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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.
Please note I periodically have to archive posts from this page to attempt to keep the performance acceptable. That means comments over about 3 months old could be deleted at any time.
May 28, 2017 at 07:15
CASE NO 7XXX CAN I BE PROGRAM THIS OCTOBER 2017 FOR INTERVIEW IF I SUBMIT MY DS 260 IN JUNE 15
May 28, 2017 at 13:59
Probably not. It will be later.
May 29, 2017 at 20:21
Dear Brit
Greetings
I am having an issue, i have already submitted my DS260 and the family name i put was the third name although in my passport four names are written . I made this also on the first DV application . Otherwise everything was entered correctly .
So i am asking would that pose a poroblem
Yor help is much appreciated
May 30, 2017 at 02:16
Unlock the DS260 and make certain it matches your passport. It is important.
May 28, 2017 at 09:45
Hi Brit i am Samuel and i have an issue which i think you can help me make a decision.Brit a friend took my details to enter into the lottery for me and i found out that i have won.He is now giving me a threat that if i dont pay him he will use the Case number to disqualify me .I dont know how though but i am asking if he can really cause damage to my qualification ? Note I have the case number and he is also having it
May 28, 2017 at 13:55
You were unwise to let someone enter for you. That person probably made some mistake on the entry form anyway, and since you are in Ghana, your case is very likely to be refused. They refuse cases very often where an agent entered the details because the agents are careless about truth and accuracy.
May 28, 2017 at 09:56
Brit the second question is the guy who took my details to enter into the lottery was residing in the united states and chose my residency to be the United States.Now when i tried to fill the DS260 form i was asked the question below .What do i do as i already live in Ghana and have never traveled to the states ….
Based on your country of residence at the time you submitted your DV lottery entry, you are currently residing in the United States.
Do you want to adjust status without leaving the United States?
Yes, send my case to USCIS.
No, I want to return abroad and be interviewed in
May 28, 2017 at 13:51
Obviously this would be “No”.
May 30, 2017 at 22:09
Hiii saimon
We took interview before one month but they didn’t give us any reply till now.they only send a reply yr quase is on process.
May 30, 2017 at 23:32
So you just have to wait. There is nothing else you can do.
May 28, 2017 at 12:11
Hi brit i want to know how much financials should i show is 10 k dollars cash and 60k dollars in the form of assets are enough for a family of 4 persons or do i need to convert assets into cash
May 28, 2017 at 13:47
Don’t sell assets before the interview. The way financials are handled varies by embassy, and also by individual case. So I can’t give you a certain answer.
May 28, 2017 at 12:43
Hi, thank you once more for your comments
Have some more questions
1. I’m from Asia (Uzbekistan) is that possible that my case number starts with 2018EU?
2. If my case number ends with 7***, is that low or high case number?
Thank you!
May 28, 2017 at 13:45
1. Yes
2. Low
May 28, 2017 at 13:23
Hi Brit
Is it possible to renew the passport afer getting the DV visa then travel with both passport
Because our passport will expire at the end of 2018 I cant renew it now
May 28, 2017 at 14:37
Yes
May 28, 2017 at 15:28
Hi Simon,
I have a question regarding my physical Green card and social secutiry number.
I ve entered the US for a week now and im still waiting for my GC to arrive. My question is how long does it usually take for the green card to be sent to me. How about the social security? Would that be include in the same package as the green card?
Thanks for your help
May 28, 2017 at 17:19
SSN usually arrives in 2 to 3 weeks. GC often takes 3 to 4 months.
May 28, 2017 at 17:45
Mr Simon, I had my interview one week ago, the CO approved my case and told me to wait for the passport in two weeks time, however I noticed since the day of the interview my case is still in AP? should I worry? is it something normal or maybe I am in trouble?
May 28, 2017 at 20:40
I don’t know. It is typical to see AP for a day or two after the interview, but a week suggests it is “real” AP. In that case you cannot do anything except wait.
May 29, 2017 at 10:21
Sir, I just want to let you know that i just checked my visa status and it has been updated from AP to Issued. Thanks for everything. I hope I can reward you one-day.
May 28, 2017 at 18:11
Hello Simon,
I have already conducted my interview o 15/May/2017 and submitted my passports (me and my family ) – (due to a missing document) on 19/May/2017 as asked by the embassy.
I had the interview at the embassy in Amman – Jordan and I was told to track my passport via ( http://www.ustraveldocs.com/jo/jo-main-contactus.asp ) that I would receive it over the mail (aramex) but almost 10 days have passed and everytime I check the website it says ” There is no status update available for the passport number submitted “, bare in mind they said it’ll take around 4to10 days.
I have contacted the courier and they said they haven’t received any of my family passports.
What do you think is going on? should I go to the embassy again? I am here in Jordan for almost 3 weeks now and I haven’t planned to stay this long.
May 28, 2017 at 20:38
It just takes time. You can ask the embassy.
May 28, 2017 at 20:20
Hello Simon, I have a question 2018AF0002XXXX, Do I stand a chance of getting interviewed this year?
Thank You.
May 28, 2017 at 20:32
Yes
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-basic-questions
May 28, 2017 at 20:58
Hi brit
I have been interviewed 30 April and approved but still i am an administrative processing so is there something wrong from my side.
Thank you
May 29, 2017 at 04:10
AP is unpredictable. You just have to wait.
May 29, 2017 at 03:57
I am a 2018 applicant.
I have tried to fill my personal details in order to retrieve my confirmation no.but all in vain yet the details are mine.,What should I do ? I need to know whether I won or not? From Kenya
May 29, 2017 at 04:03
If you are using the lost confirmation link, and you cannot retrieve your confirmation number, you probably made some mistake with the entry, so the details match. There is no other way to retrieve the details.
May 29, 2017 at 04:27
Hi Brit,
My family and I got the visa and are due to travel any time however I will travel alone first then my husband and son come in later. Would they have to use the same port of entry I use?
May 29, 2017 at 04:31
No – they can enter wherever they want. I assume you are the winner.
May 29, 2017 at 05:03
Hi Brit,
I am in OC and have an interview scheduled for Sydney on the 27th of June.
I have renewed my passport since my date was scheduled, and have also moved (home) for the period leading up to my interview. From what I can gather I don’t need to/can’t change those details prior to my interview. Can you please confirm?
Best,
Angelle
May 29, 2017 at 14:23
Take both passports to the interview. THey may get you to register with a couier – that courier needs your new address – and tell the CO of the new address at the interview.
May 29, 2017 at 05:14
Hi brit
I am new on your site, i have a question do u know if people from uae win dv lottery alot or not.
For some reason i dont see alot of uae winners.
May 29, 2017 at 14:19
UAE has few entrants and therefor gets few winners.
May 29, 2017 at 05:41
Hello sir,
Sir please help me….. what I do?.. in my 2nl, in my wife and son’ name , one letter changed in each name .no more days remain to interview….I know you are irritated from my comments so i am sorry but please give me solution……
May 29, 2017 at 14:16
You can’t “do” anything!!!! Just attend the interview and explain the mistake to the CO.
May 29, 2017 at 08:34
Hi Simon,
I’m about to pick up my visa and make my activation trip very soon.
You say the processing at the POE can take up to three hours.
Why can it take so long?
And what exactly is part of the processing?
Should I prepare for any questioning?
I assume they take me to another room at the airport?
Thanks for all that you do
May 29, 2017 at 14:15
The process itself takes little time and there is no need to prepare. But there can be long lines and delays.
May 29, 2017 at 08:41
Hello sir,
please i am a ghanaian and filling the DS260 form, can i write just the town name for street address(line 1) or i can use the postal address.thank you
May 29, 2017 at 14:13
However you would normally get a letter.
May 29, 2017 at 08:49
good afternoon sir.
i have a problem. i got a health related problem. my wife is a dv winner 2017. our interview is scheduled for 3 july 2017. we hav two children aged 4 and 1 and half years. since i got a problem in chest, medical centre has decided for further investigation. it means i will get the result around 20 days after my scheduled interview. shall i postpone the date? or let my wife and two children take interview(as some friends inform me it is possible to take interviews of the principall applicant and other derivatives) on the scheduled date? what should i do plz provide me suitable advice?
May 29, 2017 at 14:12
Attend the interview as scheduled – you included. You can supply the medical once ready.
May 29, 2017 at 10:27
Simon, we are DV2017 winners and our interview went well (in South Africa) on 23rd May 2017. We received our passports with entry visas this morning (29 May 2017). My son turns 21 on 07 June 2017. We noticed that his visa expires on June 6, 2017. The ’21 year old’ rule (as explained on your FAQ page) thus, does not apply any more? He has to enter before 6 June 2017?
Another question / concern – it is true that there is a new Bill (Bill S.34) detailing the the DV programme will be replaced by another ‘revised’ programme?
May 29, 2017 at 14:04
Contact the embassy about the visa – the CSPA should have been applied – and it sounds like it hasn’t been. I’m sure it is incorrect BUT you should also have a backup plan for the principal and your son to do a quick activation trip.
THere are various bills that would end the DV, but none of them are real yet.
May 29, 2017 at 14:09
By the way, if the embassy tells you the CSPA doesn’t apply to DV, hold your ground. It certainly does – but embassies don’t always know the rules or how to apply them. THe link below is the rule itself and the procedures for calculation of benefit. It’s complicated, but the most important thing is that it describes how DV cases ARE COVERED.
https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050201.html
May 29, 2017 at 10:55
Hi Brit, if you have not been selected would it state that your photos were incorrect if that was the problem or would it still just say you have not been selected without reason? Want to be prepared for the next round. Thanks
May 29, 2017 at 13:59
It would just say not selected.
May 29, 2017 at 11:07
hello dear Brit
i’m iranian & i had my interview on 25th of may. everything went perfectly well. and i didn’t have no docs missing. but they gave me a blue print which says i’m temporarily refused due to some missing documents. bot the officer told me everything’s fine and i only should check through ceac.state.gov to see what i should do next.
just for ur knowledge : despite being handsome 😉 i’m 31 male single – i have computer degree and education – i have my own busyness free from any gov organisation – and enough money
i would love to know your opinion, that why they did this
thank you
May 29, 2017 at 13:58
Iranians have a high chance of being placed on AP. AP for Iranians can last months because the Iranian government does not cooperate with the USA on background checks. Since there are only 4 months left in the year, there is a chance you cannot be cleared by September 30 – and if that happens, you cannot be approved.
June 2, 2017 at 19:34
This is so frustraiting man ???
Thank you once again
June 2, 2017 at 19:38
I’m sure it is. Best of luck, and let me know how it goes.
June 2, 2017 at 23:50
Sure bro
May 29, 2017 at 11:41
Hello Mr. Simon
i m a DV winner 2018, i want to start preparing doc for the interview, among requested doc is a police clearance, from my country of origin police clearance is valid only for 3 months from date of issue, is it true that:
please look at the info i got from: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected/prepare-supporting-documents.html
“Police certificates expire after one year, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued. If at the time of your interview the following three items are all true, you must bring a new police certificate to your visa interview:
You are more than 16 years old;
The police certificate submitted to NVC was obtained more than one year ago; and
You still live in the country that issued the certificate.”
my questionis: if i get the police clearance and it expires at the time of the interview but i have not travelled back to my country of origine, will the police certificate be valid?
Thanks
May 29, 2017 at 13:51
Simple solution. Don’t apply for the police certs yet. Wait until nearer the date of interview.
May 29, 2017 at 13:21
Sir
Can u pls tell me when will be my interview if i submit my case at the end of july 2017
My case number 2018 AS 7XX
So i start to make poilce clearnce certificate
May 29, 2017 at 13:45
Hard to guess exactly – but Maybe December or January.
May 29, 2017 at 14:06
sir can i use postal address or town name as my street address line 1 in filling DS 260 thanks so much.
May 29, 2017 at 14:54
Hello Theresa,
Since we don’t have good addressing system in Ghana, I think it will be wise to use Postal Address. For easy access and proximity sake.
May 29, 2017 at 15:38
ok thanks you
May 29, 2017 at 17:04
Boyeh
Hi brit…i was selected for 2018 my number is 48xxx.i played with my husband but we did not include our 4 kids.will that be a problem for obtaining the visa and if yes what advice do you give us.thanks
May 30, 2017 at 02:11
The instructions were very clear. Leaving derivatives off the application would lead to denial. You WILL be disqualified at the interview. There is no fix for this.
May 31, 2017 at 15:49
Ok Sir but if I don’t mention in the ds 260 that we have kids and even during the interview..i think we may be granted the visas.i don’t think they will make any investigation anyway that is what a friend who had the same issue but made it to the U.S told me.
May 31, 2017 at 16:15
Well that would be immigration fraud – a serious offense. I am not going to help you with that plan, but let me point something out. If you do get the visas, then one day want to take the children with you, you will find yourself being deported because you obtained the Green Cards through fraud.
May 29, 2017 at 17:25
Hi simon , congratulation on your site , good job , I made second ds unlock on 23 may , my case number is 3*** , When will be my interview date , do you have any idea , i unlocked ds for simple things . Thank you ,
May 30, 2017 at 02:12
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-basic-questions
May 29, 2017 at 18:57
Hi brit while reviewing my daughter ds 260 i found that i mistakenly selected father country of birth pakistan while it was qatar while i put city information (doha) which is right but country selected (pakistan) which ia wrong do i need to unlock form for this
May 30, 2017 at 02:14
Yes, unlock and correct it.
May 29, 2017 at 21:02
I won dv, but I am only qualify with the work experience.. What is the way forward?
May 30, 2017 at 02:19
You should read the link below. Not all jobs will qualify you. So – check O*net. and if you think you qualify you will have to plan how to prove your experience.
https://britsimonsays.com/education-or-work-experience-qualifying-for-the-dv-lottery/
May 29, 2017 at 21:10
Hi Simon, my case number is 2018AF0005XXXX. Do I stand a better chance for an interview?
May 30, 2017 at 02:20
I suppose your number is over 50000. There is a chance – but we won’t know for sure for a long time – about 1 year from now.
May 29, 2017 at 21:51
Hi Brit
If I can issue new passport after submitting ds260 form and before interview
If any problem to bring two passports to the interview old and new one
Or will be aproblem
So I issue the new passport after interview better
Thanks for ur support
May 30, 2017 at 02:23
No problem to take both passports to the interview.
May 29, 2017 at 22:32
Hi Brit
i was denied four years ago in Liberia as a couple, i’m now living Sierra Leone. but the i won the lottery this year as single. will the embassy of sierra Leone accept me as single. due to the absence of my wife, i didn’t play as married couple in sierra Leone. My wife is currently in Norway sir. what is the way out?
May 30, 2017 at 02:24
You will be denied again, because you lied about your marital status. Having been through the process and been denied one time I am AMAZED you would not think it was best to be honest and follow the instructions correctly.
May 29, 2017 at 22:57
Hi.brit
Please help me.
While I was submitting ds260,they ask me my address.
Since I was born I’m at my city.
But these 2 last years im at another city.
Both in the same country.
Now my question is.
Should I give my new address and tell they ive another address too?
I’m 23 years old.
May 30, 2017 at 02:25
Yes. You just tell the truth and answer all the questions. It’s not hard. They aren’t trying to trick you!!
May 29, 2017 at 23:12
Hi briiit
can they reach the yearly limit of visas before july 2017 or it happend before?
May 30, 2017 at 02:26
No.
May 29, 2017 at 23:22
hello sir..
i need your support…
i have passed my interview yesterday and the CO taked the passport with him and Asked me to send sponsor’s papers before september and im really worried about my case cuz my sponsor tod me to wait more than 45 days cuz of his business…. im really worried about losing my chance to get a the visa, please is this normal??
May 30, 2017 at 02:27
There are plenty of visas this year. RELAX!
May 30, 2017 at 02:45
Brit should i tell them reasons for unlock as well and will they unlock all forms or just the one which will i mention to them
May 30, 2017 at 03:32
You have to be clear about which forms to unlock. Mo need to give reasons.
May 30, 2017 at 03:06
Hi brits. If you are on APand your passeport expired.what will happen?can the ambassy gives you a travel documents?or you must bring a new passport when your AP it’s done.?thanks for your help
May 30, 2017 at 03:33
New passport.
May 30, 2017 at 03:36
Thank you sir
May 30, 2017 at 04:55
please help
Entrant name Asiedu, Angel
Confirmation 20183FRECIBSYN6N
Year of Birth 1994
bro can u help me with this confirmation of codes of the dv lottery cos I have tried several times and they said it s not valid
May 30, 2017 at 23:30
Just like the message says, you confused I and 1.
So you have been trying 20183FRECIBSYN6N and you should have been trying 20183FREC1BSYN6N. You obviously copied it down incorrectly.
I changed that one thing – and got your result –
HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED
May 30, 2017 at 06:04
hi Brit first I want to appreciate you. I have some issue I am the winner of DV 2018 when i fill DS 260 i am not included secondary school educational background i use only my University degree and three years work experience may it affect my process? is there any thing that i can do?
May 30, 2017 at 23:26
Your DS260 should be accurate. Unlock it and make it accurate.
May 30, 2017 at 06:53
Hi simon , i have a question
1- when i filled dv entry , i put address that i was before 3 years , but i live in a different city , when i filled DS 260 i put the address that im living now . Im student , that is the reason why i have change city . Is there any problem ?
May 30, 2017 at 23:25
No
May 30, 2017 at 07:49
Hi brit thank you very much for your valuable input but questions keep on coming in mind after 260 submission now in preparer information i have checked box i.e (does not apply) in ‘organisation name field’ in all my spouse and kids Esignature section now i realised that i am working in a company so i may need to mention my company information there as well(already mentioned during my form as principle applicant) is this thing matters shd i unlock form to fill the information
May 30, 2017 at 23:24
No need to list your company in the prepared by section.
May 30, 2017 at 08:14
Dear BritSimon
1. What is sponsor’s papers is?
2. My case number is 2018AF00021 can I apply Police certificate to get early?
3. I was in Uganda 2014-2016 but now i am in Somalia, so I applied police certificate and I hope they will send me next coming months, so if it becomes expire before interview, can I use it? Because of I saw this message for prepare supporting document page
“Police certificates expire after one year, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued” But I did not understand.
May 30, 2017 at 23:23
1. https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134/
2. Don’t apply for it yet. It will be months before you interview.
3. Really – why apply for police certs so early??
May 30, 2017 at 09:01
Hello brit
Please help me with this questions, about # is your mailing address the dame as your present address? But i put NO then some boxes appear,which address am i to put there?
May 30, 2017 at 23:22
Just put the address where you currently live.
May 30, 2017 at 10:45
Hi Brit,
My interview will be on 5-June-17.
May i know how and when i have to make the payment for DV fee.
Thanks,
BR
TIN
May 30, 2017 at 23:19
You pay at the embassy on the day of the interview.
May 31, 2017 at 00:42
Thanks Brit
GOD Bless you
May 30, 2017 at 11:11
Hello Brit and All,
I’ve asked questions on this blog a couple of times already and yet I am back again.
I had my interview on January 05 this year and got stuck on AP for over a month until I had to ask for my passport back in order to extend my residence permit of the country where I currently live, I live in a foreign country.
My passport came with a letter asking me to provide additional documents including my notarized birth certificate. Note that I already provided my original birth certificate during the time of my interview but the CO still asked for a notarized copy. No big deal, I took action and re-submitted the additional docs in a bit over a month after I got the letter.
Four weeks later, I got an email from the CO asking me for a “jugement supplétif”, meaning “judicial ruling” or something of that sort, to “supplement” my notarized birth certificate.
I thought this was weird because this document is needed ONLY when the birth certificate, for instance, is missing / unobtainable so I wrote back to the CO explaining my concerns. It didn’t help. The CO insists I must provide that.
I might have to go back home to get that since this is a long bureaucratic procedure involving the court, lawyers, etc. Moreover,my medical report will expire soon so I need to do that again. The whole thing has become a financial nightmare for me.
I guess what I’m trying to ask is: is there a way around this? Like reporting the CO for example?
Honestly, I feel like I’m dealing with an incompetent CO and I’m considering asking for my case to be transferred back to my home country, the D.R.Congo. Would you advise that?
This is financially reasonable for me since I will not have to come back to China (where my case is being dealt with) and also, it might be faster since they take at least 4-5 weeks to give feedback here (my guess is there are too many immigration cases here due to large population).
Please advise, thanks!
Elie
May 30, 2017 at 23:18
IMHO, you share some of the responsibility for this and NO, you CANNOT report the CO!! This is a privilege, not a right. You can stop the process anytime you like.
You have to be realistic that an embassy in China is not going to know how to evaluate documents from DRC. So – they get info from the DRC US embassy, and that means back and forth discussion. That might mean delays. That should have been expected, you know what DRC procedures are like and probably knew more about what could be needed than the embassy in China. At this point I do not think you can transfer your case. It’s a pity you did not anticipate this and prepare the documents well enough.
Now, you simply have to supply what they are asking for and wait patiently.
May 30, 2017 at 23:32
Hi Brit,
I am aware that I share some responsibility in this delay.
But there was no way I could have ever anticipated being asked to provide a document to “supplement” a notarized birth certificate. It seems to me they couldn’t accept the format of what I provided. DRC is big, I’m from a small town, they’d probably never seen anything from there hence had doubts.
Anyways, thank you. You the man!
May 30, 2017 at 11:40
hello dear Brit
i’m Sudanese & i had my interview on 24th of may. everything went perfectly well. and i didn’t have no docs missing and the C O didn’t asked me any question except fingerprinting for me and my family (wife and 4 children) but they gave me a pink paper checked in AP. the C O told me that all my docs is perfect and they will send me e-mail if they completed their process.
i have Ph.D degree in Agriculture
i would love to know your opinion, that why they did this
thank you
May 30, 2017 at 23:11
Some cases need background checks. Yours may be needed because you are Sudan, or for some other reason.
May 30, 2017 at 11:54
Hey simon, first thank you for this website. 4 years ago i submitted application to get tourist visa B2 and i got it, now, thanks god, i am selected in the green card lottery and when i submitted the DS-260 i wrote that i visited only in USA, and i have never been in any other country and that is true, but when i submitted application for the B2 visa, i wrote that i visited in some cuntry in europe because i have been there only in the airport for the conecting flight to USA.
i am afraid that now its can be a problem because they are can compare the DS-260 when i wrote that i have been only in USA and in the application for B2 visa to see that i wrote that i have been in another cuntry for 1 day. is it can be a problem?
Thank you so much!
May 30, 2017 at 23:11
If asked about it – just tell the truth. It’s not a big problem.
May 30, 2017 at 12:01
Hello Simon. I recently filled my ds260 and mentioned an advanced degree (masters degree) as highest level of education. I’m still to complete my courses this June and defend my degree later this year. While I will certainly have my transcripts ready before the interview to show proof, I may not be in possession of the diploma yet. Should this be of any concern or maybe I should just list the bachelor as my highest level
May 30, 2017 at 18:23
School Attended not school “attending”….so list your completed bachelor if you have certificate at hand.
May 30, 2017 at 23:10
Just show the bachelors and explain you are working on the masters.
May 30, 2017 at 13:12
Thank you very much for your quick reply to my question on May 26th. I am restating it to enable you understand my second question. My original question was “I applied for my DV in October 2017 and fortunately i won. When i applying last year i was staying with this guy, as a husband and wife though we did not get married officially, and i included him in my application. Unfortunately around Christmas time he started staying away from our home for days. That is when i found out that he was legally married to someone else and he never told me. We broke up and we are no longer on speaking terms” Now my question: You advised me that my case is risky and I can proceed as single. Since his name appears on the DS 260 as my spouse do I just continue and not touch the part where his name appears? Once again may God bless you and thank you for your big help. Mary Chiuria.
May 30, 2017 at 22:55
Just don’t submit his DS260. You will face questions because it will seem as if you are actually married but don’t want to process with your husband. And that is the risk – that they don’t believe you.
May 30, 2017 at 15:22
Hi Brit I was selected for dv2018 with the name Varfee A. M Talawallay but on both my birth certificate and passport I have the A.M spell out as Ansumana is that a problem? And again I serve in the police of my country do I need to take the police certificate with me to my interview? Thanks a lot
May 30, 2017 at 22:38
No problem on the name.
Yes you still need a police cert!