affidavit of support

[Britsimon]

Does that mean i have a better chance with 84,000 selectees?

The short answer is we don't know, yet.

The real qus here is whether 5300 in 2016 is having the same chance as 5300 in 2015.
That depends on case density ( such as 80 valid cases in every 100 CN range) and response rate (of those 80 cases, how many will proceed and when they choose to proceed)
It also depends on the number on entries that Nepal and Iran has before you since they have the potential to max out.

Note that DV4Roger has a very good explanation on the quota of each region, which I suggest that you have a good understanding of first.

Good Luck

Actually the short answer is yes. Of course everyone in DV2016 can feel a little more secure than a DV2015er. However, we will know more once we understand the regional selectee breakdown and we will know even more as DV2015 reveals itself in terms of final response rate, no show rate and so on.

However, right now - 84 is better than 125.

 

[Britsimon]

This is good news! We are south africans living in London (for more than a decade) in one of the most affluent areas of London, so hopefully they won't ask for POF then. How often do they ask for POF in London from your experience of what you've heard?

If you have been living in the UK for 10 years in a nice part of London you won't have a concern unless you just gambled your savings away on selling ice to eskimos

 

[Pickles]

If you have been living in the UK for 10 years in a nice part of London you won't have a concern unless you just gambled your savings away on selling ice to eskimos

Lol Simon I'm going to bloody miss the Brit humour once over State side! Hopefully we will run into a good few to makes some friends away from home (we consider the UK our home after 11.5 years here.)

So you really don't think they'll ask for POF? We are saving hard of course but it would be nice not to even have to go there if you know what I mean.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Lol Simon I'm going to bloody miss the Brit humour once over State side! Hopefully we will run into a good few to makes some friends away from home (we consider the UK our home after 11.5 years here.)

So you really don't think they'll ask for POF? We are saving hard of course but it would be nice not to even have to go there if you know what I mean.

Come to NorCal, britsimon will continue to entertain you

 

[Pickles]

Come to NorCal, britsimon will continue to entertain you

LOL I've stayed in SF before and it wasn't cheap! Think I'll avoid that neck of the woods and spare myself rushing back to Her Madge with cap in hand... ;D

Incedentally, the hub and I were just squizzing at various states and trying to narrow down where we want to focus the job search when the time comes closer. We always had a thing for CO, and I do love WY and MT too (Can you tell we are outdoorsy people...?). Never really gave TX a look but grief, San Antonio is quite stunning... What are your thoughts SussieQQQ and my fellow Brit? Snow isn't an issue for us (we snowboard) so CO was an ideal option, and love the beauty of the other mentioned ones. Have any preferences yourselves?

 

[Britsimon]

LOL I've stayed in SF before and it wasn't cheap! Think I'll avoid that neck of the woods and spare myself rushing back to Her Madge with cap in hand... ;D

Incedentally, the hub and I were just squizzing at various states and trying to narrow down where we want to focus the job search when the time comes closer. We always had a thing for CO, and I do love WY and MT too (Can you tell we are outdoorsy people...?). Never really gave TX a look but grief, San Antonio is quite stunning... What are your thoughts SussieQQQ and my fellow Brit? Snow isn't an issue for us (we snowboard) so CO was an ideal option, and love the beauty of the other mentioned ones. Have any preferences yourselves?

Well we chose Norcal because it has it all. Year round decent weather, beaches (although cold water), gorgeous countryside, 2.5/3 hours to snow skiing (Tahoe is awesome), Yosemite (2.5 hours) and cool people. However, the home prices are "nice part of London" level.

CO is awesome, I have to admit and WY and MT are stunning. However, I was talking to some friends from Laramie yesterday. There is snow falling there right now. Long winters. Summer is very short. So short in fact you measure WY summer using a clock, not a calendar.

 

[Pickles]

Well we chose Norcal because it has it all. Year round decent weather, beaches (although cold water), gorgeous countryside, 2.5/3 hours to snow skiing (Tahoe is awesome), Yosemite (2.5 hours) and cool people. However, the home prices are "nice part of London" level.

CO is awesome, I have to admit and WY and MT are stunning. However, I was talking to some friends from Laramie yesterday. There is snow falling there right now. Long winters. Summer is very short. So short in fact you measure WY summer using a clock, not a calendar.

LOLOLOL!!!! Just the same as we measure dry days in the UK eh??

Yep, Tahoe is lovely. I boarded there before. And that was the first (and last) time I got snow-sun-burned. Bloody hell I'll never forget my sunblock EVER again when on the slopes!

Any thoughts on TX? Not liking the tornadoes idea too much... but dernnit tax free salaries sweetens the pot a tad..

 

[SusieQQQ]

LOL I've stayed in SF before and it wasn't cheap! Think I'll avoid that neck of the woods and spare myself rushing back to Her Madge with cap in hand... ;D

Incedentally, the hub and I were just squizzing at various states and trying to narrow down where we want to focus the job search when the time comes closer. We always had a thing for CO, and I do love WY and MT too (Can you tell we are outdoorsy people...?). Never really gave TX a look but grief, San Antonio is quite stunning... What are your thoughts SussieQQQ and my fellow Brit? Snow isn't an issue for us (we snowboard) so CO was an ideal option, and love the beauty of the other mentioned ones. Have any preferences yourselves?

CO was our second choice. Loved it.
Wouldn't catch me in TX...agree San Antonio is lovely though, to visit

 

[Pickles]

CO was our second choice. Loved it.
Wouldn't catch me in TX...agree San Antonio is lovely though, to visit

Ooooo spill, why so? If it's awful I'd rather know before I start wasting time looking into it.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Ooooo spill, why so? If it's awful I'd rather know before I start wasting time looking into it.

Without going into too much detail, Steve Hofmeyr is very popular there. From that you should be able to figure out whether or not you'd like the culture.

Another saffer family I know who moved there for low taxes are now desperately looking to move, citing weathe and boredom.

It's hard to be able to predict for someone else though...

 

[Pickles]

Without going into too much detail, Steve Hofmeyr is very popular there. From that you should be able to figure out whether or not you'd like the culture.

Another saffer family I know who moved there for low taxes are now desperately looking to move, citing weathe and boredom.

It's hard to be able to predict for someone else though...

Hofmeyr? BWAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHA! Oh my word that just made my day!!! SO funny! Thanks I may just give that state a wide bearth. Haha. Although hubby is afrikaans so maybe he'd like a bit of the ol' steve-meister. Crikey that's amusing.
Ok so maybe CO is the better idea. No tornadoes as far as I know... I can handle the swiss landscape - always wanted to move to Switzerland so CO isn't a bad runner up.
Seperate note, but do you think I should renew my passport now? It expires January 2016 so probably needs to get done before the interview which given our number is AF30xxx would probably put us at what, March? But given that I've entered my pp details when I entered and am now due to do my DS260 will that pose a problem later on? Do you know what I would need to do once I get the new pp if I've already dont the 260?

 

[Pickles]

Oh and although I've been married 5.5 years I never changed my passport name yet because I had no need to rush to renew my pp just because I changed my name. So now that it's expiring and I'm getting a new one I will be changing my maiden name over to my married name. You don't think that would be an issue either do you?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Hofmeyr? BWAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHA! Oh my word that just made my day!!! SO funny! Thanks I may just give that state a wide bearth. Haha. Although hubby is afrikaans so maybe he'd like a bit of the ol' steve-meister. Crikey that's amusing.
Ok so maybe CO is the better idea. No tornadoes as far as I know... I can handle the swiss landscape - always wanted to move to Switzerland so CO isn't a bad runner up.
Seperate note, but do you think I should renew my passport now? It expires January 2016 so probably needs to get done before the interview which given our number is AF30xxx would probably put us at what, March? But given that I've entered my pp details when I entered and am now due to do my DS260 will that pose a problem later on? Do you know what I would need to do once I get the new pp if I've already dont the 260?

Oh and although I've been married 5.5 years I never changed my passport name yet because I had no need to rush to renew my pp just because I changed my name. So now that it's expiring and I'm getting a new one I will be changing my maiden name over to my married name. You don't think that would be an issue either do you?

Yes, get a new passport. If you can visit SA to do it then it's better as it's much quicker. You need 6 months after expected entry date to the US in it when they put the visa in. Keep the old passport and take both to the interview, that should be fine. And the name change won't be a problem if it's from maiden to married name, you'll have a marriage certificate anyway with you. I'd say apply for all civil docs except the police certificate now if you don't have them already.

 

[Pickles]

Lol nope can't visit SA. Haven't even been in 5.5 years. The max they say they take us 4 months so that should do it. As long as its by this year december I should be ok.

I just wish I knew when to apply for the police clearance. Actually, speaking of, would I need to apply for one from the states? I lived there many years ago. Or would that be a moot endeavour since they can do those checks themselves?

 

[Pickles]

Ps: where are you from? Are you a saffa?

 

[SusieQQQ]

Lol nope can't visit SA. Haven't even been in 5.5 years. The max they say they take us 4 months so that should do it. As long as its by this year december I should be ok.

I just wish I knew when to apply for the police clearance. Actually, speaking of, would I need to apply for one from the states? I lived there many years ago. Or would that be a moot endeavour since they can do those checks themselves?

No need to get PC from the U.S. Takes a few weeks in SA usually, not sure about from outside.

Re the SA passport - just apply now...have heard some horror stories. In SA, a few weeks maximum. Outside - I have heard of people waiting a year sometimes...

Ps: where are you from? Are you a saffa?

Yep...

 

[Pickles]

Haha I thought so! Nice to meet another one on here

Yep I have also heard those stories. Hopefully all will be ok because those stories were back when the rubbish dump, I mean *post office* was out of order (I'm trying to be pc here... Can you tell?) Anyhooo handed my pp renewal in today and they said max 4 months but its almost certain to come back sooner, based on how things are going at the moment. Fingers crossed we don't have another crisis that side to upend things...

They said the marriage cert will be max 6 months. And a few weeks for the police clearance. I handed my form in at the main building at SA house today and they said they'll post me a pack in 3-5 days. I must then take that pack to a local cop-shop and they'll do prints and give us back the packs. Which I then have to send to SA. I think I will send the completed packs back with some friends that are over this month and next months (2 friends, 2 trips) and beg or bribe someone that side to make that awful schlep to PTA for the pc. Can you remember whether they give you the clearance cert right away same day? I can't remember now what we did 12 years ago. Pretty sure we got them straight up. Am trying to avoid couriering it to them because according to SA house they still have the habit of "losing" them regardless of the fact they're couriered. Ugh!!

 

[SusieQQQ]

Haha I thought so! Nice to meet another one on here

Yep I have also heard those stories. Hopefully all will be ok because those stories were back when the rubbish dump, I mean *post office* was out of order (I'm trying to be pc here... Can you tell?) Anyhooo handed my pp renewal in today and they said max 4 months but its almost certain to come back sooner, based on how things are going at the moment. Fingers crossed we don't have another crisis that side to upend things...

They said the marriage cert will be max 6 months. And a few weeks for the police clearance. I handed my form in at the main building at SA house today and they said they'll post me a pack in 3-5 days. I must then take that pack to a local cop-shop and they'll do prints and give us back the packs. Which I then have to send to SA. I think I will send the completed packs back with some friends that are over this month and next months (2 friends, 2 trips) and beg or bribe someone that side to make that awful schlep to PTA for the pc. Can you remember whether they give you the clearance cert right away same day? I can't remember now what we did 12 years ago. Pretty sure we got them straight up. Am trying to avoid couriering it to them because according to SA house they still have the habit of "losing" them regardless of the fact they're couriered. Ugh!!

I don't want to dishearten you, but they don't use the post office for passports, they courier them. The passport problems were in place long before the PO strike. Anyway hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who gets it in the advertised time.
For PC we applied at our local police station and got them couriered back ...there was a strike at the records office at the time so it took a bit longer than usual, maybe 8 weeks.

 

[Pickles]

Oh yeah now I remember what the saga was. Something about they didn't pay SAA account or something. So nothing was being sent through. The London SA fb group seems to be in consensus that they're getting them in under 6 months at least. Our numbers are AF30xxx so I doubt it would take longer to get the pp before we get called. In any event u still have my current one at least. It expires next year.

 

[Pickles]

*i still