Questions about entering DV-2015.

[MobiusZero]

Greetings.
I noticed that DV-2015 will soon started.
I have a few questions about it :
1. Since I'm still in university in Indonesia (pursuing Bachelor of Science in Computer Science), 5th semester, what should I fill in "Highest Education" ? is it "High school degree" or "Some university courses" ?
2. I'm kinda confused whether I should try DV-2015 or the next year, as I fear that next year there won't be DV lottery because of immigration reform that reportedly wants to terminate DV lottery. About my graduation day, i projected to be sometime in 2015. Is it OK for me to try DV-2015 or should I wait for DV-2016(if there will be) ?
3. should I'm lucky and win the lottery, is it possible to reschedule interview date if the date kinda collided with college activities (like tests, etc.) ?
4. Kinda off topic here, I'm planning on pursuing advanced degree in science in U.S.A (still deciding whether I should go Aeronautical Science or Computer Science) and build a career there. What are the other possible paths for me to be permanent resident besides going through Diversity Visa lottery ?
5. What is the minimum age to apply ? I'm currently 20 years old.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Hexa]

1. I don't remember exactly, but I think this would be a multiple choice question on the online form. If only high school and college available, then pick high school. If there's a choice for 'some college' then pick that instead. In any case as long as it's high school or above it matters little.
2. This is a lottery, the more you play the higher your chance to win. When you enter DV2015 tomorrow and win, you can't even start the process to get the visa until October 2014. If you're lucky enough to get a visa before the end of 2014, the visa typically gives you 6 months to enter USA. There's a very good chance that you can finish your uni before you leave.
3. It is possible, but rescheduling is not advisable when it gets close to the deadline of September 30, 2015.
4. Getting LPR without going through DV is a very long and complicated process if you don't marry an American. A student would need to find an employer willing to sponsor him for H-1B, which is becoming much harder to get due to the low number of available annual quota. After that the employer needs to sponsor him for LPR through PERM, which is another long, complicated, and expensive process. When your I-140 petition is approved, you need to wait for the employment-based quota to become available, the current wait time for EB-3 applicant from Indonesia is about 3 years.
5. No minimum age, as long as you graduated high school.

I suggest you familiarize yourself with the requirements:
http://travel.state.gov/pdf/DV_2015_Instructions.pdf

Selamat mencoba, gan.

 

[Qewty]

I agree with Hexa on this. I was in Uni last year when I applied and still am this year, so I will be choosing the "some uni courses" option. Even though I haven't graduated, I am applying because if selected, I will be close enough that I will apply for a re-entry permit, return to Australia to finish and then make the final move to the US. As Hexa rightly says, by the time the selectees for DV 2015 are chosen next year and then interviewed, you will most likely find you will be entering the States in mid 2015. Either way, you will have choices.

Q

 

[Britsimon]

Agree with the excellent answers above. One additional thing. As said above a win in DV2015 would mean you enter the US around mid to late 2015 - which will probably tie up quite nicely with your graduation. Then - when you want to continue your education in the States, as an LPR you will pay "local" tuition rates for college - which is often FAR less than the tuition rate for a foreign person.

 

[MobiusZero]

Hey, thanks everyone for the answer. Looks like I have to plan my timeframe carefully.
But, I have another question:
If I don't win DV lottery even after I graduated from university, is it possible if I continue to U.S. and went to graduate school under Student F-1 visa, and then apply for Diversity Visa (if it still exists in the future) ?
In other words: applying for Diversity Visa while in U.S.A and possessing another visa (like F-1 Visa) ?

 

[Britsimon]

Hey, thanks everyone for the answer. Looks like I have to plan my timeframe carefully.
But, I have another question:
If I don't win DV lottery even after I graduated from university, is it possible if I continue to U.S. and went to graduate school under Student F-1 visa, and then apply for Diversity Visa (if it still exists in the future) ?
In other words: applying for Diversity Visa while in U.S.A and possessing another visa (like F-1 Visa) ?

If you don't get selected then there is no issue to affect your F1 visa application. If you were to be selected you would need to thinking about timing because submitting the DV forms AFTER selection is considered to be showing immigrant intent. That can make the F1 visa more problematic because it is a temporary visa where you are NOT supposed to start out with an intention to immigrate.

However, you have to win first...

 

[Qewty]

As with many of us who have a few options we can explore to go to the US (in my case it is lottery, E3 visa, even an F1 visa) the timing is everything. If you ARE selected and continue to go into the full application of your immigration via the lottery, then obviously it would not be the time to then apply for another visa while you are waiting. Once you have sent off your second stage paperwork you are basically committed to exploring your immigration pathway of your DV win and as such, to apply for an F1 for example would raise eyebrows and questions. You can't claim non-immigration intent on one hand, while exploring that officially with the other. Having said that, if you are not successful, by all means, go ahead with your other options. If I continue to fail at securing a lottery win (hoping not but it is chance after all) then I will follow my other options post graduation. I would not expect my entries (and failure to win) to impede that. If I am in the US on any of my other visa choices, I will always be entering the lottery should it still be available, as the Green Card is for me, the ultimate objective. I am sure I have just repeated what Simon just wrote out, but this forum is such a lovely distraction from my essay right now

All the best to you

Q

 

[Britsimon]

As with many of us who have a few options we can explore to go to the US (in my case it is lottery, E3 visa, even an F1 visa) the timing is everything. If you ARE selected and continue to go into the full application of your immigration via the lottery, then obviously it would not be the time to then apply for another visa while you are waiting. Once you have sent off your second stage paperwork you are basically committed to exploring your immigration pathway of your DV win and as such, to apply for an F1 for example would raise eyebrows and questions. You can't claim non-immigration intent on one hand, while exploring that officially with the other. Having said that, if you are not successful, by all means, go ahead with your other options. If I continue to fail at securing a lottery win (hoping not but it is chance after all) then I will follow my other options post graduation. I would not expect my entries (and failure to win) to impede that. If I am in the US on any of my other visa choices, I will always be entering the lottery should it still be available, as the Green Card is for me, the ultimate objective. I am sure I have just repeated what Simon just wrote out, but this forum is such a lovely distraction from my essay right now

All the best to you

Q

You said it much better than I did Qewty!