Diversity Visas: Visa numbers.

[billystevenson 0]

Hi all,

I have one more question about the Diversity Visa. Do you calculate your chances based on your country or region? I am an Australian, meaning my region is Oceania. My number is in the low 1000s (from memory it is somewhere around 1200). Last year, 1035 Visas were issued from Australia. However, around 2000 Visas were issued from Oceania. I was wondering how to interpret this.

Thanks!

Billy

[billystevenson 0]

Hi all,

I can actually refine the question now.

My number is 1257.

According to Visa Bulletin, 1115 visas will be made available to Oceania residents in May and 1275 in June.

I'm not sure what this means: I'm above the cutoff in May, and just below the cutoff in June.

Can anyone explain what this means?

Thanks!

Billy

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Most DV visas are given out in regional batches. A couple of countries have their own limits ( Nigeria for instance is capped at 5000 ) Each month a regional number is posted and if your number is below that then it is your turn to be processed. If you don't make it by Sept then you will not be processed. In the case of the number you provided you should be in work during June as you are below the June number.

[billystevenson 0]

Hi NigeriaorBust,

Thanks - so the fact that I'm below the June number means I'll be processed in June? Does that mean that, if I'm called into the Consulate for an interview, I'm likely to be notified in October, rather than September? Also, do you know if it's likely that the allocation for June will change between now and then, or is it fixed once it's announced on the Visa Bulletin?

Thanks

Billy

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Billy, are you DV2014 - which I assume? The numbers in the visa bulletin at the moment are for the DV2013 applicants, so they will start again at 00001 in October for the DV2014 applicants. If (a big if) the numbers are similar to this year then you can expect an interview around mid-year next year. (The numbers in the visa bulletin are the numbers up to which one can have an interview in the specified month. ) (I may have misunderstood your question, so apologies if I am telling you stuff you know already)

[billystevenson 0]

Hi SusieQQQ,

I applied for the DV in November 2013, and I've just been notified, in May 2014. I think that makes me DV-2014.

My understanding was that DV-2014 selectees could be called up for an interview any time from September 2013 onwards?

Thanks!

Billy

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

When you are called for interview depends on your number. You'll start watching the visa bulletin like a hawk from September, when they will print the October numbers. For DV, in each month they give the next month's numbers, and the expected numbers for the month after that. You'll get an email telling you to go back to your entrant status check page (so DO NOT lose the confirmation number you got originally when you entered) notifying you of your interview date - times seem to vary but I got mine 6-7 weeks before the interview date. In the meanwhile, send your forms to KCC and start compiling all the docs you need, except for medicals and police clearances as these have expiry dates - usually you apply for these when you have received your interview letter. If the numbers switch to "current", then anyone can be called for interview.

[billystevenson 0]

Hi SusieQQQ,

Thanks - you've been incredibly helpful.

So it is possible that I could be called for an interview as early as September? Or, at the least, I should start checking from September? Speaking of checking, how is that done? My understanding was that I would only know if I had an interview if I received a notification in the mail.

Thanks

Billy

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Hi SusieQQQ,

Thanks - you've been incredibly helpful.

So it is possible that I could be called for an interview as early as September? Or, at the least, I should start checking from September? Speaking of checking, how is that done? My understanding was that I would only know if I had an interview if I received a notification in the mail.

Thanks

Billy

It used to be done by mail but it's now put up on the esc website as I mentioned earlier, and you'll get an email directing you to check the page for an update. And check the visa bulletin http://travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html which comes out anywhere between the 7th and 15th of each month for the following month. You can also get past bulletins if you want to get obsessive and set up spreadsheets to see what past years typically looked like My experience was that my email alerting me to the interview letter update arrived a few days after the visa bulletin that had my number as current was published.

[billystevenson 0]

Hi SusieQQQ,

So, I've done a quick tally of the the Visa bulletin allocations for Oceania over the last year (everything before September 2012 simply says CURRENT: not sure how I get those figures).

So here's the result:

Date

Visa Bulletin: Oceania Numbers

June 2013

1275

May 2013

1115

April 2013

1000

March 2013

850

February 2013

725

January 2013

600

December 2012

500

November 2012

400

October 2012

250

September 2012

CURRENT

My Visa number is 1257. So, assuming that the numbers were identical next year, that would mean that I would get my interview in June, and be notified in May, or perhaps late April? I know that they're unlikely to remain the same, but I'm trying to figure out how the system works. For example, is there any chance the interview could be earlier if people didn't take up lower Visa numbers? Or does my number mean that I am guaranteed not to be interviewed before the date allocated on the Visa bulletin?

Thanks!

Billy

[DC85 113]

I will try to explain it to you.

from my understanding you have been selected for the DV2014

DV2014 means : Diversity Visa for the Fiscal year 2014 [ Starting from October 1st 2013 to September 30th 2014 midnight [[ no visa will be issued after that date]]

Now to explain about your case, starting from September this year they will start processing the DV2014, lets assume the DV2014 will follow the same pattern as Dv2013,

in September last year they announced that for OC the cut-off number is 250 which means all the people whose cases bellow the cutoff were notified for an interview. and each month you will see the number goes up, which means more cases become current

Edited May 11, 2013 by myafi1985

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Ok lets make this simple if each area got 100 visas a year In Oct the call in the first 2000 winner. Of that number they find half of them can't qualify or don't want to come. The next month the add 500 from each region to fill in the adandoned slots and to add to the original pool again half od these don't make it so the following months they let another 1000 in , Eventually you with get to 10000 from your area or you run out of time as you try in the last month to fill the remaining slots. Some areas will fill their alloted slots before year end and others will still be eliminating non qualified people up to the last day

[billystevenson 0]

OK, thanks, I think I understand it now.

One more question: when the allocation changes from a number to 'CURRENT' does that mean that they will go through all remaining case numbers in order until the visas are all finished? Or is it done randomly at that point, i.e. do case numbers cease to matter?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It usually implies that all remaining numbers may proceed. They will stop when the limit is reached. So you could have an interview , go into AP and never get a visa because other cases are quicker.

[billystevenson 0]

Right, so once it switches to 'CURRENT', your case number isn't really relevant?