The new visa bulletin has been released – this one being for interviews in December.
Many are shocked and disappointed in this latest VB because there is very little change from the previous two months.
So what changed? There was a change for the “except” countries in Africa (but no change for the region number in Africa), No change in EU or AS, a small increase for OC region, no change for SA region, and for those interested a small change in NA region.
So why so little change. Well we don’t know exactly what is happening, but here are some factors:
1. I have previously explained that the early visa bulletins are a “guess” because there is no feedback from the embassies yet since interviews have only just started.
2. I had pointed out that the early VB numbers were “generous” and we should not have based any assumption of how the pace will go based on those numbers.
3. We know that there were problems scheduling cases for October and November, and whilst we hope those technical problems are now resolved, we don’t know for sure.
4. The first 3 months of the year are typically quiet months for scheduling compared to the other months of the year.
5. We don’t yet know the distribution (density) of the cases in each region, and that means it is difficult to compare VB numbers in this year to some previous year. Those comparisons are generally meaningless.
6. We don’t yet know the true data on which embassies have scheduled cases, which haven’t, or how many. We are just basing assumptions on rumor.
So there are some factors that may have impacted their decision – of course we can’t be exactly accurate in knowing what caused more impact.
All this means is that we need to understand that VB progress is unpredictable. As I have said before, don’t make assumptions about what will happen next based on what happened in previous years, or you assumptions that they are trying to get to all case numbers. That may well not be true.
SO – please understand, there is no need to panic if you now see that numbers are not moving aligned with your expectation. The expectation is “the problem”, not necessarily the movement.
Those that are current, and have forms processed early enough, can normally expect their 2NL in the next 2 to 3 weeks from now. This is supposed to be the same every month. VB from the 8th to the 15th of each month, and 2NLs in the second half of the month. For the last few months there have been 2NLs in daily batches, but we seem to be moving to a more normal procedure where almost all the 2NLs are sent before the end of the month, with just a handful being sent earlier this month. I would normally expect all the interview 2NLs to have all been sent by the end of this month, but we can see recently they are exceeding that to try and get as many interviews in as possible. They can be sent right up until the last day of the month, and even the first few days of the following month during exceptional times.
To those new to looking at VBs, let me explain what the “except” XXX country means – and you can also read this post on how to read the visa bulletin.
October 30, 2024 at 13:26
Hello Simon how you doing? I have the following question. Hope to hear from you soon. I was degree holder when I fill my ds and now I received my Ms. Degrees from two very known universities. Thus, should I unlock my ds and modify accordingly or not? What do you advice me? My CN is 21k from Ethiopia.
October 30, 2024 at 13:32
No need to unlock for that.
October 26, 2024 at 19:33
Mr Simon,I made a mistake in my son surname when filling ds260 form instead of James I wrote micheal,michel Is mine name while James is my surname,but on thee birthday certificate James is written,,but now the interview date is out,hope that name issue will not affect us
October 27, 2024 at 14:00
As it is on a minor child, it should be ok. Correct it at the interview.
October 23, 2024 at 01:41
Ho Brits, my case number is AF1** and my embassy is Accra. Wrote to KCC in August and they replied in August 14th saying my ds260 is processed and awaiting interview date. Up till now i havent received any 2NL considering the fact that my case number is low. Do you i should write to them again?
October 23, 2024 at 01:45
Sorry i didnt add the year. Its 2025.
October 23, 2024 at 08:00
There is no harm in asking again.
October 20, 2024 at 16:14
Good morning Simon, case # 2025OC2690.
Do you think I should apply again for DV 2026?
October 20, 2024 at 20:52
Yes. There is no harm in doing so.
October 15, 2024 at 14:47
Good evening brit, my uncle won this gone may, his interview is today but he didn’t show up because he didn’t have the visa fees,can he go there and ask for reschedule?
October 16, 2024 at 14:33
Yes
October 14, 2024 at 14:02
How many cases were process last year
October 14, 2024 at 15:32
Depends what you mean by processed. Nearly 70,000 people were scheduled for interview.
October 13, 2024 at 20:23
My case number AF19xxx
October 13, 2024 at 11:40
Hi,
My case# 2025AF130xx from Cameroon. Submitted DS260 in August. I wrote KCC and was told my DS260 has not been processed. What’s the problem?
October 13, 2024 at 11:56
Your lack of patience.
October 13, 2024 at 08:09
Hi, I’m a 2025 winner. My case number is current. I’m from Cameroon with case number 2015AF13***
I submitted my DS260 in August. I wrote KCC and was told my forms are currently being process.
1) Why are they taking a long time to Process my DA260?
October 13, 2024 at 11:27
That is normal. You waited over 3 months to submit your DS260 and then complain that they are slow to process it. Jeez.
October 12, 2024 at 13:22
Hi Brit I’m Samith from srilanka and Dv2024 winner CN18492 , is it totally finished?(2024DV) any chance ?
October 13, 2024 at 11:09
DV2024 is totally finished, so there is no further chance.
October 11, 2024 at 07:36
Hi Simon my number is 2025 AF16xxx and filled out the DV260 in July should I expect my number to be listed soon maybe around Jan or should I be worried about how the interviews are not changing numbers in Africa?
October 11, 2024 at 07:52
Did you read what I wrote above or watch the video???
October 10, 2024 at 18:22
I was selected for the dv2025 my case number is AF76xx,I fill my ds260 in july5,base on ur own calculated fact,wen do u tink my interview will be
October 11, 2024 at 00:12
I don’t know. It depends on your embassy and when your DS260 is processed.
October 10, 2024 at 17:32
Hello Simon when do you think is the latest month I can ask KCC to open my DS 260 to make changes??
Thx
October 11, 2024 at 00:11
Case number? Embassy?
October 10, 2024 at 16:32
Hello Brit
Hope you are doing well,
Brit my brother has Been selected in dv 2025 and his case number is 168XX so he selected USA embassy in Pakistan,In Islamabad so now he want to change the embassy from Pakistan to Russia is the Russia embassy good for Dv lottery. Can you please give me some information.
Thanks
October 11, 2024 at 00:11
Moscow embassy is not taking cases.