When you are approved for a Green Card through the DV lottery there are some important timelines that you MUST understand and adhere to – so this post will hopefully clear up some of those points about Visa validity.
Hopefully, you will be approved in your interview (most people do!), and typically the CO will ask you to leave your passports with them so they can issue a visa. Typically that visa is printed within a few days and you will have been told how you expect to receive your passport (courier, pick up from the embassy). The visa that is issued will look similar to the example here:-
The visa will be valid for the first entry to the USA for up to 6 months after visa issuance. (Note: this time can be shorter if your medical report had a shorter validity, so please check the date “IV Expires on”). It is essential that the visa holder enters the USA to activate their status before this visa has expired – if you miss that date, your visa will not be replaced and you would have lost your right to a Green Card. For that reason I suggest making travel plans for at least a week or two before the expiry date of the visa, just in case you experience delays with travel plans.
When you receive your visa it will arrive stamped in your passport and with a sealed envelope of documents to be carried with you on entry to the USA. DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE! If the envelope gets damaged in some way, contact your embassy before travel to get the envelope resealed. The envelope must be presented along with your visa to an immigration official at your Port of Entry (POE). The POE is typically the first place you land on US soil, although in some cases this can also be a US immigration checkpoint on foreign soil (Abu Dhabi for instance).
At the POE you will be briefly processed by the immigration officer – it is not a difficult process and at the end they will endorse your visa. Upon endorsement the visa will serve as evidence of your I-551 and indicate your status as a LPR (Lawful Permanent Resident) and is then valid to be used for up to 12 months (until you receive your Green Card). This means that you could, if you wanted get on the next plane back to your home country and then re-enter using the I-551 stamped in your passport for re-entry – there is no need to wait for the physical Green Card to be able to leave.
Your Green Card itself will be sent to the US address you listed on your DS260. The immigration officer at the POE will allow you to change that address at the time of entry. That address should be a real US address – not a PO Box etc. The post office is not supposed to deliver the Green Card to an invalid address. The Green Card will only be sent once you have paid the fee of $220 per person which can be done before you enter for the first time or after you have entered. Don’t forget to do this!!!
The Green Card is a thick plastic card that looks like this:-
Rules about re-entry
Some people treat the first trip to the USA as an activation trip and to “look around”. They then leave and return to live permanently which is fine as long as you make this return within 12 months. That is perfectly fine and understandable – you are not obligated to take up residence in this first trip – although you will have become an LPR and therefore have other obligations (such as tax reporting – even on income earned outside of the USA!).
Once you begin “residing” in the USA you are expected to maintain residence there. If you leave the USA for long periods of time (up to 12 months) you may be asked to show that you maintained you home there, otherwise you may have been considered to have “abandoned” your Green Card. In that scenario you would have to convince an immigration judge that you did not intend to abandon your Green Card – so I advise you to follow the rules.
If you need to leave the USA for a trip longer than 12 months, you must apply for a “re-entry permit” with form I-131. The re-entry permit must be applied for before you leave the USA, although you can arrange to receive it at a US embassy abroad. IF the re-entry permit is granted you will get permission to leave for up to 2 years. However, the approval is not automatic – you need a good reason to be approved.
This link provides a bit more information about obtaining a re-entry permit.
June 16, 2016 at 16:06
Hi Simon
I am winner in DV lottery 2016. I was pay immigration fee at Febuary this year, and i enter to USA 05/16/2016. Now i have just SS. GC is not coming.
1. When I get my GC?
2. Can I go to Mmotor vehicle and create Driver license and non ID, when i dont have GC?
3. Can i leave the usa every year for 1-2 months? or as determined by the law? How long can I be outside the US , and then how long I have to be in the US
June 16, 2016 at 22:25
1. 2 to 3 months
2. Yes. Show them your passport with the stamped visa.
3. Yes – make the trips less than 6 months per trip.
June 22, 2016 at 23:10
Dear Britsimon,
I hope that everything goes well with you
Once again i need your help 🙂
I got my passport (from aramex) and the sealed envelope as you explaned but the problem is that they give me the passport stapled with the envelope 🙁 (i don’t know why)
So my question is should i inform the embassy about the damage caused by the staples (two holes) ?
What can I do ?
June 22, 2016 at 23:23
Don’t worry about the staple holes in the passport. DO NOT try and repair the passport in any way.
June 23, 2016 at 00:46
Thanks for the fast reply
And what about the ones (two holes) in the sealed envelope ?
June 23, 2016 at 00:46
That’s ok.
June 23, 2016 at 00:49
Thank you so much for everything
June 23, 2016 at 11:09
Hlw simon I m akash n I m dv winner of 2016. My question is that I had created my profile in http://www.ustraveldocs.com . I wan to now that what time it will take to get my passport n visa through nib.
June 23, 2016 at 13:40
Around 2 weeks after the interview.
June 23, 2016 at 21:01
Hi Simon,
I entered to US on June 5 and I recieved my SSN after one week.
I paid the GC fee online just 2 days ago.
1- When I will receive my GC ?
2- when I check my case status online on USCIS case status website it is show me this error (user defined error) why I get this error.
Respectfully
June 23, 2016 at 23:17
1. 60 to 90 days
2. I don’t know. You are probably entering data incorrectly.
August 5, 2016 at 16:43
Hi Moharib, Did you receive your SS automatically or you had to apply at the SS office? I went to the SS office right after entering and they asked me to wait three weeks. Please let me know. Thank you in advance and thank Simon for all your great help
August 5, 2016 at 22:34
If you selected the option in the DS260thave USCIS apply for the SSN for you, it normally arrives within 2 to 3 weeks. If not, you apply at the SSA.
July 3, 2016 at 19:01
Hi,
My cousin is coming to the US on a DV visa obtained by her husband. They are coming to the US soon and they are both Egyptian nationals. Her husband (the primary visa winner) is leaving after 2 weeks to return to his job, her (the beneficiary) return date is set in late August so she can go back to work.
Will she be allowed to stay in the US even though the primary visa winner will return to his homeland?
Thanks!
July 3, 2016 at 19:41
Yes. Once they have activated their status upon the first entry, her GC is not conditional on his in any way.
July 4, 2016 at 16:21
Hi, thanks for the info. I have one more question. Normally, visas are valid for 6 months. His visa, however, is valid for only 4 months. Do you have any information as to why that is?
Thanks.
July 4, 2016 at 17:32
The visa validity is based on the date of the medical plus 6 months – which is why people should not book the medical too early.
July 4, 2016 at 09:03
Dear Brit Simmons. I have a couple of questions about the after selection in the US Diversity lottery program.
If you entered as a family and one of the family members is not interested and wants to back out but you have been selected,
1. how can you eliminate that family member from the group selection.
2. must you submit the form DS260 for that family member?
3. when do you fill and submit the form DS260
4. lets say the family member died, what do you do so that their names not future during the interview.
July 4, 2016 at 14:58
1. Don’t submit a DS260 for that derivative.
2. No
3. As soon as you want.
4. You might be asked for a death certificate for that person.
July 4, 2016 at 16:35
1. will you need to proof during the interview that the person you did not submit the form DS260 for was no longer interested in the lottery program.
2. Please can you analyse the cost, what we will pay for and what we will not pay for after we are selected, i want to know so as to be financially ready.
July 4, 2016 at 17:34
1. Possibly
2. Each person pays. The medical cost varies by country, the DV interview is $330 per person and if successful you pay a further $165 per person for the Green Card itself. The medical is paid before the interview, the $330 is paid on the day of interview and the $165 is paid after the interview.
July 4, 2016 at 17:51
For a family lottery, are each members interviewed separately or they are interviewed as a group.
July 5, 2016 at 02:35
Group.
July 5, 2016 at 04:10
Hi Simon, for a family lottery I purposed and got visa for myself only because I plan to go to USA first without family members to provide live facilities and then the rest of my family will go for interview on August 2016 and they will have 6 months visa hope so, my question, is it possible I return back to home country after 3 months to take my family members to USA? if not possible what is the best way for my family to join me to USA? thanks for your answer.
July 5, 2016 at 13:39
No you will not be able to get them an interview. You should have interviewed together. You can speak to the embassy and see what they can do, but I suspect they will tell you to move the the USA, settle down and then file for the family – which will take about 2 years.
July 10, 2016 at 04:06
Dear BritSimon thanks for your reply, suppose if my family members take a visa can they join to me to USA within validity date?
July 10, 2016 at 04:20
yes
July 9, 2016 at 22:21
we got our immigrant visa and it is valid till 20.Dec, 2016. However, we would prefer to land, if possible in March 2017. Is it possible to extend the immigrant visa or apply for a new one with validity date till March 2017. Thanks for your advice.
July 9, 2016 at 22:35
No, that is not possible at all. You must enter within the validity date.
July 15, 2016 at 06:01
Hi brit I have one question.
can I renew my medical result if it expire before the expiraton date of visa Or the visa will immediately expire when medical result expire?
Tnx bro for your info,suggestions and advices.
July 15, 2016 at 06:05
The visa expiry date is decided by the medical date plus 6 months.
July 16, 2016 at 17:28
Dear Simon,
I arrived USA last week and I paid $165 for me and my family. My question is that A-number and DOS ID number on my visa are mandatory to fill out the form and are these two are enough without applicant’s information like Name, Date of birth, Nationality, etc ? Can they get all necessary information from their website or DS260 because the form only asks A-number and DOS ID Number?
July 22, 2016 at 17:05
Dear … We entered USA since 10 days as DV winner , and U already paied the 165 $ for every member .. 3 Q Please :
1. Do We have to go somewhere to ask about the SS ?
2. I am still planning to stay in my home country for 2 years to finish my study . Can i come every 11 months ? Or it should be every 6 months
3 . Can I make my kids health insurance before we leave ?? Thank you
July 22, 2016 at 22:08
1. You should receive the SSN in a week or two. If not, go to the ssa office
2. Perhaps you should apply for a re-entry permit (I-131). Otherwise your absences should be less than 6 months after the first absence (which can be up to 12 months)
3. Yes.
July 27, 2016 at 10:29
Dear Simon,
My medical exam was in March 7 and my visa will expire in oct 8/2016 so can I book ticket for Oct 1 flight or when I should travel?
July 27, 2016 at 14:38
You must ARRIVE in the USA prior to October 8.
July 28, 2016 at 14:44
Dear Simon,
I’m a DV lottery winner, the address I provide in DS 260 form is the sponsor address in Virginia.
I’ll rent a home from Airbnb for one month time to find a permanent apartment in houston.
The problem is that I’m planning to enter the US from Houston (Texas),
1/ Will it be a problem with the immigration service at the airport ?
2/ Do I need to change address? I want to let the first address to receive the green card ( sponsor address).
thanks in advance for your response.
July 28, 2016 at 16:06
1. No
2. No
August 2, 2016 at 23:58
I have finished the Process and recive a visa. my sponsor was leaved in san diego and paid $165 for me but know i change my sponsor and booked ticket to Seattle so :-
1. it’s normal changing my destination?
2.what about the $165 should I pay again?
August 3, 2016 at 02:56
1. It’s not a problem.
2. Why??
August 4, 2016 at 23:26
Pls help, i need advice from u:
we get our GC at 2011, went in Usa august 2011, stay there for 1y 2 months, get back to our country for 5 months, and 2012 May, we get back again in Usa, stay until December 2016. we got baby there ( our baby got all documents), but me and my husband we still dont have citizenship. So my question is: Can i come back in Usa ( im in my country now for 8 months, we dont have re-entry permit)…:( is there any chance to not let me get in at airport if i go there? what should i do? should i apply online for naturalization? my stay in usa is 46 months…:( i realy need some advice ppl, and thank u for all your answers
August 4, 2016 at 23:45
There is no problem. You may be asked at immigration why you have been gone for 8 months – just tell the truth.
August 5, 2016 at 21:51
Hi Simon, I enter the USA with my immigration visa on 02AUG. They told me my green card is going to be send to my address but is there a way to track it? I try on”My Case Status” in the USCIS page but it says that it do not recognize my case. I apply for my SS yesterday and there was no problem.
Thank you
August 5, 2016 at 22:29
You should expect the Green Card to take 3 to 4 months to arrive – and you can’t track it for the first 60/90 days. You don’t need it – so I suggest you simply forget about it for now, and focus on other things.
August 6, 2016 at 19:43
Bonjour Simon,
We won the lottery, went in the US in last June with our visa, back in France to pack our life over here, planning to move definitely in the US in January 2017. My question :
– after how many months living in the US can we start traveling abroad (i remember reading something about the fact youhave to spend few months in the US before leaving )? (We would like our children to go back in France for summer vacations with their grand-parents in France in June or July 2017).
Merci.
Severine
August 6, 2016 at 20:16
There is no minimum time, although you are expected to reside in the USA. But vacations are fine.
August 7, 2016 at 16:04
Thank you Simon.
August 8, 2016 at 21:41
Good day Simon I got my passport with the visa today finally after waiting for 15 months since i was selected.I will pay for my GC very soon.the visa expire in 16th ofJan 2017,I live in Dubai and i am thinking to go in October for a week for activation and then return back and stay until August 2017 after that go to the U.S for good.
-Do i need to receive my social security number during my visit in October or do any important documents during that week?
-Can my uncle who will receive my GC send it to me by mail if it is issued?is it legal?
-and most importantly the period from my first entry in October to August is 10 months but within 12months from the first entry do i Have to enter the U.S between October 2016 and August 2017 or it’s fine to stay 10 months as it’s within 12 months from the first entry?
Thank you very much.
August 9, 2016 at 02:23
1. Yes you can apply for the SSN during that trip
2. Yes he can send it to you
3. 10 month absence is fine for the first absence. Thereafter 6 months should be considered the limit.
August 9, 2016 at 08:14
Simon SSN might not be ready within a week which is my visit limit,is it fine to leave the country before receiving it?
August 9, 2016 at 14:54
Yes
August 11, 2016 at 19:01
i am called JAVIS ,i came to U.S since May as a DV winner and all my papers correct ,at Washington i was asure that my ssn and green card will meet me following my US address but since then i have not received anything even the ssn nothing,so it keep me very worried,after even 2 months i went to the ssn office apply they gave me 2 weeks but i waited upto 3 weeks nothing is coming up still now as i speak.my heart is heavy
August 11, 2016 at 20:24
Go to the SSA office again about the SSN.
For the GC wait another month, then call USCIS.
August 16, 2016 at 02:00
Hi Mr Simon. We got pur dv visa. We booked flights to Denver. We will stop at San Francisco for 1 hour 45 min and take the next flight to Denver. My concern is our official port of entry to US will be at San Francisco or Denver? If it is at San Francisco it looks like we dont have enough time for the next flight . What is the official procedure? Do we have to delay our second flight? I’m asking this because we have never been to us and hasnt ever gone to foreign countries before.
August 16, 2016 at 03:33
SF will be the POE, so no, you do not have enough time. You need to allow 3+ hours between connections to allow for the immigration process.
August 16, 2016 at 13:57
Good Day Simon.
Must we take all the doc that we took to the interview with when going to PBC.
Original certificates, cirriculum Viate , etc
August 16, 2016 at 16:02
I don’t know what PBC means…
August 16, 2016 at 18:06
Apologies
CBP.USA Customs and border and protection. 2. Will a 3 hrs transit time in Abu dhabi be sufficient to go through CBP
August 16, 2016 at 18:34
No you don’t need those documents. 3 hours should be enough.
August 16, 2016 at 18:58
Thank you.
August 16, 2016 at 21:18
Hi Mr Simon. Thank you for your great help. We contacted the flight company to delay or postpone our seconf flight to Denver because gap is just 1 hpur 45 minutes. We are family of 4 and dont want to pay extra 900$.We didn’t know that our first landing state will be the POE. So we are now flying to risk our second fight in 2 weeks. What is your advice for us not to be late for the 2nd flight as a more experienced person? State of POE will be San Francisco.
August 17, 2016 at 01:26
You can’t do it in 1h 45. I know SF airport well. I have seen huge lines to go throgh immigration – and once you have done that you would have to get from the internation terminal to the domestic terminal. You will miss the flight if it leaves on time – so check the airline schedule and see if there is a later flight that day. As long as your ticket is one ticket (with the stop) they will normally re-book a missed flight to the next flight IF space allows.
August 17, 2016 at 08:33
Hi Mr Simon. I deeply appreciate what you have done so far for people like me. I couldn’t have done dv visa without you. I believe one day possibly very soon there will be time to express my gratitude with real gifts.
August 20, 2016 at 21:04
Hi Simon , i planning for my first landing coming September , then travel back to my home country for 11 months. so traveling again coming august 2017 for a three week/1 month to apply for reentry permit and return back to my home country again for two years. then once completed will be coming back to US to stay
what do you think , is that is fine and will work or not. and will i have issue to start the first year and then apply for reentry permit.
Thanks
August 22, 2016 at 11:46
Dear Simon , need your valuable advise please
August 20, 2016 at 21:12
Hi Brit, what is the cheapest means to get health insurance while in the US via Diversity Visa?
August 20, 2016 at 22:01
https://britsimonsays.com/health-insurance-for-new-immigrants/
August 20, 2016 at 21:19
And also what are the ways to boost my credits scores with my credit card? Sorry for the inconvenience. I traveled to US eight months ago.
August 20, 2016 at 22:01
Bob – you should be using the search feature!
https://britsimonsays.com/establish-credit-history-usa/
August 22, 2016 at 08:03
Hi..Im a DV 2016 winner…my visa expires on november 26 and im planning to move to USA on 5th november…Do you think it is good to move to USA this late since i will have to wait for my greencard and till then my visa expires??..What do you think would be the latest possible date to enter USA for me??…Also im planning to file for greencard before i move to USA…When would be the latest date for me to file for greencard??Will there be any problem on getting greencard if i file for greencard this late?..I was told they have limited number of greencard for that particular fiscal year…Do i have to act immediately??
August 22, 2016 at 14:22
If your DV visa expires on Nov 26 you MUST enter the USA before that date otherwise you will lose your DV lottery right. It cannot be extended. If you want a Green Card – get there before the expiry date.
Once there the GC will arrive automatically – 3 to 4 months after arrival. Until you receive it, your visa will show as proof that you are a legal resident.
August 22, 2016 at 15:03
Would you please tell me if i can move to usa on 5th november,2016 if my visa expires on 26th november??…will it not be a problem if i travell this late?? since dv 2017 winners will start receiving visa after september…that is 2017 winners may move to usa before me 2016 winner..
August 22, 2016 at 15:19
I just answered! The 5th of November is before the expiry date – right?? Then it is fine.
August 24, 2016 at 05:46
Would you please tell me wether dv winners with work permit gets paid equally as that of international student working without work permit under same job or does it differ??…Also does work permit play any role in getting good job in usa?
August 24, 2016 at 15:20
The student without a work permits should not be working – so it is likely they would be exploited. The DV winner has freedom to work wherever they want, so is likely to be able to find better paid work.
August 23, 2016 at 16:28
Hello Britsimon ! please I need your advices. I am originally from Africa and I won the lottery with my spouse and my 2 kids. Age 2 and 7. Our visas will expired in january 17. So me and my wife want to travel next month ( october) and leave the kids behind. My question is, How long will it take for my kids to join us if their visa expired. we just want to settle here first before they come. Also which other advices can you give us. Thanks
August 23, 2016 at 17:18
My advice would be take them. Once you established yourself in the USA you could start processing, but that is slow (around 2 years) complicated (compared to DV) and expensive. Plus, why split up the family (which will increase the stress)?
August 24, 2016 at 13:15
Hi Samon,
i have a quick question for u. I am DV2017 winner and i am planning to do AOS. My question is about sponsor. Is it ok if i get a job offer letter ? or do i need to find someone who gonna be sponsor me with all his documents like W2 forms etc.
Thanks
August 24, 2016 at 14:08
A job offer may satisfy the requirement, but an I-134 would be safer (I’m assuming the job offer would be a “future” job offer – not a job you are already doing as in the case of an H1 visa holder)
August 24, 2016 at 13:36
Sorry i forget to ask ,i have one more question about AOS interview. All DVLottery winners have to go interview ,I heard not all states calling for interview. Is it true ?
Thanks
August 24, 2016 at 14:07
Some AOS DV cases are approved without an interview. If the I-485 package is perfect that is possible.
August 24, 2016 at 22:29
Hi Brit,
I have just one qustion.
Actually is my green card in pogress. But i change my mailing address on postage.
Where come my green card? To my resident address, or new mailing address? Because people, who live in my resident address, does not want to give me green card…-_-
August 24, 2016 at 22:58
It will be delivered to the address you gave in your DS260, unless you changed it at the port of entry (airport) when you arrived.
August 28, 2016 at 06:53
I read that first absence up to 12 months after initial entry is ok.
Me and my family activated our green cards on Jul 9, 2016, stayed for 10 days and returned to Europe We have started to wrap things up and plan to make the final move in Jan, 2017. I have regular business trips planned to US between now and Jan, 2017, can multiple entries within the first 12 months period cause any problems?
Thanks,
Mike
August 28, 2016 at 06:57
Small correction, not that it matters, we activated the green cards in June not July…
August 28, 2016 at 14:41
The first trip (entry to the USA) will end the absence period after June. From that point on, each absence should be 6 months or less. It isn’t a “finite” thing – it is about showing that you are taking up residence, but your plan does not sound like it would cause concern.
By the way, you can use the citizens/resident line at the airport now…. 🙂
August 29, 2016 at 15:39
Is it safe to assume that my first entry will only end my absence period and not my family member’s? They wont be doing any US entries between activation in June and final move in Jan 2017 (greater than 6 months absence). Its only me doing the multiple US entries. (i am the principal applicant)
Looking forward to the citizens/resident line and the new BA flight LHR-SJC. Hopefully not as busy as SFO sometimes can be. 🙂
Thanks,
Mike
August 29, 2016 at 16:15
Yes, your entries are yours, theirs are theirs.
Yep, SJC is generally less busy. Nice. Sounds like you do the same commute I used to do. I had 5 years of transatlantic commuting (2 weeks onsite two weeks at home), mostly to SFO from London.
September 30, 2016 at 12:30
Hi Simon,
I am traveling to US tomorrow for a week and then back to Europe. When I do these multiple US entries what should I write in the custom declaration form.
1) Should I use the US street address I had my Green Card sent to or the hotel I will be staying at?
2) What about country of residence, should I put US even if I haven’t made the final move yet?
Anything else in that form that I should be aware off not to get into problems with these multiple entries. As mentioned in previous post, I plan to make the final move in Jan 2017 but will have a couple of trips to US in between that.
Many thanks,
Mike
September 30, 2016 at 13:09
I think you may be overthinking this….
1. I could argue either way – pick one. It won’t matter.
2. EU country.
Relax!!!
August 29, 2016 at 07:02
Best regards mr Brit. Just a few questions though that has been plaguing my mind.
1) I am a dv2017 winner if I’m lucky I’ll have my interview this November thanks to your post on previous vb. my question is if I’m issued a visa. And enter into USA for the very first time to activate my gc. Can I visit any other country apart from my home country within the first period of of my initial entry. For example I get to USA for the very first time and take a visa to Finland for example to stay there for say 8minths before the 12months expiry date Will I be denied a visa?
2)Another question is if I want to give grounds that I’m pregnant and wish to give birth in the country where my husband is. Cause by the time I played the lottery my husband was not in the home country he was in Europe. Can this posse problem of denial or must I return only to my home country??
3) is it possible to have a job after the initial entry when you are pregnant for like three months. I am worried cause I don’t want to inqure inconveniences to my sponsor
NB. We are planning to get get married after my visa is issued that’s why he was not mentioned in the initial and ds260 form. I am presently in Cameroon while he is in Finland
August 29, 2016 at 16:32
1. Not a problem.
2. Give birth where you want.
3. Of course it is possible. Nothing to do with immigration though.
4. It’s crazy to marry after the visa is issued. You are making a simple process into a complex one. https://britsimonsays.com/faq/dv-process-versus-family-based-immigration/
August 29, 2016 at 11:03
Hi Simon,
quick question regarding moving to the US after receiving the actual greencard. I won the DV lottery and processed my greencard in 2015 and finally went to the US in September 2015 to “activate” my card. I didnt actually received my physically greencard until February 2016. I just came back from a two week stay in the US in August to start planning the move (looking for house, speaking with potential employers) which I expect to happen in December 2016. In other words, I dont plan to move to the US until 15-16 months after my POE in September 2015. Will this be a problem given that some say that you should move within 12 months? But considering I didnt receive my card until 5 months after POE I didnt want to quit my job etc without actually having the card (in case something would happen and i wouldnt receive it).
In my defense, when I entered the US in 2015 to activate the card, the immigration officer told me I have 2 years to permanently move to the US. I have also filed my taxes as required.
Thank you.
August 29, 2016 at 16:27
It’s no problem.
August 29, 2016 at 16:46
Hi Brit….
Thanks for all ur help towards the dv lottery winners… May God bless u abundantly…
I have a question if u dont mind…. I won d dv for 2016 n m presently in d states with my 10 months old daughter n m wondering how to get her day here. We were supposed to get engaged last year bt he had some urgent family problem back in India n i adviced him not to come back to my country Liberia bcuz i wasn’t sure that i would b there for long n nw hes in dubai working, is it possible to do long distance engagement? Or is it possible to file for him? Cuz we r planning to get married next year… Wats ur advice pls
September 5, 2016 at 06:44
Thanks Brit , Can some one on my behalf the green card Fee while still i m yet to travel to USA.
September 5, 2016 at 13:53
Yes
September 5, 2016 at 11:48
Hi Brit,
Just to hurry after reading this. As i was interviewed and my visa was approved by a pick up for the 15 sept. But i was not ask for an affidavit at all during my interview process and even after.
can that affect my visa issue?
since Friday my vasa status has been showing AP?
Please i need your advice…..
September 5, 2016 at 13:33
https://britsimonsays.com/faq/interview-went-well-now-ceac-shows-ap-happening/
September 6, 2016 at 04:55
Hello Sir,
Hope your doing great ! I have 2 questions.
1) leaving for 10 months after visa stamping does it creat any issue?
2) during this period if some one is working out side US, how he ll report the tax income ? And do you think if he doesnt report will be a problem :p?
Thank you for your usual support.
September 6, 2016 at 04:57
1. No
2. You report the income via the annual report. It may not cost additional tax. Not reporting that tax is illegal and will cost a lot of money, PLUS could cause BIG problems.
September 6, 2016 at 10:24
Hi Brit,
Is the delay caused by the affidavit that was not ask for during and after the interview?
as today is the third working day of the administration processing.
I am afraid if it has enter in to the second type of the AP
September 6, 2016 at 15:06
I don’t know the specifics of your case. Patience.
September 9, 2016 at 11:13
Sir,
I need your assistance, am willing to go to US for stamping my visa and stay there like one month. After that iam having a job offer temporary outside US for like 10 months so iam willing to start work in this period.
What i should directly do upon stepping on us territories? I mean what do u advise me to do? If there will be taxs outside US how can report them? Can you explain me in details please.
Thank you alway for your help
September 9, 2016 at 15:57
Once you are a US resident (LPR) you have to report income earned anywhere in the world. You do that on an annual tax report (google about that).
I’m not sure what else you want me to explain.
September 11, 2016 at 03:50
Hello Sir,
Lets say you stamped ur visa and collected your green card and you got a job offer at the US embassy of your home country. Does working at the US embassy validates your green card. In other words you dont need any more to stay 6 months a year in the states cuz ur working at the embassy?
I bet you witnessed such a case :).
I know at later stages hopefully i can ask the embassy itself but maybe you have an idea.
Have a good day, thank you so much for every thing.
September 11, 2016 at 05:58
That would not make you a US resident – so that would not work.
September 13, 2016 at 00:27
Dear Simon,
Millions Thanks, I pay Gratitude and great Help.
1) Can I go USA from another country? I m from Nepal and can I fly from India to USA?
2) Can I change the Address to get SSN and CG after going USA and few days later?
3) Can someone report if something wrong to the embassy to cancel VISA after Interview success?
4) How much money single applicant can take USA from Nepal, (10000 USD)?
5) How much days to get passport return after interview?
6) Can application get job immediate in USA or need SSN?
7) How can we get room on rent?Can we book room from another country before I reached US? Is there need SSN or passport or what need? How long can we stay in Hotel and cost? Can we stay Hotel at First Day and CG address Hotel?
8) Can we give VISA Fee 165 USD before VISA Collection cause to get CG faster?
September 13, 2016 at 05:22
1. Yes.
2. No the address you give at the airport is your final chance.
3. Possibly.
4. Any amount, but taking large amounts of cash is unwise. $10,000 is the limit without additional explanations.
5. 1 to 2 weeks.
6. Immediate.
7. You can’t use a hotel address for a the Green Card. Use google for room costs.
8. No.
September 14, 2016 at 00:24
1 if I go from another country, what documents should I show? Airport Administration don’t ask me for traveling US? If problem what to do?
2. What proof is need to report embassy for VISA cancel after interview? CO denied after VISA issued?
September 14, 2016 at 01:32
1. Do you mean the first entry? The USA authorities don’t care where you flight came from.
2. Why are you asking these things? What you are asking about is incredibly rare. Unless you have a real concern, it’s just a waste of time and energy.
September 14, 2016 at 04:17
Dear Brit I m serious, I want to go from another country to land USA. Yes first Entry in USA from Another country. Plz thank you again for big help.
September 14, 2016 at 05:22
Like I said, They don’t care.
September 15, 2016 at 17:44
Hey Pioneer,
I have question regarding stamping the visa and leaving the US for more than 6 months at first. Are they considered years of residence that is to say do they count when applying for citizenship?
Have a nice day.
September 15, 2016 at 17:47
That period will probably not count toward the 5 years unless you can show that you had established residence. But really – what does it matter. You’ll get citizenship 6 months later.
September 16, 2016 at 12:00
Dear Brit,
We are happy with you. Can I change the address to get SSN and CG after reach US and if changed adrss how can I inform CO.? 2. Should I change only first PoE or after some days?
Plz reply.
September 16, 2016 at 14:09
The last chance to change it is at the POE.
September 18, 2016 at 05:22
hi Simon sir i am the winner of 2016Dv I got visa in Sept 10 and due to my sponsor busyness i decided to ticket in Nov first week. I already paid 165$ and when will get my GC
September 18, 2016 at 05:24
3 to 4 months after arrival.