DV2013 and F-1 visa

[k0n57an71n 0]

Hello everyone,

I have finally got selected in DV. It is my 5th time applying. Now that I got it, I have couple questions.

About me:

I am a PhD student, I am holding F-1 visa. My visa expires in the end of July 2012. I can legally stay in the US until the end of 2015(I-20 form).

My case number is below 2013EU00005000.

I was wondering what are my next steps? Should I go with AOS, since my non-immigrant visa expires in July? Any suggestions?

Any help is appreciated, thank you

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You wait until your case number is current. If you are in the US at that time you apply for adjustment of status, If your case never becomes current , you were selected but they ran out of visas to give out before you got to the front of the line.

[anonee 8]

You wait until your case number is current. If you are in the US at that time you apply for adjustment of status, If your case never becomes current , you were selected but they ran out of visas to give out before you got to the front of the line.

How exactly does one find out whether one's case number is current or not?

Sorry if I am thread jacking here but I am in the same situation as OP: Have got selected from Africa and am currently on F1 visa (OPT ). I went through the http://www.dvselectee.state.gov link but the information there is bewildering to say the least. I do have an advanced degree (as does OP I assume what with him/her doing a PhD :-), however what happens after that? I see mention of a fee that needs to be paid and I also see conflicting information about whether I need to talk to my local USCIS office or whether I need to mail them $$$. Can some one clarify?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

They pick more than the number of winners needed because a lot of people won't qualify. They will start processing the lowest numbers from each region first, if they reach the cap , they stop, if they get to the following September without giving them all out they stop. Here is a sample from last Dec for the 2012 group

AFRICA 24,700 Except: Egypt 16,800

Ethiopia 16,800

Nigeria 14,500

ASIA 18,500

EUROPE 16,500

NORTH AMERICA (BAHAMAS) 6

OCEANIA 650

SOUTH AMERICA, and the CARIBBEAN 675

So if your number was below the number listed you could process that month. So if your number is very high then you may not come soon if at all.

[anonee 8]

Ah, okay. So do I have to keep checking the visa bulletin till the 2013 group becomes active? (I am currently at 7xxx number). When do I pay the fee to USCIS and what other things do I need to do?