I have looked at this forum a million times throughout my journey and have found it sooo amazingly helpful I promise myself I would share my experience in the hopes that it might help some people.
I am from Ghana, and applied for the DV Lottery around October 2012 on a whim. I didn't really think I had a chance but I guess you have to be in it to win it!.My friend and I both entered and I put my confirmation number in a safe place , in fact I drafted it in my email because I knew it was a long wait! I checked my number in May and it came up with the message 'You HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR FURTHER PROCESSING.' I wasn't really surprised to be honest I had this feeling within me prior to the release of the lottery I will win.lol
I did not know much about the process, I wasn't sure what my chances were. I knew I was in for a long process but I had ALWAYS wanted to live, study and work in America so I was beyond excited..I filled in my forms that weekend with the help of a friend of mine who works at one of travel and tour agency in Ghana and sent them away to KCC. I used EMS(I am sure those of you in Ghana know about EMS) but it didn't have tracking and it was frustrating not knowing if it had arrived, so I would advise anyone who is sending their forms to use tracking.
I eventually called KCC after a couple of days to confirm the receipt of my forms.. They confirmed to me my forms had been received waiting to be process. I called them(KCC) in a month's time to re-confirm the receipt of my forms, this time around the lady I spoke to, told me my forms were under processing.
After this there is a MASSIVE wait until you hear from them again for your interview time. I got to admit it's the longest wait of my life. Finally, after the long wait ,I received my long awaited second notification letter from KCC in my email (18th December). I was so happy, not because of the email but because I wasn't going to wait for KCC anymore..lol Its a great feeling honestly when you receive your appointed letter. My interview was on the 18th of February, and although that was pretty early ,compare to when I sent my forms to KCC to be processed, I still felt like I was waiting FOREVER!. I went and had my police clearance done at the police headquarters, had my medical which was easy, and then got all of the other documents in order. The selectee site that the DV government gives you isn't that comprehensive, so I searched this forum precisely the Ghanaian forum for DV2014 which i had join prior to the beginning of the whole process ,where I found some great stuffs that told me exactly what to take, and to also take a photocopy as well. I advice anyone who got selected to find a group on the forum to join because you going to find so lots of information, through each other's contribution and support..I owe a lot to my Ghanaian buddies who support me throughout my dv journey.
During the wait before my interview I did a lot of research online. I think I must have known everything there was to know about the process. Of course I still had some doubts in my mind and had read horror stories about people not getting a Visa for various reasons. There is a great place that takes American size passport photos just near the embassy, so I did that the day before.
THE DAY: I arrived at the embassy at exactly 6:43am and were directed to join the DV,IV queue. I was the first person on the queue. Once at the entrance, the officer in charge checked my appointment letter and then asked me to proceed to security.
I did all the security checks. When I got to the waiting area, another officer took my appointment letter from me and asked me sit and wait. After about 8mins,my name was called to window 1 where I was given an invoice to go and pay my visa fees..I then proceeded to pay my visa fee $330 exactly..The cashier was a little bit strict on the payment..ie He needed the exact amount of money ,nothing less, nothing more..After the payment I was the asked to sit down again..
Back to the waiting area, after about 10MINS or so, I was called again to window 2 to submit my documents. The lady was very pleasant though..She took all the relevant docs, and gave me the non-relevant ones like my letter of recommendation and I think photocopy of my police cert..word of advice, arrange your docs nicely to make sorting it easier..I guess that's more reason things moved a bit quicker for me..The lady actually commended me for that..
Well, back to the waiting area, Can't recall the exact time though. I was called again to window 1 to be ten printed..Not long after the ten-printing, I was finally called for the big conversation with the CO, window 6 to be precise..I was the first person to be interviewed, so i guess everyone waiting there was eagerly anticipating to see the outcome of my interview..lol it was around 8.33am
at the interview booth: shortest interview so far, less than 40secs
Me: Good morning
CO: Good morning, how are you today?
Me: Very fine, thank you.
CO: I would need you to raise your right hand and swear to tell the truth
Me: I do
CO: I need you to sign against the highlighted area on the form. he gives the forms I sent to KCC and i signed and gave it back.
CO: What do you too now
ME: I answered
CO: When did you start working
ME: I answered
CO: All your documents are fine. I have approved your case, please don’t make any travel arrangements until you have picked up your visa BLAH BLAH and then gave me the famous blue sheet..lol
Me: OK,THANKS Sir enjoy your day.
I'm embarked on my Journey on February 2014 and have since been living in upstate New-York.. please feel free to ask me whatever question you wanna ask.. And oh my case number was 2014AF000215**
