I am spouse of DV 08 winner and I'd like to share my experience from start to end.
After you got the winning letter, first thing first was to consult with USCIS to ensure which path you should do to process your DV: Consular processing (aka CP) or AOS (Adjustment of Status). CP requires you to (usually) go back to your country and apply for DV at US consulate. With AOS you adjust your status to be permanent resident while you are in US. So if you are currently in US, make sure you are eligible to do AOS. Ask USCIS, not KCC!
So now you got some DS forms you have to fill out and send back to KCC
along with the check. Read the instruction carefully! Last year, it was stated that we could pay with personal check or money order (just 1 check for you, your spouse and children). From now on, make a habit to ALWAYS copy your signed forms and all supplemental documents you are mailing to USCIS. I can't emphasis enough how important it is. DO NOT expect USCIS will have your copies ready/available. Trust me on this one.
Later (within weeks), you will get a confirmation letter indicating that your case got transferred to USCIS along with receipt of your DV fee. Let me explain about this situation. Department of State does the DV lottery program annually, but USCIS is the one that actually doing your AOS. The fee you pay when mailing your DS form was to cover the DV lottery program. It has nothing to do with other fees you will pay later when doing your AOS. So if you have question why you have to pay DV in the first place and pay again later, this is why.
Make copy of the receipt and keep all documents in safe place. If you are doing it with your spouse (and children), organize them. Have folders for each person. This will help you later when ready to file your AOS.
I heard they have new numbering system for DV 09, but i couldn't imagine how much different it would be from past numbering. It is still worth to try to analyst when approximately your number will be current from monthly visa bulletins in the past.
So now you have your approximate time when your number is current. Now you need to prepare a lot of documents for your AOS filing. This is what you need to do:
1. ALWAYS go to USCIS website to download required forms. The reason is that each form has its expiration date. Form I-485 may look same from year to year, but you definetely do not want to use expired form. Anything expired is always not good.
2. From the section you download the form, there is usually a link to download the instruction for corresponding form. Download and read it carefully. It will have everything you need in order to fill and where to send the form.
3. Gather all necessary supplemental/supporting documents such as birth certificates, I-20s, H1-B, visa, passport (page showing your bio), photos, financial statement, job verification, stock, 401K, etc. Make copies all the doc for each applicant (you, your spouse). Your children may not need all of doc mentioned above. The basic idea is to provide all documents that would satisfy credibility and egibility of each applicant to apply for AOS. Each applicant refers to you, your spouse or your kids.
4. Now, another tip for you: try to make copies with duplex (double sided) with short-edge option. This is not mandatory! I did it because it was a favorable option that USCIS stated on how to file the application. Make it easier for the officer so he could review your case effectively and efficiently
5. About medical examination, I believed USCIS added more vaccines for you guys to take. There are several options to obtain them if you are on tight budget: check your local health department for free adult vaccines (this may not cover all of them, but at least save some $$$). Definetely you want to shop around among certified USCIS doctors. One thing I like about going to USCIS doctor was all the vaccines are available at one place. You get it done right away. The free ones sometimes require you to sign up for whatever the next available slot. It's really up to your choice. Once you got your immunization, make sure you ask for immunization card. Check the name and the date carefully. If you have some of the shots at local health center, then you get the rest at USCIS doctor, you could use the card as the prove for the doctor to sign the USCIS medical form (i believe I-639). So again, choice is yours. Before you go to USCIS doctor, make sure you are familiar with the form that he will sign. You will not provide the form. The doctor has it. What i did was before taking the shot, at the reception desk, I asked for the form they have. I checked if the form was not expired or anything that I was not familiar with. The problem with this was the form will be sealed and (sometimes) they didnt want to give you copy of what the doctor wrote in it. So the question would be how do I know for sure that he didnt use the expired one? I would be very very upset if later USCIS immigration officer rejected my case just because the form was not correct (or expired). We are all human, and not bullet proof of not making mistakes. USCIS changes rules a lot. You may be aware of new rule, but are they? The medical examination lasts for 1 year. I took it a month prior my current date.
6. OK, now you got your docs filled and supporting docs copied for each applicant. You are now ready to mail them. Group the docs and add a cover letter with the following info for each applicant:
Applicant: name
Primary applicant: Yes or No
DV #: xxxxx
List of documents:
1. Form xxx (2 copies)
2. photos and money order (see envelope)
3. Form xxxx
4. Form xxxx
etc.
List of supporting documents:
1. Birth certificate
2. Birth certificate translation
3. xxxx
4. xxxx
etc.
Put the supporting docs in order as listed on the cover letter. As i mentioned earlier, make copy of each doc you are sending to USCIS. Make "exact" copy even how you organize them. This will help you later in the interview.
7. Weeks or months later you receive letter for biometric appointment at your nearest local USCIS office. Nothing special about it. Show up with the letter, and they will take your pictures and your 10 finger prints.
8. Months later you receive interview letter at your nearest local USCIS office. Bring the copies of your docs you prepared in step 6, also other documents (originals). At this moment it's really about luck which officer you get. Some of them are very efficient, but others give you hard time. Mine was simple. Didn't ask for documents, just verified info on the form. Also, with mine, the officer right away approved my case. In some offices, they actually put stamp on your passport. I dont know why this is not a standarized practice. If you could pursue the officer to get it stamped, then do it. The stamp is your temporary prove that you are now permanent residence.
9. Weeks later you got your welcome letter and soon you will get the card.
10. That's it.
Hope I give you some insight to ease your journey. Best luck to all of you.
