My DV visa experience and what I learned from it

[maore 0]

Here 's a bit of background .

I am franco-british born in the Island of Mayotte , I hold three passports (2 british for professional reasons) and 1 french + 1 french ID card - I.T consultant working through my own company(generating + 60 k /year in revenue) specialised in the data storage/backup ,I worked for the HM Inland Revenue (gone through security clearance like a breeze) and supported US customers (US army/university/companies) in the use of a backup software.

My wife is a chinese citizen born in Dandong with leave to remain in the UK. Well what I can I say about her : strong character and will not stand for any wrong.

Nov 2005 I applied for DV lottery I found it fun to participate to something free and you could actually win big. Oh boy ! how much I was wrong :zzz:

March 2006 I married my wife :thumbsup:

July 2006 I have been informed by KCC I can apply for DV visa

* It took me one month to get the form correctly filled out :

- Do not leave any blank instead write " not applicable "

- The forms can be emailed back or sent via fax to speed up the processing

Dec 2006 visa number became current

10/01/2007 interview at the US embassy .

Interrogate my wife for 45 minutes and myself for 10 minutes and bang 221g requiring more evidence of relationship with questions close to being classified as racist such as " why you married a chinese ?" I would expect this kind of question from Nazi germany not from an employee of the US government

* Be prepared for the interview ,bring updated pictures/phone bills/email exchanges and proof you actually leave together - if you are a contractor working aborad you are in for a tough luck

* under no circumstances ask for your passport back (it will further delay the application

* for those who follow up the time line our relationship needed to be demonstrated despite being married well before being informed about the DV win - where the logic ? Only those clever guy at DOS would be able to answer ? Basically you are guilty until proven innocent such an un american concept well we are just bloody foreigners so we do not count for much

10/08/07 after chasing them for 7 months for an update they finally decided to " invite " me for a follow up interview ( we previously discussed with my wife I will go alone in the US while she takes care of our business - property management ) so the application will be for a single person without follow up or derivatives . Interview went well - the CO could not find any reasons to deny me the visa , told me to pay my delivery fee and wait for the visa

15/09 started filing mandamus action (kind of late ) but filing for the principle , it costs me 350 $ but the DOS will share the cost and maybe maybe it will realise there is room for improvement on the way visa are processed. Security is a legitimate concern but why the security checks was not done since January 2007 (for those who still following up the story)

25/9 application still under additional administrative processing or the other euphemism used " clearance required from the department of state "

My advise to all visa applicants , if you know you do not have anything to hide under your bed go for it and fight for your rights (thanks fatbrit I understood a bit late) and be proactive :

* sue under mandamus action after one month if the embassy has received all the requested information (221 g) - email me and I will provide details/assistance on how to file a civil action against the dos (court DC columbia + defendants + 350 $ + complaint + cover sheet + summons (5) )

* request from DOS information held about you under the freedom of information act

* request from the FBI information held about you under the feedom of information act ( a full set of finger prints will be required )

Notes : You do not need an attorney to file a civil action and most attorney will charge you for just having a chat (fact finding) but it is advisable to hire one to actually get the job done right straight away (filing pretty gruesome process)

In conclusion based on my experience the main mistake I did was to trust the Embassy will be dealing with my application in a timely manner , I should have sue a lot earlier.

On the bright side I just realised I have sufficient point to get a working visa to Australia.:cool:

[AustinnPawerss 0]

Here 's a bit of background .

I am franco-british born in the Island of Mayotte , I hold three passports (2 british for professional reasons) and 1 french + 1 french ID card - I.T consultant working through my own company(generating + 60 k /year in revenue) specialised in the data storage/backup ,I worked for the HM Inland Revenue (gone through security clearance like a breeze) and supported US customers (US army/university/companies) in the use of a backup software.

My wife is a chinese citizen born in Dandong with leave to remain in the UK. Well what I can I say about her : strong character and will not stand for any wrong.

Nov 2005 I applied for DV lottery I found it fun to participate to something free and you could actually win big. Oh boy ! how much I was wrong :zzz:

March 2006 I married my wife :thumbsup:

July 2006 I have been informed by KCC I can apply for DV visa

* It took me one month to get the form correctly filled out :

- Do not leave any blank instead write " not applicable "

- The forms can be emailed back or sent via fax to speed up the processing

Dec 2006 visa number became current

10/01/2007 interview at the US embassy .

Interrogate my wife for 45 minutes and myself for 10 minutes and bang 221g requiring more evidence of relationship with questions close to being classified as racist such as " why you married a chinese ?" I would expect this kind of question from Nazi germany not from an employee of the US government

* Be prepared for the interview ,bring updated pictures/phone bills/email exchanges and proof you actually leave together - if you are a contractor working aborad you are in for a tough luck

* under no circumstances ask for your passport back (it will further delay the application

* for those who follow up the time line our relationship needed to be demonstrated despite being married well before being informed about the DV win - where the logic ? Only those clever guy at DOS would be able to answer ? Basically you are guilty until proven innocent such an un american concept well we are just bloody foreigners so we do not count for much

10/08/07 after chasing them for 7 months for an update they finally decided to " invite " me for a follow up interview ( we previously discussed with my wife I will go alone in the US while she takes care of our business - property management ) so the application will be for a single person without follow up or derivatives . Interview went well - the CO could not find any reasons to deny me the visa , told me to pay my delivery fee and wait for the visa

15/09 started filing mandamus action (kind of late ) but filing for the principle , it costs me 350 $ but the DOS will share the cost and maybe maybe it will realise there is room for improvement on the way visa are processed. Security is a legitimate concern but why the security checks was not done since January 2007 (for those who still following up the story)

25/9 application still under additional administrative processing or the other euphemism used " clearance required from the department of state "

My advise to all visa applicants , if you know you do not have anything to hide under your bed go for it and fight for your rights (thanks fatbrit I understood a bit late) and be proactive :

* sue under mandamus action after one month if the embassy has received all the requested information (221 g) - email me and I will provide details/assistance on how to file a civil action against the dos (court DC columbia + defendants + 350 $ + complaint + cover sheet + summons (5) )

* request from DOS information held about you under the freedom of information act

* request from the FBI information held about you under the feedom of information act ( a full set of finger prints will be required )

Notes : You do not need an attorney to file a civil action and most attorney will charge you for just having a chat (fact finding) but it is advisable to hire one to actually get the job done right straight away (filing pretty gruesome process)

In conclusion based on my experience the main mistake I did was to trust the Embassy will be dealing with my application in a timely manner , I should have sue a lot earlier.

On the bright side I just realised I have sufficient point to get a working visa to Australia.:cool:

Thankx for sharing the info maore, well I appeared in my interview 2 weeks back and that day they gave me bit tough time in interogation and that day I couldt provide them proof of relationship, the CO gave me blue paper asking me to provide the proof of relationship, Liquid asset(coz my wife is not earning enough or find a co-sponsor) and orignal divorce decree, she told me to provide these documents i dont need to come in person to embassy, I can send all these documents along my passport by mail, but last week I went to the embassy and appeared in person(I went to embassy coz I dont want them think me as a LAY MAN) and submitted my all the requested documents along with my passport and they handed over me a serialized collect passport token they said that your case will be reviewed and we will inform you when to get your passport. The guy did not inform me about the status of my visa either it is approved or not ?

SO I am expecting a call within 1-10 days hopefully positive answer

once again dude, wish you good luck in your efforts....

Edited September 25, 2007 by AustinnPawerss

[Jasman0717 9]

I swear, I've seen this post before