The new Visa Bulletin was just released, giving the numbers which will be current for February interviews. If your DS260 has been processed, and you are now current, then you should be getting your interview notification soon (see below).
Just a word about DS260 processing. I have seen a few cases processed with July submissions. So – they are getting through the backlog well, although we have to realize that they are processing DS260s from ALL case numbers, which is an inefficient system. However, I do believe the majority of DS260s were submitted in May and June, so the fact that they are now moving to July and later months is a good sign. Now – I am fully aware that there are some cases still unprocessed from May and June submissions, and that is proof of what I have said before – that not all DS260s take the same time to process. So – be patient if your form needs a little more time.
As you can see there was good movement in the numbers. I don’t put too much weight on an individual VB, but this good movement is another sign that DV2023 is running normally. The first three months of processing are normally slow, then the pace of interviews picks up in January. As long as DS260 processing is in good shape (as it appears) then really we are seeing a “good” year (with normal processing). Thus far there are no indications of any problems.
As a reminder, in a normal year we don’t have long AV queues, you should unlock your DS260 if you need to and we can generally expect that DS260 processing will be mostly “caught up” by December/January/February. That means you have a high chance of getting your 2NL as soon as your case goes current.

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 hadful 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.
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, 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.
January 15, 2023 at 01:45
I.m from Egypt and cn/24xxx
Is my number in danger?
January 15, 2023 at 12:06
I don’t know.
January 10, 2023 at 16:13
Hi Brit,
I submitted my DS 260 forms in October 13, 2022 for my wife and I leaving that of my son because my son’s passport is not ready yet.
1. Can I use my passport to complete my son’s DS 260 forms and unlock to correct it when his passport is ready?
2. Will the processing of my wife and I’s DS 260 forms be done together with my son’s DS 260 if I submit my son’s DS 260 in January, 2023
January 15, 2023 at 09:47
1. Yes – do that asap.
2. You submitted so late that they probably did not even start your DS yet – so unlock and get this sorted out asap and all will be processed together.
January 2, 2023 at 12:49
Hello Brit,
Thanks for the help.
My wife submitted the Ds260 on June 15th for Dv2023.
We got married after getting the results of Dv, so she added me when filling the Ds260.
Her case number is Eu28xxx.
We haven’t got any feedback since filling the form in June.
Do you advice we send any documents regarding her changing her surname and getting mine, so marriage certificate to Kentucky?
Thanks in advance!
January 2, 2023 at 15:31
No documents to send, you just have to wait until her case becomes current. It’s quite a high number, so expect to wait some months.
December 30, 2022 at 19:18
Please is it too late to submit ds260?
December 31, 2022 at 14:42
No
December 30, 2022 at 14:54
Hi Simon, our interview date is in January and I was added as a dependent when my wife was filling the DV application. I cannot join her immediately, is it advisable i don’t go for the interview or i still need to be at the interview. Kindly advise. Thank you.
December 31, 2022 at 14:41
If you really don’t want to process through DV then you don’t attend the interview. But please understand it will take you years to get a greencard later, so you would be better off going through the process now.
December 30, 2022 at 05:12
Hi Simon, I submitted my DS on May . But I unlocked and submitted again on Aug . So will my DS date be considered as May or Aug ?
December 30, 2022 at 14:10
May
December 27, 2022 at 19:22
Dear Mr. Simon,
My name is Alina, originally from Russia. I’m a DV-2019 lottery winner, currently living in NYC. My mother (from Russia) was selected in DV-2023, and the case number is 21***. We submitted DS-260 in May, then requested to change the information, and the final submission was on June 15th.
I know that Warsaw’s embassy is chosen as the place to work with Russians. However, getting there is almost impossible because my mother needs Schengen visa. I was thinking of transferring her case to other counties – Kazakhstan, Georgia, or Armenia- because it’ll be easier for her to get to the embassy. The appointment is not scheduled yet, but from my perspective, it’ll happen in April or May (I hope).
My questions are the following:
1) What do you think is a good idea to transfer the case from Warsaw to another country? Your suggestions?
2) Will my mother be processed?
Thank you!
December 30, 2022 at 14:05
1. Yes – do that.
2. I don’t know.
December 27, 2022 at 05:22
Hi Mr. BritSimon, I am from Africa, Ethiopia to be specific. My case number is 2023AF194**. The January VBs show that my case number is current and in your previous videos you have said that 2NLs will be sent 6-8 weeks prior to the date of the interview but I have NOT received my 2NL yet. Shall I email the KCC or just wait?
December 30, 2022 at 14:04
Maybe your DS is not processed. Email KCC and ask.
December 25, 2022 at 03:51
Hi Britsimon, I sent my ds260 on Oct 21st, I will be current on Feb, when do I expect my 2nl and interview.
Thank you.
December 30, 2022 at 14:01
You will be delayed because of your late submission. Patience.
December 23, 2022 at 05:07
Hi mr Simon. It can be said that all the people who reached your message were considered.?
Also I don’t the form DS260 where I get it
Thank you very much 🙏💯👍
December 30, 2022 at 13:57
You have to be more clear – I don’t know what you are asking.
December 22, 2022 at 11:11
I have no idea Also
December 22, 2022 at 00:02
How to see my DV lottery ticket
December 22, 2022 at 08:55
I have no idea what you mean.
December 21, 2022 at 03:01
Pls my case number is AF34000 but I filled my DS260 on 22nd August. Pls when will I receive my first email to submit supporting documents? Thanks
December 22, 2022 at 08:43
Never. They do not ask for supporting documents up front anymore.
December 21, 2022 at 02:56
Hello Mr. Britsimon, In your last live video you made mention of Accra embassy refuse visas than any other embassy in the world. This is scary.
Any special advise for DV2023 winners in Ghana. Thank you.
December 22, 2022 at 08:43
Advise – prepare well.
December 22, 2022 at 09:09
Thank you.
December 21, 2022 at 02:50
Hello Mr. Britsimon, In your last live video you made mention of Accra embassy refuse visas than any other embassy in the world. This is scary.
December 22, 2022 at 08:43
It has been that way for years. It is partly justified by fraudulent entries, but also they seem overly strict sometimes.
December 20, 2022 at 07:54
Whats your opinion on EU CN staying at 15k?
December 22, 2022 at 08:30
I discussed it on the live Q&A yesterday.
January 24, 2023 at 17:25
Good evening Sir, my case number is AF258**, my number became current in Feburary and my DS260 form was filled on May 28th but I haven’t received my 2nd letter yet.
January 28, 2023 at 12:29
Embassy?
December 20, 2022 at 01:43
Hi Mr Simon,
I fill Ds260 in 29 August. I am in Asia
I will curent next month. The embassy won’t invite me at febuary.
December 20, 2022 at 01:45
I mean march
December 21, 2022 at 22:44
Hi Mr Simon
I fill Ds260 in July 28.I am in Africa (Ethiopia).But the embassy will not invite me
December 22, 2022 at 08:55
You submitted late, so now you must wait.
December 20, 2022 at 12:08
Hi Simon, I’m 2023AS12XXX. I’m in the US with a B2 visa. I already filled out the DS-260 form and extend my visa to USCIS but it is still processing. So could I submit the I-485 form or what should I do?
December 22, 2022 at 08:32
AOS info here:
https://forums.immigration.com/threads/dv-2023-aos-adjustment-of-status-only.345837/
December 19, 2022 at 18:23
Hi Simon,
If I got my 2 NL in Dec/ Jan, will the interview appointment scheduled around Feb/ March? I have a business trip that I have to attend. Your reply is so much appreciated. 🙏🏼
Thank you very much. 🙏🏼
December 22, 2022 at 08:20
2NLs sent in December are for February interviews, and those sent in January are for March.
December 19, 2022 at 15:27
One more question, if I may. If KCC informed me that the applications submitted for all family members are completed and valid, does it mean that the DS260 was processed?
December 22, 2022 at 08:19
Yes
December 19, 2022 at 15:21
Dear Simon, the cut-off numbers for Europe did not change.
What could an explanation for the lack of progress? Are people with case numbers EU35K+ under the risk of not getting an interview?
Many thanks in advance for the response,
George
December 21, 2022 at 16:47
So it did happen in the past that 35+ had no chances, this is a possibility yes…
However numbers being stuck and all the sudden we had big jumps too.
Way too early to guess anything
December 22, 2022 at 08:19
I explained this on my live video yesterday.