Just to touch on the posts I'm reading, the emphasis I make again is that all DV2014 selectees start obtaining all their educational, work and civil documents together (and save up as much money as possible!).
Just leave out the medical and police certificate until you receive your 2nd NLs as they have a validity period attached to them. In most cases from what I have read the medicals are valid for six months and police certificates have either three months or six months validity depending on the country (some countries have no validity restrictions on police certificates).
The September visa bulletin (showing September the last month of DV2013 and October the start of DV2014) will be released in a day or two so keep a sharp lookout for it and make your preparations accordingly.
Interviews are practically guaranteed even for high case numbers (at the most you'll become current in September 2014) unless there are specific cut-offs for specific continents/countries so do not lose sleep over this. What should be causing anxiety is the procurement of your documents.
In reference to my personal experience, I had 90% of my documents ready a month before my interview save for one or two documents and believe me it takes the weight off your shoulders and reduces 75% of the stress factor knowing that you've got 90% of your documents in hand.
The remaining stress factor of 25% will only really kick in a month/week before your interviews and during that last month/week, you will experience sleepless nights, stress, hair falling (I hope not for the men lol), lack of appetite, restricted ability to focus on other things.
It is human nature and it has happened to many of us who have gone through this journey. It is really exhausting and it will all be squeezed out of you and realised when the consular officer tells you "congratulations, your visa has been approved", and you'll truly wonder where that 1,000% effort came from in the months/weeks/days before the interview and you will appreciate God's work and the endurance/triumph of the human spirit (for those who have read William Faulkner's books).
Time is of the essence in the DV so don't leave it to chance when it comes to DV documentation and savings.
Of course there's the rest of us who have made the journey and now we serve to guide and pray for you in your respective journeys wherever you may be from.
All The Best!
Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me!)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - 14th June 2013
Police Clearance (TZ) - 13th June 2013
Police Clearance (UK) - 21st June 2013
Medicals - Completed 24th June 2013
I-134 - 16th July 2013
Bank Statements - 22nd July 2013
Interview - Wednesday, August 7th 2013 @ 8am - US Embassy Tanzania - SUCCESS!!!
Visa Pick up - August 14th 2013
Departure Date - August 17th 2013 - booked already on Emirates!
Port of Entry - Washington Dulles
