martinskypemartin
Member
Hey @GdayUSA - thanks for posting. Just to follow up @SusieQQQ great post 
, the temp visa is vaid for MAX 6 months pre-activation. That may seem like a long time, but it sure goes quick. Also, unexpectedly you can be placed in AP status. Then there is the issue of medical tests that go astray or need updating at the last minute and you can't get into the clinic pre-interview, (noting that these med results are valid for up to 6 months themselves, and can shorten the visa activation time post-issue). Read over the thread and there are a lot of comments on both AP and medicals (etc).
And finally, the US budget accounting system period for these DV visas is to September of each year, but even before this time the visa quotas are usually exhausted before then. Read @Britsimon website for some great stats and info. In short, if you leave it too late, and hit a temp roadblock, you may miss out. Worse, if you didn't want the visa really as you are happy with the visa status you have now, (ie: take it or leave it attitude), but get it, someone else after you up the OC list misses out. I know it is hard, and it takes a lot of soul-searching to make a move like this, but at the end of the day, you have to really make a hard decision and stick by it. Then there is the time and money it takes to go through the process pre-entry, and post-entry. Hope this has assisted you - it ain't easy!
, the temp visa is vaid for MAX 6 months pre-activation. That may seem like a long time, but it sure goes quick. Also, unexpectedly you can be placed in AP status. Then there is the issue of medical tests that go astray or need updating at the last minute and you can't get into the clinic pre-interview, (noting that these med results are valid for up to 6 months themselves, and can shorten the visa activation time post-issue). Read over the thread and there are a lot of comments on both AP and medicals (etc).And finally, the US budget accounting system period for these DV visas is to September of each year, but even before this time the visa quotas are usually exhausted before then. Read @Britsimon website for some great stats and info. In short, if you leave it too late, and hit a temp roadblock, you may miss out. Worse, if you didn't want the visa really as you are happy with the visa status you have now, (ie: take it or leave it attitude), but get it, someone else after you up the OC list misses out. I know it is hard, and it takes a lot of soul-searching to make a move like this, but at the end of the day, you have to really make a hard decision and stick by it. Then there is the time and money it takes to go through the process pre-entry, and post-entry. Hope this has assisted you - it ain't easy!
