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July 16, 2025 at 11:07
Are civil documents to be uploaded in CEAC this year for DS 260 after winning the lottery?
July 16, 2025 at 11:15
No
July 16, 2025 at 06:47
Hi Simon
1. Do you have any information on 2NL send for August and September by Abidjan embassy?
2.From inquirys, the Abidjan embassy has gone beyond 28932 on the xarthisius site, it the embassy is around 33k. what can you say about this?
3. when Will the last 2NLs be sent for year ending 2025.
July 16, 2025 at 08:37
1. All the data is on Xarth’s site.
2. I don’t know what you mean
3. Over the next 2 or 3 weeks
July 16, 2025 at 10:07
Hello sir is Tanzania embassy processing DV interview after being listed on travel advisory
July 16, 2025 at 10:16
Is it advisible for me to reassign my interview from Kenya to Tanzania now that Kenyan embassy not doing well.my case is still at NVC
July 16, 2025 at 11:15
It may be too late, but you can try.
July 16, 2025 at 11:14
A ban doesn’t stop the embassy scheduling.
July 16, 2025 at 04:44
Hello Simon,
Thank you for your informative videos. I won the DV25 lottery, I have done my interview and my visa got approved.
Currently I am a little bit confused on the next step:
1. Where do I pay to get the green card processed?
2. How long does it take for the green card to be issued?
3. Do I have to be present in the U.S before the green card is out or can I go to the U.S after the green card has been issued?
4. What is the minimum amount of time I need to spend in America to maintain green card status?
*Note* I am currently studying in a different country and intend to move to the U.S after I complete my studies (in 2.5 years)
July 16, 2025 at 08:35
1. You are given instructions when your visa is issued about paying online. You do that around the time of your first entry.
2. it will only be issued after you pay the fee and enter the USA. Then it will take a month or two.
3. See 2
4. It isn’t a visitors visa. You can enter and leave as you want, but you mustn’t stay away for long periods (longer than 6 months becomes risky), and you should be living and working in the USA otherwise the government could take the GC away). 2.5 years is a long time to keep up the living abroad, you might want to consider filing an I-131 – read about that. It would give you a 2 absence.
July 15, 2025 at 17:58
Hi, Simon,
Thanks for your help. Our case number is EU202510***.
My wife and me passed the interview in Yerevan, Armenia on March 2025. After the interview we were told that we (!) both needed to fill out the DS-5535 forms separately, then must wait for AP results. Our tatus was Refused right after interview and it still refused due to. AP. There were a lot of duplicated questions from DS 260 in DS 5535. We sent the filled DS-5535 forms, then got a confirmation than AP had been started. There is still no answer from them. I emailed them 3 times via the same email i used for DS 5535 but there is only automatic reply than we should use Visa Navigator for questions. There is no any field in Visa Navigator to send a question about the DV – just look at travel.state.gov. My questions is:
1) How do you think, why should we mostly duplicate info from our DS 260 in DS 5535 forms.
2) Any info about workload/people cut in Yerevan Embassy.Are they able to manage all appointments and APs?
3) We have sent DS 5535 in March 2025. According to the Visa Status site, our Case Last Update date was April 2025. What could it mean?
4) Do you know what is the actual way to reach out the Yerevan embassy?
5) Could the start of the new appointment system could affect visas management?
July 15, 2025 at 18:52
1. The “why” isn’t important.
2. It is not up to the local embassy – there are departments in the USA that work on that.
3. We cannot know the significance of the updates.
4. Email.
5. Unlikely.
July 15, 2025 at 17:54
Hi Simon,
My CN is AS11XXX in BMB interview in the first week of September, with a family of 4 with 2 disabled daughters, the only friend of mine who has given me his address is hesitating to give me the I-134. As he is a GC holder but mostly driving Uber, please suggest to me what I should do. I am trying to show around 20000 USD in my bank. Will it be enough?
It’s a request Please let me know if possible in your previous years of telegram channels anyone attended interview in BMB and I-134 was asked to them
And also, I want to tell CO that I will be going in September and will get a job, rent an apartment, and take a car and will call my wife and my 2 daughters in January or February before the visa gets over. I need your suggestion to avoid 221g on public charge and not waste my chance to get into the USA and give good treatment to my daughters.
Thanks for your help.
Simon.
July 15, 2025 at 18:50
Your savings might be enough, but it is a subjective decision for the CO.
July 15, 2025 at 17:06
Hi BritSimon
I am Algerian, my number is 2025AF57277. I live in France. I chose the Paris Consulate for the interview. Is my number limited to Algerians or the African continent? Is it possible to get an appointment, knowing that Africa is 58500? thanks in advance sir
July 15, 2025 at 18:49
You are limited by the Algerian except number, so no you cannot get an interview.
July 15, 2025 at 16:14
If I don’t live in Ireland anymore and haven’t in around a decade and my police certificate is from about a year ago (September 2024), should I worry about getting another one? The official instructions say that police certificates expire 2 years after you get them but on my Irish certificate it’s written that it expires after 1 year. Would that matter? I wouldn’t think so since I didn’t even live in the country anymore for years now.
I’ve already asked them for a new one but they can be slow.
July 15, 2025 at 18:32
The old one should be acceptable, but personally I would start the process of obtaining a new one just in case.
July 15, 2025 at 16:05
No 2NL as at now
July 15, 2025 at 12:31
Hi Simon,
I’m selected for DV2026, and I’ve submitted 260 already.
If I move or change job, do I need to unlock my doc to get it updated?
Thanks!
July 15, 2025 at 13:00
No, not for “trivial” changes like that.
July 15, 2025 at 10:23
Hello Simon, Dimitri here.
I can not think about this anymore. Please tell me if there is a slight chance for 2025EU34k, i got all exited and all but it seems to me that all hope is lost. Im form Serbia by the way.
Thank you in advance
July 15, 2025 at 12:55
The VB is final. Your chance has gone. I’m sorry.
July 15, 2025 at 10:09
Hi Simon,
kindly, what are your thoughts on this. I am a DV25 winner from Africa who just got current for September. I am on F1 visa and therefore AOS is my viable processing path to keep status for fall semester. However, I have a dependent in Kenya who if I choose to do follow to join application then will have to use Nairobi embassy for that. However, the time is short and Nairobi embassy has been acting up with DV this year. What are your thoughts on this? I am yet to pay the $330 to KCC as I am not certain of how to commence with this situation.
July 15, 2025 at 12:55
You have already wasted valuable time. You need to decide you strategy and act fast.
FTJ works, but this is up to you to make it work, so again – your most important thing is to get on with it.
July 15, 2025 at 05:45
Hello Simon, it’s me again. As you know, the U.S. Embassy in Frankfurt hasn’t sent out any 2NLs for the August interviews. What is the latest date I can realistically expect to receive a 2NL and still have a chance of getting an interview in September?
(I am 2025EU19K, and hopefully Frankfurt will schedule some interviews in September)
Many thanks, CJ
July 15, 2025 at 08:24
Some time in August
July 15, 2025 at 12:41
Hey CJ,
No news from Dublin here yet, although Xarthisius’ website did update recently and it showed that actually Dublin did send 2 2NLs in June. So I guess Dublin is not backlogged. I’m hoping to receive mine soon now that the last bulletin is out, hopefully this week.
The ones that were sent was one in Asia that should be interviewed in June and one from Africa that should be interviewed in July. So I would think that I’m very close if not next in line for Dublin since it’s a very small embassy. I’m hoping Frankfurt will start sending more 2NLs this week too.
Xarthisius explained that his tool knows when 2NLs are sent almost immediately but he does not know which embassy they’re assigned to until their status changes from In Transit to Ready as that’s when it shows the embassy. So it may not be true that Frankfurt didn’t send any 2NLs in June although at this point it’s looking likely that they didn’t.
Either way keep me updated and I’ll keep you updated! Hopefully we’ll be sorted soon…
July 15, 2025 at 13:03
We know Frankfurt did not send 2NLs yet – the in transit cases are known number ranges and we know the regions. It would also be more noticeable & reported than Dublin given that Dublin was so small.
July 16, 2025 at 13:27
I hope you’ll get your 2NL soon, Johnathan! All the best to you. Please keep me updated 🙂
July 15, 2025 at 01:18
I’m Aaru 2025AS204** from Srilanaka.
1. Will i get an interview?
2. If not selected, will i get any response from them?
July 15, 2025 at 08:19
1. No – your number is higher than the final VB number. Your chance is lost.
July 15, 2025 at 00:10
After nine attempts, we were finally chosen. 2025EU23ххх. Was already imagining my daughter going to school and growing up in America. Dazed.
July 15, 2025 at 08:18
Oh wow. Awful.
July 15, 2025 at 09:14
Thank you, Simon, for your support to all of us.
July 14, 2025 at 23:45
Hi Brit,
Thanks so much for all your helpful advice for 2025 DV lottery fiscal year.
I wanted to ask your thoughts on a specific situation for an Iranian currently in the US on J1 visa/status with case number of AS13xxx. Since the cutoff for Iran has only increased a few numbers, almost nothing, do you think there’s still a chance to file for adjustment of status by Form I-485 in this case?
Thanks again!
July 15, 2025 at 08:17
No – the cutoff is a hard number.
July 14, 2025 at 22:51
Hi Simon,
I got selected for DV2026 and I’m AF40xxx currently in the US so I plan on doing AOS. My current visa expires in 2027 but I will need to change visa status next year in May from F1 to a J1/H1B. I have not yet submitted my DS260. Do you think submitting a DS260 may harm my chances of getting a J1/H1B approved since my number may only become current later next year?
July 15, 2025 at 08:15
If you are doing AOS you don’t need to submit the DS260 – so don’t!
July 16, 2025 at 11:19
Thank you Simon! The only caveat is that I’m engaged and getting married soon. My partner is not on my DV so my plan was that once we get married, I would submit the DS260 with his name to show that an additional person has been added. We have solid evidence that we are not just getting married for the sake of adding him. Given this additinal information do you still think I shouldn’t submit the DS260?
July 16, 2025 at 11:38
It is really a matter of “when” you file the DS260. There are some cases that never file it – it isn’t strictly needed. But my recommendation is to file it “later” – once you are much closer to being current. At that time you have to pay KCC the 330 fee, and that receipt is part of the I485 package. That is when the DS260 should be filed – no need to file it now and give yourself that risk.
All this is clear on Sm1smom’s AOS info – that is the bible for DV related AOS cases. I assume you are aware of Sm1smom?
July 16, 2025 at 12:50
Thank you so much! This is very helpful. And yes I have been reviewing the documents from Sm1smom which is why I was thinking of submitting the DS260 but I will just plan on submitting it much later so that it does not interfere with the visa processing.
July 14, 2025 at 20:49
Hi Simon,
Having a SA 3300 case number for DV 2026 seems very unlikely to success, right? I’ve been reading the statistics and it looks to me that it is no good.
July 15, 2025 at 08:15
No one knows how many are selected yet – so it is completely dumb to make such an assumption yet. Also – we know that “some” Cubans have been selected, none of whom will be able to complete the process, so depending on how many there are it could dramatically affect that region.
Just wait.
July 15, 2025 at 14:03
Thanks for shedding some light, Simon 🙂
Also, I’ll be working in the US for a year with a L1 visa. As the DS-260 form has been already sent and it’s not reflecting this change of address and situation (at the time the form was sent, it was correct), do you think that I should take inmediate action and request a reopening of the DS-260 form to update this information as soon as I start my US assignment?
Thanks a lot
July 15, 2025 at 14:37
No – but you might want to think about how you would process – either CP or AOS.
July 15, 2025 at 15:01
I’ve been told that AOS could take up to 30 months in Texas to be processed. By that time my US assignment would have ended (and the DV-2026 program finished). So I assume that it would have to be a Consular Processing back in my home country (using vacations time-off)
July 15, 2025 at 15:28
That timeline does not apply to DV cases. The timeline is not a concern.
July 15, 2025 at 20:57
Thanks a lot for your inputs, Simon. I’ve got that idea from an inmigration lawyer who told me about the +30 months, dang.
Last question here. If I’m going for the CP interview instead of AOS, wouldn’t be wise to ask for the DS260 unlock and correct the L1/US address information before even getting a interview scheduled? Better delay than denial?
Thanks a lot, great work you’re doing.
July 15, 2025 at 22:03
First. Please don’t use a lawyer, especially one that doesn’t understand basic timeliness.
You don’t need to update the ds260 after submission.
July 14, 2025 at 17:06
Hi, Simon hope you are doing well. I’m dv25 winner from Morocco, unfortunately, this year it was catastrophic for us. I have a question about the performance of the embassy here in Casablanca. is it has anything to do with GSS system
July 14, 2025 at 17:18
I don’t know.
July 14, 2025 at 16:52
Hi Simon, I got selected for the dv program and my case number is EU00000751. I married my girlfriend so that we can go together, we have been together and lived together for 4 years. Will they look at her surname if she does not take mine or add it to her own, will they look at the address of living on our passports/id’s? We still have not sent the DS 260 yet, because of these questions. Whatever you can tell me for my situation is much appreciated 🙏
July 14, 2025 at 17:18
You should stop overthinking and proceed with truthful details.
July 14, 2025 at 16:34
Hello Brit, Thanks a lot for the response but I have a few more questions
1. Is it the applicant who signs all the DS260 forms for all the derivatives?
2. The husband lives in a different country and there was a question as to whether the children live with him. How should this be answered?
3. If a derivative was in a boarding school, should that address be indicated?
4. How should that question on vaccination according to US law be answered?
5. If the exact day of a date cannot be remembered, is the month and year okay?
6. Lastly, in submitting the form, she clicks on her doc, sign and submit. Then does same for the three derivatives. Is this correct?
July 14, 2025 at 16:44
1. Yes
2. Acurately.
3. Yes
4. “No”
5. Yes
6. Yes
July 14, 2025 at 17:18
Hello Brit, I have entered the US with my family last week Wednesday as a dv2025 winner. What would be be the next step? I went to the social security office but was told to wait 45 days.
July 14, 2025 at 17:32
They might have said “4 to 5” days, NOT 45 days.
In fact, you may have selected the option in the DS260 to create the SSN automatically – in which case you just wait 2 to 3 weeks for that.
Other than that – you start your life.
July 14, 2025 at 14:56
Hi Simon. One of the worst days for me this year. Still shocked…
I’m on F1 visa, PhD student. I was planning to do AoS, and yet sent DS260 to see some benefits of it, especially for having high case number. Now it’s done. Does it mean that I should not leave the US just because I filed DS260 for DV2025? Even after this fiscal year, maybe next year, maybe two years later, if I leave the country for holiday or traveling, will they block my reentry? I am now worried about this.
July 14, 2025 at 15:15
Your only real risk is when you need to renew the F1. The DS260 declares immigrant intent, so it might make it a little harder to get a new non immigrant visa.
July 14, 2025 at 15:36
So leaving and reentry with the same visa is possible and not risky, did I get it correct? I am not planning for a renewal, I will use the same visa.
July 14, 2025 at 16:24
Not normally a problem unless you are very outspoken politically
July 14, 2025 at 14:37
Thank You Simon. Dv 2025
16xxx . It’s crazy. One year of hope …
July 14, 2025 at 14:48
So frustrating.
July 14, 2025 at 14:01
Hi Simon, 25EU28XXX from Germany at least I have clarity now, as I am right in between studying and working life I could never plan properly due to the lottery win. Thank you for all the help for all the time, I will just participate every year unfortunately it was not a win in DV2026. Instead I’m doing a year abroad in Australia next year with the work holiday visa and combining it with a trip around the world. My question is, since I have filled out the DS260, whether I still have a chance to get a work visa like the H1B, since I am a computer scientist this would not be unrealistic in the future, but the DS260 thing bothers me a bit. And will I have problems if I enter the USA with the Esta as a tourist because of the Intent?
Thank you again!
July 14, 2025 at 14:04
The DS260 can be considered a factor in certain non immigrant visas. It cannot affect the H1 (because that visa is dual intent), it is unlikely to affect ESTA, but might be a factor in some other NIVs. Just a factor, not a guarantee of refusal.
July 14, 2025 at 12:31
Hello Simon.
This is the second time I have been selected in the last 4 years. In both cases I did not go through to the interview stage. I have never seen such bad luck in anyone. In short, is there no chance for 2025AS16xxx to be selected? I am tired of hoping, it is tiring.
Tal
July 14, 2025 at 13:35
No chance, no. I’m sorry.
July 14, 2025 at 12:25
Do we actually know who’s making the decisions here? Is it KCC, the State Department, or both?
If there’s nothing we can do right now, maybe we can at least start a letter/petition and send it to them. I know they don’t care, that much is obvious, but still think it’s important that we speak up and let them know how deeply their actions are affecting people’s lives.
July 14, 2025 at 13:35
The Visa Office controls the VB. No action against them is possible. They are entitled to do this.
July 14, 2025 at 12:18
Hello, my nr.case is EU 228xx, do you think that would have a chance to get an interview at TIA ambassad, thank you
July 14, 2025 at 13:34
YEAR???
I assume DV2025 – then maybe…
July 14, 2025 at 13:52
Yes 2025
July 14, 2025 at 11:51
hi simon
i am from Morocco my case number is 2025AF49k . i request kcc to transfer my case to mumbai india . they accept the transfer.
considering the last visa bulletin. may i receive the 2nl here in india . or it’s done
July 14, 2025 at 12:00
It’s done. You are not current as Morocco is under 40500.
July 14, 2025 at 11:42
Hi Breat, I m sathish from sri Lanka 2025AS122**.If I am getting an Interview what is the last date that I could get an 2nl letter.Is there way to conform that
July 14, 2025 at 11:46
2NLs will be sent over the next 2 to 3 weeks.
July 14, 2025 at 10:44
They just released VB. IT IS MADNESS…
July 14, 2025 at 10:52
EU 23.000
AF 58,500
What theeeeee……..?!!
Oh my… I simply dont uderstand anything now 🤯🤬
July 14, 2025 at 10:43
Horribly sad outcome for DV 2025.
July 14, 2025 at 10:49
Yes it is. Just cruel.
July 14, 2025 at 10:59
Any chance of lawsuit agains these increases especially for Europe?
July 14, 2025 at 11:39
No – they are free to set the VB where they want, they are not required to issue all the visas. There are no lawsuit options.
July 14, 2025 at 11:22
Is there any chance to have another round or some adds or something or its just finished everything for dv2025 CN EU23***
July 14, 2025 at 11:40
No – it’s the final VB for DV2025.
July 14, 2025 at 12:44
Is there any chance to get 2nl even though my number is not current or should stop dreaming scenarios
July 14, 2025 at 13:35
No chance.
July 14, 2025 at 15:45
Thank you for all this year of hoping and helping us , hope there will be better times for us that were left out of numbers. It is frustrating to be left out for 600 🤣 our CN was EU23600
July 14, 2025 at 16:31
Oh wow – that sucks.
July 14, 2025 at 18:25
Mine is EU231**
I thought this could happen, but now that it did, it sucks.
Thanks for all the useful information though. I appreciate it.
July 14, 2025 at 19:37
Oh wow. Horrible to miss by such a small number.
July 15, 2025 at 16:04
Please could it be a situation whereby your case becomes current without getting an interview? CN 2025AF34xxx from Ghana.
July 15, 2025 at 18:32
Yes of course.