The “February” visa bulletin has been published. It concerns the case numbers eligible for March interviews.
As of this evening, the VB is published BUT is not available through the normal link – that link still says coming soon. However, the VB is available at this link.
For those that are current, and have forms processed early enough, they can expect their 2NL in about 1 to 2 weeks from now. I know I am going to get a lot of people who will ask me this exact question – so let me say that again. 2NLs will be sent in about one or two weeks time.
It is possible that some people will be current for March interviews, but will not be scheduled in March because they submitted late, or there is a processing backlog that causes a delay. February interviews were based mainly on cases submitted up to late July.
To those new to looking at VBs, let me explain what the “except” XXX country means (for Iran Nepal, Egypt and Ethiopia).
Processing is spread out over the full year. You can see the progress of the two previous years in this post about basic questions. However, some countries have a high number of selectees and those selectees are concentrated in the lower case numbers. For various reasons, mainly to do with embassy capacity, KCC slow down certain countries as compared to the region. So – in Africa, any case with a case number shown as under the new number can be interviewed but for cases from Egypt or Ethiopia, that number is lower. That isn’t a big problem, it just “slows down” those countries a little more than the rest of the region. Since selectees from those countries all have lower case numbers, this slowing down does not present any risk. It does not (at this point) mean they won’t allow all selectees an interview from those countries.
To understand why some countries get lower case numbers, read this article about the lottery draw process.
Read this link if you are unsure how to read the visa bulletin.
WHY IS THERE NO CHANGE FOR AF AND AS REGIONS? PLEASE READ BELOW!!!!
As I have been warning for a couple of months now, the pace for a couple of regions has slowed down. AF and AS regions have not increased at all (apart from the exception countries). As I said – I predicted that. I expected it. It is nothing to panic about. It is NORMAL. Remember this is a 12 month process and these March interviews are only for month 6 out of the 12. So RELAX!!!!
So why has this happened for AS and AF regions.
First AS region.
In Asia, about 80% of all the cases in the first 7000/8000 case numbers are assigned to Iran and Nepal. So – whilst the region as a whole has not increased, Nepal and Iran have increased, and therefore new cases have become current. That is simple to understand. There is a good increase for Iran and Nepal. Iran will possibly have the country exception removed next month since it is roughly in line with AS region as a whole.
Africa is slightly different. Let me explain how KCC organize their work. In order to meet the regional quotas, KCC try to schedule about 2000 AF region cases per month. That means around 3500 people (including derivatives), and from those interviews, approved cases would be sufficient to meet the regional quota in less than 12 months. There is no need to go faster than that, and in order to operate at best efficiency it makes sense to spread the workload over the whole year.
OK – hopefully that is clear to you. So then where do they get 2000 interviews from? Well, first of all they take into account how many people are already current but were waiting for their DS260’s to be processed. Next they increase the VB by enough numbers to yield the remaining cases needed to get the number of interviews they want. Since the number for last month was 28700, any number below that number was already current in previous months. BUT if someone had submitted in August, that case is only just now able to be scheduled. These are cases from the DS260 “backlog”. This month, those backlog cases (plus some for Ethiopia and Egypt) were obviously enough to fill all the interview slots with no additional increase in the AF region number.
This does NOT mean all the visas for AF region are assigned. It doesn’t mean there won’t be any more increased in subsequent months. It simply means they don’t need to increase the number this month.
Like I said – I have warned this was likely to happen. It should not be a surprise. Remember, the DV process is a test of patience.
February 16, 2017 at 11:56
Hi Brit,
while the number on the bulletin gone far, there are still plenty of cases at NVC. i.e. CNs below 20,000 particularly in AF. Is that because of ceac data is not up-to-date or the applications are not yet processed by KCC or the applicants?
February 16, 2017 at 14:44
Some will be people that submitted late, some will be people, who decided not to proceed with the win.
February 16, 2017 at 04:58
Hello Brit, I hope you are doing good. I have submitted my ds 260 form and I just find out that, on my step daughter ds 260 form, they have other name used. She was using her mother father name before we met, but she don’t used it anymore. Because she is carrying my name. Do I have to open the ds 260 form and add her past name?
Thanks bro
February 16, 2017 at 05:53
That isn’t absolutely necessary for a derivative.
February 1, 2017 at 11:29
Good Morning Britt,
I am kind like worry about my case, my case number is 2017AF0020XXX and I submitted on the 13th of December 2016, my fear i submitted late and presently KCC is on 2017AF0028700, whether my case will be current due to the late submission of my case, please advice where you will give an estimated time for my case to be current.
February 1, 2017 at 18:59
I expect you to wait for at least another 2 months before you are scheduled.
January 26, 2017 at 15:41
Dear Mr.Brit,
Thanks again. I have one more question. My son is just 02 years old. Will he be needed a seperate passport for him or just including his name in parents passports will be ok? I have heard different views regarding infants visa to USA, please help me.
Fonseka
January 26, 2017 at 16:21
A different passport.
January 26, 2017 at 18:16
Thank you very much
January 21, 2017 at 06:49
Dear Simon
my case no is 19xxx from Egypt . when checked visa status mention At NVC
what the meaning it?
thanx
January 21, 2017 at 07:39
https://britsimonsays.com/2017-ceac-system-available/
January 20, 2017 at 18:46
Hi Brit.
My wife is principle applicant and she is russian. And i am from Turkey.
We submitted our ds form at 04 august and never unlocked. We got 2NL for March 21st.
for me interview date is little bit late actually. I was expecting our date at least first week of march. But anyway finally we got the date and how works KCC made my mind goes blank :))
Case number: 2017EU6XXX
DS submission: 04 August 2016 (No re-submission and never unlocked)
Interview : 21 March 2017 Moscow, Russia
This above information for your feedback.
Thanks a lot.
January 20, 2017 at 18:10
EU18xxx
First submission: 24/05/16
Unlock and resubmitted: 07/06/16
Unlock and resubmitted again on: 08/11/16
2nl received today.
Thanks Brit. As Brit advised, so far the DS is submitted on time, unlocking does not affect 2nl.
January 20, 2017 at 18:10
2017AF0019***
ds260 sub : 16 aout 2016
never unocked
2nl reseved today
interviou : fin march
January 20, 2017 at 17:36
We received our 2NL thankfully just few minutes ago..
We submitted our DS260 on 10/9 and never unlocked.
Our interview is on 1/3
I just wanted to share that with you for your information
Thanks alot for all your help
January 20, 2017 at 17:24
Recieved for March interview 2nl,submitted Sep 01 never unocked.
January 20, 2017 at 17:24
got 2nl for march interview
January 20, 2017 at 17:10
Hello Simon
I confirm , 2nd letter received interview 07/03.
January 20, 2017 at 17:23
2nd Letter received today at around 15H05 Brazil time
CN2017EU10XXX
My wife from Brazil won (France as coutry of chargebility)
I am French and play since 2008 never won
15/06/16 First submission
30/08/16 Re-opening
09/09/16 2nd Submission
20/01/17 2nd letter
07/03/17 Interview at US consulate RIO
Best regards
January 20, 2017 at 16:58
Dear Brit I received my 2Nl for the interview March my case af00027xxx ds260 valid the 30 july.