DV 2026 AOS (Adjustment of Status) Process Only

[mtb]

Hi,

I am currently completing Form I-485, and I have a question regarding Part 4, Item 5: “Have you previously applied for permanent residence while in the United States?” I must answer YES, because I previously filed an I-485 based on my DV-2023 selection. The form does not ask about the status of the prior application, but I assume USCIS expects the applicant to explain why they are filing again. For that reason, I am considering adding the following explanation in the “Additional Information” section:
“I WON THE DIVERSITY VISA (DV) LOTTERY IN 2023 AND APPLIED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY BASED ON THAT SELECTION. HOWEVER, MY CASE NUMBER WAS VERY HIGH (2023AS0001xxxx), AND BY SEPTEMBER 2023 THE ANNUAL QUOTA OF 55,000 VISAS HAD BEEN REACHED. AS A RESULT, MY CASE COULD NOT BE PROCESSED, AND THE APPLICATION WAS NOT APPROVED.”

Before I do that, I have a few questions:

1. Should I actually write this explanation in the Additional Information section, or is it unnecessary? I am not sure whether USCIS expects clarification or whether simply answering “YES” is sufficient.​

2. Do I need to include the old receipt notice or denial notice as supporting documents?​

I can include the receipt notice if necessary. However, the denial letter is concerning because it incorrectly states that I had to leave the U.S. within 33 days. At that time I was in valid F-1 status and had never applied for the DV-based EAD. I am worried that including this denial letter could be misinterpreted by the FO, even though the information in it is not accurate.

I would appreciate your guidance on whether I am overthinking this, and what the safest approach is for answering this question.

 

[_mohkha]

Hello,

I’m currently in F-1 status. I am preparing for the process of filing, and I understand that cases are usually assigned to the local FO based on where you live. The FO in my city has very long processing times, so I wanted to ask if there is ever any flexibility for a case to be handled by a different FO within the same state. I have a close friend living in a nearby city, where the FO appears to be processing cases more quickly.
My school is located in my current city, but I am flexible and able to travel within the state for any required appointment or interview. I just wanted to ask whether something like this is ever possible.

Thank you for your time and help.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi,

I am currently completing Form I-485, and I have a question regarding Part 4, Item 5: “Have you previously applied for permanent residence while in the United States?” I must answer YES, because I previously filed an I-485 based on my DV-2023 selection. The form does not ask about the status of the prior application, but I assume USCIS expects the applicant to explain why they are filing again. For that reason, I am considering adding the following explanation in the “Additional Information” section:
“I WON THE DIVERSITY VISA (DV) LOTTERY IN 2023 AND APPLIED FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY BASED ON THAT SELECTION. HOWEVER, MY CASE NUMBER WAS VERY HIGH (2023AS0001xxxx), AND BY SEPTEMBER 2023 THE ANNUAL QUOTA OF 55,000 VISAS HAD BEEN REACHED. AS A RESULT, MY CASE COULD NOT BE PROCESSED, AND THE APPLICATION WAS NOT APPROVED.”

Before I do that, I have a few questions:

1. Should I actually write this explanation in the Additional Information section, or is it unnecessary? I am not sure whether USCIS expects clarification or whether simply answering “YES” is sufficient.​

2. Do I need to include the old receipt notice or denial notice as supporting documents?​

I can include the receipt notice if necessary. However, the denial letter is concerning because it incorrectly states that I had to leave the U.S. within 33 days. At that time I was in valid F-1 status and had never applied for the DV-based EAD. I am worried that including this denial letter could be misinterpreted by the FO, even though the information in it is not accurate.

I would appreciate your guidance on whether I am overthinking this, and what the safest approach is for answering this question.

1. Providing the additional explanation will not hurt.
2. There’s no need to include the denial notice. They already have access to it as it is part of your immigration file. They will contact you if additional information is required.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,

I’m currently in F-1 status. I am preparing for the process of filing, and I understand that cases are usually assigned to the local FO based on where you live. The FO in my city has very long processing times, so I wanted to ask if there is ever any flexibility for a case to be handled by a different FO within the same state. I have a close friend living in a nearby city, where the FO appears to be processing cases more quickly.
My school is located in my current city, but I am flexible and able to travel within the state for any required appointment or interview. I just wanted to ask whether something like this is ever possible.

Thank you for your time and help.

You are required to honestly and truthfully fill out your forms. Listing a friend’s address as your address in order to influence the FO your case adjudication falls under is not recommended. If you do that and it gets discovered, you would be deemed to have misrepresented your case and could be subsequently charged with fraudulently obtaining, or attempting to fraudulently obtain, an immigration benefit.

USCIS may on their own re-assign cases to other FOs as part of workload balancing.

 

[_mohkha]

Hello,

I have a quick question about the address section on my I-485. I lived as a student in the Netherlands from 09/2022 to 05/2024, then returned briefly for three months to my family home in Egypt before moving to the U.S. I no longer have any residence or ties in the Netherlands.

For “Prior Address” and “Most Recent Address Outside the United States,” where should I list the Netherlands and Egypt? Thanks!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,

I have a quick question about the address section on my I-485. I lived as a student in the Netherlands from 09/2022 to 05/2024, then returned briefly for three months to my family home in Egypt before moving to the U.S. I no longer have any residence or ties in the Netherlands.

For “Prior Address” and “Most Recent Address Outside the United States,” where should I list the Netherlands and Egypt? Thanks!

Having or not having a current residence or ties to Netherlands is irrelevant to the questions.

First part of the question is asking about previous “addresses”, not just one previous address, so list both the Netherlands and Egypt in that section.
Next section says most recent address outside the US where you lived for more than a year, if not already listed above. You can write N.A. here since both have already been listed under the previous section.

 

[HiThere0711]

Hello,

I am attempting to pay the $330 DV administrative fee. If my understanding is correct,

1. I must complete the DV payment form as follows and paste it into a Word document:
DV Program Case Number: _____________________________________
Selectee Surname _____________________________________________
Selectee Given Name __________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
City: State: Zip Code: __________________________________________
Payment for ____________ persons adjusting status in the U.S. (Number of Persons)
Total Amount enclosed ____________________ (Fee amount times the number of persons adjusting status in the U.S.)

2. A $330 cashier’s check payable to the United States Department of State, with the following noted on the check: DV Program Case Number: 2026ASXXXXXX.

3. Put the DV payment form, cashier’s check, and a self-addressed stamped envelope in one envelope and mail it to the following address via USPS:

U.S. Department of State
Diversity Visa Program
P.O. Box 979079
St. Louis, Missouri 63197-9000

Could you please confirm that the above steps are correct? Thank you.

 

[mtb]

Hi Mom,

According to new photo rule, USCIS now mandates that only photos captured by USCIS or other government-authorized entities will be accepted; self-submitted or privately taken photos may no longer be permitted for these specific forms.
In this case, the photos taken at CVS or Walgreens will not be accepted? or We do not put any photos in the AOS package?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,

I am attempting to pay the $330 DV administrative fee. If my understanding is correct,

1. I must complete the DV payment form as follows and paste it into a Word document:
DV Program Case Number: _____________________________________
Selectee Surname _____________________________________________
Selectee Given Name __________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
City: State: Zip Code: __________________________________________
Payment for ____________ persons adjusting status in the U.S. (Number of Persons)
Total Amount enclosed ____________________ (Fee amount times the number of persons adjusting status in the U.S.)

2. A $330 cashier’s check payable to the United States Department of State, with the following noted on the check: DV Program Case Number: 2026ASXXXXXX.

3. Put the DV payment form, cashier’s check, and a self-addressed stamped envelope in one envelope and mail it to the following address via USPS:

U.S. Department of State
Diversity Visa Program
P.O. Box 979079
St. Louis, Missouri 63197-9000

Could you please confirm that the above steps are correct? Thank you.

Correct.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Mom,

According to new photo rule, USCIS now mandates that only photos captured by USCIS or other government-authorized entities will be accepted; self-submitted or privately taken photos may no longer be permitted for these specific forms.
In this case, the photos taken at CVS or Walgreens will not be accepted? or We do not put any photos in the AOS package?

Still follow the instructions on the specific form you’re filling. If the lists self submitted photos, then you should go ahead and include them with the form, unless the instructions say otherwise.

 

[ern]

Hi Mom, my husband won DV2026. We were born in different countries (both eligible for DV), but he applied from my country of chargeability. Do I need to provide any additional documents with our i-485 applications apart from also including my birth certificate and school diplomas?

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi Mom, my husband won DV2026. We were born in different countries (both eligible for DV), but he applied from my country of chargeability. Do I need to provide any additional documents with our i-485 applications apart from also including my birth certificate and school diplomas?

I can’t think of anything else.

 

[_mohkha]

Hello,

I had a quick question about translation requirements and just wanted to double-check. If a document is bilingual and already has full English text mirroring everything (including headers), do I still need to submit a certified translation? For reference, I shared how my high school diploma and birth certificate look like.

If a translation is needed, should it include the entire document or only the non-English parts? Repeating the English text again feels a bit redundant, so I wanted to make sure. Also, does the translator need to be based in the U.S., or is it okay if the translation is done outside the U.S.?

Thanks so much!

 

[Sm1smom]

Hello,

I had a quick question about translation requirements and just wanted to double-check. If a document is bilingual and already has full English text mirroring everything (including headers), do I still need to submit a certified translation? For reference, I shared how my high school diploma and birth certificate look like.

If a translation is needed, should it include the entire document or only the non-English parts? Repeating the English text again feels a bit redundant, so I wanted to make sure. Also, does the translator need to be based in the U.S., or is it okay if the translation is done outside the U.S.?

Thanks so much!

Full translation is required. The translation could be done from outside the US, as long as the translation includes a certified signed statement from the translator attesting to their fluency in both English and the language the document is being translated from.

 

[e5aug]

Trump is suspending the diversity visa program. I need to read what they say in writing, but are we doomed?

 

[Sm1smom]

We wait and see ....