DV 2025 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[Sm1smom]

So just reading through the spreadsheet I see someone like AnnaAZ talking about how they talked to the virtual agent about if their biometrics has been scheduled and that they actually do this before they even receive the physical NOA.

How soon should we wait to ask the virtual agent about that after we receive the receipt SMS?


Thanks, I've inserted mine around the same place as other EU19k, hope that's ok.

It is recommended to wait a couple of days, this gives the case file adequate time to get forwarded from the Lockbox to the NBC.

Thanks for adding your case data to the Timeline spreadsheet. It has been relocated from when you put it to where it should be, based on Lockbox delivery date.

 

[kolette]

Dear Mom and Valuable Members,

Today, I’d like to share our interview experience with you. Our interview took place on this Wednesday. It was stressful so I’m just able to write about it.

My spouse and I went together in the morning. Our appointment was at the Santa Ana Field Office at 6:30 AM. We waited for about 40 minutes. Apparently, the office officially opens at 6:30. After a short wait, we were called in for fingerprinting and had our photos taken. Then, we were directed to the waiting room. It was a bit crowded at that time. Based on our guess, we were called into the interview room around 6:50 or 7:00 AM.

Others who had previously interviewed in Santa Ana mentioned that an Asian woman usually conducted the interviews, so that’s what we were expecting but a young man ended up doing ours. Contrary to what most people said, our interview actually took quite a long time I’d say around 35 to 40 minutes. He went over the I-485 form in detail, asked everything, our schools, job, etc.

We had gotten married after receiving the Green Card, but we were able to easily prove the legitimacy of our relationship through photos, joint accounts, travel proofs and our engagement ceremony in 2023. He didn’t ask for any of our original documents, except for our I-20s, which he requested again and we re-submitted. He also thanked us for bringing copies of our passports.

Overall, he was calm and professional. He also talked about our county and asked about our hometown. I believe he checked our I-485 before we came.

At the end, he said he would check with KCC to confirm whether visas were still available.

Later that same day, around 10:30 AM, we received a “case under review” update in our USCIS account. Then today, around 3 PM, our card went into production.

Once again, we sincerely thank mom and all the members involved in this process. We absolutely couldn’t have made it through without your support. Thank you so much!

Case: kevink

 

[Sm1smom]

Dear Mom and Valuable Members,

Today, I’d like to share our interview experience with you. Our interview took place on this Wednesday. It was stressful so I’m just able to write about it.

My spouse and I went together in the morning. Our appointment was at the Santa Ana Field Office at 6:30 AM. We waited for about 40 minutes. Apparently, the office officially opens at 6:30. After a short wait, we were called in for fingerprinting and had our photos taken. Then, we were directed to the waiting room. It was a bit crowded at that time. Based on our guess, we were called into the interview room around 6:50 or 7:00 AM.

Others who had previously interviewed in Santa Ana mentioned that an Asian woman usually conducted the interviews, so that’s what we were expecting but a young man ended up doing ours. Contrary to what most people said, our interview actually took quite a long time I’d say around 35 to 40 minutes. He went over the I-485 form in detail, asked everything, our schools, job, etc.

We had gotten married after receiving the Green Card, but we were able to easily prove the legitimacy of our relationship through photos, joint accounts, travel proofs and our engagement ceremony in 2023. He didn’t ask for any of our original documents, except for our I-20s, which he requested again and we re-submitted. He also thanked us for bringing copies of our passports.

Overall, he was calm and professional. He also talked about our county and asked about our hometown. I believe he checked our I-485 before we came.

At the end, he said he would check with KCC to confirm whether visas were still available.

Later that same day, around 10:30 AM, we received a “case under review” update in our USCIS account. Then today, around 3 PM, our card went into production.

Once again, we sincerely thank mom and all the members involved in this process. We absolutely couldn’t have made it through without your support. Thank you so much!

Case: kevink

Congratulations and thanks for the update.

 

[azatinusa]

Hello,
Just mailed my AOS package. I still have some concerns:

1. I submitted my high school transcript with translation + my doctorate degree diploma. But I'm not sure if they will ask for my HS diploma, so I also submitted hire letters for 2 years of a job in zone 5. Do you think this will help?
2. My J-1 was subjected to 2-year residence requirement based on the skill list. However, my country was removed from the list in the latest announcement. So, I submitted my DS-2019 along with this announcement. Do you think this will be enough? Will they still ask to see the waiver? If so, how to best prepare for this?

I would really appreciate any input.

Just a heads-up or lesson for others on this forum: once you learn that you've been selected for the DV program way back in May of the PREVIOUS YEAR, you should immediately begin understanding all the requirements and start assembling your package. This early start gives you time to obtain missing originals, file for waivers, and sort out any other issues without a rush. At this late stage, the only answer is "wait and see", whereas earlier the answer would have been "go get them and make your case bullet proof".

 

[nuageux]

Hi Mom,

Thank you for all the guidance on the forum!

I’d like to request permission to edit the spreadsheet and add my data. I also have a few questions and would appreciate your advice.

I’m an F-1 student with a DV2025 case number EU22XXX, which becomes current in September. I mailed my adjustment of status package on August 1st and received the USCIS text confirmation on Wednesday, August 6th.

Before submitting, I consulted with two immigration lawyers (one at my university and one family friend, both based in New York). Neither specializes in DV AOS specifically, but both advised that I should try to expedite my case due to the tight timeline. The school one even said, “The chances that your case gets processed in just two months are almost zero unless you make it your part-time job to call them every day.”

I haven’t received my NOA1 yet, but based on my Brooklyn address, I believe my field office will be the Brooklyn FO.

Here are my questions:

1. For DV AOS cases, is it true that you need to expedite to have a realistic shot at approval by September 30? Or are there cases processed in time without it?

2. If I should expedite, what basis is best? The USCIS criteria mention severe financial loss (I could argue that if I lose DV eligibility, I won’t be able to stay in the U.S. or apply to grad school, which limits scholarships and fellowships available only to PRs/citizens); and urgent humanitarian situation (the U.S. Embassies in my country are closed, so renewing my visa is more complex that usual). Neither seems like a perfect fit, and I worry about making a weak or misaligned argument. Do these sound viable, or would you recommend something else?

3. What’s the best next step? Should I prepare supporting documents and call USCIS again to request an expedite? Or should I wait until I receive the NOA and see if the case is moving? I don’t want to act too soon or too late, I just want to do this right.

Thanks so much again for everything! Any advice would mean a lot right now!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Mom,

Thank you for all the guidance on the forum!

I’d like to request permission to edit the spreadsheet and add my data. I also have a few questions and would appreciate your advice.

I’m an F-1 student with a DV2025 case number EU22XXX, which becomes current in September. I mailed my adjustment of status package on August 1st and received the USCIS text confirmation on Wednesday, August 6th.

Before submitting, I consulted with two immigration lawyers (one at my university and one family friend, both based in New York). Neither specializes in DV AOS specifically, but both advised that I should try to expedite my case due to the tight timeline. The school one even said, “The chances that your case gets processed in just two months are almost zero unless you make it your part-time job to call them every day.”

I haven’t received my NOA1 yet, but based on my Brooklyn address, I believe my field office will be the Brooklyn FO.

Here are my questions:

1. For DV AOS cases, is it true that you need to expedite to have a realistic shot at approval by September 30? Or are there cases processed in time without it?

2. If I should expedite, what basis is best? The USCIS criteria mention severe financial loss (I could argue that if I lose DV eligibility, I won’t be able to stay in the U.S. or apply to grad school, which limits scholarships and fellowships available only to PRs/citizens); and urgent humanitarian situation (the U.S. Embassies in my country are closed, so renewing my visa is more complex that usual). Neither seems like a perfect fit, and I worry about making a weak or misaligned argument. Do these sound viable, or would you recommend something else?

3. What’s the best next step? Should I prepare supporting documents and call USCIS again to request an expedite? Or should I wait until I receive the NOA and see if the case is moving? I don’t want to act too soon or too late, I just want to do this right.

Thanks so much again for everything! Any advice would mean a lot right now!

1. DV based AOS applications go through an expedited process, they do not go through the typically prolonged process for family or employment based AOS applications amongst others.
2. You may try, but I can tell you from experience none of your reasoning meets the expedite criteria. You can’t claim financial loss on the basis of not being able to remain in the US to continue schooling or be eligible to apply for scholarships/fellowships considering you must have gone to great lengths to demonstrate your financial sufficiency in order to obtain your student visa in the first place. And the US embassy in your country being closed does not qualify as a humanitarian basis for an expedite - I’m guessing US embassy in neighboring countries are open to meet that need.
3. Your next best step is to get your bio scheduled and completed for now. Without your bio appointment being completed and you clearing the required background check, your AOS application cannot be adjudicated. So for now, focus on getting your bio notice/appointment. Take a look at the FAQ tab of the AOS process spreadsheet to learn about how to get ahead with the bio appointment scheduling.

You need to send an access request directly from the spreadsheet to enable you add your case details to it. Click the Green View Only dropdown at the top of the spreadsheet, and follow the prompt.

 

[TheDoc]

Hi all,

Dropping another update on our case: We're approved!
We had our interview at the last week and it all went well. Essentially a confirmation of some of the answers we wrote on our forms and submission of any new/updated evidence.

There's a couple things worth mentioning:
1. We'd noticed a couple of mistakes on our I-485 so we wrote up a short list of those specific questions and the correct answers and handed that to the officer at the start of the session: No problems with that.
2. We were getting worried about the lack of an interview approaching August so we called the USCIS call center and asked them to let the officer know of the September 30 deadline in case they weren't aware, and the agent ended up making a note on their system. Our interview invites were dated as sent out the day after that - could have just been a coincidence.
3. We were approved about a week after the interview, though the officer said they would complete things that day on their side. It sounded like there was an additional process to "request the visa number"?


Thanks everyone (especially Sm1smom) for contributing to this amazing resource - You surely saved us thousands in lawyer fees and hours of questioning!

 

[MrBobert]

2. We were getting worried about the lack of an interview approaching August so we called the USCIS call center and asked them to let the officer know of the September 30 deadline in case they weren't aware, and the agent ended up making a note on their system. Our interview invites were dated as sent out the day after that - could have just been a coincidence.

Just goes to show how important it is to be proactive in these cases and keep on top of it. I'm sure that was not a coincidence.

Congratulations!

 

[wichy]

1. There’s an expectation for an applicant to be able to produce the original version of any document included in their AOS package. You’ll just have to wait and see at this point.
2. I have no idea. Another wait and see.

Thank you for your response, mom.

I have the HS transcript with me, but not HS diploma. That's why I also sent evidence about more than 2 years of work experience, just in case they deem me unqualify with HS transcript.

I decided to request an advisory opinion on my J-1 residency requirement from the department of state. So, I would have a document stating that I don't have the residency requirement. The processing time for this is 6-8 weeks. Can I contact the congress person to speed up this process?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi all,

Dropping another update on our case: We're approved!
We had our interview at the last week and it all went well. Essentially a confirmation of some of the answers we wrote on our forms and submission of any new/updated evidence.

There's a couple things worth mentioning:
1. We'd noticed a couple of mistakes on our I-485 so we wrote up a short list of those specific questions and the correct answers and handed that to the officer at the start of the session: No problems with that.
2. We were getting worried about the lack of an interview approaching August so we called the USCIS call center and asked them to let the officer know of the September 30 deadline in case they weren't aware, and the agent ended up making a note on their system. Our interview invites were dated as sent out the day after that - could have just been a coincidence.
3. We were approved about a week after the interview, though the officer said they would complete things that day on their side. It sounded like there was an additional process to "request the visa number"?


Thanks everyone (especially Sm1smom) for contributing to this amazing resource - You surely saved us thousands in lawyer fees and hours of questioning!

Fantastic update. Congratulations.

 

[Sm1smom]

Just goes to show how important it is to be proactive in these cases and keep on top of it. I'm sure that was not a coincidence.

Congratulations!

Indeed, being proactive is essential, and highly encouraged. However based on personal observations over the years, I’m willing to to wager a bet this particular case is more of a coincidence.

IOs do not personally schedule the interview for the cases assigned to them, there’s a scheduling center within the FOs responsible for this, they more often than not are aware of the sunset factors associated with DV cases and they take that into consideration, plus the IOs workload of course when scheduling the interviews.

If the IO had called or sent an email to the applicant (they sometimes do this when there’s a sudden opening in their schedule), then I’ll be more inclined to agree this was not a coincidence.

 

[Sm1smom]

Thank you for your response, mom.

I have the HS transcript with me, but not HS diploma. That's why I also sent evidence about more than 2 years of work experience, just in case they deem me unqualify with HS transcript.

I decided to request an advisory opinion on my J-1 residency requirement from the department of state. So, I would have a document stating that I don't have the residency requirement. The processing time for this is 6-8 weeks. Can I contact the congress person to speed up this process?

Since we’re down to the wires, I’ll say you can give it a shot, but bear in mind the agency may adopt an attitude of lack of planning on your side does not constitute an emergency for them. Your congress person can only do a case follow-up, they cannot speed up the process.

 

[azatinusa]

Congratulations @Britsimon on, what looks like, winning your DV2025 lawsuit about UK entrants!!

 

[earlschultz]

Congrats on the GB lawsuit win! @Britsimon do you anticipate this will increase the risk of visa exhaustion for EU?

My number became current in August (EU21XXX), and I was given an interview date of September 4 which is rather late taking into account I completed biometrics on July 3rd. Would trying to get in touch with my Field Office to get an earlier interview date necessary? Could it harm the process and my already scheduled interview date?

Many thanks for everyone's support.

 

[ozzy123]

Hi all, - I am getting concerned by the timeline and lack of update since my interview on June 23rd. It is still showing "Case must be reviewed".

I called USCIS to request Tier 2 a couple of weeks ago (have not been contacted yet), and have sent an inquiry to my local congress representative which they said they will contact USCIS (again no updates). Is there anything else I should be doing? I take it since it has been more than a month since update I can try and request an expedite?

Having checked the timeline delays this seems to be unusual even though my interview was relatively straightforward...

 

[wichy]

Just a heads-up or lesson for others on this forum: once you learn that you've been selected for the DV program way back in May of the PREVIOUS YEAR, you should immediately begin understanding all the requirements and start assembling your package. This early start gives you time to obtain missing originals, file for waivers, and sort out any other issues without a rush. At this late stage, the only answer is "wait and see", whereas earlier the answer would have been "go get them and make your case bullet proof".

Thank you for your wise words, pointing out something that's already obvious and does not help anyone at all.
I wish you have to endure all problems I have to deal with these last years.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thank you for your wise words, pointing out something that's already obvious and does not help anyone at all.
I wish you have to endure all problems I have to deal with these last years.

No need to be nasty, and if it was so obvious to everyone we wouldn’t have issues of people scrambling to get things at the last minute (and yes we always have a few of these every year.

 

[Sm1smom]

Congrats on the GB lawsuit win! @Britsimon do you anticipate this will increase the risk of visa exhaustion for EU?

My number became current in August (EU21XXX), and I was given an interview date of September 4 which is rather late taking into account I completed biometrics on July 3rd. Would trying to get in touch with my Field Office to get an earlier interview date necessary? Could it harm the process and my already scheduled interview date?

Many thanks for everyone's support.

While you may wait for Simon’s response, I’ll stick with my previously provided response.

Meanwhile, can you add your case data to the 2025 Timeline spreadsheet?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi all, - I am getting concerned by the timeline and lack of update since my interview on June 23rd. It is still showing "Case must be reviewed".

I called USCIS to request Tier 2 a couple of weeks ago (have not been contacted yet), and have sent an inquiry to my local congress representative which they said they will contact USCIS (again no updates). Is there anything else I should be doing? I take it since it has been more than a month since update I can try and request an expedite?

Having checked the timeline delays this seems to be unusual even though my interview was relatively straightforward...

1. When exactly did you contact your congress person?
2. When was the last time you heard back from them?
3. What did they say?

Your background check clearance may still be pending, which will account for the delay in case adjudication if that were the case.

4. Did your IO confirm the status of your background check at the end of your interview?

 

[Yousafzai]

Update : got my approval notice today, but the class of admission on my notice is DV6, when i looked it up it says 6 stands for ‘spouse of dv visa immigrant’

Im confused what to do? Is that gonna be a problem? Im the main applicant and i applied for my self only and no one else