Hello All,
I have been a reader of these forums for a while but wanted to make my first post by sharing my experience. I was currently residing in the US as a TN-1 status engineer along with my wife who was also a TN-1 status nurse. I have been entering the lottery for the last ten years. To all those who are feeling discouraged about not having won yet -- please keep entering and have patience.
Here is my timeline of events:
11/2007 - Applied for DV-2009 lottery using Kenya as country of chargeability
04/2008 - Received first notification letter from Kentucky
04/2008 - Submitted form DS-230 for my wife and I
09/2008 - Received second notification letter for consular interview
11/2008 - Entered the US with my wife as DV1 and DV2 status, respectively
I would like to share some more about the above. I have summarized some information that should hopefully answer prospective winners' questions.
Once you receive your first notification letter from the Kentuck Consular Center I would highly recommend you get the ball rolling in gathering your documents. It is imperative that you have original birth certificates and marriage certificates (if applicable). My wife and I chose to do the consular processing rather than adjustment of status based on recommendations of recent immigrants.
MEDICAL EXAM
We completed the medical exam in Vancouver at Woking Medical Center approximately three weeks before our interview. I made the appointment as soon as we received our second notification letter. Your immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox must be readily available to present to the panel physician. It takes about two weeks to get the records from your local health authorities. If you do not have your records you should get blood titers done from a lab to show your immunity to the above diseases. The medical exam took the better part of a day to complete. Blood work, chest x-rays, and a physical are performed. Woking Medical releases the sealed results the same day. If you have any chronic conditions have your family physician provide you a letter indicating your prognosis and the effect your condition would have on future employment. The cost is $350CDN/applicant.
POLICE CERTIFICATE
As my wife and I are Canadian citizens we obtained police certificates from the RCMP in Vancouver. They provide same day service for police certificates. A fingerprint check is not necessary if you do not have a criminal record. Only one office in Vancouver provides the certificate. Check the RCMP website for the address in Vancouver. Local police reports take up to two weeks so the RCMP certificate is the best route if you have a short amount of time like we did. The cost was $35/applicant
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
I took photocopies and originals of our degrees, paystubs, current letters of employment and a bank statement of savings. These were sufficient for the interview.
INTERVIEW DAY
The day in Montreal started at 7:30 am outside the doors of the US Consulate. In order to enter the building you require your second notification letter (which indicates your appointment time). Leave your electronics and cell phones at your hotel as they are not permitted. Once you enter the building you are required to go through a security check. After that you await downstairs for a guard to accompany you to the Consulate floor. A cashier will provide you with a number. This number is called out by an agent at a booth. The first part of the interview involves handing over your original documents, photocopies, medical report and passports. They are verified for accuracy. The agent is very courteous and instructs you to await a second interview. The second interview is a little more thorough. You will be asked to take an oath to declare that all information you provide is truthful and accurate. As we were current residents of the US the Consulate will make attempts to process your visa as quickly as possible. If you reside in Canada your visa and passports will be mailed out to a Canadian address in a pre-paid envelope that you must provide. Do not count on having your visa that same (or next) day if you are a US resident, especially if you have a "special" last name like I do ;-) Fingerprint clearance took a little long for me so we were delayed an extra couple of days. If everything goes well you get an appointment card for re-entry to the consulate to pick up your passport, visa, and entry package. The cost for the visa is $775/applicant.
On the day you enter the US through a port of entry you will present your passport with the temporary "green card" visa in it. Immigration will endorse your passport, take your fingerprint and US address. This address is where your permanent residence card is mailed. At this point you are officially a permanent residence of the United States!
I wish all of you the best of luck and hope that your case was as expedient as mine.
Best wishes!
I have been a reader of these forums for a while but wanted to make my first post by sharing my experience. I was currently residing in the US as a TN-1 status engineer along with my wife who was also a TN-1 status nurse. I have been entering the lottery for the last ten years. To all those who are feeling discouraged about not having won yet -- please keep entering and have patience.
Here is my timeline of events:
11/2007 - Applied for DV-2009 lottery using Kenya as country of chargeability
04/2008 - Received first notification letter from Kentucky
04/2008 - Submitted form DS-230 for my wife and I
09/2008 - Received second notification letter for consular interview
11/2008 - Entered the US with my wife as DV1 and DV2 status, respectively
I would like to share some more about the above. I have summarized some information that should hopefully answer prospective winners' questions.
Once you receive your first notification letter from the Kentuck Consular Center I would highly recommend you get the ball rolling in gathering your documents. It is imperative that you have original birth certificates and marriage certificates (if applicable). My wife and I chose to do the consular processing rather than adjustment of status based on recommendations of recent immigrants.
MEDICAL EXAM
We completed the medical exam in Vancouver at Woking Medical Center approximately three weeks before our interview. I made the appointment as soon as we received our second notification letter. Your immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox must be readily available to present to the panel physician. It takes about two weeks to get the records from your local health authorities. If you do not have your records you should get blood titers done from a lab to show your immunity to the above diseases. The medical exam took the better part of a day to complete. Blood work, chest x-rays, and a physical are performed. Woking Medical releases the sealed results the same day. If you have any chronic conditions have your family physician provide you a letter indicating your prognosis and the effect your condition would have on future employment. The cost is $350CDN/applicant.
POLICE CERTIFICATE
As my wife and I are Canadian citizens we obtained police certificates from the RCMP in Vancouver. They provide same day service for police certificates. A fingerprint check is not necessary if you do not have a criminal record. Only one office in Vancouver provides the certificate. Check the RCMP website for the address in Vancouver. Local police reports take up to two weeks so the RCMP certificate is the best route if you have a short amount of time like we did. The cost was $35/applicant
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
I took photocopies and originals of our degrees, paystubs, current letters of employment and a bank statement of savings. These were sufficient for the interview.
INTERVIEW DAY
The day in Montreal started at 7:30 am outside the doors of the US Consulate. In order to enter the building you require your second notification letter (which indicates your appointment time). Leave your electronics and cell phones at your hotel as they are not permitted. Once you enter the building you are required to go through a security check. After that you await downstairs for a guard to accompany you to the Consulate floor. A cashier will provide you with a number. This number is called out by an agent at a booth. The first part of the interview involves handing over your original documents, photocopies, medical report and passports. They are verified for accuracy. The agent is very courteous and instructs you to await a second interview. The second interview is a little more thorough. You will be asked to take an oath to declare that all information you provide is truthful and accurate. As we were current residents of the US the Consulate will make attempts to process your visa as quickly as possible. If you reside in Canada your visa and passports will be mailed out to a Canadian address in a pre-paid envelope that you must provide. Do not count on having your visa that same (or next) day if you are a US resident, especially if you have a "special" last name like I do ;-) Fingerprint clearance took a little long for me so we were delayed an extra couple of days. If everything goes well you get an appointment card for re-entry to the consulate to pick up your passport, visa, and entry package. The cost for the visa is $775/applicant.
On the day you enter the US through a port of entry you will present your passport with the temporary "green card" visa in it. Immigration will endorse your passport, take your fingerprint and US address. This address is where your permanent residence card is mailed. At this point you are officially a permanent residence of the United States!
I wish all of you the best of luck and hope that your case was as expedient as mine.
Best wishes!