Kunato- sorry for not attaching earlier some links about Mr. Kurzban and his law firm:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_J._Kurzban
He's a Miami-based attorney who is one of the leading immigration lawyers in the U.S. He's the "former President (1987–88) of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has also served as the association's General Counsel. He was also called a "legend in the field" and listed among the world's most highly regarded individuals in the International Who's Who of Corporate Immigration Lawyers".
Here's the link to his law firm:
http://www.kkwtlaw.com/Bio/IraKurzban.asp
Regarding the timeline: that depends on the court. Kurzban already filed a motion to expedite the proceedings, DOS filed their objections, and on Nov. 25 he filed his response to DOS. ALL those documents can be seen at
http://diversityvisa2012.blogspot.com/. There you can see how to donate.
Look folks, I totally agree that if you're in Africa and don't make even $100 a month then you shouldn't contribute. No question. I also agree that if a Green Card isn't important to you, you shouldn't donate. My appeal is aimed at people who already live in the U.S. (or in the West), and to whom a Green Card is important. I live in the U.S. and to me a Green Card is very important. It's a huge thing, and in order to get back my selection I was willing to pay $100.
So if the GC is important to you, you should donate NOW!!
Here is the reason why I will NOT donate:
(1) Lawyer's official website (
http://www.kkwtlaw.com/Bio/IraKurzban.asp) did not endorse website
http://diversityvisa2012.blogspot.com/ (e.g. by providing direct web/internet link FROM lawyer's website TO the "blogspot" website, and not the other way around, which is what anyone could do). Hence, the credibility of latter (blogspot) website is questionable.
(2)
http://diversityvisa2012.blogspot.com website states
"The amount so far is insufficient to cover the
expenses we are paying out of our own pocket, let alone our fees."
What is the exact dollar amount of these expenses? Where is the proof how much litigation actually costs? How do we know how little $2,000 is?
(3)
http://diversityvisa2012.blogspot.com website states in Point #2
"· The first draw was indeed random
because it was not conducted according to any rule, method or strategy."
The May 1st lottery draw was suspended (cancelled) specifically because
there WAS a rule/method/strategy on how selectees were drawn: the first 20,000 selectees were selected from those applicants who submitted application
within the first 3 day of application period.
This is NOT random selection.
Random selection should have included the ENTIRE PERIOD of DV visa applications...that is, the entire 30 day period as opposed to the first 3-day period. Basically, May 1 draw put those applicants who submitted their application during the first 3 days at unfair advantage against those who submitted in the subsequent 27 days. That is unfair advantage.
The US website clearly stated these reasons:
http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/con...isas&document=2012DiversityVisaLotteryProgram
"The results were not valid because, owing to a computer error, they did not represent a fair, random selection of entrants, as required by U.S. law."
On the contrary, the second draw on July 15 was FAIR, because all applicants who submitted during 30-day period had EQUAL chances of being selected (and not just those who submnitted during first 3 days).
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_5561.html
"Applicants registered for the DV-2012 program were selected at random from 14,768,658 qualified entries (19,672,268 with derivatives) received
during the 30-day application period that ran from noon on October 5, 2010, until noon, November 3, 2010. "
I understand the disappointment of those who have been selected during May 1 draw, but if a computer program made an error, we can just be happy that that error was corrected by humans and that EVERYONE who submitted their application had EQUAL chances of being selected NO MATTER WHEN they submitted their application within 30-day period.