Hey, the Immigration Officer I talked also told me that I can apply for change of status only after October 1 07 and between September 30 2008. as the DV lottery is for 2008. He recommend me to send certified letter such that it will be confirmed that USCIS received my application. As for attorney, I talked with him he told me that it is number game so he couldnot tell me for sure if that will help. My understanding is our application will be processed based on case number if we were in Nepal. AS we are already here it does not matter and if we send the related document mentioned in the forms that should be good to receive the GC. So I am not planning to spend few hundred bucks on hiring a lawyer. if you get a lawyer and there are things we need to do and for which lawyer is essential, Let me know I will go and hire a lwayer too. Appreciate. Regards!