Getting a B1/B2 visa when you are a DV program selectee

[Delias]

Hello

Sorry to make this thread that it might sound not too important at all compared to other issues more important discussed here but I really would like to know if you don’t mind and hope to get a good advice about it.

It turns out that my b1/b2 visa expired last december. Since my CN is around SA17XX then it looks like, so far, it won’t be current before May or so :-( ...who knows.

Of course I’d love my number was current just tomorrow but it´s out of my control such thing and if I ever get my DV interview approved I’d move to USA the very next day and for good. Sadly such thing hasn’t happened to me yet and I know that all I can do for now is wait patiently until the day of my interview comes if that day ever comes...I hope so.

I really would like to attend to an event that I was invited in USA next March so I want to renew my b1/b2 visa in order to attend to such event.

I know that because I already have filled a DS260 they will make lots of questions if I get an interview for this b1/b2 visa and I am well aware that chances of getting visa rejected are high because of this so-called inmigration intent but at the same time I have plenty of valid reasons why I did it (DV program for a GC chance) and I'm not too worried giving proper explanations about it. Not trying to sound cocky either but I am confident about it.

So my questions are:

1) Do you think it’s wise to renew a b1/b2 visa while at the same time being a selectee of dv2020 program waiting for my future interview? Why not?

2) If I get a visa b1/b2 renewed, should I update DS260 indicating the number of the visa b1/b2 after I get it?

3) Will they review information about my DV application and other information provided so far about it just to check when reviewing b1/b2 request? I know they won’t process my DV case yet as long as CN is not current and of course this thing won’t speed things up....but could this slow things down about my case?

4) In the worst scenario if I get this visa b1/b2 rejected, could that impact negatively for my DV interview later? (Never have been rejected before and I have many visas renewals before)

5) when arriving USA using a b1/b2 visa, will they know that I am a DV program selectee? will they ask about it?

I know any other type of valid visas are cancelled after getting approved for DV program and you get a new one issued which is totally fine with me no matter if this b1/b2 visa will be valid only for a couple of months maybe, as long as I get the most cherished visa of all visas that could exist....well, for me this type of inmigrant visa is ))

Please, please if someone can advise me about this situation of mine I'd be eternally grateful.

thanks

 

[SusieQQQ]

You can try. They may or may not grant it. If it is rejected it will not negatively impact your DV application (assuming the reason for rejection is immigrant intent). I entered on a B visa a few times while I had both a family based and then the Dv application in process, the immigrant petitions never came up at port of entry.

 

[Airspray]

I traveled to the US on a B visa last June, it was after I sent my DS-260 and was 'officially' in the immigration process. There was absolutely no problem at the POE (Boston), the CBP officer didn't ask me anything, he just stamped my passport right away. Might be because I already had the visa (and had previous B visas before) and the fact the I was in the US 5 times before. I don't know how hard getting a new visa is going to be but I don't think it's a problem honestly.

 

[Delias]

thank you @SusieQQQ and @Airspray.

I am happy to tell you guys that my b1/b2 visa was finally issued with no problem at all

I'd like to share details about my own experience on this. I know each case is different but I think it could help others if ever in same situation as I was.

I was afraid of what others have said on this forum that just because I am a DV program selectee and I already have filled a DS260 that means that I am doing an immigrant intent and that could have a negative impact for future non immigrant visas applications and that I would be asked about it on the DS160 but among all the questions of this DS160 form I never found such question or questions about this so-called immigrant intent.

When I filled my DS160 on the question Has anyone ever filed an immigrant petition on your behalf with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services? I answered NO because what I understand this question is asking is if someone else like a relative, employer, etc. is making a petition on my behalf and I think that does not apply to me, I think that's not my case even if I have already filled a DS260. I looked up about it on internet and no one was saying anything specific about this issue when you are a DV program selectee trying to get a B1/B2 visa but all agree that this question has to be answered YES only when someone else has filled other forms like I-130 or the I-140 to file a petition on behalf of someone which is not my case.

I also would like to add that because I was renewing the same type of visa I already had before and my previous one was not expired more than 12 months then I was able to skip an in-person interview thanks to this Interview Waiver program.

So this is what I wanted to share, I hope this could be useful for others but at the same time remember that I am not trying to encourage others to take unnecessary risks that could affect their DV program cases.

If I have said something that is based on wrong conclusions please correct me.

I know I am not an expert on this or that I know everything about this kind of process but thought this little I know based on my own experience could maybe help others.

Thank you.