There are people who for one reason or another have not yet submitted their DS260. AS I have posted before, the window to safely delay your submission is closing fast. It might be the case that processing times speed up, but so far we have not seen evidence of that. We might see some increase in the next batch of 2NLs, but I wanted to send this warning now, just in case times have not reduced.
IT is probably helpful to understand the current processing times.
So far each month that goes by they have bundled up another months worth of DS260s. So – most forms submitted up to the end of July got 2NLs in December (assuming they were current of course). Most forms submitted in August got 2NLs in January (March interviews). In a week or so we will start to hear from people who get February 2NLs. If those people are submissions only up to the end of September it will mean there has been no increase in speed. If however we see some October submissions in there it will show there has been a small increase in speed.
However, if we assume there is no increase in speed at all the table of DS260 submission date to interview date would look something like this (this is in general – there will be cases that are exceptions to this timeline).
Now this table includes pretty much all submissions in a given month. By now the majority of cases will have been processed – so I don’t think a reduction in the waiting time before processing starts is unreasonable – but that is common sense talking and KCC don’t seem to work under the laws of common sense. We know that KCC haven’t even been looking at DS260s for 3 to 4 weeks up until recently.
Then the last point is the complexity/speed of the DS260 processing. Not all DS260s process at exactly the same speed. A simple case of an unmarried person from a English speaking cooperative country with limited travel history is going to need less processing time than someone from somewhere such as Iran and with a spouse and 2 kids over 18.
So – as I mentioned before – submitting your DS260 is a gamble. I would expect to see an increase in speed soon – at least until the May 2016 influx of work BUT I would not want to bet my own case on that gamble!
August 3, 2021 at 21:45
Hi Brit
Thanks for all you help I sent an inquiry around June to kcc and i got a reply today and they said my forms has been received and are currently processing and should take several weeks then the went ahead to say they have also received my documents, was wondering if that’s a good thing or what it meant
Case number 2021AF30xxx
Submitted Ds260 in may and documents in June
August 4, 2021 at 05:08
It doesn’t mean anything.
September 28, 2020 at 12:07
Hi Brit,
Thank you very much for your very useful website. My case number is AF17xxx. I am not sure how different the timelines you gave above could be for 2021. For professional reasons, I wish to be invited for interview only after May 2021. Not before that. How late do you think I can submit my DS260? Thanks
September 28, 2020 at 18:51
February or March would be ideal.
September 24, 2020 at 21:06
Hi Brit,thanks for all your help,please I have just summited my documents on the 8th September,and I am having some worries
Firstly ,After summiting the documents ,do I need to register for the interview and make the medicals ? Or will I recieve an email from KCC before I can register for the interview.
September 24, 2020 at 22:58
You have to wait for them. That could take a long time, depending on your case number.
October 23, 2019 at 09:16
Is this timeline still the same for DV2020?
I am wondering if november is too late for interview in April or May.. My CN is EU32XXX
October 23, 2019 at 16:14
The process has changed since this article was published. No, November is not too late.
May 24, 2019 at 07:58
If I apply for ds260 mentioning my accompanying children, do my children have to mention submitting ds260 on their F1 Visa application in case they apply in future? Or am I the only one who will have to mention if I am submitting the f1 visa application?
May 24, 2019 at 14:14
They would have to declare that, depending on their ages when you apply.
May 24, 2019 at 14:24
For what ages do they have to declare?
May 24, 2019 at 14:30
The question being whether they are under 18 when you fill in the form. But even then, they should say YES to that question. Having said that, if you do everything right, they will have Green Cards anyway, so won’t need F1s.
May 24, 2019 at 14:38
My case number is very high, so it’s better to send ds260 for dv2020 next year or so, right? I think I should only send them if the visa bulletin gets somewhat close to my number. In this way, if the case number is too high to obtain the green cards, there’s still chance to get F1 Visa somewhere in the future by avoiding to send the ds260. What do you think about this? Thank you so much for answering
May 24, 2019 at 15:50
Yes – that is the point of the article below.
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2020-dont-submit-ds260-until-you-read-this/
May 17, 2019 at 17:51
Hi guys,
I have submitted my ds-260 and need to apply for F1. Is there any chance that I get the F1? Or do you suggest any solution for increasing my chance for getting the F1?
May 17, 2019 at 20:42
Your F1 application might be denied because of the DS260. No solution.
October 9, 2018 at 11:30
Hi Simon,
Im an applicant from Burundi (Africa). I entered the lottery in 2016. I filled my ds260 form in September 2018 close to the deadline day. My question is if I still have a chance to be scheduled for interview?
October 9, 2018 at 13:58
Do you mean a DV2018 case? If so, DV2018 is closed, there is no way to process a DV2018 case.
October 8, 2018 at 07:45
Hi, Simon. I submitted my DS260 form on the 1st of August. My case number is 2019EU7XXX. As I understand my number is relatively low, does that mean that my interview is likely to be postponed because of DS form processing times?
October 8, 2018 at 14:02
No.
September 11, 2018 at 10:55
Hi BritSimon
Am trying to enter my KCC number and passport number to electronically sign in my application but it has refused to work.
September 11, 2018 at 16:13
In order to get help – you have to be clear about what you are doing.
August 8, 2018 at 21:25
Thanks very much for this blog . Very helpful.
July 30, 2018 at 10:09
Hi Simon, i applied for a non-immigrant visa in 2001 that is 17 years ago and was denied twice.I have now been selected for the 2019dv and my case no. is Af20xxx, i would like to know whether this will ever affect my visa interview and whether i should indicate it when submitting my ds260
July 30, 2018 at 14:19
Tell the truth in the form. No it should not affect you.
July 22, 2018 at 14:48
Dear Simon
What is the last month for filling ds260 form for 2019 should I fill up and of September?
July 22, 2018 at 17:07
People will still be submitting DV2019 DS260s well into next year.
July 17, 2018 at 11:08
Salam Simon;
i was selected in DV2019 on 15 may i filled my DS-260 at 30 jun and my husband filled his on the 14 of July, my case number is 2019AF00027xxx my questions are?
1- When are we going to get are 2NL for interview?
2- which one of the completed DS-260 counts as i was the one who was selected and my husband is the accompany me?
July 17, 2018 at 14:32
1. https://britsimonsays.com/dv2019-basic-questions/
2. They both “count”. What do you mean?
June 24, 2018 at 07:27
Hello
I was selected on 2nd may 2017. My cn is 2018F00049xxx. I submitted my ds260 on 28th June 2017 but I have not received the 2nd notification letter.
Is this mean I was ignored and unlucky to go further to the interview? because I heard that all cases left have been released.
June 24, 2018 at 14:26
No it does not mean that. They will be scheduling cases for another few weeks.
June 23, 2018 at 00:01
Hi simon,
Just wondering,
if we not submit DS260, will we get 2NL for our interview appointment or not?
June 23, 2018 at 00:41
What should I based by advice on. Your name? Your email address?
June 5, 2018 at 06:14
Hi
I really wish to find help here.
Actually, I am selected in the DV-2019 and have submited the DS-260 ( the 25 May ). My case N. 2019AF47XXX
-How long will I have to wait for a respons ?
-Does the case number affects the interview date?
Thanks in advance for the help.
June 5, 2018 at 13:46
The case number determines the interview date – you will wait over 1 year.
June 4, 2018 at 23:46
Hi Simone,
thanks a lot for this blog, this is so helpful.
Do I understand right that you can submit DS260 for DV2019 between now and September 2019??
So if I am getting married by the end of this year, it will be fine to submit in Jan 19?
Thanks
June 4, 2018 at 23:56
Yes and yes.