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.
April 11, 2018 at 18:49
Brit. Do you think the remaining three VB months each can schedule 7000 cases and can AF43,531 go current by july?
April 11, 2018 at 18:54
I really don’t know.
April 11, 2018 at 18:22
Thank you Brit, I was also planning to contact some of the agents that help people filling DV forms and instructing about DV visas but I’m not sure whether I should trust them.
Anyway thanks a lot
April 11, 2018 at 18:26
Of course you shouldn’t trust them.
April 11, 2018 at 17:23
Dear Brit, First of all I really appreciate what you are doing for us the DV community.
I have a number EU 239** Albania and hopefully the interview comes eventually. I have lived for 2 years is Greece between 2008-2010, currently living in Albania, and US Embassy in Tirana requires police certificate issued from Greek authorities as posted:
“Greek birth certificates and court records: You must obtain an apostille stamp and have it translated into English by the Translation Services of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Greek Police certificates: applicants aged 16 or older: if the applicant is currently residing in Greece for more than six months, or if the applicant has previously lived in Greece for more than one year, then he or she is are required to apply for a Penal record of Judicial use (“Antigrafo Pinikou Mitroou Dikastikis Hrisis”) from the Hellenic Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Penal Records for Foreigners (Ipiresia Pinikou Mitroou Allodapon),
On the Penal Record application, ensure you tick the box requesting a record for Judicial Use while in the last two boxes, “Reason for Issue” and “Description”, please write Request for a Visa and Request for a Visa from the U.S. Embassy, Athens, respectively. You do not return to the Bureau to collect your Penal Record. The Bureau will sent your record to the U.S. Consulate in Athens”
My question is: One one hand they ask for Greek documents to be translated and have an apostille stamp and on the other hand they say do not collect it yourself and ask for the it to be sent at U.S. Consulate in Athens while i’m expecting the interview to be conducted in Tirana. How does it work, do U.S. Consulate in Athens send the police certificate (Antigrafo Pinikou Mitroou Dikastikis Hrisis) to US Embassy in Tirana or should I pick it myself and translate and obtain apostille stamp and take it with me at the interview in US Embassy in Tirana? How does it work in these cases?
Thank you in advance
April 11, 2018 at 17:45
I don’t know any more than the instructions you quoted. I suggest you follow the instructions precisely.
April 11, 2018 at 17:52
Should I write to KCC about me issue, do you think they will answer?
Thanks
April 11, 2018 at 17:56
If they do, they will tell you to follow the instructions.
April 11, 2018 at 18:07
Dear Brit,
Sorry for persisting on this but as you read the instructions were not so clear. What should I do, how can I get this information finally, is there any other way?
Thanks a lot
April 11, 2018 at 18:12
You could ask the ministry of justice – see what they say. If no luck there you could ask the embassies (Athens and or Tirana).
April 11, 2018 at 16:27
Hi brit my visa interview was on 4/4/2018, during interview the CO approved my visa application but to day(11/4/2018) my visa status changed to AP and also I am emailed to submit orginal shool credentials via DHL.my questions are:
1,what are orginal school credentials?
2,how i can submit via DHL?
April 11, 2018 at 16:06
Europe only 20300, just released , so sad.
April 11, 2018 at 15:33
Hello Sir. Is june visa bulletin out?
April 11, 2018 at 16:17
https://britsimonsays.com/vb-for-june-interviews-released/
April 11, 2018 at 15:31
For June EU20300
April 11, 2018 at 15:30
The visa bulletin is out, Europe is 20300
April 11, 2018 at 14:57
Only 2250 cases added for June EU interviews
April 11, 2018 at 15:17
where did u get this info?
April 11, 2018 at 12:42
Hi Brit,
My interview has been scheduled on 1st week of May. I just noticed that my “post code” on one of the address that I lived before have been submitted incorrectly in DS260. Is it concerning. Would you advise me to unlock DS260 and correct it?
Appreciate your help
April 11, 2018 at 14:01
No problem – no need to correct it.
April 11, 2018 at 10:56
Hi Brit..i mailed to kcc unlock my ds 260 for changes my child information..this procedur is doing agency ..we wrote yesterday and also kcc answered yesterday that ds unlocked ..today i called them (agency ) to know if they changed or not , they told me that childs ds form is not unlokced yet , we are waiting. if it possible ? KCC mailed that the ds unlocked ..
April 11, 2018 at 11:18
When I mailed to KCC to unlock my DS they unlock only the DS of the winner. If you want a DS of a derivative to be unlocked you have to explicitely say it in the email.
April 11, 2018 at 09:53
Hi Brit, this passage is from the official site of the Russia embassy : “Embassy Moscow also continues to offer interviews for immigrant, diversity and nonimmigrant visas. Our services, however, are not back to the levels prior to the Russian Federation’s 60 percent cut of personnel at the U.S. Embassy and three consulates. Fewer people inevitably mean fewer staff to provide visa services.”
Having in mind that Russia is one of the embassy with the higher selectees number, it be really interesting what effect will eventually have the lower capacity on VB progression. If the embassy could not interview all the CN that are current it is possible that fewer CN are made current in the next VB.
April 11, 2018 at 09:58
Sorry, I meant the US embassy in Russia
April 11, 2018 at 14:08
They prioritize immigrant visas. As to the impact – yep – we will see.
April 11, 2018 at 15:12
Looks like you are right
April 11, 2018 at 09:52
Hello Brit.Everlyn Kou is my mother given name at birth and Gono reflects her surname at birth as capture in the DS 260.My mother full name in my birth certificate is Diakpo, Everlyn K. Gono and my father full name in my birth certificate is Diakpo, Anthony.is it a problem since my mother name in ds 260 is different from that of birth certificate?
April 11, 2018 at 14:09
No
April 11, 2018 at 09:32
Hi Simon, Can I please have your email address theres something I’d like to ask you off the public platform. I hope this is not too much to ask for.
In the event that you cannot indulge my request, please heres mine [email protected] .
Thank you
April 11, 2018 at 14:09
Only for needfully private questions – britsimon3 at gmail
April 11, 2018 at 08:03
Good morning Simon,
My dv2018 interview in next week at EU embassy. At interview I will need to pay $330. My bank gave me $350, they don’t have $20 paper money, only $50 paper money to change from national currency. Do you know if in the US embassy they can accept $350 and give me back the rest $20 or they will not accept the $350?
thank you.
April 11, 2018 at 14:11
I don’t know.
April 11, 2018 at 07:14
Good Morning Brit,,,,,,When i applied,i used mugisha Rebecca ,Kindly advise me on how to deal with my names.eg. My Passport,my national i.d,birth certificate have Mugisha Rebecca Kigunzu and my other academic documents have Mugisha Rebecca only.What do i do?
Thank you
April 11, 2018 at 14:12
No problem.
April 11, 2018 at 00:30
I legally enter USA by dv2017, i pay for green card before USA arrival. But i have passed 7 months here in America. My green card can not come still this time.
What is wrong on my green card? Please help me sir.
April 11, 2018 at 00:35
That is far too long. Contact USCIS.
April 10, 2018 at 21:07
Hi sir i want to ask if it is possible for me to get visa to US if i dont know anyone living in the US? Or do u have any suggestions or recommendations for me please.
Thanks for your response
April 10, 2018 at 21:27
https://britsimonsays.com/dv-interview-questions-will-asked/comment-page-14/#comment-108931
April 10, 2018 at 19:38
hi Brits this is Akoto
i have been in america for five days now and the place is awesome.
once again thank you for the support you keep giving us.
i will donate something soon.
God bless you
April 10, 2018 at 20:53
Welcome to America!
April 10, 2018 at 19:05
Mr Brit if you entered the DV with the full name on ur birth certificate but since childhood till date the name u use in other documents does not include one of the names on ur birth cert can it cos ur denial?
April 10, 2018 at 20:52
Normally no.
April 10, 2018 at 18:30
Hello Brit.
I have just received medical examination envelope from the surgeon. It has only 3 little “confidential” sticker on it. It does not seem unique. I can even prepare one like this. there is no initials, seals or firmly taped. I am suspicious about sending it to USCIS. What do think, what should i do?
Thank you for everything that you do for us.
April 10, 2018 at 18:33
BY the way, I am doing AOS.
April 10, 2018 at 18:52
Stop overthinking it.
April 10, 2018 at 14:15
Hi Britsimon,
In fact I had a little boy last week while I had already received my 2nd letter so as I had to read on the forum I will prevent the embassy. Now I would like to know if this child should appear on the I-134 that my sponsor will send me knowing he will not travel with me immediately?
thank you in advance
April 10, 2018 at 16:28
No need to update the I-134.
April 10, 2018 at 17:21
Thanks so much
April 10, 2018 at 14:06
HI Simon,
How much US $ can per person carry while traveling from Nepal to USA? we (me & my wife) have got DV Visa and travelling USA soon for the first time)
April 10, 2018 at 14:11
You can carry any amount, but amounts over $10,000 in cash need reporting and may cause questioning.
April 10, 2018 at 13:42
Hi Simon,
I most like will be current in the next bulletin which i believe is June Bulletin. My CN is AF25XXX. When do you think i would receive my 2nl and interview. Kndly let me know your opinion on this.
Thank you. Will appreciate your reply.
April 10, 2018 at 14:13
The 2NLs are sent in the second half of the month.
April 11, 2018 at 15:46
Hi Simon,
Say i receive my 2nl end of April or beginning of June thereafter when would my interview be. I assume about a month and half later correct? which would mean mid July. Kindly give me your opinion on this.
Thank you. Cheers!
April 10, 2018 at 13:15
Can someone go to interview with his/her wassce results
April 10, 2018 at 14:14
Huh?
April 11, 2018 at 16:25
Richard i presume u r from Ghana, Yes you will need it,infact it is the basic educational requirement, don’t make a mistake goin for the interview without your wassce(shs) certificate,u can email me [email protected]
April 10, 2018 at 12:38
I have received 2NL for May interview, as I have asked in the previous time my passport expired date is approaching and you advise me to renew and have two during interview, Now I am confused which one is going to used when I make an appointment registration shall I used the new or old? All information I filled with old one (like medical, police and so on). so need you support
April 10, 2018 at 14:14
New.
April 10, 2018 at 12:33
Hello, mate! My case number is 31150. They are currently processing 2250 applications on average per month according to the information you have provided. By May they will have reached case number 18050. Does that mean I do not stand a chance to be called for the interview? Does this mean this year only those with case number up to 27000 will be interviewed?
Thank you for your time and for your blog. This is all very useful.
April 10, 2018 at 14:15
I have written about this many times – please read some of the many articles I have written. Other than that – the best answer is “wait and see”.
April 10, 2018 at 11:48
Good day Brit,
1. Can i pay my USCIS FEES before leaving or after i have arrived in the
US.
On the package is says before leaving but i don’t have it now.
Please give the link for me to upload my interview experience.
April 10, 2018 at 14:18
Either before or after arrival.
April 10, 2018 at 11:10
https://britsimonsays.com/response-rate-analysis-as-of-march/
Brit- is it this, what changed? lower respnse rate due to agent involvement in countries like Uzbekistan in 2015- so basically, in 2015 you said that response rate will be growing after Uzbekistan maxed out. This year you said that Uzbekistan coused high responses- assuming that it will shrink? But appealing this logic from this post to DV18, what it actually means is that Uzbekistan has not “screwed” our response rate- rather that the response rate will grow after the U2 countries maxed out.
April 10, 2018 at 10:20
Hi BritSimon
I was sending this email to kcc
Case Number : 2018AF00047XXX
Principal Applicant Name: Haythem
Principal Applicant Date of Birth: 22/09/XXXX at Tunisia
Dear Sir/Madam
Recently my wife has got a Qatar Residency Permit , and she moved to live with me in Doha Qatar.
Therefore, could you please change the location of my interview from Tunisia to Doha, Qatar.
Please find attached my Qatar id and wife id .
Best regards,
THEY SEND ME THIS EMAIL
Thank you for your inquiry.
Once the DS-260 for the Principal Applicant has been submitted, the Interview Location can only be updated by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC). Please send your request to [email protected]. You will need to include information that explains why you need the interview location changed. Unless they are in the U.S. and adjusting status, all applicants on the case will be scheduled for interview with the Principal Applicant. You should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate directly to arrange separate interviews, if needed……………
WHAT TO DO PLEASE
April 10, 2018 at 14:24
Follow their clear instructions.
April 10, 2018 at 09:42
Wait an see is not response
April 10, 2018 at 08:00
hello sir/madam am2018 DV winner .my interview were april 05. the coular officer aproved my case.my visa status show administrative process.when I checked my visa status there is 01 add. what does it mean 01 add?
April 10, 2018 at 15:45
01 is the first applicant (you) and ADD is short for Addis
April 10, 2018 at 01:50
Dear Brits,
Yesterday my DV2018 was denied due to wearing glasses in my photo.
Is there anything I can do?
So frustrated!
April 10, 2018 at 03:07
That is very frustrating. The rules are very clear – why did you not follow the rules????
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html
April 10, 2018 at 07:32
Hi Brit,
Are we talking here about 2018 DV entry photo? if yes:
1- What about applications submitted before November 1st, 2016?
2- Applicants with rare medical conditions can still provide the medical report to proceed with medical glasses, correct?
Thank you…
April 10, 2018 at 15:48
1. That would be OK.
2. Yes – but we are talking about conditions where removal of the glasses for a few moments to take a photo could cause harm. That must be very rare.
April 10, 2018 at 07:40
Excuse me, just wondering, what if you were wearing glasses (or the photo has a mistake – not as any of the needed requirements) when you submit the first time – first photo – in OCT-NOV, yet you bring a new one with correct requirements when you go to the interview? Will it be OK/pass?
April 10, 2018 at 15:46
Since the original photo is not within the rules, the CO could reject the case.
April 10, 2018 at 23:42
So just out of curiosity, do they check your photo on the interview or is it during the lottery or when they process DS260? I thought that if your photo doesn’t meet requirements, then you don’t even reveive 1NL.
April 10, 2018 at 23:50
They check the initial entries and during the interview.
April 9, 2018 at 21:23
Hi Brit, good day to u there. Straight to the point, am a 2018 dv winner, and according to my document, I will be received by a family friend. Does she need to feel the affidavit or the 1-130 form? Please.
April 9, 2018 at 22:13
The I-130 is not for DV cases. Do you mean the I-134? If so – read this:
https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134/
April 9, 2018 at 20:53
Thanks for your critical response sir! peace
April 9, 2018 at 20:47
Good evening Mr. Simon.Do you think2018 AF00043531 has a chance for interview sir? your fair opinion appreciated!!!
April 9, 2018 at 20:48
Wait and see.
April 9, 2018 at 18:46
Hey Brit,
Sorry I have a question that bugs me that I dont get it. Regarding EU- we are concerend that pace is too slow. However, even with the slow Bulletins of April and March,we might turn out with a higher number of issued visas at the end of May 2018 compared to the end of May 2015 where it was abot 11020. Given this years process, that number can easlily be reached, better, exeeded by May 2018 and additionaly, there is a lower quota. So I feel that this shows us that pace actually is fine. Now, if pace is not an issue, oyu have mathematically calculated a cutoff about 33xxx. At the end of May, there will be about 5k visas left. We can see that until this point there are more refusals then in DV2015 and there might be more AP cases unable to resolve in time compared to 2015. This leads me to the conclusion, that, if this year was to be compared to 2015, cutoff should be higher then the 33xxx we originally thought. HOWEVER, whatever calculations I do leads me to a lower cutoff then that- despite refusals and APs working in our favor (as harsh as that sounds… I dont know how to put it in other words). So there must be one factor that has massivly changed against us (despite density, because that was of course considered in the calculations that lead to 33xxx). And I keep wondering what it is. Is it higher response? Higher dev. rate? Do you now what I mean? I now the next VB is coming up soon, but I feel like I really want to understand this.
April 9, 2018 at 19:23
I mean, from 18050 until 33.000 there are about 6600 cases for 5k visas. even when being SUPER optimisitc and saying a dev. rate of 1.8% and an issue rate of 0.70 % , it will still result in about 8316 visas. So there must be something else except density that is diffrent this year…
April 9, 2018 at 20:45
I am certain we have discussed this before. The density is a big deal – BUT it is very complicated to know the **distribution** of the cases, and selectees from each country are very different. So – if we were to compare 1000 cases from Ukraine with 1000 cases from Uzbekistan or Turkey or Russia, we would have different derivative rate, different response rate, different success rate and so on. I have told you that Uzbekistan has skewed important factors like derivate rate and so on. So – just as density is important, the distribution is important too.
There are other factors too – again – I have mentioned them in the past multiple times.
There is plenty of reason for the high case number crowd to be nervous, but there is also a reason that wait and see is still the best answer.
April 9, 2018 at 21:08
i mean, yes, i understand that. But this is why I took the most optimistic of all rates. 1.8 dev. rate is lower then the average rate for the last 4 month will probably be, and only 70% of issue rate is also very optimistic. And even then it would not reach 33k. That is just why I think there must have been one surpise in *earlier* numbers, that made it so unlikely to even reach 33k. It is not pace, because pace is looking just fine. The question is, what was diffrent in earlier numbers?
April 9, 2018 at 21:11
because when you previously calculated 33k, there must have been a factor that has changed by now.
April 9, 2018 at 22:12
I think you know as much as I do. I’m resolved to wait and see.
April 10, 2018 at 09:32
hmm, i dont think i do, because if I did, by now I would see the change that made cut of at 33k unlikely. If you calculated based with rates and numbers from previous years, something besides density must have changed. There is simply no logical way to assume that 5k visas will be enough for 6700 cases as to reach 33k. Distribution changed? More cases from countries with higher dev. and response rate? But wasnt that also clear from the beginning?
April 10, 2018 at 05:56
So you are assuming that all 6600 cases will fill their DS 260, everybody will shop up at the interview, no case is left “at NVC”? That doesnt sound right.
April 10, 2018 at 06:50
No. I am assuming that about 4000 people show up to the interview. These people have family, so let them become 8000. Then I am definetly thinking that not all of them will be approved. But that still makes them more then 5000.
April 10, 2018 at 09:06
Now you are talking about no show ups and no responses? Then your number 4000 is very high. what is your response rate?
April 10, 2018 at 09:43
You can pick an optimistic calculation: 6700 cases x 0.60 (approval rate, includes refusals, no shows, and no responses) x 1.8 (super low dev. rate, reminder: April the dev rate was about 2.4%) and oyu will get 7236. You can pick a more optimistic one and say only 50% approval rate, that will give you 6030. And that is still with a super duper opticisitc and thather unlikly continious dev. rate of. 1,8%
April 10, 2018 at 10:02
This is still very pessimistic. No response has always been about 50 % every year. And that did not include no show ups etc.
April 10, 2018 at 10:13
sure, but for the numbers to continue you always have to include old ap cases being resolved, later “ready” cases being updated, and old cases (at least some of them) still being processed. The plain “no respnse rate” might not include that, but we cant just forget about the old cases when looking at the coming progress. So, I think that 50% approval is pretty optimistic, and given that 1,8 dev. rate is also very optimistic, I think 33k is rather unrealistic.
April 10, 2018 at 10:23
What I am basically saying in other words is: 6700 cases are ONLY the real cases from 18050 to 33k. Additionaly on these cases we must add late submissions, old ready cases being issued, and ols AP cases being resolved. We dont know how many cases will be like that, but that is why I think it is fair to calculate with a higher approval rate then what would be appropriate if we were *only* to consider cases between 18050 and 33k. And that is also why I do belive that 50% approval is quite low.
April 10, 2018 at 10:52
and additionally to that, I am confused were this Idea of 50 percent “no responses” comes from anyways. Looking at Xarts chart, it is about 20%. If you add holes and stuff to it, it will be above 50%, but holes are already filtered.
April 10, 2018 at 11:43
Your understanding is wrong.
First, the chart shows currently 50% E.g. 1001 – 2000 , you find ~20% holes ,40% no response and 40% issued/ready, etc.
That makes 50% no response rate of the real cases, right ? There will be much more people who do not even know they won, who forgot about checking, did change their plans etc.
So from 6600 you would have to reduce these cases first, and then, you can start adding old APs, subtract no show ups etc. etc. Then the whole calculation will be very different. Think about it .
April 10, 2018 at 11:49
well, at this point I am geniously confused because we kept looking at DV15 as comparison. Now it seems like DV15 response rate was sigificantly low. And it also seems like U2 countries had an “below average” response rate in DV15. Non of this can be said for DV18
April 10, 2018 at 11:53
also, my chart only shows me 31% no respnses
April 10, 2018 at 13:17
🙂 🙂 As I said you have to exclude the holes. It shows only 31% if you align it to all possible case numbers ,but you have to exclude the holes, then it will become 40-50%.
April 9, 2018 at 21:43
Rxy, I’m not Brit and my answer may not satisfy you, but look at the data:
https://dvcharts.xarthisius.xyz/ceacFY15.html
https://dvcharts.xarthisius.xyz/ceacFY18.html
Notice two things – DV15 – CN were stretched up to 43k and there was no single point where response rate was higher than 40%, and it dropped to 20% between CN 14-15k and response rate earlier was c.a. 50%. I don’t think in DV 2018 it will drop so low (20%) even when CN pass 20k. Those two factors are enough to say that 15 and 18 cannot be compared. I know that you are trying to grasp some light of hope – I feel the same and hope for the same, but our chances are diminishing. In few days the may VB will be out. In my opinion if the jump will be 3500 there is still chance, small and doubtful but still chances to wait for next VB and next and last one. If there is no such progress I think we can forget about further process. Well, we can say that we were lucky enough to get selected, but this luck was not enough for us in this case…
Regards
April 10, 2018 at 06:16
At this point we cannot really know how many visas will be issued in April and May. We just have a couple of days of processing in April, and this is the first month where they reduced the pace.
Looking at the visas issued in the last month, we see that a high case # in the bulletin lead to a higher amount of issued visas of course, but many of them were also “old cases” (lower than 10700 case# –> 743 out of 2100 issued visas have been issued.
This is not unusual, but we see a lot of processing of old cases and some delay by the big five countries. They have issued about 1200 visas in the last month which seems to be very high. So there are some good reasons to get back to a higher pace once these countries are not updating their cases anymore because they were limited. And this is one of the differences to 2017.
April 10, 2018 at 06:58
The have issued far more then 1200 visas in march. Last time I checked it was around 1700, with many cases not being updated at that point. We are now at 9900 visas at the end of march, given a quota from 18300. Once they have processed april and may, giving room for additional AP cases to solve and ready cases to be updated, it is not crazy to imagine that there will be around 13k visas issued by the end of may- if not even a bit more. That leaves around 5k visas for the rest of processing. The pace is not super critical I think. May for example made about 940 people current. that can end in an amount of about 1300-1600 visas issued for may only. With that pace, they will have no trouble filling the 5k visas that are left. Even if backlog will be reduced.
April 10, 2018 at 08:50
and also, steve. Jan+feb. have already issued nearly 4k visas. Even given a lower density now and changing rates, it is difficult to assume that the remaining 5 k visas will actually reach 33. the cutof will be between 30-32, unless a mirical happens and we get nacara visas.
April 10, 2018 at 08:55
If you take the raw date and filter the status changes to issued in March , you will see what I mean. I said that 1200 visas out of more than 2000 were issued by the big five countries. And from this number a huge part (740) goes to very old case numbers. The distribution is almost equal. So if they want to have an equal amount of issued visas on the future they would have to change the pace once all the old ready cases have been processed / updated by those embassies. And is Simon said we don’t know how all the other cases are like which will come into the focus next months.
April 10, 2018 at 09:46
yes, but you will also see that many march cases are still shown as “ready”- more cases then usual. Are these people all no shows? Unlikely. It is more likely that their status is just not updated yet. A few will of course be no shows, but def. not the majority.
April 10, 2018 at 13:38
Maybe, I dont know.These are about 600 cases. I dont think its too much. The rest is April + May.and the old cases before March which I was talking about . E.g. 2018EU1 was updated in March to AP and 2018EU1252 was issued. I doubt that all these so many cases have really been interviewed in the last weeks. They are problably coming from the last year and for some reason there is this processing backlog in some embassies.. Once this stops
April 10, 2018 at 12:14
I made a lot of calculations for myself in order to try to predict the final cutoff. My number is EU 30XXX. More calculations I make more I see that the parameters I choose are difficult to predict (it is like a lottery) meaning that the calculation are incorrect.
Although you don’t see how the final cutoff will reach EU 33XXX, it is possible that it exceeds this number. There are not as many case per 1000. So 1000 CN make maybee 300-400 visas issued. As Brit mentioned several times the derivative rate, response rate and so on will be quite different now as compared to the first months of the FY which makes the final cutoff impossible to predict.
My personal feeling is that Skripal poisonning and the fact that many diplomates (58 which is a huge number for one embassy) was expulsed from Moscow embassy will have an effect on the final cutoff. I don’t know wheter the pace will slow down or wheter more cases will put on AP. In any cases we will see it in the next two VBs.
April 9, 2018 at 17:13
Hallo brit,i have a question my two friends won DV 2018 i.e husband and wife,husband his case no is AF39xxx AND wife is AF36xxx,will they do the interview diffently? since they included themselves in the original dv as husband and wife.
April 9, 2018 at 17:28
They can choose how to process. Their choices are:
1. Process on his case with the wife as a derivative.
2. Process on her case with the husband as a derivative.
3. Process each case individually (crazy, but an option).
1 or 2 makes sense – they should choose the case with the best chance of success. Theoretically they could use the other case as a backup if anything went wrong with the first.
April 9, 2018 at 17:05
Hi brit .i wrote to unlock my ds 260 and recieved this mail ..is there any problem ?
Your case has been updated, please log back into your account to view the details.
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your email.
We understand that you inquire regarding your immigrant visa case.
Please be informed that your case is currently at the NVC (National Visa Center).
Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete.
Please visit our website http://www.ustraveldocs.com for complete information, status tracking and appointment scheduling.
Sincerely,
U.S. Visa service desk
April 9, 2018 at 17:26
Have you logged back in to check if they unlocked?
Ignore the rest of the message.
April 9, 2018 at 17:32
Yes.is there any problem ? What to do ?
April 9, 2018 at 20:36
You are not paying attention to what I said. You asked to unlock. The only question you need to think about is whether it is unlocked or not.
April 9, 2018 at 08:57
Dear Simon
My case number is 55** Nepal .My sponsor is a normal student. After obtaining second letter i must have to change sponsor. Will this sponsorship create any difficulties to obtain 2nl . I am eagerly waiting for new visa bulletin .
April 9, 2018 at 15:44
It won’t affect your 2NL.
April 9, 2018 at 08:27
Hi Simon,
If my wife who is an indian passport holder travels to india on a visit. Does she need to apply for PCC again?
Kindly let me know. Thanks
Cheers!
April 9, 2018 at 15:45
If her current PCC is still valid – then no.
April 9, 2018 at 08:21
Brits dv winner 2018 , with a 221g but status is refused it it possible for it to change
April 9, 2018 at 15:45
If the CEAC status is updated to REFUSED, that is final.
April 9, 2018 at 06:18
Hi Simon
my interview is scheduled for may, i have 12 grade completed certificate and university degree with its transcript, make it all certified, my question is, is high school transcript needed to be certified?
April 9, 2018 at 15:46
Follow normal procedures in your country, or country specific instructions from your embassy.
April 9, 2018 at 04:29
Dear Simon,
Our interview has been scheduled for the middle of May. My child’s passport will expire on Feb. 20, 2019. Do you think the embassy will require us to renew the passport before the visa can be issued or they can exercise some flexibility? Thank you for your time.
April 9, 2018 at 15:48
Surely you would be better renewing the passport prior to the interview. Do that, and take both old and new passports to the interview.
April 9, 2018 at 02:28
Hi brit just wanna find out i lost my passport i fill in de ds260 i hve apply for de new passport. So i will hve to unlock or i can just go with the passport to de interview
April 9, 2018 at 15:49
Unlocking is normally better but you can just go to the interview with the new passport,. plus take proof of when you reported the old passport as lost.
April 10, 2018 at 05:23
Thanks for the reply. Sorry i didnt report it missing i juat went to the cameroon and apply 4 a new one. And i have the copy of the lost one.please just wanna know if it will cause any problem at the interview. Thanks in advance and May the good be with u thanks once more
April 9, 2018 at 01:42
hi simon , just question ,i recieve my 2nd letter for interview , and whene i m register in ustraveldoc.com for embassy ,they have a case who we must make date priority , and i do not inderstand what that mean , is it my date of interview or what
thanks again
April 9, 2018 at 15:51
DV cases don’t have a priority date – BUT you can enter the 1st of the month when you became current (i.e. 1st May 2018 for cases current in May).
April 9, 2018 at 00:31
Hi Brit
I wish to know if there is a number of visas allocated for each country in the Oceania region (cut off for each country).I searched but could not find anything.
Thank you
April 9, 2018 at 15:52
No. The quota is by region, not country.
April 8, 2018 at 22:39
Hello Brit,
I have won my green card this year (2018). Thanks to your support, it wasn’t as nerve wracking as it would have been otherwise. Thanks for everything that you do here!
I wanted to ask you – when I will move to the USA for the very first time if I still do not have a permanent address in the USA, is it possible to change it after I passed the POE once I get it? I plan to stay at AirBnb/Hotel/Hostel for the first few weeks till I get my bearings right and find a place to stay long term. I cannot give them my AirBnB since I will be moving during those few weeks a lot. What would you suggest in this scenario? Thanks a lot!
P.S. no family here, so can’t use them.
April 9, 2018 at 15:53
No – you cannot change AFTER the POE. The POE is the last chance you have to change the address, so use a friend or friend of a friend.
April 9, 2018 at 20:21
Hi BritSimon, and what about the USCIS website ? There is also possibility to change to address.
https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov
It says one of the advantages of the USCIS online account is “Change your U.S. mailing address”. Can you please clarify?
Thank you so much
April 9, 2018 at 20:38
Yes – that website is the correct place to change your address once you are residing here. BUT it WILL NOT affect where your GC and SSN is sent – which is why you must have a valid address on your file at the POE.
April 10, 2018 at 16:17
That’s a bit rubbish situation to be in. I have literally no one in the USA to use their address. I’m sure there has to be a way, because people can’t rent the long term apartments whilst being outside of the USA. There were millions of people winning green cards, getting there, getting it, and getting back home to their countries for 6-12months.
I know that until the payment is done, they do not send me the card. If I can’t change the address and I don’t have one – paying the payment is unnecessary, since I won’t get the green card anyway. I can’t imagine all the people winning the green card and having someone in the USA – that cannot be true. There has to be a way. I don’t know it yet though.
Thanks for your answer.
April 10, 2018 at 16:42
You need to ask a friend or a friend of a friend to user their postal address. It doesn’t have to be YOUR final address, just someone you can trust to receive your SSN and GC. If the GC is delivered and you don’t get it – the replacement is several hundred dollars.
April 11, 2018 at 15:07
Dear Brit I am asking a question from Addis Ababa
I sent the Dv 2018 entrance through the post office
But when they sent my name they made a mistake my sur name
the correct one is Nuri Adamu Bekele
they sent it Nura Adamu Bekele
I sent the Ds-260 the correct name. will this create a problem?
April 11, 2018 at 16:18
Normally no.
April 8, 2018 at 18:40
Hi Brit . i would like to ask , can i make some changes on my ds 260 at ceac site ? or i have to write to kcc to unlock my ds ?
April 8, 2018 at 19:16
You have to email KCC to unlock.
April 8, 2018 at 19:49
Thank you Brit .my child boy , but i did mistake and choose female . Is it big mistake ? Ask to unlock ds 260 for it ? Or i can explain it while interview ? What is you suggest ?
April 8, 2018 at 20:55
It’s not a big mistake. If you are not yet scheduled unlock and correct it, otherwise just correct at the interview.
April 8, 2018 at 17:27
Dear Britsimon,
Hope you are doing good.
I’m preparing now to move to the US soon. I want to ask you regarding the Point of Entry (POE) in the US. My final destination in US will be Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) but I will be transiting through, lets say JFK.
1) In this case which will be my POE, JFK (transit) or IAD (final destination)?
2) If JFK will the the POE, do you think I have to give some gap (more hours) between the flights as papers will be checked there and again I need to take my next flight to my final destination to IAD?
Thank you for your patience and answering all our questions.
April 8, 2018 at 19:15
1. JFK
2. Allow 3 to 4 hours