Where can I find a Visa Bulletin archive with numbers? (instead of just 'CURRENT')

[billystevenson 0]

Hi all,

I went to the official Visa Bulletin Archive, but there are no numbers given for the Diversity Visa for before October 2012: it just says 'CURRENT.' Does anyone know of an online archive where I can access these numbers?

Thanks!

Billy

[hikergirl 277]

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_1770.html

Is this what you are looking for?

[billystevenson 0]

Hi hikergirl,

Thanks for responding.

I've checked that site, but it doesn't give any case number cutoffs from September 2012 back: instead, the record boxes all just say 'CURRENT'.

Basically, my situation is that I'm wondering when, on average, my case number has been processed over the last ten years. In the most recent batch, it was processed in June, meaning the interview appointment was sent out in May/late April. But I'm wondering what the more general trend has been.

Thanks!

Billy

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

You're going to need to go back and check each month's archived bulletin for as long as you want history...

[billystevenson 0]

The problem is, that once the bulletins are archived beyond the last DV year, they remove all information about cutoff numbers and replace it with 'CURRENT'...

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

There's no shortcut, you need to go back to each month's individual bulletin and get the numbers...

[billystevenson 0]

Check out this archived bulletin, from August 2012.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5749.html

If you go to section B, on the Diversity Immigrant Category, you'll see that, in the table displaying continents, all the numbers have been removed and replaced with the word 'CURRENT.' So you can't recover when any specific number was reached in 2012, just the total number of Visas given for that year. That's the problem.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Check out this archived bulletin, from August 2012.

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5749.html

If you go to section B, on the Diversity Immigrant Category, you'll see that, in the table displaying continents, all the numbers have been removed and replaced with the word 'CURRENT.' So you can't recover when any specific number was reached in 2012, just the total number of Visas given for that year. That's the problem.

Um, that's because all the numbers were current in August

If you go back to say the March 2012 bulletin http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5664.html you can see the numbers for March and April.

[billystevenson 0]

Right, sorry...so when it moves from a number to 'Current' does that mean that ALL visa numbers are then being processed? For example, my Visa number is in the 1200s. If May 2014's Visa cutoff is 1100, and then June's is simply 'Current', does that mean mine will be processed in June?

Edited May 10, 2013 by billystevenson

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Right, sorry...so when it moves from a number to 'Current' does that mean that ALL visa numbers are then being processed? For example, my Visa number is in the 1200s. If May 2014's Visa cutoff is 1100, and then June's is simply 'Current', does that mean mine will be processed in June?

Yes, when it goes to current then all numbers are eligible for interview. I've seen conflicting information as to whether it still goes in numerical order (eg if higher numbers will still get interviews later than earlier ones) or if it's just a case of if your papers have been processed by KCC they slot you an interview, irrespective of the order of remaining numbers.

[billystevenson 0]

Right...I'm wondering now whether I really have a chance at this DV. My case number is in the 1250s. Since the inception of the DV, in 1994, there have only been two years in which fewer than 1250 visas were offered to Oceania residents: 2003 (1200 offered) and 2002 (1223 offered). In the last ten years, these have been the months at which my case number has become available. However, for the most part, these months haven't specified a cut-off number that is above my case number, but just moved to 'CURRENT'.

2012: June

2011: June

2010: July

2009: July

2008: May

2007: July

2006: September

2005: August

2004: August

2003: August

I'm wondering what my chances really are now, if I'm not necessarily going to get a month based on my case number, but just part of the general 'CURRENT' category. It feels a bit like taking the lottery all over again. What do you think of my chances? Sorry to keep asking questions - you've been really helpful!

Edited May 10, 2013 by billystevenson

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Right...I'm wondering now whether I really have a chance at this DV. My case number is in the 1250s. Since the inception of the DV, in 1994, there have only been two years in which fewer than 1250 visas were offered to Oceania residents: 2003 (1200 offered) and 2002 (1223 offered). In the last ten years, these have been the months at which my case number has become available. However, for the most part, these months haven't specified a cut-off number that is above my case number, but just moved to 'CURRENT'.

2012: June

2011: June

2010: July

2009: July

2008: May

2007: July

2006: September

2005: August

2004: August

2003: August

I'm wondering what my chances really are now, if I'm not necessarily going to get a month based on my case number, but just part of the general 'CURRENT' category. It feels a bit like taking the lottery all over again. What do you think of my chances? Sorry to keep asking questions - you've been really helpful!

Relax . Just make sure your forms are at KCC at a reasonable time before say June (it may take them a month or two to process) so that everything is ready before you get current. It's a long time since anyone seems to have reported not being able to get a visa interview (outside of those stuck in AP who may be delayed beyond cutoff to get their visa, but coming from Australia AP shouldn't be an issue for you).

[billystevenson 0]

Hey - thanks for the response. I must admit I kind of slumped today, assuming it was unlikely I'd get it. But it's good to hear that there haven't been any reports of people in Oceania not being granted interviews. I assumed it was more likely than not to not be granted an interview. In fact, I was assuming that, if it goes to 'CURRENT' without my number having been reached, then it'll effectively be a whole second lottery to determine if I'm one of the 'CURRENT' selectees chosen for an interview. But it seems you're saying that's unlikely? Also, what is AP?

Edited May 11, 2013 by billystevenson

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

My impression is that when it goes to current it basically means they have enough slots for everyone who is left. Remember a lot of people don't follow up by sending forms in and a number get disqualified along the way.

AP is administrative processing. It can be something simple (eg you are missing a document at interview and go into AP while they wait for it) but mostly it applies to people from a number of mainly North African and middle eastern countries where they do more extensive background checks on them, and these can sometimes take months.

Edited May 11, 2013 by SusieQQQ

[littlej 23]

Hey - thanks for the response. I must admit I kind of slumped today, assuming it was unlikely I'd get it. But it's good to hear that there haven't been any reports of people in Oceania not being granted interviews. I assumed it was more likely than not to not be granted an interview. In fact, I was assuming that, if it goes to 'CURRENT' without my number having been reached, then it'll effectively be a whole second lottery to determine if I'm one of the 'CURRENT' selectees chosen for an interview. But it seems you're saying that's unlikely? Also, what is AP?

Hi Billy

I have been wondering the same thing. My number is in the 1500's and i just can't figure out what my chances of getting an interview are. I'm also in the process of filing K1 paperwork and am wondering which will be the better process to take