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What is the exact procedure?

A

AJS95060

Registered Users (C)
Hi,
I got my application forms (DS-230 and DSP-122) last week, filled them out and will send them on Monday.
Can anybody tell me step by step what the exact procedures are and the approximate time frame until I actually get my green card? Please reply without abbreviating anything.
I know it has been posted before, but I do not understand the abbreviations since I am not there yet.

My case number: 2007EU00014xxx
Thanks,
AJS
 
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Common terms important for DV winners:

GC = Green card ( ! )

NL = Notification letter ( aka 1st package ) : the big enveloppe you received with your case number

KCC = Kentucky Consular Center ( where the NL came from ! )
contact : kccdv@state.gov , and (606) 526-7500 ( US phone number )

CP = Consular Processing ( do the interview at a US consulate/embassy )
AOS = Adjustment of Status ( adjust your visa in the US )

If you have a valid visa and live in the US, you can choose between CP and AOS ( the "choice" depends on your case number: if high, AOS is risky; the costs for you to fly back if CP ...) . If you don't, then there is only CP.

Case number : that's a very important thing ! ( it starts with 2letters standing for your region : AF, EU, OC SA, AS )
It will determine your interview date if your number is called ( current ).
The bulletin gives you the information :
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html

Evidence of Support : It can be any combination of the following three :
_ Affidavit of Support : form I134 filled by a US Citizen ( USC ) or a Legal Permanent Resident ( LPR = GC holder )
_ Job offer in the US
_ Own funds ( bank accounts, assets....)

POE = Port of Entry : if you were doing CP and were successful, you will enter the US with a brown enveloppe that has to remain sealed ( don't open it, it's for immigration officers ). Usually, it's an airport. There, the process to get the plastic GC will be activated.
 
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After the "dictionnary", you need to tell me what is your status : do you alerady live in the US ? ( so could you choose betweeen CP and AOS ? )

You said you already sent the forms back to KCC, so you already said CP or AOS ( if choice possible ).

You are a DV07 winner. For this period, you cannot get a visa before Oct 1st 2006. And you couldn't get one after Sept 30th 07.
Now, let's talk about your case number.
For EU region, it's not bad. Your number would probably be current in May 2007.
If you chose CP, you would probably then get an interview in May.
If you chose AOS, you would have to make guesses, as you are allowed to send the paperwork to the Chicago lockbow approx 90days before your number goes current.

You can start collecting the requested documents ( birth, marriage and police certificates, High School diploma ...).
Depending on your country of origin, it may take some time for you to obtain police certificates. So you should get the info now.
 
Thanks for your answers.
I am sending my applications out tomorrow, the reason why I needed to know about the procedures is because I am not sure how to fill out questions no. 10 and 11 on the DS 230 Part I.
I am living outside the US and like have everything done from here (Germany) so that my work does not get disrupted until I get my Green Card.
Thanks,
AJS
 
Ok, so you have no choice. CP is your only option.

Can you refresh my mind and tell me what are questions 10 and 11 so that I can help ?
 
10.Permanent address in the United States where you intend to live, if
known (street address including zip code). Include the name of a
person who currently lives there.


11. Address in the United States where you want your Permanent
Resident Card (Green Card) mailed, if different from address in
item #10 (include the name of a person who currently lives there).

When exactly do I get my green card? When I am in the US, or while I am still in my country?

Can they mail the green card overseas?
Thanks,
AJS
 
No, you won't get your GC overseas.
In fact, you won't get it until you go to the US.

If you are granted an interview ( number goes current ), and are successful, you will get a "stamp" in your passport.
It is an immigrant visa ( IV ) which is valid for 6months : from the date you get the stamp, you have 6months to travel to the US to activate it, and then get the real GC.
After a succesful CP interview, you'll be given an enveloppe. It has to remain sealed ! This enveloppe is for the immigration officers when you arrive to the US. It's called POE = Port of Entry.
It contains paperwork which will be sent to a processing center.
You will be told that your GC can arrive in as little as 2weeks up to 10months.
In my case, my husband and I received a couple of Welcome Letters , and received the GCs after 4weeks.

You have to go to the US within 6m of approval to get the real GC.

For questions 10 and 11: do you have any friends or family in the US ?
 
Thanks, that was really helpful. So once I send out the forms (DS-230 and DSP-122), I just wait for an interview. So it does not really matter how soon I send these forms as long as I send them before October, since I have to wait until my number becomes current, right?
Will I have to fill out more forms after I send these two forms in?
Thanks,
AJS
 
It's better if you send the forms early ( like before August ) so that the people at KCC have plenty of time to process tehm.
You can contact KCC by phone or email to make sure your forms were received and are being processed.
And, yes, then you wait for your number to becomes current.

Unless you realize you made a mistake, or you change your situation ( like getting married) you won't need to fill out other forms.

But you can start to gather the documents. For some countries, police certificates take a long time.
For France, I just ordered them online and got them in the mail at my US address after 1week.
 
Thanks Catseyes, when do I do the medical exam?
Another question, once I have the green card do I need Visas for other countries I visit? Do Visa requirements apply to the status of residency or citizenship?
Thanks again,
AJS
 
I am not sure I understand your question correctly.
The GC is a visa for the US. So you won't need a visa anymore to visit the US.

As you are from Western Europe, there are some other advantages that were also true even without a GC : to visit the US or Canada ( or in ransit via those countries ), you do not need a visa ( <90days ) = VWP : Visa Waiver Program ).

However, if you wanted to visit China, you would still need to apply for a visa.

In the 2nd package ( once your number appears current in the bulletin, you can call KCC to know your interview date, you will receive another enveloppe ), you will find a list of doctors affiliated with the US embassy.
You will have to make an appointment approx 10days before your interview, so that there is time for the results to come back ( HIV, Xrays...).
But you can already check if you are up to date for vaccines ( see the uscis website for the recommendations ).
 
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Catseyes said:
If you chose AOS, you would have to make guesses, as you are allowed to send the paperwork to the Chicago lockbow approx 90days before your number goes current.
Click to expand...
Catseyes, this is the 1st time I am reading about 90-day period. I thought you can apply for AOS when your number becomes current. 90 days before you can only guess about it, you would know for sure 60 days before your number becomes current. Am I wrong?
 
In fact, that's not really a rule. The INS had made a memo for DV 99.

http://www.visalaw.com/99aug/39aug99.html

The memo makes clear that winners of the DV-99 lottery may submit petitions up to three months prior to the month in which the visa number is current in rank
Click to expand...

I totally agree that's you have to be medium to know for sure ! As you said, you know in advance because of the advance notification in the visa bulletin, but to know 90days in advance, you have to guess.
To me, that's one of the reasons that some people get denied AOS : they applied too early ( wrong guess ...), they get denied, and have to reapply => they have lost some precious time.
I've seen this happen in other forums.
 
Catseyes said:
In fact, that's not really a rule. The INS had made a memo for DV 99.

http://www.visalaw.com/99aug/39aug99.html



I totally agree that's you have to be medium to know for sure ! As you said, you know in advance because of the advance notification in the visa bulletin, but to know 90days in advance, you have to guess.
To me, that's one of the reasons that some people get denied AOS : they applied too early ( wrong guess ...), they get denied, and have to reapply => they have lost some precious time.
I've seen this happen in other forums.
Click to expand...
Here is one example of denial: http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=212811&highlight=rejected.
So, I guess, it would be safer to wait until your number is current.
Thanks.
 
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