The new Visa Bulletin was released a short time ago, which was very slightly after the “normal” schedule – although of course, some have been stressing for days over the “late” VB with much speculation of what it could mean. Quite simply, it is “expected” between the 8th and the 15th. So – this was a few hours “late”.
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. 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.
December 11, 2023 at 12:18
Hi Brit, I will want to know if the person address in which am using for my gc to be delivered,where I will be residing can also be the same person to send me the 1-134 will it be a problem?
December 11, 2023 at 21:09
No problem.
July 25, 2023 at 13:12
Hey britsimon. A friend was put in 221g in February. They’ve sent him an email today telling about a follow up interview scheduled for him. What’s required of him? And does that mean he will do a fresh interview?
July 25, 2023 at 15:31
I don’t know.
July 8, 2023 at 14:37
2023AF11k
Hullo Brit I submitted July 5th & I did unlock September 28th & resubmitted September 29th
1. Is there a chance of getting 2NL Nairobi embassy
July 8, 2023 at 16:31
I don’t know for sure.
June 5, 2023 at 12:11
Hi Brit!
My case number is 2024AF17k, how soon can I soon can I get a 2NL pls?
June 5, 2023 at 16:08
Maybe October November, but it will depend on the processing of your DS260 and also your embassy.
February 3, 2023 at 03:59
AF111xx
Hullo Brit
Qn 1 does the email stating Records indicate you have submitted a complete & valid DS260 mean you are processed.
Thank you for the hard work we appreciate your continued support
February 3, 2023 at 14:55
1. Yes.
February 4, 2023 at 08:34
Thank you
January 27, 2023 at 16:52
Hi brit..please it is finish for dv20 and 21?
January 28, 2023 at 22:59
No – still waiting for the appeal.
January 6, 2023 at 00:13
Hi Brit my cake as 2023AS14k n it’s current for February month but I haven’t received my 2NL yet as of 06 January 2023. Is it normal??
January 6, 2023 at 00:25
That is normal for some cases, yes. Be patient.
January 1, 2023 at 02:55
Hi Brit, happy new year.
Case No 2023EU63xx
We submitted our DS forms in June 7, unlocked and resubmitted in July 8.
Our number matches January VB, but still didnt get 2 NL, ceac website still shows “Your case is currently at: KCC”
Is it normal? Should we ask KCC or just wait? Today is January 1-st already.
Thanks in advance
January 2, 2023 at 10:27
Just more patience. You should be scheduled soon (after the next VB).
December 3, 2022 at 05:26
Hi Brit my case number is current for the December VB, and I haven’t received a 2NL from KCC.
I submitted my DS260 in july. And Nairobi is where my interview will be
Please help me with any advise
December 3, 2022 at 12:50
Just wait. Only a few July submissions are processed thus far.
November 30, 2022 at 00:29
hello Brit
is it adviceable to change your country of interview
because they are not giving up enough interviews in the past months
November 29, 2022 at 23:25
Hi Brit, Am asking about DV 2020/DV 2021-am a plaintiff from Kenya with Case No AF55XXX. Do we have hope on these lawsuit or when will the case be concluded.
November 29, 2022 at 18:17
Hello Simon
I’m French and I live in France. My case number is 2023EU00011***. Would you have an idea of when I should received 2NL ? In December ?
Thanks a lot
December 3, 2022 at 12:44
You have a low case number, when you are processed and your case has been processed, then you will be scheduled. I won’t try and predict that.
November 18, 2022 at 23:11
Hi Simon
My Husband is Indian and got selected with DV 2023 for EU having my birth place is Germany with srilankan nationality, and the case number details is as follows
2023EU00019***
I submitted my DS 260 by May 2022 and am waiting for my 2NL and my case number to be current. I got my interview location mentioned in my DS 260 as Mumbai where I am currently in India,
I work for a reputed IT company and I have got an opportunity to travel the UK for wrk by this December 2022 and its a 2 yr visa, So I need to change my interview location from India to London,
1. Do I need to drop mail to KCC TO CHANGe the location by themselves or I need to raise a req to them to unlock my ds 260 for me to change the location?
2. Will this change in location at this stage of Europe being 15000 in VB delay or confuse the SEQUENCE of my 2nl as I am moving out of the queue and is it like starting from first?
3. As I am going to travel to Uk( Swindon) in December with the main applicant and my kids, is there anything I need to change or amend the submitted DS 260?.
Please advice
Regards
Sharmi
November 20, 2022 at 10:40
1. You unlock to change the address then resubmit and email KCC to change the embassy.
2. No
3. The address in each DS260
November 21, 2022 at 11:33
Thank you so much Simon,
November 18, 2022 at 22:29
Hi BritSimon, i really want to thank you for making out time despite your busy schedule to always brief us on how to go about the various steps of acquiring the DV lottery visa.
I wish to ask whether it is accepted for someone who is not your host to provide you with the i-134?
Looking forward to get your response sir.
November 20, 2022 at 10:38
Yes.
November 18, 2022 at 18:36
Hello Brit, I wanna say that you are helping a lot of people in the world and we are so happy to have you!
My wife just got the 2 NL and the interview is scheduled for January 3th. We are so excited about the interview, we have time for contact about our sponsor and we are picking up the documents that we need.
I have a question about the documents:
We have to bring with us the original documents, the translated documents (Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate etc…) and they should be translated by court interpreter, but should translated documents have to be with Court Apostille stamp or not? Because we don’t know it is necessary.
Thank you in advance!
November 20, 2022 at 10:38
Translations can be done by any competent third party.
Whether embassies require documents to be authenticated or not is mentioned in the embassy specific instructions (available from reading the main instructions). Go and check that.
November 18, 2022 at 15:59
Hi Simon, I have recieved my 2NL 2 days ago , but in the 2NL they did not mensioned the name of my newborn baby (BORN IN FEBRUERY 2022), by knowing , I made seperate ds 260 to her after win in (MAY 2022) and I have already added her in mine ds 260 , but they have just mensioned in the 2NL ( MY SPOUSE AND THE CHILDREN WHICH I HAVE MENSIONED IN THE ORIGINAL ENTRY), what I have to do to added her in 2NL and in midical test
November 20, 2022 at 10:36
Email the embassy and the physician and make sure they know the baby is coming.
November 18, 2022 at 12:17
Hi Simon I hope you are doing well. Dear Simon my husband is the main applicant and we are waiting for our interview. our case number is 2023AS47**.
I have three questions.
1. Does filling I-134 is mandatory for dv winners because I read all the instructions of USCIS website but there was not any notice about filling I-134.
2. How much money we should have in our bank account as a couple with no children in order to pass the interview successfully because as I mentioned earlier there was not any data or information in USCIS website about bank statement and budget that dv winners should have during the interview process.
3. Does Ankara embassy have a good performance, because I heard a lot of people s interview dates are announced in other embassies like Jordan with higher case numbers but no one from Ankara embassy because we have selected this embassy for our interview. thanks in advance
November 20, 2022 at 10:33
1. It is asked for in some cases. It is not generally listed in embassy instructions (apart from 1 embassy) but the CO can decide it is necessary. https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134/
2. Read my link.
3. Fine as far as we know at the moment.
November 18, 2022 at 11:32
Hi Brit Simon, just listened to your live Q&A, thank you for the information! I have an embassy question – I am Australian, so OC case number, but right now I live in Switzerland, so Bern embassy. In the new year, I’ll move back to Aus. Is it okay to leave embassy as Bern even if I’m no longer a resident in Switzerland? Im fine to travel for interview, just want to be sure there’s no issue due to residence status changing.
November 20, 2022 at 10:31
No problem that I know of. Seems a bit daft though – Sydney are back to normal.
November 17, 2022 at 18:53
Hello dear Simon, we hope you are doing well. my neighbor case number is AS4000 ,he is dv 2023 winner and he is from Afghanistan. When will he get interview email.
November 18, 2022 at 09:18
I don’t know
November 18, 2022 at 16:43
Hello dear Simon, we hope you are doing well .Fortunately he received interview email. We appreciate your wonderful work, God bless you
November 20, 2022 at 10:37
Cool.
November 20, 2022 at 10:29
I don’t know.
November 17, 2022 at 13:37
Hi brit I still haven’t received my 2NL for December interview and I sent my ds260 on June my case number is AF79××. What seems to be the problem.
November 20, 2022 at 10:23
Probably your DS260 is still being processed. Patience.
November 26, 2022 at 16:38
Hi Brit, I unlocked my DS260 in end October to update my current address as I had moved countries for school. I also requested for a change in interview location but I have not received any feedback on that. As my case will be current in January case number 2023AF92xx, should I send a follow up email? Do they provide confirmation that the location has been changed?
November 27, 2022 at 10:23
Ask them again.
November 16, 2022 at 21:03
Great news, big jump in numbers…
November 16, 2022 at 19:07
Thank you Britsimon for the update