After the interview

[sapc 0]

My husband and I have our interview in Stockholm next week and we are eager to know what happens next.

When do we know if we're approved or denied? How long does it take before we get our passports back?

Any experiences?

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

Usually, they tell you at the interview whether you are approved, and you get the passport with visa back within a couple of weeks.

Good luck!

[sapc 0]

Thank you! :-)

[mias 1]

Hi there, I had my interview for DV 1-551 almost 8 months ago, and haven't had any info. except a generic email stating that

my case was submitted on the day of my interview, all being in order from this end (Australia) and that admin. processing was

in progress....This email was in response to enquiry email that I sent to sydney US consulate...Also I have made phone calls to

USCIS but no luck with answers to the waiting time, or if I am refused, when do I find out. Good luck !

[sapc 0]

Hi there, I had my interview for DV 1-551 almost 8 months ago, and haven't had any info. except a generic email stating that

my case was submitted on the day of my interview, all being in order from this end (Australia) and that admin. processing was

in progress....This email was in response to enquiry email that I sent to sydney US consulate...Also I have made phone calls to

USCIS but no luck with answers to the waiting time, or if I am refused, when do I find out. Good luck !

Wow, thats a long wait... And do they still have your passport??

I am sorry, but I don't know what you mean by 1-551, can you explain? Is there more than one type of DV visas?

Edited May 28, 2013 by sapc

[mias 1]

Thanks for your reply. I believe that the green card is also 1-551 visa.

Yes my passport plus my 3 children's passports, are still with the processing.

My case number was low, under 50.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Thanks for your reply. I believe that the green card is also 1-551 visa.

Yes my passport plus my 3 children's passports, are still with the processing.

My case number was low, under 50.

This is very strange, as I understand they usually don't keep your passports unless they are planning to issue the visas, and do it soon. (I've heard that for example if people are waiting for docs they are told to take their passports and send them back with the docs when they get them.) Have you called the embassy? It sounds like you need to speak a real person. The embassy will have your file, not USCIS as far as I understand. Did they tell you you were under administrative processing?

[dihan.amshard 0]

Hello all,

Firstly this process is extremely lengthy.

It was a childhood dream to live & work in the US.

After the winning notification, I filled DS 230 1 & 2 and sent it to KCC for further processing.

I sent these documents on May 20th 2012.

No one called or confirmed that the documents were received, (Only DHL confirmed delivery)

On Dec 20th 2012 I was informed by email that my documents have arrived and I should prepare for the interview @ the US Embassy , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

After returning from Sri-Lanka after my wedding I added my wife onto the DV programme on January 29th 2013.

My interview date was February 19th 2013.

I went there extremely unprepared as I didn’t know what documents I should be taking.

I just had the notification letter and a copy of my passport.

They told me that I can’t be scheduled for an interview as many documents are missing, and they rescheduled my interview.

My wife joint me here in Riyadh and then we had our final interview on April 12th 2013.

There was a pre scanning of our documents & they asked us to be seated.

After documents were scanned, we were asked to pay SAR 2508 (USD 660) for the DV visa fee.

They interviewed us, and asked us questions about what we intend to do in the United States. Etc.

Interview lasted over 15 minutes.

I was just handed over 221 (G) with the documents that were missing.

From April to May, I collected police reports, from Malaysia, Sri-Lanka & Saudi. Sri-Lankan Clearance took me over 2 months. It was the most difficult documents to collect.

Now all documents lie with the US embassy & I have been asked to come to collect my passport in a weeks time with our DV VISA'S.

Im extremely grateful.

Now need to wait for the passports to book my flights & move there!

Dihan

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

I think the clear message from the above post for others is to follow instructions! The notification letter that you've won gives a link to the dvselectee site where they clearly state all the documents that are required, as well as including links to country specific information on how to get them. You don't want such needless delays, especially for those with higher numbers/interviews later in the fiscal year, where the delays could mean that you miss the September cut-off and lose out on your visa chances entirely.

And Dihan, could you kindly use a clearer font next time - that was quite hard to read!

[mias 1]

Thanks fellow journeymen,

yes I have spoken to real people on the phone at Sydney US consulate, who told me to send an email.

Have done this to which I received a generic email, stating "undergoing administrative processing".

I hope I don't miss out on visa allocation.

Also have my kids passports coming up to their expiry date in a few months, so I will need the present

passports that the US consulate are holding.

[sapc 0]

The interview was quick and easy and we were approved at the spot. Our passports with the visas came in the mail four days later! We're so happy :-)