Ask questions here
To ask me questions you can obviously post on any blog post.
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.
July 2, 2017 at 13:00
Hi Brit, my number is 2018af3xxxx and i haven’t fill the ds260 form yet. how soon can my interview be programmed when i fill the form. Also my chid is 2 years without any identification paper except birth certificate. what should i use for her identidication. thanks
July 2, 2017 at 14:01
You haven’t made your case number clear enough. But in any case there is plenty of time to read the link below for timeline.
Use your passport number for the child until you have the child’s passport.
britsimonsays.com/DV2018-basic-questions
July 2, 2017 at 20:06
Dear Simon I have an interview on July 03 2017 but I have same mistakes on my document and I want to correct the error. Is that possible to change the interview data to July 10 2017 at the interview date?
July 3, 2017 at 14:35
Attend your interview as scheduled.
July 4, 2017 at 12:43
Am Mike and my brother is dv 2018 winner, our problem is during the dv online registration, he mistakenly typed April 3rd as his date of birth instead of March 4th, please which one should be use to fill ds 260. thanks.
July 2, 2017 at 17:15
Hello simon !
Is there a problem if i fill in like this
CITY OF BIRTH : VILLAGE , CITY
In my passport is written like this .
Thank you .
July 3, 2017 at 14:37
No problem.
July 2, 2017 at 21:46
Hello Mr Simon,
I am a dv 2017 winner and I submitted m DS-260 on June 6 2017, My case number is 2017SA11XX, Do you think i still have a chance to get my 2NL next month for September interviews?
Thank you!
July 3, 2017 at 14:17
Wait and see.
July 3, 2017 at 01:13
Good night Simon, We have already sent our ds-260 and we have received our interview letter, I have a question….they ask to print ds-260 confirmation page…What is this? can you give me an example…We filled the page and we sent and it was ok but I can´t find this “confirmation page”….thank you
July 3, 2017 at 13:58
Just after you click submit you get a confirmation page. You can get that to reprint by reviewing your DS260 and clicking through each page to the final page.
July 3, 2017 at 01:20
Hlo sir!
I have read the same school from Grade 1-10 and when i compleated the grade 10 , in character certificate there is no specified that i have studied 1- 10 here there is simply written as ‘i have compleated grade 10 with XXXX division in this year’ so my question is
1) Is it enough in interview(NEPAL) or should i make a new character certificate mentioning that i had studied 1-10 here?
Please suggest me my interview is on July 13,TYSM!
July 3, 2017 at 13:57
I don’t know the requirements for Nepal. Simply prepare as best as you can.
July 3, 2017 at 01:34
Hi britsimon, I have a cousin who had 6 months old baby girl
1) does he has to pay for her visa fees too
2) does she need medical exam since she is young
3) for the fees visa can I pay for them online or they should at the consult in their day of their interview
4) they still have not apply for ds260 yet, they will do it next week. So my question is: after application of the ds 260, can i pay for they visa fees online or I should wait until they get their interview day
July 3, 2017 at 13:56
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. At the embassy, on the day of interview.
4. See 3.
July 3, 2017 at 10:18
Hi sir just wana know did me win 201840n1p9j6l4z8
July 3, 2017 at 13:55
https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/esc
July 5, 2017 at 14:37
Hi Simon, I read one of your responses for somebody else regarding the inclusion of high school and elementary school history in DS260 form since the age of 12. My and my wife did the same thing like what my friend have done(only listing higher education or university history). My question here is does the DS260 form is friendly to entertain high school and elementary education history because there are some questions there like Degree or Diploma; course of study in the DS 260 form. Do you think sending message to KCC to unlock the form to include high school/ elementary education history is a must? if it is so, how can I respond to the above mentioned questions in Ethiopian context where no high school diploma is known. Your scholarly guidance is very much appreciated.
July 5, 2017 at 16:29
Yes you should unlock and add the education as general studies.
July 3, 2017 at 10:36
i recently apply for my son(under 21) i had put him on my paper that he would follow me next would that shorten my waiting process when i started my filing for him
July 3, 2017 at 13:54
I don’t understand your question.
July 3, 2017 at 13:25
Hi Brit, im trying to fill my DS260, i have a question. I got in the usa with a b1 visa in 2009! Then in the usa i changed my status to f1! Then in 2014 i left the usa to join my husband in belgium! In the ds260, should i say i enter the usa with a b1 visa? Or what can i answer about the visa i had before? Thank you
July 3, 2017 at 13:49
You can write B1/F1
July 3, 2017 at 16:05
Ok thank you, after applying for ds260 what are the other supporting requirements documents that he needs to apply?
July 3, 2017 at 16:07
https://britsimonsays.com/prepare-dv-lottery-interview-2/
July 3, 2017 at 16:14
I mean affidavit
July 3, 2017 at 18:11
Dear Simon,
I am DV 2018 winner .The last page of my passport is teared from the edge and I put it together with the cover .
1)Will this affect my passport validity? 2)What is their tolerance for such damages to passports during interview as a principal Applicant?
3) is it recommended to use it as it is or get a new one .
Regards
Simon.
July 3, 2017 at 18:47
You should not repair a passport. Passports that are repaired are a concern for fraud. If the damage is bad enough, a replacement passport should be obtained.
July 3, 2017 at 19:23
Dear Simon,
is it okey to us my current passport to submit my DS260 and apply for replacement passport as the waiting time is a little bit long and present the new passport during interview with unlocking DS260.
Regards
July 3, 2017 at 22:25
hi
do we need to provide certificate of grades from university of is the Degree certificate is what they need? thanks
July 3, 2017 at 22:44
Take all the proof to the interview for the degree AND High school.
July 4, 2017 at 09:22
Thank you for the reply, in the DS260 where they ask for my education I only wrote down the universities i have been to, do I need to also mention my high school? and do I need to unlock it again ( i did unlock it once) to write down my high school education which was about 30 years ago 🙂
thanks again
July 4, 2017 at 14:58
You should list all education from around age 12. Unlock.
July 4, 2017 at 10:58
Hello I have mailed to KCC to unlock my ds-260 and I got a reply mail saying that we got your mail but the problem is that the case still lock.
when will the case be unlock?
July 4, 2017 at 14:54
2 days to 2 weeks.
July 4, 2017 at 11:37
Dear Simon,
First, I want to wish you Happy Holidays at your travel in Europe.
I’m the Principal Applicant of DV2018.
My wife (that is Derivative) had studied abroad.
I fulfilled in the DS260 Form as a previous address :
In total 7 years (October 2002 – November 2009)
When we received the Police Certificate there was typed :
“NOTHING” for the Period : AUGUST 2002 – DECEMBER 2009
As you see it’s a small difference in 7 years
Should I UNLOCK the DS260 Form to correct these details,
to be in the same period of time with the Police Certificate ??
Or I can explain the CO during the Interview??
Your precious advice will be very appreciated
Thank you in advance
July 4, 2017 at 14:53
It is nothing to unlock or worry about.
July 4, 2017 at 12:44
Hi Simon.
I won the DV 2018 from Ethiopia.
I just tick the not applicable/Technology not available section when responding to the question your full name in your native language in the DS 260 Form.
Shall i ask the KCC to unlock the application or shall i leave it?
Tesfaye
July 4, 2017 at 14:48
leave it.
July 4, 2017 at 12:59
Hi Brit Simon,
First so so many thanks for setting up such a rich source of information on the DV Lottery and US immigration in general.
Quick question: Is it possible to get a US driver license based on being an european driver license owner, so without going through DMV Tests?
Thank you in advance.
July 4, 2017 at 14:47
Possibly. It varies by State. Ask at the DMV.
July 6, 2017 at 07:33
Thank you for your reply, especially on a July 4. :-
July 4, 2017 at 13:19
dv2018 winner my wife is older than me by 7 years is there any problem.we phase at the interview day, concerning age .
July 4, 2017 at 14:27
Did you submit your DS260 yet? Did you include your spouse and children?
July 5, 2017 at 10:01
Yes sir i submitted include my spouse
July 4, 2017 at 13:47
My brother is dv 2018 winner, our problem is during the dv online entries registration, he mistakenly typed April 3rd as his date of birth instead of March 4th. please what should we do. Thanks.
July 4, 2017 at 14:22
So about two weeks ago you asked me a similar question about the misspelling of your name in your entry. So – you can follow the same advice. https://britsimonsays.com/ask-questions/comment-page-121/#comment-75647
Howevever, it is pretty obvious that your case is likely to be denied. People making an accidental spelling mistake on one thing happens. But you have made a mistake on your name, month of birth and day of birth – so that is three mistakes that all conceal your identity, and you are from Ghana – which has a lot of people who make such mistakes. As a consequence, most people in Ghana are denied. So – if you want, you can proceed but you have significant risk.
July 4, 2017 at 14:06
Hello britsimon
Good evening
Only one day remaining for interview but certificate of high school didn’t come yet in college from board of University and results published 34 days ago .I printed mark sheet from internet .if they ask about certificate what can I say about certificate.i am very worry about it….
July 4, 2017 at 15:05
You explain the truth – that’s all.
July 4, 2017 at 15:20
Will it disqualify or give the time to wait for certificate?
July 4, 2017 at 15:30
Normally given time.
July 4, 2017 at 14:18
Hello Britsimon, thank you very much for your blog, it is quite clear.
I have a doubt at the time of presenting the DS260, the DV 2018 I play my husband, if I put that I do not travel with him now, if not later, there is some problem to give me the green card, In the instructions puts this, but I am afraid that later say that I can no longer opt in this way, if not by family visa.:
Who Must Attend the Interview?
You, your spouse, and any qualified unmarried children immigrating with you must participate in the interview. If your spouse and/or qualified unmarried children will immigrate at a later date and travel separately from you, they are not required to participate in your interview. They will be scheduled for a separate interview appointment. You should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate directly to arrange separate interviews, if needed.
In DS 260 you ask whether you are traveling now or not with your husband. I say no, and he asks me if I will go later, and I said yes, that I will meet later with him.
Is there any problem ?, I do not know what to put.
Thank you very much for your help.
July 4, 2017 at 15:04
You have done fine. He won’t be scheduled for interview.
However, I hope you realize it will be slow and expensive to get a Green Card for him later.
July 4, 2017 at 14:25
Good evening Brit
, I have a preoccupation!
We are a family of five, we want to go first, and the other will come by family reunification. We will pay the visa fee for all 5 or just us 3 who are leaving! We played at 5 people.
tks
July 4, 2017 at 14:38
You only pay for those that want the Green Card – the others don’t submit their DS260. However, the family reunification will take a long time and cost more money…
July 4, 2017 at 14:46
thank you first
What if we have submitted the five DS-260 ?
July 4, 2017 at 15:01
That means you are asking to process their case. So – all 5 will be expected at the interview – but you can discuss with the CO to only process 3.
July 4, 2017 at 15:08
thank you very much M.Simon
I follow you all over the internet!
thank you for your time !
God bless you
July 4, 2017 at 15:05
Hello!
My wife and I submitted separately DV-2018. Before meeting her, I had a girl, who lives with us today, she is 8 years old. My wife and I have no child up till now.
In the DV-Entry, my wife mentioned 0 child, whereas I mentioned 1 child.
She has been selected for DV-2018, but how is she going to fill Form DS-260? Should she fill 1 child there? Or should I fill 0 child? Do we risk to be disqualified? What’s to be done?
Thank you for reading you as soon as possible!
July 4, 2017 at 15:09
The case will be disqualified. I answered you yesterday.
https://britsimonsays.com/communicating-kcc/comment-page-2/#comment-76729
July 4, 2017 at 17:28
Dear Simon,
Thank you so much for your very detailed blog. It helped me a lot through the process.
I read your article about getting married after the interview…
Do you have any website where I can find out more information about it ? Or do you have any update information about it please ?
I am afraid to get married before the interview and see my visa refused because the embassy can think it is not a true marriage… My fiancé and I are in a relationship for more than 2 years, and we can prove it with emails, pictures, travel bills but we never lived together, we do not have common bank account or flat agreement to prove a stronger relationship…
Thank you for your help
Have a great day
July 4, 2017 at 19:53
It would be IDIOTIC to not marry before the interview. Marriage before interview is safe, whilst marrying after the interview later is MUCH more difficult/expensive/slow.
July 4, 2017 at 17:34
Hi britsimon happy July 4th and thank you for the amazing job that you are doing for us.
My cousin is the principal winner, he has his high school diploma, has 4 years post university and currently working. But his wife is a dressmaker, and she is being working for 2 years now. she only has elementary diploma and went to middle school and quit she was 8th grade. So my question is: does she need to put that she has elementary diploma when filling ds 260 or just put that she is a dressmaker with 2 years of experience
If yes, does she needs to present the diploma on the day of the interview?
My worry is that she does not she put the diploma.
July 4, 2017 at 19:54
Both of them should complete the DS260n accurately. Only his education will matter.
July 4, 2017 at 18:08
Hello britsimon
Can i use different mailing address on ds 260 different from the one that i applied in dv entry ?
Thank you .
July 4, 2017 at 19:54
Yes.
July 4, 2017 at 22:08
Hi Britsimon I m seeing a lot of affadivit support form on the website. Which one pertinent to Dv lottery. I m just trying to gather all the information before next week Thanks.
July 4, 2017 at 22:31
You have left that very late.
https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134
July 4, 2017 at 23:03
Thank you very much for your response, if I post that I will travel later to meet my husband, the interview will be later, but because it would be slower and more expensive, get the green card ?, the process would not be the same as if we did all The time? .
Thanks again, I really think you do an incredible job.
July 5, 2017 at 17:17
THe fastest/best way is to marry first, then process the DV case.
July 4, 2017 at 23:45
Hi,
Am from ,Liberia and a dv 2018 winner. During the time of entry I play single,because I was not marry.
I engage my wife to be in December 11,2016 and we long plan to get marry on her birth day September 30,2017 and the good thing is I now found out that I won the DV 2018 so am thinking if when I marry my september 30,2017 , I can add my wife on the ds 260 from. I would really love to travel with her
July 5, 2017 at 17:10
Yes you can. Marry first, then submit the DS260 as a couple.
July 4, 2017 at 23:58
hello brit,
I play the DV 2018 as Mark S. Payne, but on some of my documents my name is on it as, Mark Smith Payne I really want to know if I will not face problem with question like why I did not spell out my middle name?
July 5, 2017 at 17:09
Yes, they may question it, but often will not disqualify if the selectee is trustworthy. Make certain your DS260 has the full name.
July 5, 2017 at 08:28
Hello,Simon,
I won dv2018.But Yesterday I realised that i made a mistake in my aplication.I was born in Armenia(still USSR),where my family lived tempereraly(almost 3years) after I moved to Russia,where recieved my citizenship,never had Armenian.My parents were born in USSR,Georgia.I was applying from Russia.Am I automatically disqualified,or as I read that it can depend on the consulate that will make a desion as it is the region(EU)?I honestly read every rule like 5 times and figured I was more eligible to apply from Russia than from Armenia(or even Georgia,even though my parents were born there).
July 5, 2017 at 16:54
They typically won’t refuse a Visa if the mistake is within the same reason. So you can proceed.
July 5, 2017 at 10:41
Hi Brit,
Thanks once more for your support! How long does it take to receive a passport with printed VISA after a successful interview? My friend got 7 working days to pick up VISA instead of 7 days as other people have got.
July 5, 2017 at 16:41
Typically 1 to 2 weeks.
July 5, 2017 at 11:02
Hi Brit i’am DV lottery winner from Sudan and i’am planning to travel after tomorrow, my question is :-
1- Am i allowed to take my personal laptop and mobile phone with me , or it’s not allowed for sudanese to carry there devices with them.?
2- if it’s allowed , is it true that there is check ups for the files inside the laptop or not ?
Thanks in advance
July 5, 2017 at 16:40
1. Check with the airline.
2. That would not be normal.
July 5, 2017 at 11:07
Hi Mr.BritSimon
We are waiting for clearance of our case in DV-2017 .
Unfortunately like other wrong decisions in this administration ( ex : withdraw from the Paris climate accord , … ) that some states even don’t follow , we have suffered great disturbance and no one is responsible for that. by this miss E.O. is that possible for us to applying for a job in US and get an offer for that , cause till now , it wasn’t obligatory. how should be this offer to convince the officer ?
July 5, 2017 at 16:39
I don’t know.
July 5, 2017 at 11:09
on the ds 260 form where it ask you about your children. I had put that he will follow me next does that speeds up the waiting time for him as he is under the age of 21 when i file for him using the i 130 form
July 5, 2017 at 16:38
If this is a DV case, no that is not the fastest way.
July 5, 2017 at 13:07
Simon,
I am trying to pay USCIS fee, but I am not sure about CASE DOS ID, since we are granted DV visa the DOS looks like 2017AS75**
but in the instructions from the USCIS website says “DOS Case ID numbers for Diversity Visa immigrants will have 4 numbers followed by
2 letters and 5 more numbers”
I have only 4 numbers after the 2 letters not 5 numbers.
what should I do about that?
July 5, 2017 at 16:36
Check your printed visa and the instructions given by the embassy.
July 5, 2017 at 13:22
Hi Simon,
I have a plan move to America July7, and what would you recommend me just to run my business properly and life style in America?
thanks
July 5, 2017 at 16:35
That is too broad a question for me to answer.
July 5, 2017 at 14:02
Hi, BritSimon thanks for your support,
I apply for a lotery when I was single, in february I get married, after I win a dv 2018, I started to fill de ds 260 and I add my wife like a derivate, we don’t finish the form ds 260 yet, We recently learned that we are going to have a baby, My wife is 5 weeks pregnant, We don’t know if this change can affect the process, Because we want to travel together, but what happen if the travel is after that our baby is born??? Please help us, what do yo recomend us?
Thanks for all.
July 5, 2017 at 16:32
Don’t worry about tgat now, it is too early. Your baby will be included, although the exact method of processing will depend on timing of interview and birth. So for now, don’t over think it.
July 5, 2017 at 14:09
Hi Brit,I have a problem concerning my ds260 form.I noticed on the Ds 260 the year of marriage is wrong,while on my certificate has the actual year.What can I do about this?cos my appointment letter is now out for next month?
July 5, 2017 at 16:30
If you are already scheduled, you can only raise the error in the interview.
July 5, 2017 at 15:18
Can I apply for the DV lottery if I am Canadian born? Both my parents were born in Poland and held “legal landed immigrant” status at the time of my birth in 1992. They received Canadian citizenship in either 1994 or 1995. Can I use Poland as my “Country of Changeability”?
July 5, 2017 at 16:27
To use a parents country of birth, you have to show that their stay I n the country was temporary. As they came as immigrants, that won’t be possible.
July 5, 2017 at 18:03
Hi BritSimon!
My wife is a selectee of DV 2017(I mean current winner). I want to get marry to her after I have completed the DS260 FORM. I’m not going to be included in the DS260. Is it possible that if she leaves for the US she can file in for me? Secondly, how long do u think this is going to last for?
July 5, 2017 at 22:15
https://britsimonsays.com/faq/dv-process-versus-family-based-immigration/
July 5, 2017 at 18:38
.hello please how do I retrieve my information that I used during DV entry.
July 5, 2017 at 22:13
You can’t.
July 5, 2017 at 19:39
I was selected for the 2018 DV lottery. My issue is; I am serving in the military in my country and will not be released for until end of 2019. I only have a military passport. Will I be issued a visa regardless of my military status? Will they stamp a visa on a military passport? Is it possible to request a delayed entry to the country if visa is granted?
July 5, 2017 at 22:12
That can be a problem. The embassy might refuse the case as you are not free to take up residence. If you have NOT submitted your DS260, you could delay that submission for a long time to delay the whole process. Submit in May next year.
July 10, 2017 at 04:16
Thank you for your reply. I have not submitted my DS260 because I was not sure of how things would be.
Could you please comment on how that would work and lead me to resources that would help me be better understand the process and be prepared. Thank you.
July 10, 2017 at 05:39
There are no resources more complete than this blog. So – go to my home page and read some of the articles I have posted. As for how it would work – you delay submission as late as possible to delay your interview as late as possible so that your first entry could be in early 2019 and you could then make the final move in 2020 – subject to your military service. I have FAQ articles that cover timing of first entry and absences. So – read.
July 5, 2017 at 19:44
Hi Simon! I have only one question regarding vaccination. I’ve taken vaccination two months ago.Now I have planned to fly coming sunday. the question is Should I take another vaccination or do you think the vaccination that I’ve taken two months before enoug?
July 5, 2017 at 22:10
I am not a doctor…
July 6, 2017 at 00:55
I am not saying like that Simon! What I would like to ask is if you take a vaccination once it will work for six months, is that right? Or is it upto the doctor to decide? But Still Sorry? Many Thanks!
July 6, 2017 at 23:00
Again – I really have no idea.
July 5, 2017 at 20:57
Hi simon .when applying for a green card she had included the husband and kids but had no marriage certificate would there be any problem if they obtain a marriage cert now before applying for d
s-260 form
July 5, 2017 at 22:09
Other people in the same position have been approved.
July 6, 2017 at 01:24
Hi Brit
Thanks for usually support
I married since last 7 years and we have official record and court certificate for that
But since we married my wife didn’t get pregnant
But now she is pregnant do u think it will be problem at the time of interview as she come pregnant now
She is dv2018 winner
July 6, 2017 at 22:59
No problem.
July 6, 2017 at 02:25
Hi Simon,
I have a question that maybe its out of this topic but maybe you can help me.I came last year like a dv winner in usa,my boyfriend is back at home in europe,we want to get married now but i dont know what is the best solution for us,is it for me to go back and get married there or he to come here with tourist visa and get married in usa,what do you think and how long it takes the paperwork and everything.Please help me if u can.thank you a lot in advance i aprreciate your help
July 6, 2017 at 22:58
He can come and marry you, but must then leave the USA to wait for an application. That will take around 2 years.
July 6, 2017 at 02:56
Hi Simon, how are you ?
My case number is 2018EU7xxx, I send my DS on may 7, so I should ” expect ” the 2nl in august for a scheduled interview in October or maybe later ? I do not understand something in the instruction from the Paris embassy :
STEP THREE: As soon as you obtain all required documents that apply to your case, carefully read form DS-2001: Notification of Applicant Readiness. Sign form DS-2001 and mail it to the Agency (NVC, KCC for instance) who provided you with the current instructions. You will not be scheduled for an appointment until form DS-2001 is signed and returned to the office.
Does that mean that I have to send this form now even if they don’t start the interview before October ?
Thank you for your answers,
Sorry to bother you
Have a good night and enjoy Europe 🙂
July 6, 2017 at 22:57
No, wait until you receive the 2NL and then fill in the 2001.
July 6, 2017 at 04:00
Hi Brit,
I am a winner of DV2018 however i have a small confusion regarding DS260 ” Have you ever used other name…” well technically i have never used any other name and my passport etc all have same name as DV Letters etc. However in some of my school certificates my surname is not mentioned only given name is mentioned. So my question is s how to fill the section “Other name used” as it has two sections and if i use this option “YES” I have to fill both. Or do i even need to even fill that as even if i fill this section my given name will be same as the current name.
“Other surnames used”
“Other given name used”
DV Name: Vikash Kumar Pant
Passport etc : Vikash Kumar Pant
School Certificate : Vikash Kumar
Please help
July 6, 2017 at 22:56
So you *HAVE*** used another name. List that.
July 6, 2017 at 05:56
hey Brit good morning i submitted my ds 260.my wife is older than me in 7 years is there any problem.she my spouse and we have to travel together to America.
July 6, 2017 at 22:55
I have already told you that you are going to be disqualified.
https://britsimonsays.com/ask-questions/comment-page-97/#comment-68704