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DV 2015 Oceania winners

connectedspace said:
I think you'll be sweet with you number.

It is an awesome place. I have a condo there in the Gold Coast not far from N. Michigan Avenue. Beautiful old brownstone. To be honest, I've started to prefer the city over NY in recent years.

If the stars align and my number comes up (not too likely at this stage), or if either my wife or I are selected again, I'll turf the tenants and most likely move there. Urban, walkable, gritty, fairly left-wing, 24 hr transit, good writers and a diverse late-night culture. Plus it's cheap.

I'll just need self-hypnosis to deal with the hadean winters.
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I am 100% agree with you, I really, really like Chicago is such an amazing city, I was there in 2013 (winter, -21 c•) and I loved it was amazing I enjoyed so much the snow lol.
Now fingers crossed for you and I, most of the people told me that I have a pretty safe number but you know my brain is always playing around, but anyway we just have to wait and see what happen (this is the problem for me WAIT lol)
 
Hey all,

I'm an OC DV2016 hopeful (having been unsuccessful in DV2014 and DV2015) and have been reading through this thread and just wanted to say thanks for all the great info here. I wish I had known earlier that this forum was here - would have taken comfort in being among a community of people desperate to get to the US through the DV like I am! I'm very grateful I know all this info about case numbers, cut offs, etc now - I can't imagine how many people there must be around the world who get selected but have no idea how the process works, so they just end up waiting and waiting with no idea what's happening! This place is such a great resource.

A big congratulations to everyone who has been successful in obtaining their green card and a big good luck to everyone else still holding out for their American dream to come true. :) Regardless of what happens, I hope everyone pushes on with their dream - OC is very lucky that the odds are in our favour and Australians are even luckier that there are more opportunities available to us than most.
 
violetion said:
Hey all,

I'm an OC DV2016 hopeful (having been unsuccessful in DV2014 and DV2015) and have been reading through this thread and just wanted to say thanks for all the great info here. I wish I had known earlier that this forum was here - would have taken comfort in being among a community of people desperate to get to the US through the DV like I am! I'm very grateful I know all this info about case numbers, cut offs, etc now - I can't imagine how many people there must be around the world who get selected but have no idea how the process works, so they just end up waiting and waiting with no idea what's happening! This place is such a great resource.

A big congratulations to everyone who has been successful in obtaining their green card and a big good luck to everyone else still holding out for their American dream to come true. :) Regardless of what happens, I hope everyone pushes on with their dream - OC is very lucky that the odds are in our favour and Australians are even luckier that there are more opportunities available to us than most.
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I feel the same, this forum has been great, there are so many people here that care. I am truly thankful. We will know whether we've been selected in about 33 hours. let the countdown begin!! I think I will check on the 7th, my lucky number. Regards of the dv 2016 results, I want to say thank you to people like Britsimon, Emily, SusieQQQ, Mom, and all those who I have not mentioned, but they have answered many questions. thank you so much.
 
Maisy said:
is that x3 people if you have a family of 3? do you need to pay that for toddlers?
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For everyone who will immigrate, so yes. It covers the cost of the green card and USCIS keeping your alien file (and apparently boy do they actively keep them... you hear about people going for naturalization interviews to sit across from an officer who pulls out a file bulging with stuff...)
 
martinskypemartin said:
@SusieQQQ

What do you think they have in the files - curious???
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It's no secret - its all the stuff related to your immigration and your status. So it will begin with your entry and DS forms, get added to by the contents of your big envelope when you arrive, then every communication with USCIS - for example change of address, any petitions for anyone else, etc, all gets added. The files will probably be much bigger for say spouse visas than DV as they need to include all the evidence required etc, for this reason some DV AOS files may also be bigger than those who do CP. then your naturalization paperwork, etc will get added.

Somewhere online there are pics of some of the older A files and it makes some interesting viewing! These could be an incredible asset for someone doing genealogical research or general research on migration one day, though I am not sure about confidentiality angles.
 
Hershal said:
Th

it never seems to stop. It's $165usd per person. All worth it in the end though.
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Let us put this in perspective.

For my H1 process (non immigrant) the fees were around $3000 and the legal fees took the cost up to above $10k. Non immigrant visa. That was all concluded around December 2013 and I moved to the USA in Feb 2014.

Then we adjusted status to LPR through the lottery. We paid about $4000 in DV + AoS fees and around $1200 for medicals.

Then, because I had a windfall last year and was liable for US tax (and California state tax) I paid an eye watering amount of taxes to the Feds and CA.

So - $165 - not such a lot of money really.... and still the simplest route the LPR.
 
Britsimon said:
Let us put this in perspective.

For my H1 process (non immigrant) the fees were around $3000 and the legal fees took the cost up to above $10k. Non immigrant visa. That was all concluded around December 2013 and I moved to the USA in Feb 2014.

Then we adjusted status to LPR through the lottery. We paid about $4000 in DV + AoS fees and around $1200 for medicals.

Then, because I had a windfall last year and was liable for US tax (and California state tax) I paid an eye watering amount of taxes to the Feds and CA.

So - $165 - not such a lot of money really.... and still the simplest route the LPR.
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Hey don't worry I know we got the easy way. Just saying that there is always a few little things that you forget about. I understand when you say visas can be expensive. My wife needed a partner visa here in Australia when we first lived here together, That cost $3500 from memory to "apply" if you didn't pass then the Aus government don't give you a refund. On top of that medicals, and translations of all her documents from German to English. We did it all ourselves, but we did go and see an immigration specialist and they wanted to charge us up to $5000 + to file it. The wife was not happy and we did it ourselves. Needless to say it was an easy experience, but thats Australia, and it was only a "temporary" partner visa at the time.

Weh have it pretty easy with the DV lottery as its only the 2 of us and not a massive family, so the costs are minimal compared to others. But its all worth it in the end as you can always make more money! its not everyday your picked out of the lottery!!
 
Definitely the cheapest and easiest way to get a Green Card, if you're lucky enough. I regularly hear of people spending $10k+ in legal fees just trying to get visas for the U.S.
 
Britsimon said:
Let us put this in perspective.

For my H1 process (non immigrant) the fees were around $3000 and the legal fees took the cost up to above $10k. Non immigrant visa. That was all concluded around December 2013 and I moved to the USA in Feb 2014.

Then we adjusted status to LPR through the lottery. We paid about $4000 in DV + AoS fees and around $1200 for medicals.

Then, because I had a windfall last year and was liable for US tax (and California state tax) I paid an eye watering amount of taxes to the Feds and CA.

So - $165 - not such a lot of money really.... and still the simplest route the LPR.
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Tax in California is high.

I think Dv lottery is the way to go, $165+ $330=$495 X3 (PEOPLE)= $1485. Plus medical and other little expenses, is hardly any expenses at all. I'd say under $5000 for three people (including a air ticket), is very generous. I think people from undeveloped countries, it could be their years salary thou. Depending where you are from.
 
I'll try to break down my costs so far (based on a family of four):

Visa fee: $1320USD (which ends up being $1686 converted)
USCIS fee: $640USD (which ends up being $829 converted)
Medicals: $1800 (based on $450 per person)
Return flight to Sydney: $1000
Accommodation for two nights in Sydney: $500 (highly recommend the Westin by the way, took three minutes to walk to the consulate)
Police checks: $84

So $5899 for the family all up. Pretty cheap when you think about it.
 
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