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DV 2017 OC Selectees

Jasse said:
Hi,

My case no is 8xx. I have not resubmitted DS260 and plan to resubmit very late in April 2017 (29th or 30th). I hope this re-submission will still be okay for interview in August and September? Just checking now, if there is a chance if DS260 is resubmitted in late April will ruin my chances?

Initially submitted DS260 in May 2016 and then unlock requested in August 2016.
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I can only say from my experience, but my CN is 6xx and I submitted in late June/early July, then unlocked and resubmitted in late September/early November. I still haven't got my 2NL. It may be my personal anxiety getting the better of me, but I would think submitting in late April may be cutting it fine.

Others may think differently; I'm new to all this whereas others will have a better understanding!
 
Hello everyone,

Just reporting on my activation trip to Hawaii - my partner and I flew there last week and stayed for five days. Since we are not married, we went through separate customs lines, but neither of us had any issues. The officer who processed my form said that my one looked a bit different from the others as it didn't list a phone number of the US address I'd provided, but I just pulled it up on my phone and he noted it. My partner breezed through, and the customs lady was uncommonly nice! She even asked him why I would want to move "with all this turmoil going on". So very different to what I feared, as I was reading a lot of horrible border control stories in the lead up to us going over.

I also paid a visit to the Social Security office, but the man there said I have to wait 21 days after the date of entry on my stamp to request one. I was expecting that, but thought i'd give it a shot anyway - we were only in there for about 20 minutes, which was surprisingly short!

I know a lot of people go to Hawaii to activate and all I can advise is to get out of Waikiki! Our snorkelling trip was rained out (torrential downpours across the state), but we did a beautiful hike and surfed, which was super fun. But there's not much to do downtown, so try to get up to the north shore ASAP.

Going to be doing some major && saving and research now on which bank is best and how to transfer my credit score eventually, as I have an AMEX and I'm looking at HSBC's credit transfer options. But our primary focus right now is a student visa for my partner!

Just want to thank everyone, especially Emily & Simon, for their invaluable help and advice on this forum! It's an enormous help, I know i"m not the only one who appreciates it :)
 
Can't believe my eyes, I have just received this email:

" 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 confirmation number from your original application to complete further processing."

What does the above mean? Does it mean I have an interview coming shortly? My DS260 was unlocked in August 2016 and it is still unlocked? Do I need to lock my DS260 now? Should I call KCC?

Where can I find my confirmation number? I am not able to log into the above website as, the ESC page above comes up with this error when I put in my confirmation number which starts with AA*******. "Invalid Confirmation Number: Please enter the correct confirmation number that is 16 characters long (example: 20171O0DZWY3DOV9)"

Appreciate all help and Thanks to all.
 
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Jasse said:
Hi,

My case no is 8xx. I have not resubmitted DS260 and plan to resubmit very late in April 2017 (29th or 30th). I hope this re-submission will still be okay for interview in August and September? Just checking now, if there is a chance if DS260 is resubmitted in late April will ruin my chances?

Initially submitted DS260 in May 2016 and then unlock requested in August 2016.
Click to expand...

Is your number below 850, or above?

You may find the case gets scheduled once current anyway. But, if you are not scheduled, the April submission will probably cause an August interview.
 
Jasse said:
Can't believe my eyes, I have just received this email:

" 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 confirmation number from your original application to complete further processing."

What does the above mean? Does it mean I have an interview coming shortly? My DS260 was unlocked in August 2016 and it is still unlocked? Do I need to lock my DS260 now? Should I call KCC?

Where can I find my confirmation number? I am not able to log into the above website as, the ESC page above comes up with this error when I put in my confirmation number which starts with AA*******. "Invalid Confirmation Number: Please enter the correct confirmation number that is 16 characters long (example: 20171O0DZWY3DOV9)"

Appreciate all help and Thanks to all.
Click to expand...

Ahh yes, I see they scheduled you anyway as I suspected. So - you have an April interview scheduled. The ESC site is expecting the same confirmation code that you used to check the initial entry.
 
Tunabelly said:
Hello everyone,

Just reporting on my activation trip to Hawaii - my partner and I flew there last week and stayed for five days. Since we are not married, we went through separate customs lines, but neither of us had any issues. The officer who processed my form said that my one looked a bit different from the others as it didn't list a phone number of the US address I'd provided, but I just pulled it up on my phone and he noted it. My partner breezed through, and the customs lady was uncommonly nice! She even asked him why I would want to move "with all this turmoil going on". So very different to what I feared, as I was reading a lot of horrible border control stories in the lead up to us going over.

I also paid a visit to the Social Security office, but the man there said I have to wait 21 days after the date of entry on my stamp to request one. I was expecting that, but thought i'd give it a shot anyway - we were only in there for about 20 minutes, which was surprisingly short!

I know a lot of people go to Hawaii to activate and all I can advise is to get out of Waikiki! Our snorkelling trip was rained out (torrential downpours across the state), but we did a beautiful hike and surfed, which was super fun. But there's not much to do downtown, so try to get up to the north shore ASAP.

Going to be doing some major && saving and research now on which bank is best and how to transfer my credit score eventually, as I have an AMEX and I'm looking at HSBC's credit transfer options. But our primary focus right now is a student visa for my partner!

Just want to thank everyone, especially Emily & Simon, for their invaluable help and advice on this forum! It's an enormous help, I know i"m not the only one who appreciates it :)
Click to expand...

Hey there,
I'm activating in Hawaii in a couple of weeks too. Hope the rain eases a little - the town we're staying looks to have been copping some flash flooding... Just wondering, on the landing card that you need to fill out before you go through immigration, do you note down the address and phone you've stated in your diversity visa paperwork (the one where you want the green card delivered), or where you're going to be staying in Hawaii? We won't be going to our friend's address on the mainland on our activation trip. Sorry probably a dumb question.
 
Gharrison said:
Hey there,
I'm activating in Hawaii in a couple of weeks too. Hope the rain eases a little - the town we're staying looks to have been copping some flash flooding... Just wondering, on the landing card that you need to fill out before you go through immigration, do you note down the address and phone you've stated in your diversity visa paperwork (the one where you want the green card delivered), or where you're going to be staying in Hawaii? We won't be going to our friend's address on the mainland on our activation trip. Sorry probably a dumb question.
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You only fill in a customs form, not a landing card. State the address you'll actually be staying at.
 
Britsimon said:
Ahh yes, I see they scheduled you anyway as I suspected. So - you have an April interview scheduled. The ESC site is expecting the same confirmation code that you used to check the initial entry.
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Do you think, I should lock my DS260 application and put in the updated details (like my address and work status has changed)?
 
Hi @Britsimon

(1) My High School Certificate (HSC) does not show my middle name. However the passport shows the middle name. Will this be an issue in the interview? I am freaking out about this error.

(2) My interview in on 7th April, Should I lock my DS260 and change the form with my updated address? Or, should I leave everything the same as it was originally submitted.

(3) Police certificate - do I need to get the fingerprint done also? It seems like I dont have enough time to prepare for the fingerprint which takes 30 days to obtain.
 
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1) Unlikely to be a problem in Sydney.

2) You can't change anything now that you have an interview. Your case is on its way to Sydney. Just change it at the interview.

3) No need for finger prints. Just make sure you get a complete check that includes spent and unspent offences. When you get your check via the Federal Police website, select Code 33 (from memory, I hope the codes have not changed). Code 35 only includes unspent offences. Code 33 includes all and that is what they want. We got our check done and in our hands within a week but that was in 2015.
 
Hi guys, my interview is early April but i think i may have a slight problem.

The address i put down to have the GC sent to when i entered the lottery was a hotel address. I still don't have any friends or family with a US address that i can borrow (i literally do not know anyone in the States!). What should i do at the interview? If they put the address in google it'll come up as a hotel and i'm pretty sure the hotel won't redirect any mail for me!

Anyone with experience, help!
 
My turn to get a bit paranoid! :D

Just want to confirm for SYDNEY interviews:

1. We need to bring 2 passport sized photos for the interview + 6 photos to the medical? (8 in total)

2. Where did people get their photo taken? I'd rather go somewhere which takes US sized photos if people have used it and been approved.

3. My NSW birth certificate has been laminated ... would that be a problem?

4. The required documents i need to take to the interview should be the original + a copy (not certified?)

Thanks heaps!
 
Couldn't find the edit button, but got 1 more question.

If i schedule the medical 2 weeks before the interview (both in Sydney), is that enough time or cutting it too close?

Thanks again :)
 
Hi everyone,

I did my activation trip at JFK, flight landed around 19:20. I had my white envelope (other people are saying brown?!) out when going through customs, but was told to just go through the international visitors line like everybody else when I asked if I needed to go somewhere else.

The wait was around an hour and a half. I was expecting to have to go through a special process but it was very normal, got treated like all the international visitors.

The immigration officer was very chilled and upbeat, it felt more like a flowing conversation than being asked questions. At the end he was like make sure you remember my name, as this is a moment you'll remember forever (which is very true).

Overall I had a great experience and had no problems!

PS thank you to everyone on the forums here, you have made the process a lot more stress free!
 
allabouttonight said:
Hi everyone,

I did my activation trip at JFK, flight landed around 19:20. I had my white envelope (other people are saying brown?!) out when going through customs, but was told to just go through the international visitors line like everybody else when I asked if I needed to go somewhere else.

The wait was around an hour and a half. I was expecting to have to go through a special process but it was very normal, got treated like all the international visitors.

The immigration officer was very chilled and upbeat, it felt more like a flowing conversation than being asked questions. At the end he was like make sure you remember my name, as this is a moment you'll remember forever (which is very true).

Overall I had a great experience and had no problems!

PS thank you to everyone on the forums here, you have made the process a lot more stress free!
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Hey, congratulations!
About the line - some terminals/airports have "new immigrant lines" but most you have to go through the regular visitor line. Of course, on your next trip on you'll be in the "citizens/residents" line :)
 
lottic said:
My turn to get a bit paranoid! :D

Just want to confirm for SYDNEY interviews:

1. We need to bring 2 passport sized photos for the interview + 6 photos to the medical? (8 in total)

2. Where did people get their photo taken? I'd rather go somewhere which takes US sized photos if people have used it and been approved.

3. My NSW birth certificate has been laminated ... would that be a problem?

4. The required documents i need to take to the interview should be the original + a copy (not certified?)

Thanks heaps!
Click to expand...

Found the answer to the above so I'm going to answer my own questions in case others had the same.

1. Yes
2. There's a list of photographers here: https://au.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/passports/photos/
3. No answer yet - should call the consulate
4. Yes

5. Re weeks before interview to have the medical- the panel doctor said minimum 1 week and you can pick up the results yourself. I've booked 2 weeks in advance.

I got quoted $498 for the medical at O'Connell St (not including any vaccinations).
 
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