Visitor Visa - B2

I entered the US in F-1 status to do my undergraduate work. I finished undergrad and started grad school in Computer Science.

I won the DV lottery 2006-2007 and was really confused about the whole process.
I tried reading online about it, but and immihelp.com was the best source.
The other sites were a bunch of frauds or just talked about adjustment of status by marriage and work.


Initially, I received the DS-230 Part I and Part II forms.
I filled them out, but I was not sure about where to send them.
I called the USCIS but they were mean as hell and the wait time was 1 hour every time (I called them three times).
I called for assistance the KCC but they were just flabbergasted that I was asking such question, but didn't know how to answer me.

Finally, I used INFOPASS to make an appointment with a KCC immigration officer in Louisville.
They told me that I needed to submit the DS-230 forms and payment $375, and gave me an I-485 form and other forms for employment authorization and travel permit.
This was the first time I felt someone understood what the heck was going on.


Then I submitted both DS-230 and payment, but I made a HUGE mistake.
I mailed them to the same address. There are two addresses to be mailed one is for the KCC (where the application goes) and the other for the Department of State (where the payment goes).

The casheer's check came back, and I thought it was a mistake. I called KCC but they said they didn't know anything about it.
I kept the money and thought that the payment didn't apply to me. I WAS WRONG!!!
This turned against me later on.

I was again unclear about how the process went and what I needed to file with the I-485 form.
I postponed this since school was my priority and I got scared that I would loose my F-1 status if I applied for adjustment of status.

It turns out as long as you keep to the guidelines of F-1 status, you are fine even if your AOS (Adjustment of Status) application (I-485) is not accepted. Hew !!! That was a relief.

Finally, in June 2006, after I was done with exams, I thought it was time I resumed the application procedures.
I started reading more carefully immihelp.com guides and samples and discussion forum.

It turns out I have had two TB skin tests but no proper official copy of the results. So, I had to get one at my school. That's 15 bucks for a mark on my arm.

I got the TB certificate, and made an appointment with a Designated Civil Surgeons, I used google to find the uscis.gov site where I could look them up.
Made an appointment, and went for the consultation. They slapped me with a $150 fee for basically looking at me and running a HIV test.
They sent me copies of the medical forms for me to keep and a sealed envelope with instructions to file with the I-485 form.

Finally, I made a list of things that I needed to provide. My thinking was how can I answer any questions they may have.
I collected my package the following way:

1. Birth Certificate and Translation (actually I did the translation, even though technically you need to ask someone who speaks your language to translate and sign it)
    I had this really old certificate of identitiy from 2000. I sent the original since I didn't care for it, and had my parents send me new ones in the mean time.
    Interestingly, I had a family composition certificate from 1998 and send that too.

   I laeled these FRONT and BACK appropriately.

2. Copy of Passport with the old non-emmigrant visa

3. Medical Examination (sealed evenlope. DON'T OPEN IT)

4. Form G-325A Biographic Information, which I was given with the I-485 form.

5. Evidence of Status and maintaining status
Copy of I-94 Card
Current I-20 form (this is for students)
Sponsor Information for I-20
My school's admission letter and funding information
Official Transript form current school
Copy of School Student Card (just in case) (when I write copy I mean photocopy)
Copy of Driver Licence
Copy of Social Security Card
Copy of Bachelor's Degree from previous school
Proof of scholarship from previous school
Copy Honor Society membership
Copy of Old/Expired Employment Authorization Card ( I had taken it for OPT - this is for students only)
Copies of all Old I-20's
Copies of Tax Returns AND W-2 forms for the all years


Basically, I was saying, this is all I have to prove that I am a good person. :D

I sent it all and then read immihelp.com that said that I was supposed to have the birth certificate translated an official translator or someone that is fluent in my language.
This was crappy because there are no translators for my langauge where I live, and my friends weren't in the US at the time.

Anyways, I received an appointment for fingerpriting. The people that fingerprinted me were REALLY NICE. I even filled an evaluation form where I praised them.
They stamped the form that I brought and I got on my way home.

A couple of weeks later after receiveing the first letter for fingerprinting I got my interview date and time.

On the day before the interview, I received a letter from the Department of State saying that I hadn't paid my fee but they had forwarded the application to USCIS any ways.
However, I had to pay the fee or my application was not going to be accepted.

Quickly that day, I went to the bank and got a casheer's check for $375 and brought it with me with my supporting documentation.

I kept record of all communication with USCIS and brought everything, in a VERY ORGANIZED FOLDER.

During the interview, I explained what had happened with the payment and that I had taken out a casheer's check and I was going to mail it immediately after the interview.

The officer was really nice and said that was good that I had done that and that he would proceed with the interview.

The interview was really simple, asking silly questions that were found in the G-325A.
I couldn't help laughing at some of the questions cause they were pretty inappropriate for me.

Anyways, the officer was nice, he gave me a letter saying that he would continue my application and will make a decision after the payment was received.

I got out of the room and straight to the post office and mailed the payment.

Two weeks later I got my green card, and submitted the AR-11 form since I changed my residence during that period.

I wanted to thank you all for the information you have placed on this site.

Roland