Immigrant Visa

Hello Everybody,
First I would like to thank everybody for all valuable information you have always shared and it helped me a lot. And here follows my story:

My situation: I have been with my husband in US for almost 3 years. First we were on F students visas then we changed it to J visas. Unfortunately by changing it to J visa we got 2Y rule but me as J2 dependent could legally work. My husband is studying to get a PhD degree and I work. I won DV2005 at second trial. My number was 2005EU16260 and got current in February. Because we had to waive 2Y rule first we send back our documents to KCC rather late - end of October 2004. Although my number got current in February we got our interview date for June 23 (yesterday;-)) We scheduled our medicals for June 20 and got our results the same day. We chose Poznan to do the medicals because everything is done in the same building and a doctor – Teresa Gertig is a very nice person.

Our interview was scheduled at 8 a.m. however we were at the embassy around 7 a.m. There were many other immigrant visa applicants, around 40 people. After checking our appointment letters they let us in and a waiting begun. First we were asked to the lady who checks and takes all documents. She checked all documents and was really amazed that we had everything and much more, she didn’t even take all documents for financial support. We had bank statements, job statements and just in case: affidavid of support.

Then we waited around 1 hour to get to cash register to pay all fees : 2x 755$. After we paid we waited around 1.5 h to talk to the consul. After we came to the window we started speaking right away in English and she was really pleased. Almost none of the applicants could speak English, consul was really happy that she could talk to us in English. First she asked where we live in US. Because it is Florida we started chatting about weather etc. Then she asked what we do over there, what kind of job I have and what is my husband studying. Because we have masters degrees in Biomedical Engineering and my husband is studying Nanotechnology right now she was not sure if this profession would require additional background checks on us. (Maybe she though that we know how make biological weapons, which we really don’t.) At that point I got a little bit nervous because I really didn’t want to get stuck with background check. Luckily, she checked somewhere that we are not threat to the United States and said that additional background check is not required. Then she took our fingerprints, we swore that everything we said is truth and she told us our visas would be ready after 3 p.m. the same day. And that’s the whole story. Whole interview took no more than 10 minutes. Most of the time we were waiting and we spent at the embassy around 4 hours. Everything went without any problems and the consul was very nice person. We dressed rather nice but not business-like. Many people were in t-shirts and jeans. Some people were grilled and there were couples who were interviewed separately, however I don’t know if they were DV applicants. While I was waiting one women with a daughter (around 14 years old) was denied visa because of public charge reason, but I really don’t know details. Another person forgot to take medicals and had to bring them back another day.

If you are prepared well and have all documents there is no way not to be successful at the interview. It really is a very simple process. Just have all documents. Basically interview is a documents check. Don’t be nervous and speak English (if not from English-speaking country).

Good luck everybody, hope this story will help in your case. Greetings;-)))

DEAR ALL DV WINNERS,

I had an interview yesterday 8/12/2005 in Hong Kong US consulate. I was very nervous at the beginning but everything went so smoothly then I expected. The whole processing time took about 1 hrs; I was asked some simple questions like where I studied, family members and bank statement.


ALL DV WINNERS YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET NERVOUS!!!

I paid US$ 755 for the visa and HK$ 25 for the mail. I WAS TOLD THAT I WILL RECEIVE MY PASSPORT AND VISA WITHIN 3 DAYS (but told me not open a brown envelop, anyone know what is it?)

HOPE THIS CAN HELP DV WINNER WHO ARE WAITING FOR INTERVIEW I found here everyone very helpful ..

Thank you

SCAM company. Horrible "lawyers" and customer service. It was not made known that they were in Canada in the first place until we dealt with the "lawyer" after they bungled up simple forms.
UPDATE: Green Card process back to Square ONE because they neglected to file appropriate change of address forms for me.
Company refusing to provide refund and now we are taking legal action as well as Royal Mounted Police to assist.

Please seek another Immigration Service, this experience has been excrutiating and bad for our health and mental state.

This site really helped me in collecting information regarding CP. My CP was successful. I would like to add few lines on Canadian police certificate. You dont have to go to RCMP office for a name check or to do a finger print check. Just send an email to the local police station and ask for a clearence letter. They will send you the forms and you have to fill it and enclose 2 pieces of ID. They will give the certificate the same day they receive your application. They wont mail it to ouside Canada. If you can give any Canadian address they will courier it and you will get the certificate within 24 hrs. In the certificate they will mention that they had checked through CPIC(Owned by RCMP). This letter is enough, it worked for me. Dont waste time to take finger print check or even RCMP name check. The cost is only C$28.75
Regards
Tom

Hi All,


Just want to share my experience. I am a DV2005 winner, and have been visiting this web ever since I got my 1st NL (May 2004).

I am really blessed with this website, although I seldom post question (only 2 times as I recall), however I am getting so many informations already from the message being post here (tips for new comers: Do a search on the archive file, you will be suprised how much info you can gather), especially, reading the OCers team, and Steven off course.

Thanks guys, although I am from one of the ASEAN Countries, all your postings really help me a lot to get my GC.

The only way I can extend my gratitude is to post my experience.

I joined this GC lotere thru an agency in May 2003 (paid 23 USD),at that time I have no idea about Agency scams,or even the official website to apply online (until I found this website).

Luckily the agency I choose was not a scam one, and truly enter my application and I got selected. I received the pacage from KCC send directly to my home (I read somewhere that some agency hold the NLs).

My case Number was AS20059xxx. Actually, my number was already current in October 2004, but I guess I didn't get an interview due to the lateness of sending the documents to KCC. And As we all experienced after October the numbers went down for ASIA..

Although for many people this was a worst thing, but for me the slowing down of the current numbers was truly a blessing in disguised.

As I would not have time to save some money (for medical exams,paid the interview fee 755 USD (x 3 person; wife+daughter), and do complete all the necessary documents, if my interview was on Nov 2004.

My number finally came current on August 2005, received the 2nd NL 4 weeks before the interview date.

Prepare all the documents required,medical exams, for the "public charge" clausul I only provide: Money in the Bank (less than 10,000 USD), a simple letter from my sister in-law (H1B holder), stating that she will provide accomocation during our initial days.

Btw, I currently work in a wellknown USA firm here in one of the ASEAN Counries, and my wife hold a master from USA uni..

Went to the Consular for the interview (we took off around 5 am from our home to the consular..) and the interview went very well, the interviewer was very nice, he only asked me 3 question: Where do we meet (me and my wife)? Where to go in USA ? Have we been to that place in USA?
And that is it..

We were informed that we can get the visa 3 days later..and now We already got the Visa with 3 big Orange Envelope to be submitted at the POE..

So, all in all, this whole process of waiting for (almost a year) eventually paid off. We are now getting ready to migrate to US..

Again, thank you all for your wonderful postings
and good luck for the DV2006...

Hello,

I would like to know abt anyone's experience with WWICS bangalore abt immigrating to canada and their post-landing services. Plz reply imm

regds,
grushma

You will be treated like royalty until you pay them. After that they treat you like sh##! With the recent change by the consulate in the points criteria, they said they were going to have to "re-evaluate" and "re-calculate" (whatever the hell that means) my points and file my application again and wanted $900 for it! I didn't pay that amount but negotiated down to $300. I had to pay because I was stuck since I had already invested in their stinking services.

I'm pleased to announce that our DV2005 process was a success. My husband and I received out immigrant visa stamps in our passports on Tuesday.


The hardest part of the experience was waiting in a room full of people to be called to the window. (It seems the embassy only issues 8 a.m. appointments so all immigrant and non-imigrant visa applicants were herded into a room at the same time.) We saw a lot of other people's heartbreak before it was our turn and that made us very nervous.

When we were finally called to the window, a very helpful agent went through our paper work, made adjustments to our forms to reflect my marriage and change of address... She was only interested in my paper work.. Hubby did not need education certificate or financial support documents. In fact, the only financial papers she took from me was my job letter. The only wanted my hubby's application form, his birth certificate, police record and a copy of our marriage certificate which I'd already provided. WE handed the few documents and she asked us to sit.

We lugged our bag full of documents back to our seats and waited for the next call... a few minutes later we were called by the consular agent, the same man who had rejected so many before... He took one look at my diploma, which read "bachelor of science in journalism" and proceeded to make funny comments about me becoming the next Woodward or Bernstein.

He took our fingerprints and said "congratulations, your visas are approved Return at 3 to pick up your passports." That was it. Not one question... we were so over prepared. The meticulously labled folders in our bag went unopened. We were too happy to care. It was a breeze. And I can't stop looking at the stamp in my passport..
After 5 years and several delays with an employment-based greencard process, it was ironic that this one came so easy. But we're happy and thankful. Very happy indeed. On Saturday we'll end our delayed honeymoon in Barbados and enter the US as permanent residents for the first time.

We can't wait. Thanks to the board we had our papers in order.

Thanks for all the support.
Tash

I got up really early and went to the Embassy at 6:45 am (yes, it was TOO early). I was the first in line and even the security people (Tokyo Police officers) made some comments like "Aren't you little early for this?"

I waited till 7:45 or so with 15 more people in the line outside the emabassy. I went inside the property but we were asked to wait outside again till the security is ready to put us in the building.

Waited for another 20 min or so and they let us in. By now, we have about 25 people waiting in line. I went through the security and 2 nice employees gave each of us a paper to fill in (to write down: Name, Address in Japan, Address in US, Phone numbers).

One of the 2 employees gave me a clear folder with a small paper with the list of documents that we were supposed to bring. He asked me to put them in the order that this small paper listed.

They never asked for the appointment letter because they had a list of people on a printout that they are comparing with the interviewee that came through the security. (But that doesn't mean you don't need the appointment letter.

You should bring it just in case the list doesn't have your name for a mistake or something.)
I was asked to sit in the waiting area. My number was called to the window. I submitted all the papers. The officer gave me back the X-Ray photo but took the rest. She asked me to sit down again.

Then I was called to another window for finger printing. After that, I was asked to pay at the window $755. I paid with my credit card.
I waited again, and I was called for an interview.

She took the receipt for the visa fees. She asked me to swear that all documents are true. I said "Yes" with my right hand in the air. She asked me if I had a job lined up already and I told her that I am already working in the US. And the employment letter is included in the pile of documents.

She saw it asked what exactly I did. I explained.

She said, "I have authorized to issue your immigrant visa. Come back at 4 PM to pick up the passport with the visa." I was so happy and relieved...
It was in a way so simple but the time tested my patience and sanity. (I got the 1st NL in early June last year and got my 2nd package in early August, now the interview is done in September... Gosh, what a long journey.)

Little bit about me: - H1B holder - Has been working in US for 7 years - Employment based green card application has been under process for over 2 years. NOTHING had happened for that duration. (Now I will stop that.) - AS109XX was my case number (how close it was to be truly "cut off" from the DV2005!) - No saving... so I didn't bring my bank stament - I brought I-134 from a US friend

Good luck to you all!! K

Yes I agree with Eran that WWICS is a rip off. I paid them upfront and the staff there does not even know what they are talking about. My lawyer over there knows nothing and does not advise me on anything. Every now and then, I call my lawyer and suggest him if I should do this paper work right now so that I don't waste time later on and he agrees with me. The problem is I have to ask him everything which I know through friends or on line resources but he does not suggest anything. They are all like that.
Thanks