Ask questions here

So no need for my host to go to his USCIS account and fill the form I-134 online ??
Just manually fill it and then send the scanned supporting docs ?
That looks too e-z

Hi Simon,

I came across this blog post: https://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2024/11/bidens-last-and-best-gift-to-legal-immigrants-advancing-the-filing-dates-in-the-2025-january-visa-bulletin-to-current.html

While it doesn’t even mention diversity visa category, I was thinking it’s an interesting proposal and I’m not entirely sure if it would truly be a favor for prospective immigrants. How realistic do you think this move is? Do you know if anyone has recommended the Biden administration to actually consider doing this? Do you think it would be fair in the context of DV? If all CNs become current in the final visa bulletin under the Biden administration (February bulletin so March numbers) that would mean 1) CP people getting processed through faster consulates will have a disproportionately higher chance of being issued visas even if they have high CNs and 2) People who are able to get ready for their interviews early will cut in line before people who have lower CNs but need time to organize documents and finances. Finally, do you think that USCIS would be severely backlogged after such a decision to the point that DV AOS processing times become lengthier? Thanks!

Hi. Might not be very important, but it seems that Green Card matters will be handeled by Sweden’s embassy for Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) from December 2nd.

Hi Simon,

1) I just read your post on the Affidavit of Support ; I have 15,000€ savings, do you think It is more secure to ask my friend in California (it will be his address to receive the green card) to make an AOS ? He already did an AOF for his mother who’s from mexico. All my papers are ready, started the vaccines, but this AOF thing drives me nuts 🙂

2) I’m an EU12,3K so next feb will be the interview time and if all my calculations are correct the KCC will notice me second half of december right ?

Merci Simon!

Hi Simon

Thanks for all your insightful videos. Just a quick question on eligibility. I have dual nationality; I have a UK passport and a Spanish Passport. I got the Spanish passport through my Dad who was born in Spain but my mother was born in England. I know the UK is eligible for DV2026 but as you predict this may be the last year UK is eligible to enter the DV lottery. If this turns out to be the case therefore, for DV2027, I wanted to ask could I apply using my spanish nationality by virtue of having the spanish passport? I know I was not born in Spain and neither was my mother. I don’t think I can but I just wanted to double-check with you. My understanding from the rules is that I would either have to be born in spain or else both my parents would have had to be born there and not just one.

Thanks for clarifying
R

Hello Simon , hope you are doing good , i’m trying to fill up the DS260 but im getting the error message <> i made sure that the name , the date and the case / confirmation numbers are correct but i still got the same message the second time .

here are the details i entered

Case number : 2025AFXXX ( no zeroes )
Confirmation number : 2025XXXXXXXXXXXX
Family name in uppercase
DD/MM/YYYY
and the captcha

did i mess up somewhere ? if so when can i retry to login since i already made 2 attemps today .

Thanks a lot

Hi, I m sajith from Sri Lanka and My case number is AS 122*** and DV 2025 winner.When I looked on CEAC data Upto 10,000 only cases were reviewed in Sri Lanka for 2024 lottery, by the way earlier It has been interviewed lot more than that. 1.Do you know any particular reason for that 2.How soon I be able to get CEAC data 2.I think there is a little possiblity by the way 3.Through CEAC data I think can get a little early prediction 4.Please let me know oppinion about those statements

KCC have email me that my DS 260 have been processed but up till now I have not yet received my 2NL and I am AF1xxx and my case was current since October. Any suggestions or idea

What do you know about the process? Do they process everything now or are they just lotting everything and then checking the pictures? Is there anyone that might have been selected by now till May next year?

Hello Simon,

I’m DV2025 winner. I was born in Colombia but grew up in Angola, i have both nationalities and im married with an angolan so i chose eligibility from Angola. When filling DS260 what country of origin (nationality) i use, Colombia or Angola?
And about the US address, is there a problem if the person who lives there isnt a LPR?

Any advice appreciated. Thank you

Hello , Simon
The Republicans hold the majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, so the end of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery seems imminent. They are likely to pass a law to eliminate it easily. What do you think about this?

Sir,
I know people they entered lottery as couple with several ladies.
They entered as principal with one, the others as depends. I told him he will be ban from lottery for years or fo ever.
Am I right

Hello Simon ,

A) If Trump wants to end the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, all BritSimon followers should send emails to all 47 Democratic senators, urging them to use the filibuster to block the law from passing. The filibuster would allow the minority party to delay or prevent the law’s passage unless 60 votes are obtained to overcome it. By pressuring senators, they could aim to gather enough opposition to the bill .

B) Trump could issue proclamations to suspend or modify the DV Lottery program for various reasons. Here are some potential reasons for suspending the DV Lottery and the likelihood that a court would uphold or block such actions:

1/ National Security Concerns
Reason: The president could argue that certain countries or regions present national security risks, justifying the suspension of the lottery for applicants from those areas.
Court Likelihood: Courts have historically given the executive branch significant power in national security matters, but challenges could arise if the suspension is deemed overly broad or discriminatory. (Likelihood of court approval: 60-70%)

Public Health (e.g., during a pandemic)
Reason: A proclamation could argue that suspending the DV Lottery helps limit immigration during public health crises (like COVID-19), to prevent potential spread of disease.
Court Likelihood: Courts may allow temporary suspensions based on public health, but they will scrutinize whether the policy is necessary, fair, and not excessive. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)

Economic Protection (e.g., jobs for U.S. citizens)
Reason: Trump could argue that suspending the DV Lottery protects American jobs by limiting immigration during economic downturns or high unemployment periods.
Court Likelihood: Courts are less likely to side with the executive branch on economic grounds unless there’s a clear, documented link between immigration and adverse economic effects. (Likelihood of court approval: 40-50%)

Legal/Regulatory Reform
Reason: The proclamation could claim that the DV Lottery is outdated and in need of reform before continuing.
Court Likelihood: While the president can advocate for policy change, suspending the lottery unilaterally might face legal challenges. If it’s tied to a legal or regulatory reform effort, courts may be more inclined to support it. (Likelihood of court approval: 40-50%)

Overhaul of Immigration System
Reason: The president might argue that a suspension is needed while the entire immigration system undergoes reform, such as reducing the number of immigrants admitted.
Court Likelihood: Courts would likely consider whether such a broad suspension is within the president’s authority and if it aligns with congressional intent. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)

Note: The success of any proclamation could be influenced by legal challenges and the specific circumstances of each case, as well as the composition of the courts at the time.

Immigration Control and Border Security
Reason: The proclamation could argue that ending or suspending the DV Lottery is necessary for stronger immigration control and better border security, ensuring that immigrants are vetted more thoroughly before entering the U.S.
Court Likelihood: The courts would likely defer to the executive branch on immigration enforcement matters. However, if the suspension disproportionately affects certain groups or is seen as an overreach, courts might block it. (Likelihood of court approval: 60-70%)
Fraud Prevention
Reason: Trump might claim that suspending the DV Lottery is necessary to prevent fraud in the system, particularly if there’s evidence of misuse of the lottery for fraudulent immigration or visa purposes.
Court Likelihood: Courts are generally supportive of actions meant to prevent fraud, as it is within the executive branch’s purview to safeguard U.S. immigration processes. However, they will evaluate whether the suspension is narrowly tailored to address legitimate concerns. (Likelihood of court approval: 60-70%)
Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Relations
Reason: The suspension could be framed as a way to influence foreign policy or diplomatic relations with specific countries. For example, Trump could suspend the DV Lottery for countries that do not cooperate in anti-terrorism or immigration enforcement efforts.
Court Likelihood: Presidents have significant discretion in foreign policy matters. However, if the suspension targets specific countries without clear policy justifications or appears to discriminate unfairly, courts could strike it down. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)
Environmental or Climate Change Impact
Reason: Another potential justification could be suspending the DV Lottery based on concerns about the environmental impact of increasing immigration. Trump might argue that this aligns with broader environmental or climate change policies that focus on limiting population growth.
Court Likelihood: Courts are likely to view such a suspension with skepticism unless it is backed by strong evidence. Immigration policy is generally not shaped by environmental concerns alone, so it could face legal challenges. (Likelihood of court approval: 30-40%)
Humanitarian or Public Safety Concerns (Terrorism or Criminal Threats)
Reason: Trump could argue that suspending the DV Lottery is necessary to protect the U.S. from individuals who may pose a security or public safety threat. This could be based on concerns about terrorism or criminal activity.
Court Likelihood: Courts would likely uphold the suspension if clear evidence is presented linking immigration policies with increased threats to national security or public safety. However, they would scrutinize whether the suspension is fair and based on legitimate security concerns rather than being discriminatory. (Likelihood of court approval: 60-75%)
Budgetary or Administrative Costs
Reason: Trump could claim that suspending the DV Lottery would reduce the financial burden on the U.S. government associated with processing large numbers of visa applications, especially if the government is facing fiscal constraints or inefficiency in the system.
Court Likelihood: Courts are less likely to give weight to budgetary concerns unless they are directly tied to specific statutory or regulatory authority. A suspension based solely on administrative cost-saving might face significant legal challenges. (Likelihood of court approval: 40-50%)
Protection of U.S. Workers and Employment
Reason: The proclamation could argue that suspending the DV Lottery helps protect U.S. workers, particularly in times of high unemployment or economic instability, by reducing competition for jobs.
Court Likelihood: While courts could support temporary suspensions based on urgent economic concerns, they may be less likely to approve an indefinite suspension unless there’s clear evidence showing harm to U.S. workers directly tied to the DV Lottery. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)
Refugee and Asylum Seekers Prioritization
Reason: Trump could argue that the U.S. should prioritize asylum seekers and refugees over diversity visa applicants, claiming that the current system dilutes focus from individuals facing immediate danger or persecution.
Court Likelihood: Courts may allow such a shift in priorities, as the president has authority to manage immigration policy, but it would likely face opposition if it involves unfairly limiting the ability of people from certain countries or regions to apply for the DV Lottery. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)
“America First” Policy
Reason: Trump could frame the suspension of the DV Lottery as part of his broader “America First” agenda, arguing that prioritizing American citizens and limiting foreign immigration benefits is necessary to restore national strength.
Court Likelihood: A “America First” justification may face significant legal challenges if it is seen as discriminatory or overly broad, particularly if it violates anti-discrimination or international treaty obligations. (Likelihood of court approval: 40-50%)
Emergency Powers or National Emergency Declaration
Reason: In an extreme scenario, Trump might declare a national emergency and use that declaration as justification for suspending the DV Lottery. The rationale could involve an unspecified crisis, such as a threat to national security, economic collapse, or a sudden and catastrophic shift in immigration patterns.
Court Likelihood: National emergency declarations are subject to scrutiny, and the courts would assess whether the declaration is justified, the emergency is genuine, and whether the suspension violates the law. Historically, emergency powers have been challenged but not always overturned. (Likelihood of court approval: 50-60%)
Overall Summary:

Higher likelihood of court approval: National security, fraud prevention, and public safety concerns (60-75%).
Moderate likelihood of court approval: Economic protection, foreign policy, asylum prioritization, and immigration enforcement (50-60%).
Lower likelihood of court approval: Environmental concerns, budgetary or administrative costs, and “America First” policies that seem to disproportionately target specific groups or lack a clear legal basis (30-50%).
Each of these proclamations would likely be subject to legal challenges, and the final outcome would depend on how they align with existing immigration laws, constitutional principles, and whether they appear to be fair or discriminatory in practice.

Hi Simon,
Does this response mean that ds-260 is processed ?

Thank you for your inquiry.

Records indicate you have submitted a complete and valid DS-260 application for each family member to the Kentucky Consular Center. Interviews are scheduled numerically based on case numbers that have completed processing. Please refer to the visa bulletin at https://travel.state.gov to locate the current numbers being processed. This bulletin is updated after the 15th day of each month. Once an interview date has been scheduled, you will receive notification via email to check dvprogram.state.gov.

My cn is 2025af14xxx. When can I get the 2nl.

Hi Simon,

My family and I have September 2024 issued DV2024 visas and plane tickets Bulgaria-Istanbul-Dulles bought for February 2025. We have the option to change dates, however we still have loose ends on Bulgaria that need to be wrapped for those 2-3 weeks between inauguration and our arrival.
I don’t believe there would be a travel ban imposed on Bulgaria, however I’m worried about flying from Turkey, as we chose Turkish Airlines for our travel – would there be an issue with that?

Any advice appreciated, thank you.