The visa bulletin has been released. The movement is pretty much what we should expect, given the lower numbers they are trying to achieve, and the fact that there is a small backlog already existing in each of the three large regions. I hope that they will have released enough numbers to have a busy March, because it would be good to continue the relatively fast pace they have already been setting.

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.
January 22, 2025 at 11:49
Hi Simon,
Thanks for the good work that you’ve been doing for the DV winners, who sometimes are not well-informed on the process; I have two concerns:
1. Rumours are that since November, Nairobi has not sent any 2nl. If true, should we be worried?
2. What happens then when your number is current, and you’ve not received the 2nl
January 22, 2025 at 19:43
1. That is true so far. But we need to wait until the end of the month.
2. You wait.
January 21, 2025 at 05:34
HI Simon,
Received the following email from KCC Three days ago but have not had my 2NL YET.
Required Entry Status Check for DV Submission
Inbox
[email protected]
Jan 18, 2025, 9:12 PM (3 days ago)
to me
xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx:You have received this email notification to inform you that you have updates available at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC. Please log in using your confirmation number from your original application to complete further processing.
1) What should I do now?
January 21, 2025 at 11:26
https://youtu.be/kAihPxKEnOs
January 20, 2025 at 17:43
Hi Brits,
Hope you are doing fine. When I checked my ceac, this is what it says: “Your case is in transit to the Consular Section. Your interview date was provided to you by the National Visa Center”. Than KCC sent me an email telling me that there is an update on my case directing me to login with my confirmation, last name and Year of birth to continue my processing. I was hoping that this is my interview appointment letter but unfortunately when I login, I saw the same letter that I received when I was selected. My case number is 2025AF22###.
(1) Please, What does this mean?
January 21, 2025 at 04:13
Hello Britsimon!!
Is it possible that 2NL will still continue to be distributed across embassies on to the end of this months? Or those embassies that haven’t sent out 2NL yet can only do it next month after the bulletine?
January 21, 2025 at 11:25
Generally each embassy gets one batch of interviews per month, but there are sometimes exceptions to that norm.
January 21, 2025 at 11:19
https://youtu.be/kAihPxKEnOs
January 18, 2025 at 09:26
Hi Simon,
Thank you for your continued effort and great advice on this blog, me and my wife have personally benefited from it in the past.
We won in the DV2024 lottery, had our interview and biometrics in Helsinki Embassy last summer and took our 1.5 week activation trip to the US in Dec.2024. Were processed at the border upon entry as normal and have been waiting for our green cards to arrive.
We were surprised yesterday to both receive an appointment notice from USCIS for biometrics at the local ASC with the standard language on the notice that should we fail to appear (in less than two weeks time from now), our benefit request may be abandoned.
I have never heard of a DV winner needing a second biometrics appointment after having been processed on the activation trip. Is this some kind of an error by the local ASC (smaller location) and who should we contact to clear this up (the embassy, USCIS) ?
Have you ever heard of such and what might be the reason behind ? We did live in the U.S. previously on an E-2 visa, however left the country before its expiration a few years ago and have visited several times as tourists since.
Thanks again for your insight !
January 18, 2025 at 13:57
Yes it happens, its not really a problem. You will make an appointment with USCIS the next time you are there.
January 18, 2025 at 07:52
Hi Britt! I submited my papers on nov 30 2017, as an si gel daughter older than 21 years for green card. Since October 2023 visa bulletin has not moved in my category. When do you think it will move? Have a great day
January 18, 2025 at 13:56
I only answer questions about the DV lottery.
January 17, 2025 at 08:50
Hi Brit. My wife is a selectee for the DV lottery 2025 (2025AF51***). We are in the UK, with designated embassy London used in DS260. Our Concern is that she does not have a Valid passport or a travel document as she travelled to the UK using a single way travel document because she was a refugee in an African country before coming to the UK (She is staying in the UK lawfully for the next 2 years). Is this a big Hinderance to the DV lottery Visa application process, what can she do to improve the chances ? Thanks and Kind regards
January 17, 2025 at 09:57
The USA embassy can issue a travel permit during the process, however, she will need documents that prove her identity and so on.
January 17, 2025 at 03:38
Hi Simon, thank you very much for everything, you are a star.
My daughter’s DV case number is AF23XXX, when can we expect the interview?
Have a great day
January 17, 2025 at 09:53
It depends on whether your DS260 is processed and to which embassy you are assigned.
January 16, 2025 at 20:48
Hi Brit, hope you are doing well. I’m Richard with case number 44K from Nairobi kenya. Am I safe? Just to inquire
January 17, 2025 at 09:48
You should be OK
January 16, 2025 at 05:43
Hey Simon, Thank you for all the useful information and all your videos! My case number is AS24K do you think this year they will do the screw it method? after the new trump management? Also, I have a processing I-130, will it affect my lottary case? Thank you in advance 🙂
January 16, 2025 at 11:22
I can’t predict the screw it method. It is by nature not predictable.
No problem with I130 and DV cases running at the same time.
January 16, 2025 at 04:06
Hey Simon! How often Xarthisius updates the CEAC data? Is it after every bulletine or the end of each months?
January 16, 2025 at 11:21
Every Friday.
January 15, 2025 at 18:13
Hi sir, 2025AS213xx is risky case for CLM
January 16, 2025 at 11:17
Yes the case number is somewhat high (for ANY embassy)
January 15, 2025 at 05:19
hello @BritSimon, (2025AF4xx) please i received a NVC notification prompt yesterday in Accra but it didn’t come with the 2NL.
When i checked the application status, it says “READY” but no 2NL link is provided.
January 15, 2025 at 11:18
https://youtu.be/kAihPxKEnOs
January 15, 2025 at 02:04
Hi Sir, hope you are doing great.
Please, Base on the way the visa bulletin is going, what do you think of my case number 2025AF39K? Am I safe??
January 15, 2025 at 11:20
Probably safe. Watch my video predictions.
January 14, 2025 at 22:39
Hi sir , thanks for your help us and all of your free and helpful information, l am from iran with case number 12k, do you think it’s safe ? 🌷
January 15, 2025 at 11:19
I can’t say you are safe, particularly as you are from Iran.
January 14, 2025 at 21:57
Hey Sir how about poland how are the bulletin in poland looks like?
January 14, 2025 at 22:29
The vb is not by country.
January 14, 2025 at 17:45
Hi Brit,
My case number AF13K, I received email today which supposed to be my 2nl and I logged into my portal but no interview date is given.
It still shows that I am randomly selected for further processing.
Is that normal?
January 14, 2025 at 22:28
There is a system problem affecting a number of cases. Be patient.
January 14, 2025 at 15:06
Hi Brit,
I am Benny K. Yancy from Monrovia Liberia. My case number is 2025AF61627, am I safe?
January 14, 2025 at 16:44
No, I can’t say that you are safe.
January 14, 2025 at 10:02
Hi Simon,
Just received this answer from KCC, also just read your FAQ on what KCC email means.
I think the answer I got is little bit different but I believe it’s equal to stage 3 you explained on your article.
“Thank you for your inquiry.
Your case number is now current for interview processing. If you are scheduled for an interview date, 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, KCC can no longer unlock your application.”
Cheers,
Quentin
January 14, 2025 at 11:04
This is stage 4.
It means your DS260 is processed AND your case number is current, so you have been added to the AV queue.
January 14, 2025 at 11:16
thank you, it’s for Paris embassy.
January 14, 2025 at 11:26
Then you will probably get your 2NL this month for a March interview.
January 15, 2025 at 03:44
Hello,
This is the same email KCC send to me my case number is AF11xxx Freetown embassy, we pray that we receive our 2nl this month, Britsimon is one of the best in-terms of DV lottery God will surely bless him for us
January 16, 2025 at 04:02
Have received a notification prompt via email to check for your 2NL?
January 14, 2025 at 09:18
Hello Simon 🙂 Can you tell me little bit more about situation in Serbia embassy in Belgrade? My case number is EU 27xxx. Thanks for the advice.
January 14, 2025 at 11:03
You have a long time to wait, so there will be plenty of time to see how that embassy performs over the coming months.
January 14, 2025 at 08:20
Hello Simon,My niece’s case number is so high…70k she submitted ds260 immediately after the dv results were out..till now she’s not gotten any communication…is everything ok?or she should send her documents too.. thanks ..
January 14, 2025 at 12:26
There is no need for her to send documents. In reality she is at risk because her number is very high. All she can do is wait and hope.
January 14, 2025 at 02:27
Hi Mr. Brit
Hope you’re well,
With this slow progress do you think I will get an interview?
My CN:
AS179xx
January 14, 2025 at 10:53
You will have to wait and see.
January 13, 2025 at 20:55
My case no is AS 7556 from Nepal. My passport is expiring in next three months . What do I need to do? I am going to get my passport renewed. And I think they will change the passport number will that create problems they also provide old passport number in new passport .
January 14, 2025 at 10:52
No need to worry. Just take the new (and old if possible) passport to the interview.
January 13, 2025 at 17:47
Hello Simon. Please Can you tell me how the Albanian embassy in Tirana is going in your opinion. My case nr is Eu 20900. Thank yo so much
January 13, 2025 at 19:05
It’s doing fine.
https://dvcharts.xarthisius.xyz/ceacFY25.html
January 13, 2025 at 15:43
Hi Simon, my CN is AS17k Cairo
After VB
Is my case risky ?
January 13, 2025 at 19:01
I don’t think it is very risky.
January 13, 2025 at 14:18
Hellow Britsimon, how is Zambia (African country) performing so far? I’m AF56,xxx from Zambia , Lusaka
January 13, 2025 at 15:23
Fine.
January 13, 2025 at 13:14
Hi Brit,
I am Ashwin and my CN AS 9xxx.. I have submitted the DS 260 in July 2024 and unlocked it to update my newborn baby in October 2024 and submitted the same day. Further my spouse’s passport will expire in April 2025 and the passport got renewed this month.. Is it a wise decision to unlock the DS260 again to update it?? I wonder if KCC find spouse passport is expired when they process it, that will be a reason for a disqualification??? Please assist
January 13, 2025 at 15:22
No need to unlock, just show it at the interview.
January 13, 2025 at 13:11
Hello Britsimon, thank you for the tremendous work that you do, am a dv2025 selectee with a case number of AF14xxx, NRB embassy but am yet to receive a 2NL….in your opinion should I continue to wait or write to KCC? I submitted my ds260 in July 2024….I checked my visa status and it said still at NVC…..
January 13, 2025 at 15:15
Patience.
January 15, 2025 at 14:07
Thank you, just watched your video on YouTube regarding the ‘glitch at ceac’ …so will continue waiting fingers crossed 🤞
January 13, 2025 at 12:39
I hope Acc embassy will schedule cases now
January 13, 2025 at 15:13
I would not hold my breath
January 15, 2025 at 05:20
hello Jenneh, have you received your 2NL from Accra Embassy?
January 13, 2025 at 12:36
Dear Sir what is your opinion about the administrative process duration ?as you see it is has freezed again for Asia, does it help our cases (in Ap )to be cleared sooner ?
January 13, 2025 at 15:12
Not really.
January 16, 2025 at 06:07
With recently updated vb, how much cases do you think will be current from Nepal in this dv lottery? Does people like me with case number around 10.3k will be interviewed??
January 16, 2025 at 11:25
Please review my prediction video for the AS region.
January 13, 2025 at 12:36
1. Hey Simon, what probably could have been the reason for the small increment in the cut off numbers in the visa bulletine?
2. Does xarthisius update the ceac data every time a new visa bulletine is published?
January 13, 2025 at 15:12
1. I just posted a video about that.
https://youtube.com/live/t_Q5rKURYf8?feature=share
2. Every Friday