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DV 2012 Australia Winners - Post Here

You will receive an email from noreply@state.gov with the subject heading: Required Entry Status Check for DV Submission. You click on the link provided in the email and key in your 16 digit CN with your name and DOB to get all the details of your interview. You will not get this notification if your number is not yet current. You should go through the previous years' visa bulletins to get an idea of when your number should be current as the numbering follows a pattern.
Be awate that some emails filter out that noreply@state.gov email. The safest bet is to just visit https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/ and enter your confirmation number (not case number), name &DOB...and you are home and dry.
 
Be awate that some emails filter out that noreply@state.gov email. The safest bet is to just visit https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/ and enter your confirmation number (not case number), name &DOB...and you are home and dry.

No you will receive an email when they have scheduled your interview. How would going to the site be the safest bet? You mean you would go on every day for the next 8 months to check? And the 16 digit number is your confirmation number. Your case number is shorter.
 
No you will receive an email when they have scheduled your interview. How would going to the site be the safest bet? You mean you would go on every day for the next 8 months to check? And the 16 digit number is your confirmation number. Your case number is shorter.
I said the following:
1) Depending on your email server's security settings, the email noreply@state.gov may be be send to your junk mail without you noticing. Therefore, you may not see the eamil that tells you to check the status check website.
2) On the status check website (http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/), you are required to provide your confirmation number, name and DOB. That is where you get the interview letter (NL2). Here is what that website says: "Please be sure to have the Entrant's Confirmation Number, Last Name/Family Name, and Year of Birth in order to check the entrant status online. "
They don't send the interview letter by email (Actually, you get a letter (NL2) telling you that your file is current and has been forwarded to your country(consulate), and your interview has been schecduled on a certain day. Your country(consulate), like mine did, may send you a separate email telling you more about your interview date and time.).
3) You don't need to check the status check everyday. If the Bulletin comes out say today, AND your number is current, then you can go to the status check website, and I guarantee you that you will get your letter (NL2) there (that is what we did).
 
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Are you saying that when my "case number" is valid (14 digits), when you put in your confirmation number (16 digits) into site, instead of getting your first confirmation letter, you will receive a different page showing you an interview date?

Not sure that's correct.

From everything I have read, I am to receive a letter in the mail stating when my interview is scheduled.

Anyways my case number is in the 700's for AU, and I know the interview won't be until next year, I just want to know from the KCC when further confirmation will arrive.

Here's a better question actually:

My case is in 700's for AU. Based on the bulletins, visa's are available for my case numbers roughly March next year. Does this mean I won't receive notification until next March OR will I receive notification soon saying my interview will be around next March?
 
Are you saying that when my "case number" is valid (14 digits), when you put in your confirmation number (16 digits) into site, instead of getting your first confirmation letter, you will receive a different page showing you an interview date?

Not sure that's correct.

From everything I have read, I am to receive a letter in the mail stating when my interview is scheduled.

Anyways my case number is in the 700's for AU, and I know the interview won't be until next year, I just want to know from the KCC when further confirmation will arrive.

Here's a better question actually:

My case is in 700's for AU. Based on the bulletins, visa's are available for my case numbers roughly March next year. Does this mean I won't receive notification until next March OR will I receive notification soon saying my interview will be around next March?

If your number is due to be current as you will see on the VB 2 months in advance you will receive a second notification email to check the site. this will take place around 6 -7 weeks before your interview date. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MAIL.

Mail was stopped from DV 2012. All info is only updated on the ESC site.
 
If your number is due to be current as you will see on the VB 2 months in advance you will receive a second notification email to check the site. this will take place around 6 -7 weeks before your interview date. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY MAIL.

Mail was stopped from DV 2012. All info is only updated on the ESC site.

Why are you giving people incorrect information? I received an email on 07 October from noreply@state.gov stating the following:

SURNAME, NAME:
You have received this email notification to inform you that you have updates available at http: //www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC. Please log in using your conformation number from your original application to complete further processing.
 
Are you saying that when my "case number" is valid (14 digits), when you put in your confirmation number (16 digits) into site, instead of getting your first confirmation letter, you will receive a different page showing you an interview date?

Not sure that's correct.

From everything I have read, I am to receive a letter in the mail stating when my interview is scheduled.

Anyways my case number is in the 700's for AU, and I know the interview won't be until next year, I just want to know from the KCC when further confirmation will arrive.

Here's a better question actually:

My case is in 700's for AU. Based on the bulletins, visa's are available for my case numbers roughly March next year. Does this mean I won't receive notification until next March OR will I receive notification soon saying my interview will be around next March?

Yes it is correct. I received an email (as per the above). Then I logged in to the same site and a new letter popped up. The letter gives you date/time of interview and further instructions to proceed.

I received my letter dated 7 October and my interview has been scheduled for 18 December. Do the math.
 
Why are you giving people incorrect information? I received an email on 07 October from noreply@state.gov stating the following:

SURNAME, NAME:
You have received this email notification to inform you that you have updates available at http: //www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC. Please log in using your conformation number from your original application to complete further processing.

please point out what is incorrect? I said exactly what you have received! no snail Mail.......
 
Ok that makes sense now guys, am looking forward to checking my inbox a lot more now instead of my mailbox.

Thanks everyone for their help and info!!
 
please point out what is incorrect? I said exactly what you have received! no snail Mail.......

Was wondering the same too :(

Starting with DV12, there is no snail mail notification. All notifications are through the status check website.
 
Hey guys,

Has anyone in Australia received their second notification letter? If so what was your number? And how did you receive your 2nd Notification letter? Via email?

Thanks!
 
Just curious

Hey Adsy

Just wondering, is this the first time you entered the lottery? Where do you plan to head if successful?

Love to hear stories of Aussies and their dv journey :)

Q
 
Yep it's my first time in the lottery, and got lucky! Now just awaiting my interview date.

Planning on living in NYC with my fiance in a little dog box apartment. But hey, it's NYC so can't complain.

Just wanting to hear if other people got their 2NL and how they got it in Australia.
 
Hi

Have you looked at all the threads in the Australian winners from last year? There is so much info in there! :)

Q
 
I finally got my interview date (and yes it was by checking the website, after I received an email). Unfortunately it is in Feb, and I am getting married in MArch. I was hoping the interview date would have been well after my wedding so I could send off updated forms to the KCC.

I'm going to call the consulate in Sydney and hope they can push back the interview date by 2 months so it gives me enough time to re-send my forms to include my wife.

Anyone had any experience with moving interview dates?
 
Anyone know how long they take to respond to the sydneyiv@state.gov email?

I sent them an email on Monday, and still no response. I suppose there is a backlog of email perhaps?

Frustrating as I just wanted to talk to someone over the phone about my issue, but everywhere I looked, they simply said just email them on sydneyiv@state.gov
 
Anyone know how long they take to respond to the sydneyiv@state.gov email?

I sent them an email on Monday, and still no response. I suppose there is a backlog of email perhaps?

Frustrating as I just wanted to talk to someone over the phone about my issue, but everywhere I looked, they simply said just email them on sydneyiv@state.gov

All good, they responded within working 7 days. The wait is the hardest with this whole process!!
 
Learning curves in NYC

Hi guys,

So here are a few of the things I learned the hard way when moving over here. It might not necessarily apply to all cities but definitely in NYC.

Finding employment:

The SSN. Your social security number doesn't always get issued even when you tick the box in one of the forms to request one. Do it sooner rather than later. It's a quick process (after the long wait at the SSN office that is) and all you need to the Visa in your passport if you don't have your greencard yet.

The one page single sided resume. That's all you get. 1 A4 page to document your entire employment and educational background. It gets a bit more lenient for director levels and above when it expands to a double sided A4 page. Work on this now because you'll want to hit the ground running when you get here.

The interview process. I'm not sure if it's only the company that I now work for but I've heard similar experiences. For background I work as an marketing analyst so it's an office job. I had 4 interviews back to back in round one. Each of them was one on one and the only question they asked was "tell me about yourself" which in hind sight isn't even a question. You are given this time to "sell yourself" so be confident and speak up.

The drug test. Most large companies will make you do a drug test and background check against your new SSN even when you reason with them that it's a brand new SSN and therefore has nothing marked against it. They love their red tape.

The documentation. The first greencard you get is usually issued very quickly. If you need another one reissued to you (because they printed your country of birth as "French Polynesia") but don't fear. The Visa in your passport will act as a temporary greencard for 1 year after the issue date.

The culture:

Tax. Not included in the price that's advertised. Make sure you take that into consideration before you scoop up that "deal".

Tipping. Still don't get it. Even for bad service. Easy calculation is to double the tax. Or if you are a math whiz then it's always calculated on the pre-tax total. Not a hard and fast rule but: If you don't sit - you don't tip.

Our accent. Yes they really do love it. It will get you places and be a general conversation started. Don't lose it.

Finding an apartment. This is impossible in NYC. Pray to whichever god you believe in and hope for the best. I got lucky on Craigslist with a roommate who thankfully is sane and really nice. I've heard horror stories. Best to stay at a temporary place (like the ones on airbnb) and then look in person. Brokers fee is normally 10% of the yearly rent.

Food. The food over here is good and value for money. They have over 160 Michelin star rated restaurants in NYC alone compared to the 1 we have in Australia. The things you WILL miss are: pies, dim sims, vegemite, KFC chips, mint slices, burger rings, tim tams and good Asian food (especially Vietnamese pho). Stock up now while you have the chance.

The cold. It's cold. Getting colder. I lived in London for 2 years and thought I was prepared. I was wrong.

The subtle differences in language that normal people would be able to decipher but Americans refuse to budge on. Case in point. Go to a fast food place and tell them you want to have it "take-away". *blank stare*. repeat it in a clear and loud voice. "what?". Say it with some authority. "huh?". finally give in and say "take out" and all of a sudden there is that spark in their eye when they suddenly unlock the mystery of what it is you've been trying to say to them.

Other:

Contacting home on the cheap. Use the net as much as you can. Skype is a godsend. A app called whatsapp on your phone is good value too if you don't have a blackberry for BBM. The cheapest phone plan is probably the T-mobile $50 pre paid phone that gives you unlimited calls, text and data in America to other US lines. Bad coverage though.

Credit history. You don't have any over here and so you can't apply for a lot of things like credit cards, store cards or apartments. Speak to your bank ahead of time to see if you can transfer your history from back home. Otherwise when you get here and open a bank account, get a secure card. You basically put money on it in advance and it acts like a credit card and starts to build your history.

Imperial measurements. Feet, Inches, Miles, Gallons, Ounces, Fahrenheit. The only one I know is a Pint! It would be good if you knew them or knew how to convert them.

That's all I can think of for now. I hope someone out there finds this useful. As for the general feel here in America. Don't believe what you see on the news (or do, who am I to know what you've heard) it's a great place to live. People are actually friendly here, the economy isn't that bad, there are plenty of people hiring (they're just being more selective in the process so it might take longer) and there is a general feeling of hope for the future. I hope you all have even half as much fun as I have had over here in the past 5 months.
 
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