One of the blog members asked for a page solely for people to post their interview experiences. So this is it – with some rules!!!
First – NO questions on this page. Let’s keep it for interview experiences only – good and bad. I will probably delete questions to try and keep the page focused on interview experiences
Please at least mention your embassy (city and country, like Accra, Ghana) and brief details about what questions you were asked and any interesting points about documents you were asked for and any tips you can give others. This will be useful to others who have not yet had their interviews. People could use the search function to look for their embassy.
May 11, 2025 at 17:33
Hello Simon,
I was selected for the DV2026 but with an high number. EU37K.
Can I apply again in October for the DV2027?
Regards
Nick
May 11, 2025 at 19:40
Yes of course.
May 9, 2025 at 15:01
Hi guys! I wanted to do a post now that my immigration process is completed and that the new winners have been selected, explaining my timeline with the DV Lottery.
Premise: I know I got extremely lucky, from being selected in the first place to how easygoing the process was.
October 2023: Applied to the lottery together with my parents. (19yo at the time)
May 2024: Found out my father got selected. I was under 21 which means I could go through the process with him (20yo)
At this point, you get a case number. You need to fill out the DS-260 Formular (we did as soon as we could), and then wait. You kinda need to forget about it until September. In September, the fiscal year starts which means they are gonna start processing the Lottery cases from that year. You can check how that is going on the Visa Bulletin.
November 2024: We had a fairly low number, from EU. At the beginning of the month our case became current and we got the interview invite, for January. We then started to collect the documents that were gonna be needed for the interview and to have them translated to English. We also scheduled and did the mandatory medical examination. Also, we had to pay 330 $ per person in Visa Fees.
January 2025: We had our interview. Everything went smoothly, we got approved that same day and were told to come back for our visa 2 weeks later. Important: For every document you bring, have both a copy and original. No, only a copy is not enough, and that counts for every document.
After two weeks, we went to the embassy to pick up the visa, but it wasn’t ready. The change of administration happened which probably delayed things. We were told there weren’t any problems and to be patient.
Mid February 2025: Got the visa and a sealed envelope to hand to Border Patrol. You also get other papers and documents, one of which is another fee you need to pay online (per person) before entering the US on visa for the first time.
March 2nd 2025: Travelled to the US to activate the Visa. We only did a 4 days long trip to get things going. At the airport, immigration was fast and we didn’t have any issues. They stamped our visa and we got welcomed to the United States. We then travelled back. Important: The stamp acts as your green card until you get it delivered.
March 5th 2025: Social Security number got delivered at the address we provided. You have multiple chances to change the address if needed. We had to provide one during the DS-260 but ended up changing it during the interview in January 2025. It’s possible, just ask! I have an American partner so we were lucky to be able to use his address.
March 19th 2025: Physical Green card got delivered.
March 27th 2025: Travelled back to the US, this time for good. Didn’t have any issues, going through customs was probably a 50 seconds process. We were still using the stamps since we didn’t have the physical green card on us.
I hope this can be useful to someone. Good luck to all!
May 9, 2025 at 15:42
Thanks Elena, that will be helpful for someone here, I am sure!
April 23, 2025 at 06:54
Interview Experience
Myself, my wife and my daughter
Case number: 2025AF21XXX
Entry date: 31-10-2023
DS260 final submission date: 24-10-2024
2NL date: 24-01-2025
Interview Date: 5th March 2025.
Embassy: Cotonou – Benin
I unlocked my DS260 to change my current address to Benin to be able to get scheduled there and that never got my case delayed.
We got to the embassy at 8:30am. Passed through the security checks and was directed to the Hall.
Firstly we were directed to a window where we paid the visa fee (330×3) to the cashier and was directed to the next window where they checked all our documents and that is where I realized our case will be placed at 221g because the officer asked for a WASSCE result checker to validate my certificate and I didn’t have it.
Documents checked include:
Confirmation page of DS 260
5×5 passport pictures
Passports
Birth Certificates with copies
Marriage Certificate with copy
WASSCE Certificate with copy
Police Clearance
Medical results.
The gentleman organized all our documents, took our finger prints. He then gave back my High National Diploma certificate to me.
He asked about where I will be staying in the United State. I took a paper from my pocket and I mentioned the address. He asked, do you want to change the address because that is different from the one on your DS260 and I affirmed it. He then asked us to take a seat.
We were called for the interview after waiting for about 10mins.
CO: good morning how are you
We responded
Took an oath.
Took our finger prints with the exception of our 4year old daughter (minor)
CO: asked our 4yr old daughter. What is your name?
She mentioned her name.
CO: how old are you?
She answered.
CO: who is that woman holding you, is she your sister?
She didn’t get it and the CO asked again
Is she your sister?
She answered: No
CO: who is she?
She answered: mommy
CO: and this man?
She answered: daddy
CO: what class are you?
She answered.
CO: wow smart girl huh.
We all smiled 😁
CO: She asked us… any children?
Answered: No
CO: Did you marry before
We answered: No
CO: When did you meet
We answered
CO: how long have you been together
Answered
CO: when did you get married
Answered
CO: where will you be living?
Answered
CO: who is he to you?
Answered
CO: you didn’t bring the result checker today.
We will keep your passports.
She told us to provide the result checker(WAEC Pin) via email. The embassy will update you after a decision is made.
She gave us a letter and it stated that our case has been refused under section 221g because additional document which is the WAEC pin is required.
Interview was quick. Like within 3mins.
I got the result checker and I emailed it to the embassy.
Case status remained READY till 17th April and it changed to AP. Hoping to get to ISSUED this month.
Good luck to everyone.
April 23, 2025 at 08:50
Great! Best of luck.
April 17, 2025 at 01:32
My name is Franklin, am a DV selectee with case number 2025AF 28142, am a Nigerian but married to an Equatorial Guinea woman. So I cross charged to my wife’s nationality since Nigeria is not a qualifying nation.
Ds260 submitted on 9th may 2024, reopened to add a Cotonou address as advised by Simon and resubmitted in July 2024.
I got my 2NL on 14th February for an interview for the 2nd of march. I booked my medical at the medical d haivive in Cotonou for 2nd march 2025 at 9am.
On 2nd of April my family and I arrived at the United States embassy in cotonou at 6:45, we waited for security to come check which started by 8am. We were screened in and we went to the waiting hall. We were called to counter 1 to make payment which we did. After 10mins we were called to counter 2 to verify our documents. 30mins later we were called to counter 3 for bio metrics. At exactly 11:55 we were called to counter 4 by the consular officer where he asked us to raise our right hand and swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth which we did.
Question 1: is this Ur first marriage?
Answer: yes
Question 2: how many kids do you have?
Answer :2
Question 3: why are all the subjects not captured in your high school certificate?
Answer : An F does not get captured in the certificate.
Consular officer nodded.
He spoke in Spanish to my wife who in turn responded in Spanish and they smiled since my wife’s nationality speak Spanish.
Question 5: Do you have a diploma?
Answer: yes I presented my degree certificate.
He took and scanned for authenticity and gave documents back .
He said he can’t come up with a decision at the moment but insisted on keeping our passports. He issued a white sheet and thicker the last column on the 221g form. He asked us to go which we did.
12 days later I checked my ceac page and found that my status have changed to Administrative processing that’s on 15th April, on 16th April it changed to issued. Will be proceeding from Nigeria to Cotonou in a week to pick up all passports and visa package. Thanks Simon for all the assistance.
On a lighter note I forgot to state that we got selected twice in a row. 2024 with case number AF15116 but got stucked to the Lagos Nigeria embassy that never interviewed a single case, hence we had to move our case to Cotonou in the 2025 selection.
My advice to all is not to give up on the process,am a testimony to that effect.
April 17, 2025 at 23:08
Thanks and congratulations!