After Winning
IF YOU ARE A WINNER................
Inside you will find a letter to congratulate you on being selected as a winner. Also included are the needed immigration visa application forms, OF230 part one & two, DSP112 and DSL1079(DV) that you need to complete as soon as possible and return them to the states. The last mentioned document will explain all you need to know to complete the visa application forms and also what you need to prepare for the day of your interview at your nearest US embassy/consulate. It includes police certificates, marriage and birth certificates, bank statements, a valid passport, photographs and so on.
After returning your completed visa application forms to the US State Department, you will again be waiting to receive a letter in the mail stating the date of your appointment at your nearest US embassy/consulate. You will also be required to go for an medical examination before the appointment to verify that you do not have certain illnesses e.g. AIDS or TB. The period you will have to wait will depend on when your application was drawn. The first interviews start in October of the year of selection thus the waiting period could be 2-6 months after receiving the winning letter or even longer.
You will be required to apply for all the mentioned certificates as describe in form DSL1079(DV)and mentioned above. While preparing the needed documentation and checking the mail everyday, you are constantly reminded of your new future in the United States. Although you are specifically warned not to dispose of your property or make final travel arrangements before you receive your visa, you will start planning and thinking of selling of your property, vehicles and your belongings and search for work on the internet and other sources.
The appointment day: At the appointment day all the documentation gathered will be presented to the counselor and you will be required to prove that you can survive in the US for 4-6 months or provide proof of work offers. You are not really interviewed - it's more checking that the information provided is complete and correct. If for some reason you couldn't provide all the documentation, you will be granted 30 days to do so. If you take more than 30 days, your visa number will be withdrawn and given to the next person in line.
Normally the interview is just a formality and you should receive your DV1 visa that same day. You will then have six months from the date the visa was issued, to travel to and enter the United States either permanently or just to complete the green card application process.
You can return within days after visiting the US and after you applied for a social security number. It is also strongly suggested that you go immediately for your drivers license. This is a very easy test and nothing compared to most other countries e.g. South Africa. This will allow you to receive better insurance rates and also help to start the hassle of building a credit record. Your drivers license is used for identification and is your most valuable possession after your Social Security number.
Because it is so difficult to build a credit record in the US, it is a great idea to get an American Express credit card in your current country of residence if possible. This way you will have a credit card when you enter the US and you can have it converted to a US American Express card. That about the only way you will receive a card within in the first year. Don't forget about this tip!
For possible work in the US visit www.headhunter.net or monster.com.