still i am not sure if this is required for me or not. i realized that, its individual per consulate to require it or not. because I am just 18, and university student. for the country i am from 14k is pretty high level of poverty lineso what do you think? should i add 14k to my balance asap??
If you're only 18 and a Student, having an $14k in your bank account would not look right. Of course the Consulate will not expect someone who just graduated from High School to have that kind of money. But, you need to somehow prove yourself that you have the money to go to the U.S and survive before getting a job or go to school. What the Consular want to see is that you have the money to go there and when you arrived in the U.S, you won't live in the street.
Here are your options:
1. Get that $14k in your bank account but it need to be from a reliable source like your parents or your sponsor. You can then tell your Consular that your parents/sponsor has provided you with that money in your bank account so you can have some money to live in the U.S before you find yourself a job or go to school. I think it should be reasonable. Having a parents supporting you at 18 years old while you're going out of the country is quite normal for someone at your age. Like when you're applying for a student visa (F1), they will ask for some kind of proof of funds from the family (parents) or yourself to show that you can pay to the tuition and living cost in the U.S because they don't expect you to work in the U.S when you're under a student visa. I think the DV visa requirement is not much different, the only different is that the proof of funds need to be under your name instead of under your parents/sponsor name.
2. Get a sponsor from someone in the U.S. I understand this option sometimes is impossible from some people because they don't know anyone who live in the U.S. If you can find someone in the U.S that is willing to sponsor you, you're set to go. Just need to ask that sponsor to fill in an I-134 for you.
3. Go for the interview without any of the financial documents and risking visa rejection.
4. Forfeit from the lottery and save yourself from the $775 visa fee.
The U.S is one of the most expensive place to live in the world. The average living cost for 1 person about your age is about $1,000-$1,500 per month. This is just an estimation. It could be more and it could be less depending on where do you live and what kind of lifestyle do you live on. But a $1,000 per month is the minimum estimate that you should have.
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