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2012 dv lottery winners from nigeria report here

Hi all, my congratulation to those who won this year's green card lottery, and wish those who are yet to win that their day would come. I am one of the lucky winners and quite pleased. My number I believe is on the low side 2012AF000006** and I am hoping to send the required information as soon as possible. I have a question or two - when I played I was separated from my wife and going through divorce. I indicated on the form when I played that I was legally separated as at time I have already received the petition from the court - I live in the UK.

For some reasons my ex-wife has been stalling by note providing the necessary paperwork to the court for the judge to grant the divorce. I finally got a solicitor involve and things seems to be moving, albeit slowly - so I am hopeful that in the next 2 - 3 months I will be completely divorce. Do i indicate that I am divorce on the DS-230 form or separated? What is the implication if I say I am separated and when it comes to the time and I am still not divorced, would that affect issuing the visa?
 
baltimore_p said:
Hi all, my congratulation to those who won this year's green card lottery, and wish those who are yet to win that their day would come. I am one of the lucky winners and quite pleased. My number I believe is on the low side 2012AF000006** and I am hoping to send the required information as soon as possible. I have a question or two - when I played I was separated from my wife and going through divorce. I indicated on the form when I played that I was legally separated as at time I have already received the petition from the court - I live in the UK.

For some reasons my ex-wife has been stalling by note providing the necessary paperwork to the court for the judge to grant the divorce. I finally got a solicitor involve and things seems to be moving, albeit slowly - so I am hopeful that in the next 2 - 3 months I will be completely divorce. Do i indicate that I am divorce on the DS-230 form or separated? What is the implication if I say I am separated and when it comes to the time and I am still not divorced, would that affect issuing the visa?
Click to expand...
Congratulations . When did you apply ?
 
DV winners, please read this first ! General Info

Common terms important for Diversity Visa ( DV ) winners:

If you are a DV07 winner, you cannot get a visa before Oct 1st 2006. And you couldn't get one after Sept 30th 07.
There will be 50,000 visas granted : winner ( principal applicant ) and family members are taken into account in the number of visas.


GC = Green card ( ! )

NL = Notification letter ( aka 1st package ) : the big enveloppe you received with your case number.
There are 50,000 visas, but more people receive a NL, as there are some requirements that may not be met by the applicant ( education, evidence of support, health...), and other reasons ( moved to a different address and never receives the NL, death, changed his mind and does not want to immigrate to the US anymore .... )
So, receiving a letter does not necessarily mean being granted a visa.

KCC = Kentucky Consular Center ( where the NL came from ! )
contact : kccdv@state.gov , and (606) 526-7500 ( US phone number )
You need to know your case number when you call.

CP = Consular Processing ( do the interview at a US consulate/embassy )
AOS = Adjustment of Status ( adjust your visa in the US ) if you are legally present in the US

If you have a valid visa and live in the US, you can choose between CP and AOS ( the "choice" depends on your case number: if high, AOS is risky; the costs for you to fly back if CP ...) . If you don't, then there is only CP.

Case number : that's a very important thing ! ( it starts with 2letters standing for your region : AF, EU, OC SA, AS )
It will determine your interview date if your number is called ( current ).
The bulletin gives you the information :
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/b...letin_1360.html
In some way, the case number represents your chance to get an interview, thus to get a GC. If it's rather high for your region, you might not be called ( your number is never current, not even at the end ), or being called late ( August or Sept ). But remember that for some countries, name and background checks take a couple of weeks. So, Sept 30th can come before you get cleared...

Evidence of Support : It can be any combination of the following three :
_ Affidavit of Support : form I134 filled by a US Citizen ( USC ) or a Legal Permanent Resident ( LPR = GC holder ) http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/affsupp.htm

_ Job offer in the US : it is better to obtain a job offer on the company's letterhead and have it notarized.

_ Own funds ( bank accounts, assets....): see poverty guidelines for an idea of the amount. ( bank statement)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1327.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...info_1328.html

For the Evidence of Support, you can provide any combiantion of the 3, which means you can provide one ( any one ) of the mentioned documents, two ( any two ), or the three of them.
Remember that you better be safe than sorry. Bring as much as you can.
So, the I134 alone is good. Still, it would be better if you could show your own funds.

Also, education and english skills play a role as it will help in finding a job.
The immigration officer determines your potential to become public charge. So the more proofs you provide that you won't become one, the better for you.


POE = Port of Entry : if you were doing CP and were successful, you will enter the US with a brown enveloppe that has to remain sealed ( don't open it, it's for immigration officers ). Usually, it's an airport. There, the process to get the plastic GC will be activated.
 
Documents

The documents listed in the 2nd package are the same that the ones in the 1st.
They are:
_ the appointment letter ( the 2nd package ) is required to enter an embassy
_ birth certificate
_ marriage certificate ( and divorce if applicable )
_ death certificate ( if applicable, for spouse or children )
_ deportation papers if applicable
_ police certificate
_ court and prison records
_ proof of High School diploma ( and higher education if any )
_ Evidence of support :
* affidavit of support ( I134 ) ( by a USC or LPR )
* job offer in the US
* money or assets on your name
_ your passport
_ US-size photos
_ medical exam : the 2nd package will indicate the list of accredited physicians.

Not required, but might be requested : US tax returns if you lived in the US
but you do not need a US police certificate .

Evidence of Support : It can be any combination of the following three :
_ Affidavit of Support : form I134 filled by a US Citizen ( USC ) or a Legal Permanent Resident ( LPR = GC holder ) http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/affsupp.htm

_ Job offer in the US : it is better to obtain a job offer on the company's letterhead and have it notarized.

_ Own funds ( bank accounts, assets....): see poverty guidelines for an idea of the amount. ( bank statement)

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigr.../info_1327.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigr.../info_1328.html

For the Evidence of Support, you can provide any combiantion of the 3, which means you can provide one ( any one ) of the mentioned documents, two ( any two ), or the three of them.
Remember that you better be safe than sorry. Bring as much as you can.
So, the I134 alone is good. Still, it would be better if you could show your own funds.

Also, education and english skills play a role as it will help in finding a job.
The immigration officer determines your potential to become public charge. So the more proofs you provide that you won't become one, the better for you.

Education or training requirement:
_ education requirement( completion of a 12-year education : High School dipploma, and higher degrees )
_ training ( two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work experience )

For the police/court and prison records, special rules apply depending on how long you lived in a country and at what age.
A general rule is for every country you have lived in for more than a year after your 16th birthday.
Also, for some countries, it takes time to obtain them. So do some research!

Also, bring anything you think is applicable and relevant to your case ( better be safe than sorry... )

The principal applicant has to show the documents. Beneficiaries have to show most of them ( proof of termination of prior marraiges, birth ....). The only one that is not required for beneficiaries is the High School diploma : only the principal applicant has to prove it.

For translations, it depends on your consulate/embassy.
For CP in France ( my experience ), documents written in French or English were accepted.
Check for your location. Even if you have to pay a fee to contact the consulate, it might save you a lot of money ( certified translations are very expensive )

Some consulates require a special enveloppe so that stamped passports will be returned. This should be mentionned in the interview letter ( 2nd package ).

You can find specific info regarding documents for most countries in the reciprocity table : http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm
 
Special cases, additional info

Special case : getting married either after DV entry submission or after NL

It’s not a problem. It’s not considered fraud : you didn’t lie in your entry, it happened after.
Getting married with your significant other is your decision. If you were thinking about getting married, then you should marry before your interview. If you don’t, it will take years for you to sponsor your spouse.
Just be prepared to show proofs that you were together ( not just a GC marraige ). You might not be asked for them, but remember that I prefer things to be safe.
Those proofs can be:
_ emails ( date )
_ pictures ( date behind is better ) : showing both of you at family events, on vacation …
_ bills , appartment lease ….

I had chosen to wait after my marriage to send the forms back to KCC. Which means I sent my forms in OCtober : it was probably a little late, and may have caused the delay for me to get an interview ( my number was current in April , but I had my interview only in June ).
Some choose to send their forms as single asap, so that the forms start being processed. Then they get married ( thus, they had more time than me to plan the weeding ceremony ! ), and they send again their forms ( corrected : married ) along with forms for the spouse and a marriage certificate.

Anyway, if that's your decision, get married before the interview.


Special case : Spouse does not want to immigrate.

If you are the winner ( principal applicant ), and your spouse does not want to move to the US, then everything’s fine.
However, if the spouse changes his/her mind later on, it's too late. The visa has to be granted by Sept 30th. It will take years for a GC holder to sponsor his/her spouse.
If your spouse is the winner, then the spouse still has to go to the interview, pay for the visa, and go to the US to activate your visa.

Special Case : Birth of a child

_ The child is born after your entry submission, but before receiving the NL : simple, you just had the child in the forms.
_ The child is born after you sent back the forms : you print new ones, update them, and them to KCC along with a cover letter to explain ( you may want to add a birth certificate, but you would still need one for the interview )
_ Your interview is scheduled very close to the delivery date : have the interview scheduled for later, when the child is born so that he/she would get a GC too.
_ You went to the interview, the child is not yet born : that's more a problem : you should go to the US asap, so that the child is born as a USC. However, if you were not living in the US with medical insurance, that can be very expensive.

I think the child has to have a passport, and there would be the fees for him too ( visa fees of $755, and medical exam ).

US tax returns

Transcripts for federal returns can be obtained by calling (800)–829–1040 or by mailing form 4506-T (PDF), and should be received within approx two weeks . There is no charge.
But if you want a copy of the forms you sent to the IRS, then there is a fee of $39 per tax year requested.
You usually do not need a copy. A transcript is enough : it's a piece of paper that summarizes your return into a standard format so that's easy to read for an immigration officer.
Remember that the USCIS is not the IRS. Meaning that an immigration officer just wants to see if you filed ( complied with tax laws ) or not. A transcript is a true proof that you filed, as it comes from the IRS. If you bring a photocopy you made of your returns ( here, I mean a copy made by you, not a copy you would have paid for to obtain from the IRS ), it does not necessarily mean you filed a return.
Also, if you made a few mistakes ( wrong form, late filing ...), the immigration officer won't probably notice if the IRS hasn't.

Transcripts for state taxes also exist. See your State's Department of Revenue.

You may or may not be asked for them. I wasn't for CP in Paris, but maybe that's because my husband and I were students ( F1 ).
 
Consular Processing vs. Adjustment of Status

The differences between Consular Processing and Adjustment of Status:
Consular Processing has the following characteristics:

1. The time frame for Consular Processing is quicker than Adjustment of Status. From the date immigrant visa numbers become available, an average of 5 to 13 months processing time is expected;
2. Consular Processing must process in the foreign country of residence or country of birth;
3. An alien who chooses to apply for Consular Processing has no benefits of a work permit and advance parole. For more information about advance parole please click here; and
4. If an alien chooses to apply for Consular Processing, he must go back to the country of last residence or country of birth for an interview and medical exam at a U.S. consulate.

Adjustment of Status has the following characteristics:

1. Adjustment of Status may be slow. For Adjustment of Status based on an employment-based immigration petition, an average of 1 to 2 years processing time is expected. For more information about the USCIS Service Center processing time, please click here. For Adjustment of Status based on a family-based immigration petition, 1 year to 3 years processing time may be expected.
2. If an alien applies for Adjustment of Status, he must reside in the United States at the time of filing of I-485;
3. An alien who chooses to apply for Adjustment of Status has the benefits of a work permit and advance parole. For more information about advance parole, please click here; and
4. An alien who chooses to apply for Adjustment of Status needs to have fingerprints taken at a USCIS center and needs a health exam by a certified doctor in the U.S.
 
But someone said his Adjustment of status took him months to get like 3-5months, maybe the 1-3 years is the official time frame though
 
normally it might 3 to 10 months but the problem is your case#, if one has a high case #, the cut off will be near the end of the fiscal year(august-september), an the dv stops on 30th of september so not enought time to get your dv visa or change your status. with a low case # one might have enough room to get the visa.

with cp things go fast
 
I Thank God for discovering this great forum.I have not slept since 1 may 2011 when I checked my DV-lottery status and I was selected my case number is 2012A00007*** but what had caused me sleepless night is that my wife is also a winner with case number 2012A000016***.The big question is are we to submit the Dsp122 and Ds230 forms separately as primary applicants while we fill extra form Ds230 to indicate that we are spouses? Another Question is that God blessed us with a beautiful baby on 11th Feb.2011 that is after lottery application in October 2010.Please I need advice on the steps to take.
God bless every one us in this forum.
 
Is 2012AF000006** a relatively low number for the region? Or is it done country by country as per each region? Trying to get my head around it. Thank
 
I have been selected for further processing.
case number: 2012AF00009***.
DSp 122 and DS-0230, 2 passports and barcode sent.

But my fear is that during registration, somebody helped me to fill the form and he made a mistake in my date of birth. What can I do to make the date correlate with dates on my documents. Pls advice. Thanks
 
Father and Children but wife not migrating

dadadada72 said:
Special cases, additional info

Special case : getting married either after DV entry submission or after NL

It’s not a problem. It’s not considered fraud : you didn’t lie in your entry, it happened after.
Getting married with your significant other is your decision. If you were thinking about getting married, then you should marry before your interview. If you don’t, it will take years for you to sponsor your spouse.
Just be prepared to show proofs that you were together ( not just a GC marraige ). You might not be asked for them, but remember that I prefer things to be safe.
Those proofs can be:
_ emails ( date )
_ pictures ( date behind is better ) : showing both of you at family events, on vacation …
_ bills , appartment lease ….

I had chosen to wait after my marriage to send the forms back to KCC. Which means I sent my forms in OCtober : it was probably a little late, and may have caused the delay for me to get an interview ( my number was current in April , but I had my interview only in June ).
Some choose to send their forms as single asap, so that the forms start being processed. Then they get married ( thus, they had more time than me to plan the weeding ceremony ! ), and they send again their forms ( corrected : married ) along with forms for the spouse and a marriage certificate.

Anyway, if that's your decision, get married before the interview.


Special case : Spouse does not want to immigrate.

If you are the winner ( principal applicant ), and your spouse does not want to move to the US, then everything’s fine.
However, if the spouse changes his/her mind later on, it's too late. The visa has to be granted by Sept 30th. It will take years for a GC holder to sponsor his/her spouse.
If your spouse is the winner, then the spouse still has to go to the interview, pay for the visa, and go to the US to activate your visa.

Special Case : Birth of a child

_ The child is born after your entry submission, but before receiving the NL : simple, you just had the child in the forms.
_ The child is born after you sent back the forms : you print new ones, update them, and them to KCC along with a cover letter to explain ( you may want to add a birth certificate, but you would still need one for the interview )
_ Your interview is scheduled very close to the delivery date : have the interview scheduled for later, when the child is born so that he/she would get a GC too.
_ You went to the interview, the child is not yet born : that's more a problem : you should go to the US asap, so that the child is born as a USC. However, if you were not living in the US with medical insurance, that can be very expensive.

I think the child has to have a passport, and there would be the fees for him too ( visa fees of $755, and medical exam ).

US tax returns

Transcripts for federal returns can be obtained by calling (800)–829–1040 or by mailing form 4506-T (PDF), and should be received within approx two weeks . There is no charge.
But if you want a copy of the forms you sent to the IRS, then there is a fee of $39 per tax year requested.
You usually do not need a copy. A transcript is enough : it's a piece of paper that summarizes your return into a standard format so that's easy to read for an immigration officer.
Remember that the USCIS is not the IRS. Meaning that an immigration officer just wants to see if you filed ( complied with tax laws ) or not. A transcript is a true proof that you filed, as it comes from the IRS. If you bring a photocopy you made of your returns ( here, I mean a copy made by you, not a copy you would have paid for to obtain from the IRS ), it does not necessarily mean you filed a return.
Also, if you made a few mistakes ( wrong form, late filing ...), the immigration officer won't probably notice if the IRS hasn't.

Transcripts for state taxes also exist. See your State's Department of Revenue.

You may or may not be asked for them. I wasn't for CP in Paris, but maybe that's because my husband and I were students ( F1 ).
Click to expand...

dadadada, do you have knowledge or advice if a father is filing for his children but not his wife. Does he need to come to the interview with his wife?
 
princessann said:
dadadada, do you have knowledge or advice if a father is filing for his children but not his wife. Does he need to come to the interview with his wife?
Click to expand...

One more thing, if your spouse is not migrating would you need to bring any marriage related documents, thank you so much your insight in immensely helpful.
 
DADADADA72 Pls help me out

dadadada72 said:
u ll be current on october.......
Click to expand...


Please help me out DADADADA72


My Case Number :2012AF00011XXX


I need your directions on how to go about the processing. Hence, i want you to help me with out with the following question.

1. I'd love to know if my case number is current? and when I'm likely to be interviewed.

2. Can i use my Uncle whose resident here in Nigeria as my sponsor/ Petitioner. Will that cause any problem?

3. I have a relation in the US, but my fear is that i don't think he earns much. So i don't want to use him as my sponsor for the Affidavit of support.

4. If I'm going to use my Uncle will i have to include his name on the Petitioner column of the form.


Besides the above raised questions. I have completed and taken care of other things. This is the only thing hindering me. I hope you can advise me on what to do, so that i can mail back the forms to KCC on Monday. Your help will be appreciated.

God Bless You
 
Hello ur case number is not yet current.
If you are single then you dont need any sponsor or affidavit of support, (New system)

[/I]
ololo12 said:
Please help me out DADADADA72


My Case Number :2012AF00011XXX


I need your directions on how to go about the processing. Hence, i want you to help me with out with the following question.

1. I'd love to know if my case number is current? and when I'm likely to be interviewed.

2. Can i use my Uncle whose resident here in Nigeria as my sponsor/ Petitioner. Will that cause any problem?

3. I have a relation in the US, but my fear is that i don't think he earns much. So i don't want to use him as my sponsor for the Affidavit of support.

4. If I'm going to use my Uncle will i have to include his name on the Petitioner column of the form.


Besides the above raised questions. I have completed and taken care of other things. This is the only thing hindering me. I hope you can advise me on what to do, so that i can mail back the forms to KCC on Monday. Your help will be appreciated.

God Bless You
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Falainwest

falainwest said:
Hello ur case number is not yet current.
If you are single then you dont need any sponsor or affidavit of support, (New system)

[/I]
Click to expand...

Thank you so much Bro..... Please how do i know when my case number is current???
 
ololo12 said:
Please help me out DADADADA72


My Case Number :2012AF00011XXX


I need your directions on how to go about the processing. Hence, i want you to help me with out with the following question.

1. I'd love to know if my case number is current? and when I'm likely to be interviewed.

2. Can i use my Uncle whose resident here in Nigeria as my sponsor/ Petitioner. Will that cause any problem?

3. I have a relation in the US, but my fear is that i don't think he earns much. So i don't want to use him as my sponsor for the Affidavit of support.

4. If I'm going to use my Uncle will i have to include his name on the Petitioner column of the form.


Besides the above raised questions. I have completed and taken care of other things. This is the only thing hindering me. I hope you can advise me on what to do, so that i can mail back the forms to KCC on Monday. Your help will be appreciated.

God Bless You
Click to expand...

your cn ll be current before january 2012, check the visa bulletin once a month

sponsor and petitionner are 2 different things: the petitionner is the dv winner so you are the petitioner.
the sponsor must reside in USA not outside usa
 
princessann said:
One more thing, if your spouse is not migrating would you need to bring any marriage related documents, thank you so much your insight in immensely helpful.
Click to expand...

yes the mariage license is a proof that you are married even though your wife wont travel to USA
 
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