When you are approved for a Green Card through the DV lottery there are some important timelines that you MUST understand and adhere to – so this post will hopefully clear up some of those points about Visa validity.
Hopefully, you will be approved in your interview (most people do!), and typically the CO will ask you to leave your passports with them so they can issue a visa. Typically that visa is printed within a few days and you will have been told how you expect to receive your passport (courier, pick up from the embassy). The visa that is issued will look similar to the example here:-
The visa will be valid for the first entry to the USA for up to 6 months after visa issuance. (Note: this time can be shorter if your medical report had a shorter validity, so please check the date “IV Expires on”). It is essential that the visa holder enters the USA to activate their status before this visa has expired – if you miss that date, your visa will not be replaced and you would have lost your right to a Green Card. For that reason I suggest making travel plans for at least a week or two before the expiry date of the visa, just in case you experience delays with travel plans.
When you receive your visa it will arrive stamped in your passport and with a sealed envelope of documents to be carried with you on entry to the USA. DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE! If the envelope gets damaged in some way, contact your embassy before travel to get the envelope resealed. The envelope must be presented along with your visa to an immigration official at your Port of Entry (POE). The POE is typically the first place you land on US soil, although in some cases this can also be a US immigration checkpoint on foreign soil (Abu Dhabi for instance).
At the POE you will be briefly processed by the immigration officer – it is not a difficult process and at the end they will endorse your visa. Upon endorsement the visa will serve as evidence of your I-551 and indicate your status as a LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) and is then valid to be used for up to 12 months (until you receive your Green Card). This means that you could, if you wanted get on the next plane back to your home country and then re-enter using the I-551 stamped in your passport for re-entry – there is no need to wait for the physical Green Card to be able to leave.
Your Green Card itself will be sent to the US address you listed on your DS260. The immigration officer at the POE will allow you to change that address at the time of entry. That address should be a real US address – not a PO Box etc. The post office is not supposed to deliver the Green Card to an invalid address. The Green Card will only be sent once you have paid the fee of $220 per person which can be done before you enter for the first time or after you have entered. Don’t forget to do this!!!
The Green Card is a thick plastic card that looks like this:-
Rules about re-entry
Some people treat the first trip to the USA as an activation trip and to “look around”. They then leave and return to live permanently which is fine as long as you make this return within 12 months. That is perfectly fine and understandable – you are not obligated to take up residence in this first trip – although you will have become an LPR and therefore have other obligations (such as tax reporting – even on income earned outside of the USA!).
Once you begin “residing” in the USA you are expected to maintain residence there. If you leave the USA for long periods of time (up to 12 months) you may be asked to show that you maintained you home there, otherwise you may have been considered to have “abandoned” your Green Card. In that scenario you would have to convince an immigration judge that you did not intend to abandon your Green Card – so I advise you to follow the rules.
If you need to leave the USA for a trip longer than 12 months, you must apply for a “re-entry permit” with form I-131. The re-entry permit must be applied for before you leave the USA, although you can arrange to receive it at a US embassy abroad. IF the re-entry permit is granted you will get permission to leave for up to 2 years. However, the approval is not automatic – you need a good reason to be approved.
This link provides a bit more information about obtaining a re-entry permit.
September 18, 2016 at 15:57
1-Where to pay 165$ in USA?
2-can i pay in Airport USA when i land?
3-Any office to collect 165?
4-Can i direct get Social Security from SS office?
5- Is mandatory social Security to open bank account?
September 18, 2016 at 16:07
1. The embassy give you instructions on how to pay online.
2. No
3. No
4. Yes
5. Some banks will open a bank account without the SSN.
September 27, 2016 at 13:59
Hi simon, Thank you. I had gone social Security Office and officer talked with me, he wrote on computer about me But he didin’t give me return paper. He told me, if i cant get SS come again after 15 days. He didn’t take my filled application. I gave him again the SS filled application.
1- will i get SS on mailing address? 2-shall i go in SS again?3- when can i submit SS application after enter USA(1 week or 2 Week after US)?
September 27, 2016 at 14:21
Follow the instructions they told you.
September 19, 2016 at 22:50
Dear Simon, I paid online with my US based Dabit Card, Travel card, and i paid and i got this message after transaction, [email protected]
7:12 AM (7 hours ago)
to me
Your payment has been submitted to Pay.gov and the details are below. If you have questions about this notification or need technical support, please contact us online at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/contactus and reference the receipt number(s) shown below.
**** Edited by Britsimon ****
September 19, 2016 at 22:58
I edited your post because you have several confidential numbers in there. It looks fine to me – your case number and A number are there fine, the IOE number is the receipt – and again looks fine.
September 19, 2016 at 22:51
Hello Britt,
All my documents contain same names except my High school cert third name that’s another name of my father. Is that a big problem when i attend the interview?
Is there any tip to rectify that issue?
September 25, 2016 at 14:13
Hello Simon,
Thank you very much for your help, at last we have the visas 🙂 . your help is really highly appreciated.
I want to ask please, as you know moving to new home is a big issue for my 6 persons family, and I will not be able to finalize everything here in my home country within the visa period (3 months). I red your answers about activating the green card then return for up to 1 year using I-551 stamps.
but excuse me for asking again, can my family & me stay only 10 days in U.S and return to finalize things then travel again to U.S. ? is this safe? any recent changes in the laws that prevent us from doing that?
Best Regards
September 25, 2016 at 15:16
Totally safe.
September 28, 2016 at 10:24
Thank you Simon,
As you mentioned above when activating green card, immigrant should file tax even he& his family returned to the home country.
as a new immigrant I do not have any knowledge about taxes in U.S; Can you please give some information on when should file tax? how? how taxes calculated? especially if someone has his family outside U.S and waiting him to secure a job and finding a suitable apartment for the family before bringing them to U.S.
If this is a big issue to cover here, can you lead us where to find information in the internet.
Regards
September 28, 2016 at 13:05
Taxes are filed once a year, everyone’s situation varies so it is beyond the scope of what I can cover here (and I am not a tax expert). So – google.
September 29, 2016 at 06:22
Thank you Simon, at least I knew that in the first year I do not have to worry about filing a tax.
September 30, 2016 at 02:29
Hi Simon
Good day
We have landed 10 dsys ago in IAD, we still didn’t received the SSN. , visited the SSN admin office and they said that there is nothing in their system belongs to us , advised to apply again in the office or wait.
Would you advise to do so or wait for some more time?
Many thanks
September 30, 2016 at 04:43
Do what the SSA advise you.
October 4, 2016 at 17:13
Hi Simon,
I entered the US with my immigrant visa and then got back home to finish up some business, which may take up to 7 months since the date I departed from the US. I read quite a few forums and a lot of them state that there may be troubles after 6 months of absence from the US. Above you said that it is totally save as long as one returns to the US within 12 months from the date of initial entry. The same was said to me at a US embassy. Is there a special treatment for newcomers? What is the trick?
Thanks a lot!
Konstantin
October 4, 2016 at 19:51
Yes it is for newcomers. 6 months is for second absences.
October 5, 2016 at 15:52
Thank you! can I find it somewhere in the rules or is it just a matter of practice?
October 5, 2016 at 17:50
It’s part of standard law, standard practice and so on.
October 18, 2016 at 14:52
Hello I will have to wait 45 days to get my green card after my first entry to US. Its ok but, is there a way start working legally when waiting for my green card?
October 18, 2016 at 19:25
You will wait longer than that. Probably 90 to 120 days.
But yes – you can start work almost immediately. You typically need to provide your SSN – which arrives within 2 to 3 weeks after entry. You may also need to show proof of immigration status and for that you can show the endorsed visa in your passport.
October 19, 2016 at 03:34
Hi Simon I hv problem uploading photo. Used recently photos still failed. I then tried test using last DV application photo still fail to match the size. No matter how i positioned according to the required size within the green oval still unable. What could be the possible reason ? Apprec your kind adv.
October 19, 2016 at 05:38
The possible reason? You aren’t following instructions. Just that.
February 8, 2017 at 14:17
Please sir, I went for interview on the 18th of January 2017 last month nd I was issue a visa so ma passport wf them nd still nw I hvnt received the passport yet. Am really worried. I wnt knw Wht to do or hw lng does it take for dem to return ma passport??
February 8, 2017 at 14:43
2 weeks is common. Patience.
October 27, 2016 at 22:11
Hi Simon,
I would like to understand better your statement about first time reentering the country after your visa have expired (the initial six months) but within one year.
I am in a similar situation, and i am wondering if i can re-enter the country after about 7/8 months? In case it is possible, how would the staff at check-in (UK) allow me to travel to US when they see i have an expired visa? (Supposing they are fine with it when i arrive in US)
Another question, i can see the status of my application says “… we scheduled you for a biometrics appointment and mailed you an appointment notice… “. I though this was already done when i first entered the country? Is this a generic status? Do i need to go again for my fingerprints? (I noticed it says the same for my daughter of one year)
Kind Regards
October 27, 2016 at 22:52
Is your case a DV lottery case? Did you process abroad?
October 28, 2016 at 17:35
Yes, DV2016, processed in London, Feb 2016, first entey May 2016.
I would like to fly back in January. Specifically myself got the green card already, my wife and daughter not and the status is as above.
I am wandering the questions as above?
October 28, 2016 at 18:25
When you first enter on the DV lottery visa, the visa is endorsed, and then made valid for up to 1 year. The airlines should understand that.
October 28, 2016 at 19:46
>>>The airlines should understand that.
That is a good point, however the visa’s validity is for six months, and they could easily say this visa is expired. Is there any way to back up your statement.
What would you suggest is the best approach in this case?
Kind Regards
Mario
October 28, 2016 at 20:16
You keep saying the visa is valid for 6 months. It isn’t. Take the passport out and READ the endorsement.
October 30, 2016 at 08:54
Dear Sir,
My wife and I the winner of dv2016. We entered to US on June 2016 and we traveled to our country on August 2016 from some reasons. we decided to reenter to US on June 2017, Is the GC will be in risk because we travel outside US more than 6 months (it will be 10 months) ?
October 30, 2016 at 14:46
The article above answers this already.
November 4, 2016 at 06:27
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Apologize for misunderstand. My specific question was that if my wife and I could enter the US without any problems at the airport if we were out of the US more than 6 months.
Respectfully,
November 4, 2016 at 12:48
Again. READ the article!
December 21, 2016 at 12:04
Brit, this one made me crack …nice one boss
December 21, 2016 at 15:12
It’s amazing isn’t it. Amazing.
November 2, 2016 at 22:53
Hi brit, if my card is delivered in another place. Can I get another card again from USCIS?What to do? Plz help me
November 2, 2016 at 22:54
Contact USCIS.
November 2, 2016 at 22:56
will they send me another soon?
November 2, 2016 at 23:05
I don’t know – ask them.
November 4, 2016 at 03:31
If some people misuse Green Card, (PR), How can we take action? Is there any misuse of Permanent Residence Card?
November 4, 2016 at 05:58
You should take care of your own Green Card.
November 12, 2016 at 18:25
I gave my new address in first PoE in Abu Dhabi. I didn’t get my GC. I changed my address after delivery Mail another address. What to do?
November 12, 2016 at 20:32
If you have waited more than 4 months, contact USCIS.
November 13, 2016 at 21:16
Dear Simon, Thank you. GC was delivered in another address. I changed immediAte my new address. They replied after 14 days will be answered. Can I get GC in my new Address? What to do?
November 14, 2016 at 05:40
You just have to wait for USCIS…
November 22, 2016 at 06:18
This is helpful. Thanks a lot
But is the advice here limited only for those who got their Immigrant Visa through DV lottery?
We just got our Immigrant Visa thru EB3 employment. The IV in our passport is until Dec 30, 2016.
We plan to travel to the US from here in Asia in Dec 26, 2016 but plan to return to our home country in Jan 15, 2017 to finish our work contracts (contracts end in June 15, 2017) and sell our stuff to then move permanently in the USA. Can we enter in the USA in June 2017 as LPR holders?
Your answer to these questions can help relieve us of this dilemma.
November 22, 2016 at 06:19
I only advise on DV lottery cases.
November 26, 2016 at 00:55
Hi Brit, I am a husband of a principle applicant for DV visa, our DV visa will be expired on May 2017. and our plan to travel as a family on April 2017 for activating the DV visa through landing in USA, My question is can i travel next February alone using my old B1/B2 business visa which is still valid on my old passport while i am having a new DV visa which not used or activated yet and stamped on my new Passport ?
November 26, 2016 at 02:35
No, you cannot travel on the B1, you must travel the next time with the principal selectee.
December 7, 2016 at 13:31
hi, I am a wife of a principle applicant for DV visa we have visa and i am dv 2 My question is can i travel first alone?
December 7, 2016 at 15:07
No. DV1 must enter first or with you.
December 7, 2016 at 18:01
i book my thicket.schedule everything what can i do now?
December 7, 2016 at 19:14
Errr – I don’t know….
December 8, 2016 at 04:16
if i go what will happen?
December 9, 2016 at 08:54
My wife won in the DV
my wife hold – DV1
I have – DV2 visa
she is die , My question is can i travel next january alone using my dv2 visa?
December 9, 2016 at 16:10
If you have not already entered the USA together, then no. Until the first entry to the USA, your case is as a beneficiary of hers. This normally means you cannot enter the USA on the DV2 visa. However, I advise you to contact the embassy and ask them if they can do anything on humanitarian grounds. You will obviously need to provide the death certificate.
December 10, 2016 at 05:17
I had attend interview at 10 am and then i made a profile to recieve a visa at 11 pm..is there any problem with the late time i made profile
December 10, 2016 at 06:57
No. Attend at the time set by KCC.
December 12, 2016 at 22:38
Dear Simon, thank you very much for all the help you provide here! I am a DV-Lottery winner, I went to US for 2 weeks in order to activate my green card in January 2016, then came back to my country and going back to US in January 2017. I would like you to clarify if the one year absence for the newcomers is calculated from the initial entry date to US (date of visa endorsement) or from the date they left US soil for the first time.
Thank you very much!
December 12, 2016 at 23:47
The absence is one year *ABSENCE*.
However the temporary visa is endorsement is only good up to one year from initial entry.
December 13, 2016 at 12:33
Thank you Simon so much for your always prompt replies! I have my physical Green Card so I suppose it doesn’t matter that my temporary visa will be expired by the time I reenter USA, right? Will I need extra medical report? Thank you again!!
December 13, 2016 at 14:41
If you have your GC, you can ignore the visa. And no, you don’t need a medical each time you re-enter!
December 13, 2016 at 20:05
So I should not worry about the one year absence from the day I left US soil nor the medical report!
Thank you so much Simon!!
December 20, 2016 at 02:59
Why i am not getting visa n my passport..after 1o days of interview?? When i track my passport it always display-there is no satus available for the passport number submitted
December 20, 2016 at 05:49
Patience.
December 13, 2016 at 03:47
Hey Simon, thank you for all your help with this site and your fast answers.
I have a question, I won the dv and went to the States to activate my visa in july 2015, then came back to my country in january 2016, went back to the States in June for a week but I had to come back to my country and stayed here, that’s more than 7 months, so, can i come back with my residence or did I already lose it?
I really appreciate your help, I’m planning to go back and stay in January but I don’t want to buy a ticket if I can’t get it.
Thanks,
Mayela
December 13, 2016 at 03:48
You will get back in. They may question you, but answer honestly and there will not be a problem.
December 13, 2016 at 04:26
Thank you so much! You’re the best!
January 2, 2017 at 12:50
Hi Britsimon..
1- How may re-enter times can I do from the endorsement date on DV visa during valid Year ?
2- Also, can I re-enter US after Expiring the DV visa but within the 1year validity from the endorsement date?
Thanks…
January 2, 2017 at 15:22
1. Unlimited
2. Yes.
January 4, 2017 at 16:19
Dear Brit,
My spouse and I got the DV Aug 2016 and first entered Sept 2016. He has received his GC in October but I have not. I keep calling USCIS and they now are saying that they are reviewing my case for a decision and I need to wait 60 days. It is well over 120 days and my concern is that they are reviewing my case? My spouse was selected for the DV and I was the dependent. Everything went fine until he got his GC and I am still waiting.
Online tools at USCIS website still show a validation error when I put my IOE number and Ive bene calling them and speaking to Immigration officers who make me worry rather than give me an answer.
Have you come across this? We are also traveling outside of US to sort our life out before making the big move.
Thank you.
Mo
January 4, 2017 at 17:22
No I have not come across this. I would advise you to make an Infopass appointment.
January 4, 2017 at 18:32
Hi Britsimon..
During waiting For GC, I plan to travel out US for less than 2 months, can I apply for travel document without affecting the temporal I-551 after endorsement stamp @ POE before I leave US ?
Bear in mind that the leave will take place during IV visa and temporal I-551 validity.
Thanks…
January 4, 2017 at 18:54
While waiting for your GC, the endorsed visa in your passport serves as a temporary GC for up to 12 months after initial entry. No further travel document is needed.
January 4, 2017 at 18:54
While waiting for your GC, the endorsed visa in your passport serves as a temporary GC for up to 12 months after initial entry. No further travel document is needed.
January 5, 2017 at 05:46
Hi Brit,
I have read your article but we dont have the i551 stamp on our passport when we first arrived we just got arrival date stamp on passport so i came back from US, my visa expjred but i have 1 year enderosment visa but when i tried to come back to US, the airlines decline me to board because we dont have valid visa i tried to show them that arrival stamp and the visa containing word that it is valid for 1 year upon initial entry but they decline me to board from my home country now how can i get to the US. Is there any documents i can make to so airlines from US embassy?
Thank you
January 5, 2017 at 06:31
The airline have got it wrong. Refer them to this document (which they should have anyway!) and in particular page 40. Be persistent but polite. They are wrong. Make sure YOU understand you are not showing them a VISA – you are showing them proof that you are an LPR.
http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Carrier%20Information%20Guide-%20English.pdf
January 5, 2017 at 07:31
Thanks alot Brit. Really appricate. Hope this proof will give them a sense for not to trouble other passenger. Really appricate
January 5, 2017 at 13:27
Dear britsimon
Greeting
How many times can I re-enter U.S.A. upon my DV visa endorsement.
Can I leave U.S.A. two times and back within 2 months, before I get my green card. Or upon endorsement it is service as only one time re-entry
Best Regards,
January 6, 2017 at 00:19
Hi Brit, 1 question like i got the diversity visa from my home land which is Nepal but now i am studying with student visa in Australia my question is can i travel to US from Austrlia or do i need to go back to home country to travel US? Thank you
January 6, 2017 at 01:17
It doesn’t matter where you are flying from…
January 9, 2017 at 20:27
Dear
If I stay in usa for a month and leave it for three months. Will that hold on the process of issuing green card or not, will it issue to me while I am out usa but my wife in usa
January 9, 2017 at 21:59
That wouold not stop the card being produced and delivered.
January 16, 2017 at 22:50
Hello BritSimon,
Background: I have my 2017 Diversity Visa. It is valid until mid-March 2017. I will be traveling to the US in March (before the date of expiry) to ‘activate’ my Visa.
I have a question regarding POE.
Must I enter the POE (City, State) where I want my green card posted to (as originally specified on my Diversity Visa application i.e. LA, California)? Or, can I enter a POE other than the one stated in my case. That is, can I enter at San Francisco, California?
Kind regards,
January 17, 2017 at 04:04
Enter anywhere.
January 17, 2017 at 04:20
cool. thanks.
January 23, 2017 at 09:00
I am not the principal applicant but i have to enter the u.s. before the principal applicant does. Can i apply for different type of visa so i don’t activate the GC and enter with different status? and after that re-enter together with the principal applicant to activate the GC…We both have the temporary i-551. Can i get another type of visa along the i-551?
January 23, 2017 at 15:02
NO. The principal must enter with you or before you.
January 24, 2017 at 08:29
Thank you for the reply…Let me rephrase the question…The thing is we both have I-551 (not activated) and we have 5 months till they expire. Now, can we both get A2 visas, enter together on A2 status next month, then do the AoS while in the US and activate the i-551 within the 5 months? or make a re-entry to activate it? Thank you again.. i still think this is somehow possible.
January 24, 2017 at 21:00
“i still think this is somehow possible.”
I don’t.
January 28, 2017 at 09:58
I saw the image of Permanent Residence Card above.
I just want to know in which category does DV Winners Permanent Residence Card falls.
January 28, 2017 at 15:28
DV cases are marked DV1, DV2, DV3 etc.
January 30, 2017 at 06:22
Hi BritSimon,
Background: I have my 2017 Diversity Visa. It is valid until mid-March 2017. but the problem is i am IRANIAN and they ban us to inter the state for 90 days. so what we can do because our visa will be expired before ending ban.
thanks
January 30, 2017 at 06:32
YOu cannot enter at the moment. I suggest you contact the embassy and discuss it with them. Extensions of the visa are not normally possible, but perhaps there is a chance in this scenario. Please let me know how they handle it.
January 31, 2017 at 04:01
thanks a lot , i will update you if i get any news from embassy
January 31, 2017 at 20:00
Hi Briton
I want to pay USCIS fee here in ethiopia before I go to US So
Is there any way so as to pay here $165?
January 31, 2017 at 20:46
The paymet is made on the internet. When you are given your visa packet, instructions are there.
February 4, 2017 at 15:34
Hello BritSimon, first I’d like to thank you for your dedication on this website, it’s the most complete and simple site for all DV Inmigration .
My question is about “Rules of re entry” part of the article, mostly the up to 12 month absence after we become LPR after the 1st visit to the US.
Do you know where in the US immigration law can we find information to supports this? A link to a website maybe.
I might leave the US after my 1st visit for like 10 months. I’ve read from some of the comments and from people that you shouldn’t be outside of the US for more than 6 months if you are a LPR. Some coments here say you can leave for 12 months after the first visit and then no more than 6 months after.
Thanks in advance for the info
February 4, 2017 at 15:45
This is a common question, people want it is black and white. What you can find in black and white is the 12 month timeline. Like the link below that describes documentation needed for an LPR entering the USA. It says if you are gone for more than 12 months you need a re-entry permit. Under 12 months, you don’t.
12 months is the timeline that is “legal”, but EVERY LPR entry is subject to inspection, and they have the right to make sure you are respecting the terms of the GC. One is that it is a right of residence. You are supposed to LIVE here. So – they can always ask questions to establish you are respecting the GC. However, in practice, absences of shorter than 6 months don’t tend to get questions while absences between 6 and 12 months do. The first absence after activation is the obvious “generally accepted” common case because people go home to prepare to make the final move.
So – read below but don’t overthink it.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1191/~/traveling-outside-of-the-u.s.—documents-needed-for-lawful-permanent-residents
February 6, 2017 at 13:12
Perfect Simon, thanks for your quick reply.
I also found out that if we are interested in the US Citizenship later on, we need to have Continuous Residence for 5 years, and that requires not to be absent from the US for more than 6 months, so I will plan my absences around that to be sure.
keep up the good work on this website, and thanks again for the great service you are doing here.
February 4, 2017 at 15:58
Hi Behzad,
I am sorry to hear that. I am Iranian too. I hope your issue will be solved soon. I am really sad for those who got this problem. Hopefully sb will stop this man. Life is so unfair.
February 9, 2017 at 23:20
Dear Brit I would like to activate my dv visa stay 2 months and leave to fullfil my present work contract and then return. Is it ok for me to buy a one way return ticket at the same time as my entry ticket. or will this cause me to look as if I intended to abandon my LPR.
February 9, 2017 at 23:21
That is fine.
February 10, 2017 at 23:27
Hi Brit,
In the embassy interview instructions it is indicated:”Do not travel outside of the United States until you receive your Permanent Resident Card. Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.”
Link: https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/iv-dv-supplemental/TBL%20-%20Tbilisi.pdf
But, you say that you can immediately return to home after activating your LPR at POE without waiting physical green card.
Actually, I want to activate my green card asap and come back 2-3 month later. Could you please advise me what to do?
February 11, 2017 at 01:04
Their statement is ludicrous. Many, many cases have a brief activation trip, leave and return within a few months. There are no problems with that.
February 11, 2017 at 08:40
Thank you!
February 12, 2017 at 22:46
hello Brit
i have applied for DV 2018 but have since left my country to study in another country, was wondering if its possible to process the DVvisa if selected from the country of temporary residence..?
February 13, 2017 at 00:23
Yes, no problem. But first you have to be selected.
February 14, 2017 at 00:15
Hi Brit,
I have a question regarding my travel. I am traveling to US this sunday with Etihad airlines which says that they have got US pre clearance in abu dhabi airport like i am bit confused. Like i have a yellow envelope visa and medical cd where should i surrender it? Should i give it to Abu dhabi US pre clearance point or in US airport? Thank you
February 14, 2017 at 00:18
They will direct you. Relax!
February 16, 2017 at 20:32
hey Brit, i will like to salut you first for your service. i have two important questions
the first question is i have been selected as winner of DV lottery so i wanna ask how long would it take me to get my visa from now on if can meet up will all the demands?
then my second question is am putting to birth next month, would they reject my visa at the embassy because i show up with a new born kid? and during my first interview online should i tell that am pregnant or what? please help am so confused. thanks
February 16, 2017 at 21:43
There is a process to follow, you submit your DS260, they process it. That can take some weeks or months. Once the DS260 is processed you will be scheduled for interview *IF* your case number is current. All that takes time. Read this for better understanding. https://britsimonsays.com/dv2017-basic-questions
About the baby. When you have the baby you unlock and edit your own DS260, plus add a DS260 for your child. You don’t just “turn up” at the interview with a baby and expect things to geo smoothly. Take some time to learn the process.
February 20, 2017 at 15:49
From my personal experience: factor in the time it takes to get a passport for the new born. I had to postpone the interview date (and it wasn’t easy) because it took three months for the new passport. Only then you should go to the interview. At that stage they will add the new born as a new member of the application and indeed things flow smoothly.
February 18, 2017 at 01:35
Hey there,
I will be entering the US on my DV2017 visa (activation trip) this March. The US consulate provided some important information to read before travel. In this document it states that after arriving in the US (& if you have a onward flight – which I don’t ) that you should allow several hours between flights because you will need to go through “secondary inspection”.
What is this secondary inspection?
Does this only apply to onward flights to other international destinations on the same day as POE into the US?
Or could I expect a “secondary inspection” after my Visa is stamped at POE even though I am staying in the city for the week?
Please advise.
February 18, 2017 at 02:08
That simply means the processing of the paperwork for the GC. It only takes a few minutes, BUT it is usually a second stage after the initial inspection. Nothing to worry about.
February 18, 2017 at 02:11
Phew! Thanks.
March 26, 2017 at 02:29
Update: as of March 05, 2017. My Visa was validated and I am now a lawful permanent resident of the US. The secondary inspection was quite straight-forward, the CO asked me a few questions, waited until my file was uploaded & he just asked me what I plan to see while in the US & recommended a few sights to visit. He even answered questions I had … it was all cool.
February 28, 2017 at 10:16
Britsimon – Please verify that I DO NOT need to complete an online ESTA visa waiver if I have a 2017 Diversity Visa and I am entering the US on my first trip to activate it.
February 28, 2017 at 14:37
Confirmed.
February 28, 2017 at 23:05
thanks.
March 1, 2017 at 12:33
Sir how are you?
Fom Ethiopia
U remember me right in hope so….
Finally I arrived at Us holding my visa.
I didn’t apply for Green card yet but right now am on the way to apply and pay online fee today.
How many days it takes to get my Green card?
March 1, 2017 at 14:12
About 3 months after you have entered and paid.
March 25, 2017 at 23:41
Hi Brit, I entered the US yesterday. All went smoothly. It was rather quick, like any other entry. The officer took the envelope, opened it, asked a few questions, and then stamped the passport and wrote DV1 plus the A number next to the stamp. Is that how it’s supposed to go? Is that stamp the endorsement?
If so, I should just wait for the card on the mail. Quite simple!
March 26, 2017 at 00:34
That was it, yes. Now wait up to around 4 months for the GC. Best of luck.
March 28, 2017 at 00:09
Thanks Brit! Quick follow up — I noticed today that my I-94 has not been updated to reflect the latest entry. Is that something I should reach out to USCIS about?
Thanks again.
March 28, 2017 at 00:25
LOL – NO – relax.
March 26, 2017 at 19:23
Hello Brit
Greetings
I won a Dv lottery as the principal applicant and my husband being the secondary applicant at a time I hadn’t given birth. When I was processing, I was only pregnant and gave birth after the I had processed and gotten my appointment date. I went to the interview with my husband and my two week old baby.. the consular upon seeing the child ask how old he is and then told me to get his passport and come back again two months time.. the consular didn’t even take my documents to see Neither did she take our passports too.
Is there a great chance of getting a visa since she told me to prepare and get my child’s passport before I come on the appointed date??
March 26, 2017 at 22:20
Yes. Just do as they told you.
March 29, 2017 at 07:41
Hi brit,
I did a DV2017 interview with embassy of america on march 08. And they asked me to mail them my sponsors tax return, notarized letter, i-134 form and ID proof. My passport is still in the embassy but the problem is my sponsor is not replying and i am afraid. Is it possible to change my sponsor?..
Thank you
March 29, 2017 at 18:44
Yes you can do that. Make sure it is someone you know – and therefore can rely upon. What embassy was this?
March 30, 2017 at 05:21
Thanks Brit. I really appreciate it. It was the Embassy of united states in khartoum, Sudan.
April 6, 2017 at 11:51
Hi brit,
I did my DV2017 interview and i got my visa as a single(not married). My question is how can i bring my fiance to the united states and how much time does the process take?is it possible with one to two years from the time i entered USA?..
Thanks.
April 6, 2017 at 13:57
Once you are living in the USA and get married you can sponsor her. It will take about 2 years.
April 3, 2017 at 20:21
Hi,
We won the DV-lottery and I’m the principal applicant. All the paperwork is done, but my husband wants to take a look-around before the whole family travels to the States. Is it possible for him to go on an ordinary ESTA before we all leave? If I choose to go with him, and we activate the I-551, will it cause any problems when we go back to our country to fetch the children?
April 3, 2017 at 21:09
If you already have the I-551 visa his next entry to the USA must be with you, or after you. Your children can enter after you, but all visas must be used before the expiry date.
April 4, 2017 at 05:07
Thank you, tat helps alot!
April 10, 2017 at 16:55
Hi Brit, do we pay $220 for my son 8 years old as well same as adults and he gets a separate green card ?
April 10, 2017 at 17:54
Yes