would assume that would be the case by then – but who knows really?
3. You’re jumping to all sorts of conclusion with no data to support that. How many cases are before your number? Do you have any idea? No. So be patient and wait until we can get some more info.
June 24, 2020 at 20:56
Thank you so much for you efforts dear Simon 🙂
Thank you for your time, thank you fir everything you have done during this years for us,,, It’s just feel so good to see good peoole like help others for the sake of love!
I hope one day we can return your favour
Thank you again and again and again 🙂
June 24, 2020 at 21:25
“Regarding the deadline of September 30th – it cannot be extended”
Why can’t ? Please, only because so many ppl signed the plaintiff, Simon I think you should tell the lawyers to prepare the case and talk also about extending the deadline because they have unfairly stopped an ONGOING process without our will for 3 months. we are -3months behind every other past year.
Plus has it never been extended , i heard 2017 was for some DV2017 winners with a lawsuit?
June 25, 2020 at 00:10
That is not something the lawyers can change. The deadline on September 30th is part of the law that created the program. It could only be changed by the lawmakers, not lawyers.
2017 did NOT see the deadline extended. There were some cases where visas were essentially pre-approved before the end of the year, and in one case the judge ordered the government to issue a visa to someone after the deadline. THat case is ongoing because the government cannot comply with the order because it would be against the law.
June 24, 2020 at 21:35
Dear Brit, I had tears when I read your article. My father told me he was about to have a heart attack and my mom keep crying when the ban extended. We were fill of hope that we will come together again, but!
God bless you and your family and all the good people who try and want to be humans. My family live in San Diego, close to you I believe.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
June 25, 2020 at 00:11
Just be cautious to not build up too much hope. We need to win first AND we need embassies to reopen. We still have an uphill battle.
June 24, 2020 at 21:48
I believe most embassies around Europe will open within the next two weeks. Let’s hope of success. Thank you Simon, thank you for everything! Your effort truly means the world to me.
June 25, 2020 at 00:12
I hope you are correct – we will see.
June 24, 2020 at 21:57
THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. BRIT SIMON.
June 24, 2020 at 22:06
Thank you very much Simon san, I couldn’t make it to fill the form because the form has already been closed but my heart goes to same way with other winners of 2020.We have the right to keep our process continue.
I am having so much stress because of suspending our process for a few month but you and AILA are helping us a lot. This is the best of the best!!
Arigatougozaimasu from Japan!
June 25, 2020 at 00:14
“Simon San” – I like that!
Arigatō
June 24, 2020 at 22:24
Hey Brit,
I have always admired your work. You cannot even imagine the scale of help you have done to DV community here on your blog. I personally never wrote here anything so far because I always have watched your videos and read your articles and comments that are so clear so there was just simply no such need.. But now when I see that you really get involved with the actions in the process even in this hard situation despite that have your own life to live and things to do, and that all FOR FREE/donation, I just could not stand back there being silent.
I wanted to thank you for your personality eager to help people. DV people really need you. I am not afraid.to say it out loud – you are our DV lottery process community god. We really LOVE you for what you do.
Never understood your motivation on this, but world needs more people like you. Your webpage is much more than a blog. Thank you so much for that sir.
June 25, 2020 at 00:17
Well you just fully explained my motivation. I know there is a need – and I could not just ignore that need while I know I can help. That’s it, in a nutshell.
Thanks for your kind words!
June 24, 2020 at 22:33
Hi Brit.
Much appreciated on what you do for us.
I have one question that affects almost all selectees.
-Filling the ds-260 form put us on the status of ‘immigration intend’. This is quite bad in terms of moving our lives to another country other than the USA. The situation is horrendous. Do you think the same as I think that this status is bad for the future applications or explainable?
Cheers.
June 25, 2020 at 00:21
Completing the DS260 does create some suspicion of immigrant intent. That could be used as JUST ONE factor when applying for a non immigrant visa. The NIV cannot be refused for that one factor, but in conjunction with other factors it could cause a problem.
June 25, 2020 at 09:04
Can other countries other than US see that fourm? For example if i wanted to get a visa in Canada can they see that i wanted to move to the US?
June 25, 2020 at 18:58
No
June 25, 2020 at 00:06
Thank you, Mr. Brit.
June 25, 2020 at 00:08
Hello Brit!! I have been living in the USA since 2017 and I have a pending case of asylum, I won the 2020 visa lottery with a number higher 3000, I must change status. Does the proclamation affecty my case? Thank you.
June 25, 2020 at 00:27
No
June 25, 2020 at 01:09
Thank you so much!
June 25, 2020 at 00:22
Hi Brit… I was wondering: in case we could be inteviewed before Sept 30th, shouldn’t we be receiving our 2NLs, as late, by the end of July? In that case we need the court to approve the TRO as soon as July… do you think that’s possible? Thanks in advance.
June 25, 2020 at 00:26
Yes, you are correct – and yes that is possible.
June 25, 2020 at 18:20
Hi Brit
I would like to say thank you so much,
It’s takes not only effort & time but LOVE for others and that is really much appreciated.
You are such an inspiration to many of us and I personally did learn a lot from you. (Patience, leadership, calmness specially when it comes to answering questions that are already answered and humanity).
It is our hope that everything goes well so that our dreams may come true; thank you to you and everyone who’s supporting our cause.
May God continue to bless you and never forget that your are making a huge difference in many.
Thank you ?
June 25, 2020 at 00:53
We pray to all of you and my dearest fighter for our rights and dreams; to the team of l’AILA; we are at heart with you. Thank you brits
June 25, 2020 at 01:04
Just want to thank you for all the updates during this time. It is gut wrenching knowing us and many others have had their dreams crushed. We’re praying for success for the AILA and a quick opening strategy for the embassies – this year has been unbelievable!!!
June 25, 2020 at 01:06
Thanks Brit
guys this is our last chance we have to do our best
we spend all of our money and time for this dream it cant gone like this
God is with us
i am wondering if us department of state can do something about us (extending dv deadline for dv winners) ? maybe there is other solutions
June 25, 2020 at 01:20
Your question is addressed in the article above.
June 25, 2020 at 01:07
Mr. Brit Simon, thanks for your best efforts and hardworking, it’s not too easy answering hundreds of questions every day quite patiently and correctly , specifically the efforts for collecting cases for a lawsuit against the immigration ban is just awesome.
June 25, 2020 at 02:36
Thxs BritSimon God Bless you for the Efforts u have Put please help People
June 25, 2020 at 05:10
Hello Brit. Words cannot thank you enough for what you have been doing.Only God will bless you.my question is if the AILa process come to success.what becomes of us who have not receive confirmation letters from kcc concerning our documents.
June 25, 2020 at 05:13
Well, that is still in the hands of KCC, so I can’t guess what will happen.
June 25, 2020 at 05:16
i’m sad that i’m not selected
June 25, 2020 at 05:39
Thank you Simon for what you did for all DV2020 winners,tears was drop when read all comments here…the lawsuit is our last chance,let’s pray for the best
June 25, 2020 at 05:59
Thank you Simon. I’m waiting for 2nl. And is it possible to get 2nl at the end of July ? Eu26***
June 25, 2020 at 07:49
Hi Simon really thank you for your efforts and advice, I have filled out the form. Regarding the September 30 deadline that you say cannot be extended, the United States is a country of law and we know there is no law without exception. So since the creation of the Dv until now there has never been a major force like the current pandemic likely to harm the Dv. I suggest that you discuss with your lawyers so that they too can discuss with the legislators who wrote the law on the Dv to modify their text and insert an exception which will be to extend by a few months a Dv in case of force majeure like this. is the current case with the global pandemic.
June 25, 2020 at 17:59
It is not possible. Laws are changed by lawmakers, not lawyers.
Also – let’s say they extended the DV2020 process. Where does that extra time come from? Would it reduce the time for DV2021? Would that seem fair to you? We have to be logical and pragmatic, even though it might seem unfair.
June 25, 2020 at 17:41
We will have to wait and see.
June 25, 2020 at 07:01
luv u briti…..luv ur work too….im carrying and in depression after hearing the news……let see what happen …….thanku so much for ur hard support for dv winner…..i want to hug u ……
June 25, 2020 at 07:17
Hey Simon, it’s so kind of you to not only help with the DV process but the fact that you are going out of your way, in your own time to try and help with the challenging of the ban is just so lovely! Sending you loads of appreciation
I really feel for the DV2020 people who have not had their interviews and I’m really hoping for positive change. Sending positive vibes their way..
June 25, 2020 at 07:31
Good morning Sir,
What we have noticed since 2017 a certain part in USA is trying to cancel the dv lottery program, day after day attempts, now we see that it is a good opportunity to use the ban until they will be able to cancel the program, that ‘s mean they put excuse to extend the ban and that’ S what is happening and what they can not do it in the senate they are doing it by another way, in addition to this they can continue this ban as long as they want until they will cancel the program, now till the end of Dec after this no one can forbid them to extend the ban to the end of 2021 and so on.
1 – my question is, are the other part noticing what is happening in order to do something at high level of the senate or other places to refer to this intention, may be they can stop this?
2_ what is the other way to do sth that will save the right of the winners?
They give us this gift by their will in one hand and they try to take it from the other hand.(the winners are victims).
Sir we thank you very much about what you are doing for us, God bless you and your family, Pl save the dream of many people who consider USA the best country in the world in respecting and saving the right of people at all levels.
June 25, 2020 at 17:55
1. Well yes – it is being noticed. The idea is to get the buffoon out of the Whitehouse.
2. Well, to be clear, it is not a right, it’s a privilege. But anyway – the lawsuit is what we have.
June 25, 2020 at 07:45
Hello, Brit
I’m from Eritrea, Africa. We already have a travel ban that restricts 5 African countries. But, I filled the plaintiffs form anyway. My question is this case, the lawyers doing be helpful for our case also?
June 25, 2020 at 17:56
The other bans in place have been challenged but remain in place. So the country specific bans will remain until Trump removes them, or Trump is removed.
June 25, 2020 at 07:52
Dear Bright Simon. Please, I did not fill out the DS 260 form. Do I have to fill it out now or even after a month?
June 25, 2020 at 17:59
You can start when you want.
June 25, 2020 at 08:10
Oh dammit, I missed it. Wanted to fill out the form after work today and I didn’t expect it to be closed so soon 🙁 I hope within the 1100 submissions there are also submissions from single persons. Thank you Simon for your amazing work. I hope it will work out.
June 25, 2020 at 18:19
Don’t worry – they are simply choosing some from the responses – we didn’t need/expect 1100+ – but when they go to court that would benefit everyone if they win.
June 25, 2020 at 08:49
Merci beaucoup à vous Mr Simon pour tout ce que vous faites pour nous vous êtes une personne en Or. Et je prie vraiment que nous aillons gain de cause ?
June 25, 2020 at 08:56
Thank you for your help, Simon. The lawsuit might be a long shot, but it’s still a shot. As for the embassies re-opening, some have re-started routine processing in limited capacity, such as the US embassy in Amsterdam. On a local forum, someone stated that they got an expedited appointment in early June for a B visa (they circumvented the general travel restrictions due to close US relatives).
June 25, 2020 at 18:57
Yeah a shot is better than sitting back and giving up…
June 25, 2020 at 11:05
i hear a new that lawer order cant be assepted by the court….is it right or fake….
June 25, 2020 at 19:05
THat is not about this lawsuit.
June 25, 2020 at 11:48
Anyone know if there are lawyers other than Curtis Morrison and AILA filing DV-2020 specific lawsuits?
June 25, 2020 at 19:12
I don’t know.
The AILA is the national professional body that represents US immigration attorneys and has 15000 members. So – I consider them the most qualified, most resourced body.
June 25, 2020 at 12:10
Hi Brit
Thank you again for this wonderful work. my question is this, if the verdict of comes out after August what become of some of us who did the medical and it was suppose to expire August ending. Again please if you you still talk with AILA tell them to tell the Judge that we were ready but it is the other party in this case the USA government through it state agents like KCC and embassies who told us not to came for the interview.
June 25, 2020 at 19:12
Well you would need to repeat the medical if that happens. But for now – wait and see.
June 25, 2020 at 12:34
Dear Brit Simon. Thanks for all the hard work you doing for us dv-2020 winners.I am your fan. I was among those who went for the free year in NYC by Ryan Serhant. I would like my case to be collected for a law suit against the immigration bad. life is extremely difficult in cameroon.Winning the dv lottery is a once in a life time opportunity for you and your entire family.My grand mom died last night after hearing about this Trump’s Ban. she developed cardiac problems because she saw this as a clear opportunity for me to enter the US. My mom is currently lying in a hospital bed because of hyper tension and my dad is going through serious depression. SImon, this was my best chance of becoming a man for myself and my entire family. If this ban stands,it means President Trump has killed me and my entire family.
June 25, 2020 at 19:13
🙁
June 25, 2020 at 12:36
Thanks