DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[bchura]

Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are both PhD students on a valid F1 visa. My husband is the principal applicant. Our number will be current in August. I have to attend a PhD conference in Canada to present my paper, and I'm returning on August 7th. Because of this, we couldn't do an early filling (We are scared as I'm travelling due to the current situation). The earliest date we could send our documents is the 7th of August.

1. With the experience of the processing time of 2025 DV and the current administration situation, do you think we could make it before the end of FY? (Technically, is it worth spending money knowing we have only 2 months for processing?)
2. If anyone can explain the process, timeline, it would be great, because I couldn't see many recent updates on the DV tracker sheet.
3. My husband received an email from KCC with his case number and a letter called an adjustment letter. We suspect this to be a scam. Did anyone receive such an email?

 

[Sm1smom]

yes, At first, I was also suspicious and could not believe tier 2 offficer picked up my phone. However, I just double check with EMMA, and they confirmed it fixed. My case is still in NBC.
Today, I just finished bio appointment with a reschedule ealier date. But in USCIS portal, it only show case was received. I received bio schedule paperwork on June 10.
1. How long does it take to reflect on USCIS portal?
2. How long does they take to send to FO?

1. There may or may not be an update following bio completion, until after case adjudication.
2. No one can predict how long bio clearance can take. Some applicants background clearance could be within a day, some folks could take several weeks/months.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Everyone,
My husband and I are both PhD students on a valid F1 visa. My husband is the principal applicant. Our number will be current in August. I have to attend a PhD conference in Canada to present my paper, and I'm returning on August 7th. Because of this, we couldn't do an early filling (We are scared as I'm travelling due to the current situation). The earliest date we could send our documents is the 7th of August.

1. With the experience of the processing time of 2025 DV and the current administration situation, do you think we could make it before the end of FY? (Technically, is it worth spending money knowing we have only 2 months for processing?)
2. If anyone can explain the process, timeline, it would be great, because I couldn't see many recent updates on the DV tracker sheet.
3. My husband received an email from KCC with his case number and a letter called an adjustment letter. We suspect this to be a scam. Did anyone receive such an email?

1. This is a personal call you guys will need to make IMO as I cannot make a prediction one way or the other. We all have different risk tolerant levels - you have a unique opportunity, you decide if it is worth pursuing or not. You might want to take a look at the Timeline spreadsheets from over the past couple of years to get an idea of how cases that became current in August/September fared (based on their applicable FOs).
2. The process is already well explained/laid out in the AOS Process Spreadsheet - I recommend you spend some quality time going over it (there are several useful tabs on the spreadsheet).
3. Did you guys already make your DV administrative fee payment? If you already did, that is the reason for the KCC email which your husband received, that wouldn't be a scam.

 

[Chrollo]

Hi @Sm1smom

I hope you are well.

I’m not sure if this question has been addressed before, but does the travel ban affect individuals from restricted countries who are already in the U.S. and wish to adjust their status?

Thanks

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi @Sm1smom

I hope you are well.

I’m not sure if this question has been addressed before, but does the travel ban affect individuals from restricted countries who are already in the U.S. and wish to adjust their status?

Thanks

No impact. This is one of the major advantage of AOS over CP (this is listed in the pros and cons of AOS vs CP section of the AOS Process spreadsheet as a matter of fact).

 

[keremk]

Hello Mom and valuable members,

According to the USCIS:

Diversity Visa ProgramThe Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program requires the principal DV applicant to have a high school education, or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience as defined under provisions of U.S. law.

My question is: Is there any obligation to submit original education documents for secondary (derivative-spouse) applicant?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello Mom and valuable members,

According to the USCIS:

Diversity Visa ProgramThe Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program requires the principal DV applicant to have a high school education, or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience as defined under provisions of U.S. law.

My question is: Is there any obligation to submit original education documents for secondary (derivative-spouse) applicant?

No such requirement, unless the main selectee is cross-charging to their spouse's country of birth.

 

[javier98]

You can try visit your FO as a walk to see if you can talk to someone about your case mind - mind you, there’s no guarantee the security guards would allow you in without an appointment. You can also initiate a congressional case inquiry - a case inquiry request from your congress person’s office can help bump your case back to the attention of the IO in charge of it.

p.s. can you add your case details to the 2025 Timeline Spreadsheet? Other AOSers could benefit from you also.

I understand

I know I've already asked the following question, but this time I'm asking it to obtain information from previous cases.

Have there been cases in the past where people lost or had their legal status expire while in the AOS process and still managed to obtain residency under the DV Program?

 

[Sm1smom]

I understand

I know I've already asked the following question, but this time I'm asking it to obtain information from previous cases.

Have there been cases in the past where people lost or had their legal status expire while in the AOS process and still managed to obtain residency under the DV Program?

Yes.

p.s. can you add your case details to the 2025 Timeline spreadsheet?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Have there been cases in the past where people lost or had their legal status expire while in the AOS process and still managed to obtain residency under the DV Program?

As mom said, yes.
Note however in this instance if that for any reason you do not manage to adjust status you would have to leave the US immediately that decision comes through (denial, running out of visa numbers etc).

 

[Harry13--]

1. There may or may not be an update following bio completion, until after case adjudication.
2. No one can predict how long bio clearance can take. Some applicants background clearance could be within a day, some folks could take several weeks/months.

I see!!
How can i know if my bio clearance has done? Can I ask EMMA?

 

[bchura]

1. This is a personal call you guys will need to make IMO as I cannot make a prediction one way or the other. We all have different risk tolerant levels - you have a unique opportunity, you decide if it is worth pursuing or not. You might want to take a look at the Timeline spreadsheets from over the past couple of years to get an idea of how cases that became current in August/September fared (based on their applicable FOs).
2. The process is already well explained/laid out in the AOS Process Spreadsheet - I recommend you spend some quality time going over it (there are several useful tabs on the spreadsheet).
3. Did you guys already make your DV administrative fee payment? If you already did, that is the reason for the KCC email which your husband received, that wouldn't be a scam.

Thanks so much for your reply! means a lot!

 

[Sm1smom]

I see!!
How can i know if my bio clearance has done? Can I ask EMMA?

It's usually a wait and see game at this point. EMMA/frontline agents more often than not cannot tell, but you can still ask.

 

[MAZBBB]

Hi,

Sorry for the late response, for Fairfax, Washington Field Office, I filled the form from the congresswoman's website and submitted my inquiry, after which I went to the main congresswoman's office to follow up with the Case officer. Then I received the official notification from the congresswoman's office to USCIS, with the 45-day timeline for them to respond.

 

[at321]

Good afternoon, everyone. I had my interview today at the Dallas Field Office. I am the DV lottery winner, and my wife also filed her I-485 application along with mine. Our case status has been updated to “New Card Is Being Produced”. Thanks to @Sm1smom, @SusieQQQ, @Xarthisius, and all other active members of this forum for your guidance.

Interview Experience:

The officer was nice and professional. First, he congratulated us on being selected in the DV lottery and informed us that he would review some questions and then approve our case. He asked if we had evidence of a bona fide marriage. We gave him the original marriage certificate, the lease, the bank statement, and a few photographs. Next, he asked if we had maintained our status, to which we answered yes. Finally, he went through a series of yes/no questions and then informed us that he would approve our case. The entire interview lasted around 20 minutes.

I would like to wish everyone good luck in the DV lottery-based adjustment of status process.

 

[Sm1smom]

Good afternoon, everyone. I had my interview today at the Dallas Field Office. I am the DV lottery winner, and my wife also filed her I-485 application along with mine. Our case status has been updated to “New Card Is Being Produced”. Thanks to @Sm1smom, @SusieQQQ, @Xarthisius, and all other active members of this forum for your guidance.

Interview Experience:

The officer was nice and professional. First, he congratulated us on being selected in the DV lottery and informed us that he would review some questions and then approve our case. He asked if we had evidence of a bona fide marriage. We gave him the original marriage certificate, the lease, the bank statement, and a few photographs. Next, he asked if we had maintained our status, to which we answered yes. Finally, he went through a series of yes/no questions and then informed us that he would approve our case. The entire interview lasted around 20 minutes.

I would like to wish everyone good luck in the DV lottery-based adjustment of status process.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your update.

 

[kolette]

Hi Mom, I have a couple of questions.

For the documents, I’m planning to send my old passport, which has my expired cancelled without prejudice U.S. visa. I’m wondering, do they usually ask to see it during the interview? I don’t currently have it with me, so if it’s necessary, I’ll arrange to have it mailed to me.

Also, regarding the I-485 form: while filling it out online, I wasn’t able to enter “N/A” in the non-applicable fields. But I noticed in the sample you shared, it included “N/A” in those sections. I printed the form and was thinking of writing it in by hand, but I wanted to ask if it’s really necessary. Some people say you shouldn’t leave any fields blank and should write “N/A” instead, while others say it’s okay to leave them empty. I’d love to hear your opinion on that.

And one last thing, we’re planning to send the documents soon, but they might arrive one day early. I assume that won’t be a problem in terms of early filing, but I wanted to check with you just to be sure.

Thanks a lot for your support!

 

[billknox123]

Hi, I'm posting this here also, as I may have posted to the wrong thread.
I moved to US with Non-immigrant visa on Feb 2022, I have a Police Certificate from country of origin date Oct 2021, due to a minor traffic accident.
Do I now need a new one from country of origin to submit with my AOS application? Thanks

 

[NIV999]

Hi everyone, new to this forum. Thank you all for sharing your AOS timelines — very helpful.

 

[NIV999]

I submitted DV-2025 AOS applications for myself and my family (6 people total). Unfortunately, I used the outdated 10/24/24 version of I-485, and the whole package was rejected (no fees were cashed).

USCIS returned all I-693s opened, and the rejection notice says I can reuse them if I include that notice with the new filing. But now there’s a new policy from June 11 saying any I-693 from a rejected I-485 can no longer be used again.

So now I’m not sure what to do. Has anyone recently reused a returned I-693 after a rejection and still got accepted? Or should I just get all new medicals?

Thanks in advance for any insight.