I'm Australian. I won too. For months I have had a lingering feeling of dread about winning and part of me hoped to lose. I entered without considering it deeply enough. I would love to go to America but I fear I may be unable to meet all the requirements.
I have a sporadic employment history and I have recently been self-employed so the recent couple of years is very solid looking. I also took state disability welfare for a time in my 20s. I fear I'm doomed. Utterly doomed. Doomed with this "public charge" thing.
Any Australians who have been through the process who wish to assist me, this is the information I need:
How many years of tax returns did you need to show?
How many months from the day you found out you won the lottery elapsed between then and the day you were standing before a consular official showing financial documents for the first time?
How far back in your bank accounts statements did they look how far back do you need to go?
I have 20 grand in the bank and a 20 grand car I can also sell. Plus a bachelor's degree.
I will pass the medical, I am no longer disabled. I can even provide my own doc saying even if I tried, I wouldn't be eligible to get disability in Australia any more. I think I am going to be sick now that I won. I don't feel good at all. I feel doomed. How many months do I have to get these financials together?
If anyone can answer those questions I have, I owe you something. I am worried sick!
If I had have known then what I know now about interacting with the australian welfare system and potentially poisoining my ability to leave the country, I would have lived on bread and water at my parents place on the floor, that's how much I will be livid if this past history of collecting some welfare keeps me trapped in one country for the rest of my life.
You've got enough funds to go through. The standard deviation is between $10,000 USD and $20,000 USD and you've got your degree so absolutely nothing to worry about.
Tax returns I don't think you'll need to show at the interview (I've not read this anywhere).
As for the timeframe you have you'll know from October 1st 2013 onwards when the next fiscal year starts as to the case number cut-offs for your region. It won't be immediate i.e. they notify you 6 weeks before your interview date so you'll have that time to gather all your documentation together so the moment you receive your 2nd NL start acting within 24 hours.
Bank statements depend from embassy to embassy/country to country but to be safe go with 6 months bank statements.
If you know someone in the US then go with the I-134 form (single applicant) as it is a strong affidavit.
Feel free to ask anything else you need to know mate
Case No - DV2013AF0007XXXX (applied the first time and got it the first time - lucky me lol)
Entry Checked - 1st May 2012
Forms Sent To KCC - 10th May 2012
Received By KCC - 12th May 2012
Confirmation From KCC - 25th May 2012 after I sent them an email
2nd NL - Not Yet
Police Clearance - Not Yet
Medicals - Not Yet
Interviews - Hopefully in mid-August
Visa Pick up - Hopefully in mid-August
Port of Entry - New York JFK
