Which interview location should I chose?

[vcomp 0]

Yesterday I've checked the status of my DV application for 2017 and found out that I "have been randomly selected for further processing in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for the fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017)".

My case number is relatively close to 10.000.

Here's my dilemma. When trying to fill out the DS-260, I'm asked to chose a location for my interview. I'm currently living in Denmark, which means the standard location would be Stockholm in Sweden.

As I understand it, I need to get a medical examination from Denmark and my German official documents translated into English before I go there. Then they'll take my passport and send it back to me with the visa (hopefully).

Questions:

1. Would it be easier to go to the US embassy in Germany since I won't need translations?
2. What does "certified translation" mean? Can I translate it myself?

3. How do I fly back from Stockholm without my passport????

4. I'm soon going to be looking for jobs all over the place and I might get one in the UK. If I get a job in the UK before the interview, do I need to get my medical examination done in Scandinavia or is UK ok? Should I then change the interview location to London? How easy would that be?

Thanks in advance!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Despite what the form says, you don't actually get to choose where you have your interview. You will be allocated the closest consulate/embassy to where you list your "current address". I don't remember having to show my passport for internal EU travel, has that changed now? (After all you'd face the same issue of travelling back without a passport if you interviewed in Germany, right?)

The medical needs to be done in the same country/same panel doctor allocated to the embassy you will interview at.

If you try to chop and change your interview location you are almost certain to face a delay, especially at busy consulates like London where they don't always have interview slots easily available (after all DV visas have to slot into all the other visa interviews they do too). If by "soon" you mean the next month or so, maybe delay sending in your DS260 until you know. Or, you can always ask KCC to unlock your DS260 later to update current address, but if it's too soon before the interview they may not catch it in time and update the interview location accordingly - so better if you can submit originally with where you will most likely be.

You or anyone related to you cannot do the translation. Anyone else can as long as they can (and do) certify that they are competent to do the translation.

Edited May 7, 2016 by SusieQQQ

[vcomp 0]

Thanks so much. "Soon" in my case means within 6-9 months. I guess I should assume that I'm still here when I get the notification for the interview. Going to Stockholm from the UK shouldn't be too hard either and then probably better than delaying the process in London.

I'm not flying much within the EU, so I'm not sure how it works, but don't they confirm your identity to see if it matches your ticket?

What does the certification mean? Does it just mean a written statement that one is competent to translate?

[Buckyball 22]

In former DSP-122, was the following option "4. Name of United States Consular Office where you would like to Process your Application"

I wonder if this is gone in DS-260. However, I would chose to do the interview & medical in Frankfurt as you don't need to bother with any translations.

With regards to travel, don't you have a Personalausweis?

Edited May 9, 2016 by Buckyball

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My Perso is expired and I never bothered renewing it again since I'm not living in Germany. If the translation can be done by just anyone, I'd prefer Stockholm because they've got their panel physicians in Denmark too. It's easier to go there than to a doctor in Frankfurt. Then I'd probably have to go there twice, first for the medical and second for the interview.

[Buckyball 22]

I'm sure translations have do be done by a certified translator.

The won't let you board the aircraft without proper identification. And if you reside by that time in the UK, UK boarder control won't let you back into the country without a valid ID, no matter if you go to Sweden or Germany.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

In former DSP-122, was the following option "4. Name of United States Consular Office where you would like to Process your Application"

I wonder if this is gone in DS-260. However, I would chose to do the interview & medical in Frankfurt as you don't need to bother with any translations.

With regards to travel, don't you have a Personalausweis?

Whether or not the form gives you the impression you can choose, you don't. USCIS automatically assigns you to the closest consulate to the current address on the form. We've seen a number of people caught out by this in the past.

I'm sure translations have do be done by a certified translator.

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No, they don't. See halfway down this page for the USCIS requirements: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-and-fees/general-tips-assembling-applications-mailing As I said before, they accept self-certification.

[big_promise 2]

Whether or not the form gives you the impression you can choose, you don't. USCIS automatically assigns you to the closest consulate to the current address on the form. We've seen a number of people caught out by this in the past.

OK, so in your experience they just throw away your response to that item? Wonder why they even put it on the form then. (Not that all of the items on the DS-260 really make sense...) Embassy Ankara was indicated on our letter, but we would strongly prefer any of the other posts that specialize in handling Iranian applicants (particularly Yerevan), and thus got excited when we saw the drop down list of available posts. I would say that my treatment by Ankara as a USC petitioner, from extremely simple emails to the Diplomatic Security contractor at the door, ranged between patronizing and downright hostile - definitely want my family to avoid that place if at all possible!

[vcomp 0]

Thanks guys. The application is out. Any idea when I'll hear back from them?

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Thanks guys. The application is out. Any idea when I'll hear back from them?

You won't hear anything further until your interview notification, which will be about 6-8 weeks before your interview.

[vcomp 0]

Do I need to bring my child to the interview as well or is it enough for me to bring all the relevant documents? It would be much easier to travel to Sweden by myself.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Do I need to bring my child to the interview as well or is it enough for me to bring all the relevant documents? It would be much easier to travel to Sweden by myself.

Usually all applicants named on the letter and requiring visas need to go. London and more recently Sydney have exempted children under 14, but as far as I am aware no other embassies allow that. You will only know for certain when you get your interview letter, but you should probably expect that you will all have to go.