This is important news.
The State department have confirmed that visas can be issued (exceptions can be granted) for people applying for immigrant visas (such as DV) in countries that are affected by the regional 14 day restrictions.
In practical terms that means the impact of the regional bans is greatly reduced, although it still might affect people travelling through those areas during activation trips – that remains to be clarified.
So for people in some embassies, this should be helpful news.
Now – it is too early to celebrate and to assume that it will be full speed ahead. We can see that many embassies are working at reduced capacity as the May 2NLs were disappointingly low.
I am also not seeing a flood of “ready for scheduling” notices, which to me suggests that the KCC document processing is still a problem. Without some rapid movement there we will see a frustrating period for people trying to get their documents processed. It is ESSENTIAL to submit documents ASAP whether you have been asked or not. Don’t bother asking me – that will be my answer!
The lack of documents processed will probably cause fast progression of the VB numbers, but that will just increase the confusion and unfairness as it will become a lottery of sorts to see who has their documents processed, who gets scheduled and so on.
I HOPE the systemic capacity issue can be addressed, but we are running low on remaining time – with only 4 months of interviews yet to be announced.
So – a good news/bad news type of update today….
Here is the State Dept announcement for those that want to read it.
April 8, 2021 at 4:09 pm
I think my theory of the VB becoming current for SA is feasible. The ban is limiting a lot of those doing consular processing.
April 8, 2021 at 4:11 pm
I am doing AOS, but I have SA30XX, which would not be good news, but I think I might be somewhat benefited from the ban. What do you think?
April 8, 2021 at 5:33 pm
Not the ban per se – the general mess.
But actually if you had heard me talk about it before SA always had the best chance of being mathematically current – because of the situation in the two main countries and the newness of Peru.
April 10, 2021 at 2:56 am
We hope so! I’m from Honduras SA3XXX , my country is longer eligible to participate in DV2022 and this could be the last chance.
April 8, 2021 at 5:31 pm
Yes of course its possible! The whole thing is so badly screwed up that Charlie Oppenheim thinks no one wants a visa.
April 8, 2021 at 10:00 pm
why do you say it had? don’t you think bogota can start doing interviews? Venezuelans in a large number are ready for an interview, we just wait for Bogota to start. our situation as a country is critical and we trust in this process. Our air borders are open so we can travel to Bogota. expensive but many of us will make the effort, we just want this to be treated as a critical mission and for Bogota to start.
April 9, 2021 at 3:33 am
It’s my impression based on historical comparison and common sense.
April 8, 2021 at 4:15 pm
Thank you SO MUCH for this update! My partner is around 35,000 for Africa, we are submitting his documents ASAP and keeping our fingers crossed he gets an interview.
April 8, 2021 at 4:16 pm
Hi Brit, thanks for what you do. My case has been current since Nov last year. My status is ‘Ready’ in the CEA xhartuis. I have checked in the dv lottery results and noticed that my interview is next month. My worry is I have not received any email or letter from my embassy. Can I go for my interview on that day even if I don’t receive the email?
Thank you
April 8, 2021 at 5:35 pm
Why are you worried about the email? IGNORE THE EMAIL!!!! It doesn’t say anything important. You have the date – get ready!
April 8, 2021 at 4:19 pm
Hello,
I was selected in the lottery and my number is EU22xxx and I am going through the AoS process. My lawyer has not sent my documents yet and she suggested to wait until my number becomes current in order to send the documents. Do you think that this is good idea or I should push her to send the ASAP?
Thank you so much for your help
April 8, 2021 at 5:39 pm
You cannot file until you see your number is under the published number on the VB. That is likely to be in the next few days. That is called the early filing policy, and it seems neither you nor your lawyer understand that.
April 9, 2021 at 9:50 am
hi Mr brit thank you for your support My Cn is 44xx Africa region, my embassy has started interviews 12 people will be interviewed on April 22, there are even two who have case number greater than mine 55xx and 62xx. obliged to contact the kcc since I have already received the email ready for an interview since the beginning of September of last year and here is their answer since 18 march
Thank you for your inquiry.
Your case number is now current for interview processing. Once the interview date has been scheduled, you will receive notification via email to check https://dvprogram.state.gov. If you need to make changes to your DS-260 you should contact the consular section where you will be interviewed, or bring the information about your changes to your interview appointment. Because your case is ready to be scheduled, can no longer unlock your application.
and yet I still haven’t received a letter for the May interviews
April 9, 2021 at 1:24 pm
You will get a 2NL later this month for a June interview. Patience.
April 8, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Any hope for DV2020 folks?
April 8, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Dear Mr Brit,
I’m dv 2020. I got my visa on 3rd April. I could not reissued my visa on September because the embassy in my country is closed.
Please can I apply now? Is there any hope for me?
Thanks
April 8, 2021 at 5:40 pm
You have to wait. The embassy would simply say your case is over. So wait until the final outcome of the Gomez lawsuit – expect that in very late April or May.
April 8, 2021 at 4:36 pm
Can this be considered as bad news for pepole who take part on the last impact team lawswit ? (beacause the purpose was to challange the shengen ban first) ?
April 8, 2021 at 4:59 pm
my friend , consider this amount of money for the lawsuit as an insurance , you make every year an insurance for your health and most of people dont use it so , we should be in win win sides .
April 8, 2021 at 5:42 pm
No. I had already addressed that point in a video explaining the lawsuits. The biggest problem now is getting scheduled. Being a named plaintiff can help with that, so the people that spent their money on lawsuits may still win a benefit.
April 8, 2021 at 4:37 pm
Hi Brit,
Thank you for all the hard work you do!
My case number is pretty low, less than 1500, and I got the ‘Documents received’ email in Jan.
But as I saw from dvcharts.xarthisius, last month people with numbers up to 2k received their 2NLs, and this month – 2k-4k. Should I be worried something is wrong with my case? Should I send an email to KCC?
Also, if I had a vacation trip to some country after submitting DS260, should I update the DS and resend it? There was a question about recently visited countries. But resubmitting of DS sounds like a risky thing to do, given the circumstances.. it will take even more time to process, if I resubmit.
April 8, 2021 at 4:43 pm
For people who received NLs – I mean it’s case numbers for my particular embassy
April 8, 2021 at 5:42 pm
Patience.
Don’t update the recent trip.
April 9, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Thank you!
April 8, 2021 at 5:17 pm
I was gonna do AOS as I am in the country right now since October and I am Schengen. Should I still proceed with AOS given this development?
April 8, 2021 at 5:44 pm
For such a critical decision you have to decide for yourself.
April 8, 2021 at 5:18 pm
Hi Brit, Many thanks for the update. My case is AF89XX but I am yet to recieve 2NL. Is it in place to contact KCC at all to enquire when 2NL for my case will be sent. I am honestly reluctant to do so because they may just respond with a generic message.
Thanks.
April 8, 2021 at 5:44 pm
What would be so bad about a generic message??
April 8, 2021 at 5:45 pm
About these exceptions:
Now Can I make my transit in any Schengen airports ?
The 14 days still applied for anyone who made his transit there or he’s originally from EU ?
Thank you!
April 9, 2021 at 3:17 am
Did you read what I wrote?
April 8, 2021 at 7:27 pm
Hi brit,
According to the reading on USCIS web i am eligible for AOS. Still i am not sure if this can be done with a turist visa and a current Cn. What are the potetinal risk of going under AOS procces?
Many thanks
April 9, 2021 at 3:26 am
You have to wait at least 90 days after entering to avoid suspicion that you lied upon entry. You must be careful. In normal times I would suggest that you don’t try this, but if you understand the process and the risks, you could try it since the alternative is also risky.
April 9, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Thank you! I am trying to understand the risks and than decide! But no one is explaining them to me. Now its more clear. In their website was stated that nin imigrants visa can apply for dos, but not specified if turist visa is eligible
April 8, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Hello Brit, my cn is 7,5xx and I am documentarily qualified but I haven’t been scheduled for interview yet.
Been living here in France and originally won the DV lottery here. In December, I asked KCC to transfer my case from the Schengen area (France) to my home country in Africa due to the Schengen ban and they did.
I just recently returned back to the Schengen area (FRANCE), I wrote KCC recently and they said my case is current and if I intend to make any changes I should contact the Embassy where my interview is schedule. But UNFORTUNATELY, since the removal of pp10014, the embassy in my home country has not scheduled any DV2021 for interview yet. Frustrating the embassy in my home country is not responding to emails inquiries and are not providing any updates on DV2021 even though they are open.
With this latest development, the good news in France is I wrote the embassy here in FRANCE this evening and they said, they will be open to interviewing immigrant including DVs “very shortly”.
Therefore, with the potential commencement of DV2021 interviews in France shortly:
1. How / can I contact the Embassy in my home country (Africa) to transfer my case/DS260 back to France because they are not even scheduling DV2021 despite the embassy being open?
2. Will they open my case (so I can update my address) since in fact they have not contact KCC about interview availability?
3. KCC said, “if you need to make changes to your DS-260 you should contact the consular section where you will be interview” (in this case the Embassy in my home/Africa), will the Embassy in my home be able to transfer my case back to France or open my case so I can update my address even though I haven’t been schedule???
Thanks for your help.
April 9, 2021 at 3:31 am
1. You haven’t been scheduled yet so the AF embassy doesn’t have your case. Contact KCC.
2 & 3. see 1
April 8, 2021 at 9:41 pm
dear Brit, and AF50K with a ready for scheduling email from August 2020 still had a chance to be interviewd before the deadline ? I know you do not do predictions but I just wanna know your opinion. I know your very realistic
April 9, 2021 at 3:32 am
Well that would be a prediction wouldn’t it.
April 8, 2021 at 10:32 pm
Hi Brit, thanks for the precious update, should i send my documents even if i have a high case number? Or was your advice for those that have a CN near to the VB? thank you
April 8, 2021 at 11:32 pm
You should send the documents
April 9, 2021 at 3:33 am
Really???
April 8, 2021 at 11:02 pm
First of all, thanks for the competent and selfless advice you give people every day!
Now to my question: I am a European DV winner under the age of 18 and will only turn 18 during the next fiscal year. I fulfill all education requirements and can provide assets well above the usual $10,000, as well as a sound plan for my future in the US (e.g. college).
I didn’t think my age would become a problem, but am now hearing things to the contrary. Do you think my age alone will be a reason for rejection?
Thanks in advance
April 9, 2021 at 3:35 am
Age is not technically a problem, but it would be unusual for someone to be ready to enter a US college (University) at your age. So I question why you believe you meet the education requirement.
And yes, given your age they might be more concerned about public charge.
BOTH of these things will be decided by the CO.
April 9, 2021 at 7:29 am
I graduated more than a year early with a diploma that is definitley equivalent to an American high school diploma. Thanks for your help; I’ll be especially mindful of the public charge rules. Fingers crissed!
April 9, 2021 at 1:34 pm
So that would be Grade 13 Gymnasium in Germany for instance. Well done on such an early completion.
April 9, 2021 at 2:05 pm
It actually is the German Abitur, thank you. 🙂
April 9, 2021 at 10:31 am
Would you suggest reaching out to embassies and checking with them if they will be resuming DV scheduling or should be just wait for the time being until KCC starts sending 2NLs later on this month?
My embassy is in London which is currently open but only scheduling certain visa types. When I contacted them previously they used the ban as a reason why DV interviews haven’t started yet.
April 9, 2021 at 1:23 pm
You can contact them if you want.
April 9, 2021 at 12:22 pm
2021EU(8000) here,
I received my 2NL some time ago, and then my interview was cancelled. I just received an email from the US Embassy in Lithuania that my interview will happen in early May. The Schengen ban exception is already taking effect. I just wanted to update you all so you know that something started to move, since I am one of those lucky few people who submitted their DS260 and documents last year and got processed by NVC and got my 2NL before most other winners. I think things should start to move now, of course that’s depending on each country and how they handle COVID and so on. Good luck to you all!
April 9, 2021 at 1:22 pm
Great!
April 10, 2021 at 5:10 am
EU2021(20k) here! That’s great news for winners from LT:) Thank you 😊
April 9, 2021 at 4:41 pm
Hello Britsimon. Am Dv2021AF CN 1xxx. Submitted all my docs back in November, & got ready for scheduling in December.
Now my worry is, our embassy has sent 2NLs to people with high cases like 5k for May interviews, but I’m yet to get any from them. My case is still at NvC. Should I contact KCC??
April 10, 2021 at 4:49 pm
You can, but the delay is probably because your embassy is not scheduling cases.
April 11, 2021 at 6:02 am
Thanks for the reply. Our Embassy has scheduled interviews for people up to CN5000, for May. I am CN1000 & got Congratulations ready for scheduling back in early December. How can CN 5000 get a 2NL & me CN1000 miss?
My case still show at NVC. Should I contact KCC?
April 9, 2021 at 4:56 pm
Hello Brit, I posed a Question on the youtube live session but didn’t mention my Embassy, my Embassy is Nairobi and I see you mentioned some 2NLs were sent for interviews there, are you able to verify if that’s true since kenya is currently on a partial lockdown. My CN is 89xx I’m already current since Jan 2021 and my docs were processed and got ready for scheduling mail back in Dec 2020. So my 2 questions’
1. Is there a way to verify that Nairobi embassy has scheduled people for interview?, I’m excited by this but being cautious.
2. From my case details explained above, should I follow up with KCC to ask when to expect 2NL assuming Nairobi embassy is taking Interviews as you mentioned and seeing my CN is relatively low
April 10, 2021 at 4:50 pm
1. I did. I don’t just make stuff up.
2. You can, or just be patient. The number of interviews arranged is not large, so they are obviously working on reduced capacity.
April 10, 2021 at 5:06 pm
Thanks and Noted Brit. That’s positive news and I’m very happy. I’m sure I’ll get my 2NL soon with your feedback on Q1.
April 9, 2021 at 6:51 pm
Hi Dear BritSimon,two questions:
1)Can this new announcement be helpful/good for Iranians?(because Iran was in that 14days ban)
I have chosen Ankara (Turkey) for my interview but they say that they just do interviews for turkish citizens/turkish residences.i thought maybe this new announcement would encourage them to invite Iranians too?
2)can that recent lawsuit still be useful?because it was more about this ban which is lifted now.
Thank you very much
April 10, 2021 at 4:55 pm
1. We have to wait and see how things change.
2. Yes.
April 10, 2021 at 3:03 am
Hi Mr Brit, first of all thank you for your help ! . My question is: Mr Siskind published on twitter today that Kinsley lawsuit is about to force consulates in 35 countries to resume visa processing. Is this the same litigation as DV-2021 Mandamus Litigation ?? I’m kind of confuse with this matter. I joined the mandamus lawsuit because of lack of KCC processing.
Greg Sisking lawsuit page that I joined
https://www.visalaw.com/dv-2021-mandamus-litigation-onboarding-page/
April 10, 2021 at 5:05 pm
For some reason (perhaps because of legal pressure) the government has announced an exception for immigrants (such as DV) in countries where the regional bans are in place (SChengen and other countries). So – that means those embassies could process cases now. However, the lawsuit is still important to get action on individual cases – so make sure you work with the lagl team to get scheduled (assuming you are ready for scheduling).
April 10, 2021 at 9:31 pm
OK, thanks for your advice.
April 10, 2021 at 5:37 am
hello dear simon. how are you doing. i appreciate your wonderful work.god bless you
April 10, 2021 at 9:19 am
Hi Brit,
I am AF69K. Already submitted my DS 260 plus the ‘bloody documents’.
My host has suddenly gone silent, No communication for over a month now. I was in the processes of preparing the affidavit of support. Now that things seen not to be normal, I cant predict what might happen next but I remain optimistic.
a). Can I unlock the DS 260 and change the host now or hold on and change at the interview?
B) The current Affidavit of Support form expired on 02/28/2021. Do we go ahead and fill it?
Thanks.
April 10, 2021 at 5:30 pm
1. Change at the interview.
2. The sponsor fills it in – but yes – use the current version regardless of the date shown.
April 10, 2021 at 9:39 am
Bonjour Mr Simon merci pour pour ce que vous faîtes pour les dvistes
April 10, 2021 at 1:13 pm
Hello Brit, I am living in A at the moment and asked KCC to transfer my case to country B (which they did, I update my address to country B address) based on the advice of the assistant secretary for consular processing for people in transfer to a third country. Unfortunately, country B is not conducting DV interviews.
Now, country A in Europe responded to my email that they will begin scheduling Diversity Visas in two phases based on their opening capacity, with the resumption of immigrant appointment in Europe, I am still here in country A, was hoping to be scheduled before going to country B.
1. I am current and DQ, can I again ask KCC to open my DS260 (so I can update my address back to country A where I am currently), even though they said if I want to make changes I should contact the embassy where I will be schedule, will they open it again? I have not been receive 2nl yet.
2. Will changing my address so quickly cause problem for me??
April 10, 2021 at 5:33 pm
1. You should ask KCC
2. No
April 10, 2021 at 7:17 pm
Hi mr Simon, I’m one of plaintiffs of Kuck mandamus lawsuit for dv2021 , do you think that it would have a good result?
April 10, 2021 at 10:06 pm
I cannot predict the future.
April 10, 2021 at 8:34 pm
Hi. Everyone. Plz lets sign this petition to kick start the interviews in the various embassy. This one is dedicated for Africa though but everyone can sign and we can start similar petitions in all regions.
Below is the link.
http://chng.it/5tsNmTTc
Sorry our leader, Mr Brit for using your platform without asking your permission first. Please forgive for the pressure is too much.
Please everyone lets share and spread the message on all platforms.
Thank you
April 10, 2021 at 10:10 pm
Hi Mr Simon, I am dv2021 winer from Africa and my case is AF37xxxx, I selected my interview at Ankara embassy, but there is a news that Ankara embassy has announced yesterday and says
Turkey Embassy Update:
“We are not providing the following services: employment-based visas, DIVERSITY VISAS processing”
So, what is your advice, thanks.
April 10, 2021 at 10:29 pm
Things may change – I don’t know. Do you live in Turkey?
April 11, 2021 at 2:23 am
Yes i live in it near three years
April 11, 2021 at 3:14 am
Ok, then I don’t have any suggestions.
April 11, 2021 at 9:33 am
Abdi can you contact this number +601137237027 we are same issue in dv 21 in turkey