OC DV lottery 2024

[caspersunset]

How soon did everyone get all their documents organised? (All the residential clearances from O/S countries and getting medical vaccinations etc before you had a visa appointment confirmed?) I'm hesitant to start the process and part $ without it being confirmed, do you find it enough time to get everything together when a visa embassy interview is confirmed?

Anyone from DV2025 have invitation to interview confirmed? Or is it too soon? Thank you

 

[SusieQQQ]

Ok thank you. My sons are at uni so they may need to go a few months later. So you think it’s fine for them not to travel with me.

As long as you have already entered and they enter before their visas expire they will be fine.

 

[SusieQQQ]

You have 6 months after the medical to enter and activate all visa. Primary applicant must enter first or at same time as other applicants.

You have to enter by the expiry date on the visa. Sometimes this is shorter than 6 months after the medical.

 

[Tigermum]

Hi , we are asked to carry an express post prepaid satchel to the Sydney Consulate for the interview.
But the details of the size of the satchel are not specified. Any idea what size it should be?
Should we be carrying 2 satchels (1 for the principal applicant and one for the derivative) or just one in total for the both of us?

Also, I did read about a Yellow sealed visa packet, would that be given to us right after the interview or is that separately shipped to our address too?

 

[beclm]

I'm super confused and hoping someone here can help. I won the 2024 lottery with case number 1395. However, as I was working in the US on an E3 visa that had to be renewed in a few months I chose not to apply for a green card. Fast forward to this week and I've been laid off from my job here so would love to be able to apply. I note all visas have to be granted by Sept 30. Am I too late to be able to get the DS-260 processed and have an interview before then?? Thanks so much from a very stressed Aussie

 

[SusieQQQ]

I'm super confused and hoping someone here can help. I won the 2024 lottery with case number 1395. However, as I was working in the US on an E3 visa that had to be renewed in a few months I chose not to apply for a green card. Fast forward to this week and I've been laid off from my job here so would love to be able to apply. I note all visas have to be granted by Sept 30. Am I too late to be able to get the DS-260 processed and have an interview before then?? Thanks so much from a very stressed Aussie

It’s too late for consular processing. What is your current status in the US? Have you actually ended employment or just been notified it will happen? I’m not familiar with E3 - does E3 status end when employment terminates? (There’s a chance you might have time to adjust status if still in status but it will be very tight given what you’d have to organize, and you’d run the risk of paying all the fees but potentially running out of time, so it will partly depend on what level of risk you’re willing to accept.)

 

[_loz24]

W

Hi , we are asked to carry an express post prepaid satchel to the Sydney Consulate for the interview.
But the details of the size of the satchel are not specified. Any idea what size it should be?
Should we be carrying 2 satchels (1 for the principal applicant and one for the derivative) or just one in total for the both of us?

Also, I did read about a Yellow sealed visa packet, would that be given to us right after the interview or is that separately shipped to our address too?

We took 1 large express satchel to our interview (2 people). They ship everything in one envelope unless you have a big family.

 

[Tigermum]

W

We took 1 large express satchel to our interview (2 people). They ship everything in one envelope unless you have a big family.

Thank you Loz24

 

[ThomasFindCharlie]

How soon did everyone get all their documents organised? (All the residential clearances from O/S countries and getting medical vaccinations etc before you had a visa appointment confirmed?) I'm hesitant to start the process and part $ without it being confirmed, do you find it enough time to get everything together when a visa embassy interview is confirmed?

Anyone from DV2025 have invitation to interview confirmed? Or is it too soon? Thank you

Medical vaccinations are fast, done in one day (I did mine in Auckland CityMed).

Birth Certificate translation takes about one week (approximately 100 bucks), police certificate from Auckland police could take up to 20 days (free).

I was notified a month and a half prior to the interview, in theory that's enough time but I'm not sure for overseas police certificates.

 

[kimpolley]

Hi Everyone, do adults need Hep A injections? I know my daughter needs it as she's 16 but I couldn't see anywhere that adults need it only the Hep B.

 

[ThomasFindCharlie]

@caspersunset
Also note that the embassy requires the documents to be handed in 2 weeks prior.

Hi Everyone, do adults need Hep A injections? I know my daughter needs it as she's 16 but I couldn't see anywhere that adults need it only the Hep B.

Generally the approved medical practitioner will assess if it's required, but here's the list I was provided in the notification email:
APPROXIMATE VACCINATION COSTS in New Zealand:

Varicella (chickenpox) NZ$ 140.00

MMR (over 16 years) NZ$ 45.00

Tetanus/Diphtheria NZ$ 50.00

Polio NZ$ 80.00

Hepatitis B NZ$ 47.00

Pneumococcal NZ$ 80.00

Influenza NZ$ 32.00

Lab. Tests: VDRL NZ$ 72.00

Gonorrhea NZ$ 58.00

 

[F1j101]

We are approved!!!

Family of 8.
Case Number: higher end of 2024OC22xx.
Suva Embassy
We interviewed on the Tuesday, 3rd of September, 9am.

Note that there was no interviews for Suva on Monday 2nd so the first interviews for September cases was done on Tuesday. I was surprised that we got our interview early despite our number being slightly higher. We were so stressed and over prepared but overall it was a great and easy interview experience. We are picking up our passports tomorrow morning!!.

I will post our full experience on @Britsimon blog. Thanks everyone for your support especially @Britsimon @Xarthisius @SusieQQQ . You guys are the best.

 

[emlyt]

How wonderful! Congratulations @F1j101!!!

 

[F1j101]

How wonderful! Congratulations @F1j101!!!

Thank you sister @emlyt. I wish you and your family the best on your processing.

 

[Bob22]

@caspersunset
Also note that the embassy requires the documents to be handed in 2 weeks prior.


Generally the approved medical practitioner will assess if it's required, but here's the list I was provided in the notification email:
APPROXIMATE VACCINATION COSTS in New Zealand:

Varicella (chickenpox) NZ$ 140.00

MMR (over 16 years) NZ$ 45.00

Tetanus/Diphtheria NZ$ 50.00

Polio NZ$ 80.00

Hepatitis B NZ$ 47.00

Pneumococcal NZ$ 80.00

Influenza NZ$ 32.00

Lab. Tests: VDRL NZ$ 72.00

Gonorrhea NZ$ 58.00

As you hinted at, the doctor will decide what you need. There is no need for anyone to get any shots before the appointment. They have everything on site.

 

[megdavidson26]

We are approved!!!

Family of 8.
Case Number: higher end of 2024OC22xx.
Suva Embassy
We interviewed on the Tuesday, 3rd of September, 9am.

Note that there was no interviews for Suva on Monday 2nd so the first interviews for September cases was done on Tuesday. I was surprised that we got our interview early despite our number being slightly higher. We were so stressed and over prepared but overall it was a great and easy interview experience. We are picking up our passports tomorrow morning!!.

I will post our full experience on @Britsimon blog. Thanks everyone for your support especially @Britsimon @Xarthisius @SusieQQQ . You guys are the best.

Congratulations!! What a year for you. So glad it has all ended well for your family.

*We also finally got our case approved this week too.

 

[F1j101]

Congratulations!! What a year for you. So glad it has all ended well for your family.

*We also finally got our case approved this week too.

Congratulations. Whew that took a while for your case. Glad you guys made it through.

 

[Spam420]

Hi Everyone,

I finally became a US permanent resident on September 14th in Guam .

We travelled to Guam and initially the first customs officer was a bit rude, she was like why are you even here? You seriously want to live in Guam? But then she took my forms and took me to an office where a nicer CBP officer approved my immigrant visa and took my yellow envelope. Interestingly he did not take my X-ray CD, I asked why, and he said you don't have Tuberculosis so don't worry about it. Gave me the stamp and we had a talk about what to do after, he mentioned about re-entry permits, SB-1 if you cannot make it back in a year and try to come every 6 months until you're permanently settled. Then we shake hands and off we went out of the airport.

Had some trouble making a bank account, they wanted my SSN but I couldn't provide so I will have to do that next time I am there or online. None of the major cell providers are in Guam either so my next trip I will do that as well unless I can get one online or a Virtual Phone number.

On another note, highly recommend Guam to visit, it's really a beautiful place full of lots of nice people and if I could find an engineering job there I would actually move there. My expectations of Guam were definitely exceeded

Thanks again everyone especially to @Britsimon @Sm1smom and @SusieQQQ, my dreams have come true and I will now start planning my move

 

[upbeatbean]

I have been mulling over the massive increase in selectees in OC region. The odd thing that stands out is the massive increase in selectees from Fiji, and I'm wondering what happened to cause that.

Up until DV2023, Fiji tended to get around the same (or less) of the selected numbers as compared to Australia. Then in DV2023 Fiji suddenly got a massive increase in selectees as compared to Australia. Chart below shows what I mean.

If we look at selectees from Australia, Fiji and NZ we can see that Aus/NZ have stayed roughly proportionate. Australia takes 3 to 4 times the selectees of NZ roughly. That means 3 to 4 times the entries.

But now look at Fiji compared to the other two countries. The increase in Fiji selectees happened in DV2023 and DV2024.

Why? What caused that? Are there now organizations that have sprung up in the last two entry periods to help/encourage people in Fiji to enter the lottery?

Anyone have any ideas?

Year	Australia	Fiji	NZ	Aus-Fiji	NZ - Fiji	Aus-NZ
2024​	795​	2936​	256​	27​	9​	311​
2023​	461​	1718​	173​	27​	10​	266​
2022​	1031​	950​	248​	109​	26​	416​
2021​	1130​	1087​	360​	104​	33​	314​
2020​	647​	435​	181​	149​	42​	357​
2019​	777​	396​	242​	196​	61​	321​

Sorry I'm late to the party.

If I were to venture a guess, based on the data published on the states website, I'd have to say it's because of the significantly higher derivate count in Fiji.

I mean I was looking into the DV data published on their site and it's pretty obvious why. The Fiji derivatives : applicant ratio seems to be significantly higher than Oz, NZ and my money is on it being at least two - three derivatives per Fiji applicant, in the past couple of years (stats not published by them yet)



Australia and NZ has much lesser than Fiji, in that front (for an average NZ, Oz applicant, We've got ~0.5 derivative count, implying lots of single applicants in these two countries)



Since the total Fiji derivatives : applicants ratio has been consistently much more than the ratios of Oz, NZ over the years, the stats never go current in the bulletin in the past few years, since the Oz, NZ allocated quota is getting eaten up at the interview stage, by the derivatives in one area of those that has lower CN


And because of this very reason, higher CN of Oz, NZ never gets a chance. So the applicants of these two countries may technically be getting selected and alloted CN, but never get their 2NL, because visas run out, by the time it gets to the higher CN (unlike the past when it almost always goes current)


This is my theory based on the published data

Thoughts?

 

[Britsimon]

Sorry I'm late to the party.

If I were to venture a guess, based on the data published on the states website, I'd have to say it's because of the significantly higher derivate count in Fiji.

I mean I was looking into the DV data published on their site and it's pretty obvious why. The Fiji derivatives : applicant ratio seems to be significantly higher than Oz, NZ and my money is on it being at least two - three derivatives per Fiji applicant, in the past couple of years (stats not published by them yet)



Australia and NZ has much lesser than Fiji, in that front (for an average NZ, Oz applicant, We've got ~0.5 derivative count, implying lots of single applicants in these two countries)



Since the total Fiji derivatives : applicants ratio has been consistently much more than the ratios of Oz, NZ over the years, the stats never go current in the bulletin in the past few years, since the Oz, NZ allocated quota is getting eaten up at the interview stage, by the derivatives in one area of those that has lower CN


And because of this very reason, higher CN of Oz, NZ never gets a chance. So the applicants of these two countries may technically be getting selected and alloted CN, but never get their 2NL, because visas run out, by the time it gets to the higher CN (unlike the past when it almost always goes current)


This is my theory based on the published data

Thoughts?

We don't have to guess derivative rates, we have data.

The derivative rate for Fiji is about 2.2 - meaning an average of 1.2 derivates for each case. Aus and Sydney are less, but the derivative rate can't account for the difference.