diversity visa (DV) program

Can I Update or Change my DV Lottery application if after submitting I realize I made a mistake? Can I edit my DV lottery application after submission?

Can I go ahead and do another DV lottery application, if I found out I’ve made a mistake, a technical error, misspelling of my name, or I did a mistake maybe on my date of birth, or I put a wrong passport photo, will I be able to go back and edit the application?

Can I go and do another application without having any repacaution or any punishment on that?

Those are much related, similar questions, which will be answer in this guide.

Can I edit my DV lottery application after submission?

The diversity visa lottery application is different from the visa form like the DS-260, which is the Department of State form number 260, the visa form (immigrant visa form).

Whether you are applying for student visa, DS-160, non-immigrant visa form, or the immigrant visa form (DS-260), when you are filling those type of visa form, after winning or you want to visit U.S, those types of form are the form you create account first before you start the application.

By creating account, you have a username, you have a login information. You can log in, do the application, sign out, come back later and continue the application. That can be done when filling a visa form, maybe after winning or you want to go as a student or you want to go as a tourist or you are married to American citizens and you have to go to America to join your family.

But if you are applying for the diversity visa, DV lottery, Green Card Lottery application, unfortunately, is not the form where you are going to create the account.

If you are filling the DV lottery form and you end up in the middle of the form application, that application is not registered. That is incomplete application, is not a full successful application.

There is no way you can fill DV lottery application form halfway, then go out, maybe to eat or do something else and then come back to continue. No, it doesn’t work that way. When you stop in the middle of the application, maybe you went out, if you come back, you will start a brand new application. There is no login or create account information.

A successful diversity visa application is the application which is done through the government-authorised official website, dvprogram.state.gov.

Once you finish applying, it will give the word of “success”. It will give you a last name, year of birth, and confirmation number. That is a successful complete application.

Let’s say after the successful completion of DV lottery application, you come back to realize that when you was writing your email, maybe you put an incorrect email address, if you do that type of mistake, there is no way you can be able to correct your application.

What if when you are filling the form, you put a wrong spelling in your names? or maybe you put wrong date of birth in dv lottery, maybe you start with the date, month, year (which is wrong), instead of month, day and year (which is correct). Are you going to change that? No, you can’t change that.

You can correct those information after winning, when filling DS-260 form. But once the DV lottery submission is complete, is a successful application, there is no way you can correct, or can edit anything.

You can make a mistake of the spelling, you can make the mistake of date of birth, but if you put the incorrect passport photo, even if you win the diversity visa lottery, you’ll be denied.

Don’t rush to do the application, make out time and fill the form properly without distraction. Just make sure that you put the correct passport photo, make sure you have the correct date of birth, make sure you have correct name spelling, make sure you fill the correct number of children you have and you put their names, the correct names, date of birth, place of birth, and their photos. Put the correct information about your spouse.

Once you click the button Submit and it say Success, you cannot do anything.

Some people, when they encounter error while filling the form, they do another application thinking that if they do another application, they will be able to correct that information. That’s wrong.

The computer, the Department of State has no way to determine that when you put your correct or wrong email address, wrong or correct date of birth, they are not going to match with that. Let say you were born April 1, 1998, and you filled February 2, 1998, they are not going to know that you’re supposed to fill April 1, 1998. They are not going to know that it was supposed to be the correct information.

Once you put that information for them, that is the correct information. Don’t try to do another application because when do another application, it will be a duplicate application.

Even if the date of birth might be different, they are going to track you with your passport photo. They will be able to match you with your name. There is a software using all the old information like face cognition. The photo you put in, they will match it as been registered into the system.

Nowadays, they may tell you that your information has been stored into the system. If you go ahead to apply, it is at your own risk, you are going to do a duplicate application. For that particular case, you are going to be denied. So don’t do a duplicate application. Don’t do a second application. Don’t try to play smart to do another application.

Even by changing the name or changing the date of birth or changing the country of birth, you are not going to change your face. There is a face recognition feature software to be determining whether you did another application.

If you make any mistake, leave it that way. Win and correct that information when filling DS-260 form. But don’t try to correct it by doing another application.

Can I edit my DV lottery application after submission? I hope this question is now answered.

Thank you so much and I wish you all the best in the DV-2025 lottery application.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

What is the selection process for DV-2025 lottery program?

Based on the allocations of available visas in each region and country, the U.S Department of State randomly select individuals by computer from among qualified entries.

DV-Lottery winners are randomly selected by computer, it’s just by a computer program that knows nothing about the time you entered the lottery or the day, but only the numbers that are given and then randomly selects or picks from those numbers.

A lottery is used as a fair, unbiased method to choose DV Lottery participants for the opportunity to continue the U.S immigration process.

There are Factors that will not affect your chances of getting selected in the DV (Green Card) lottery process, see more details>>>

Process of Checking DV lottery results

All DV-2025 entrants must go to the Entrant Status Check using their unique confirmation number saved from their DV-2025 online entry registration to find out whether their entry has been selected in the DV program.

Entrant Status Check will be available on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov from May 4, 2024, through at least September 30, 2025. If your entry is selected, you will be directed to a confirmation page providing further instructions, including information about fees connected with immigration to the United States.

Entrant Status Check will be the ONLY means by which the U.S Department of State notifies selectees of their selection for DV-2025.

The Department of State will not mail notification letters or notify selectees by email. U.S. embassies and consulates will not provide a list of selectees. Individuals who have not been selected also ONLY will be notified through Entrant Status Check. All applicants are strongly encouraged to access Entrant Status Check their self. Don’t rely on someone else to check and inform you.

In order to immigrate, DV selectees must be admissible to the United States. The DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, electronically, and the consular officer, in person, will ask you questions about your eligibility to immigrate under U.S. law. These questions include criminal and security-related topics.

READ: DV Lottery (Green Card) Interview Questions and Answers

All selectees, including family members, must be issued visas by September 30, 2025. Under no circumstances can the Department of State issue DVs nor can USCIS approve adjustments after this date, nor can family members obtain DVs to follow-to-join the principal applicant in the United States after this date.

The U.S. government only authorizes issuance of approximately 55,000 diversity visas each year. Given the limited number of visas available, selectees should act promptly in submitting their materials and pursuing their application.

READ: What are the next steps after winning DV lottery?

 How do I know if I am selected?

You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status Check available on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov from May 4, 2024, through September 30, 2025. Entrant Status Check is the sole means by which the Department of State will notify you if you are selected, provide further instructions on your visa application, and notify you of your immigrant visa interview appointment date and time.

To ensure the use of all available visas, the Department of State may use Entrant Status Check to notify additional selectees after May 4, 2024. Retain your confirmation number until September 30, 2025, in case of any updates. The only authorized Department of State website for official online entry in the Diversity Visa Program and Entrant Status Check is dvprogram.state.gov.

The Department of State will NOT contact you to tell you that you have been selected.

How will I know if I am not selected? Will I be notified?

The Department of State will NOT notify you directly if your entry is not selected. You must use the Entrant Status Check to learn whether you were selected. You may check the status of your DV2025 entry through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website from May 4, 2024, until September 30, 2025.

Keep your confirmation number until at least September 30, 2025. (Status information for the previous year’s DV program, DV-2024, is available online through September 30, 2024.)

What if I lose my confirmation number?

You must have your confirmation number to access Entrant Status Check. A tool is now available in Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website that will allow you to retrieve your confirmation number via the email address with which you registered by entering certain personal information to confirm your identity.

Find out more details about How To Retrieve Lost DV Lottery Confirmation Number here

U.S. embassies and consulates and the Kentucky Consular Center are unable to check your selection status for you or provide your confirmation number to you directly (other than through the Entrant Status Check retrieval tool). The Department of State is NOT able to provide a list of those selected to continue the visa process.

Source: DV-2025 Lottery Program Selection Process Instructions faqs

In conclusion

Being randomly selected in the Diversity Visa Lottery does not mean that you have won a Green Card; however, it does bring you and your family one step closer to becoming Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.

After you have been chosen in the DV-Lottery, you must file the DS-260 Form with the U.S State Department’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) so that the consular interview can be scheduled at the U.S Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

If the consular official approve you for U.S immigration, a Diversity Immigrant Visa will be placed on a page of your passport.

You will also need to pay the online Immigrant Fee to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) so you can receive your plastic Permanent Resident Green Card.

If all of this sounds a bit complicated, don’t worry, visit this site always for new and updated information.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

There are certain things that can lead to your visa denial during the interview, and among these is issue regarding the diseases. In this guide, we will go through the type of diseases or conditions that can lead to your visa denial, during DV Medical Examination.

Note: It is hard for a certain disease to cost you your diversity visa, but there are others that can really make you inadmissible to the United States.

The main type of disease that can cause you not to get your diversity visa approved are the diseases that are of public harm and these are the diseases that can become contagious and can be transmitted to other people.

Example of these diseases that are communicable include tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, and the Hansen disease (i.e leprosy).

Tuberculosis generally causes a spot or the chest spot, although there are other diseases that can cause the chest spot. Once the chest spot is detected and it has been caused by tuberculosis, what happens is that, the civil surgeons that did your examination will know what type of tuberculosis you have. You might be having the active one, which means that it can spread to other people, or you might be having the passive one.

The passive means you might be infected by TB, but there are no signs or no symptoms showing up and this is called passive. This means that it cannot be transmitted from you to the public.

Therefore, once the surgeons have known what type of TB you have, then they will recommend the necessary medication and you will have to be treated before you return for your diversity visa interview.

How will tuberculosis cost you your diversity visa?

Once TB is detected in you, there is a period that TB takes to be cured and this period varies from three months all the way to six months.

Let’s say, for example, your diversity visa interview is scheduled in the month of January. If at that moment you are diagnosed with TB, then you are put under medication and it will last from three months to six months. It means you have February, March, April, May, June and July. You can get treated and attend your interview within the fiscal year for you to receive your diversity visa.

But let’s say, for example, your interview is in July and you get diagnosed with TB, you only have roughly two months for your diversity visa fiscal year to expire, and that means even if you are put under the TB treatment, the time will lapse for the diversity visa before you get full treatment.

By so you won’t receive your diversity visa, you will have to be put under medication and get treated before you can attend your interview. If you get treated and you pass through the interview, then you will receive your visa.

The other category of diseases that can lead to your visa denial are grouped into two classes:

The first class of diseases that will cost you your diversity visa is quarantinable diseases, the diseases that can cause you to be put into quarantine.

The second class of the disease that will revoke or prevent you from receiving your diversity visa approval is the diseases that have been declared by World Health Organization (WHO) as a public emergency.

If any disease has emerged and has been declared as a public emergency, that disease can cause you to get denied your diversity visa approval.

Majorly, all those that have discussed are the different types of diseases that can lead to your visa denial or your visa cancellation.

Therefore, if you realize that you are suffering from these communicable diseases, it is the highest chance that you take the necessary measure or the necessary step to ensure that you get treated.

The earlier you do it, the better for you, before the DV lottery medical examination.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

How can i select correctly the level of education in DV Lottery Application Form? Having a high school diploma or be a skilled worker in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience is a basic requirement for a successful DV lottery entry. No further education is required.

Many DV Lottery applicants have education level, but they don’t really know how to select proper education level, in the DV Lottery Application Form.

What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today?

In today’s guide, you will learn how you can select correctly the level of education in the DV lottery application.

You will find this question in Part one section, in number 12, in the DV lottery application form.

The U.S State Department Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is now open. The entry submission period for DV-2025 is from 12:00PM EDT (GMT -4) on October 4, 2023 to 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 7, 2023. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only.

How to Select the Correct Education Level in DV Entry

• Primary School Only

In number 12 of DV lottery application form, the first category you’ll see is the “Primary School Only”.

The people who are supposed to select primary school only are the people who stopped in the primary, either you completed your primary and you did not join the secondary school.

Those people who did not even go to school or you started your primary school, but you did not complete, or even when you started your primary school, you completed it, but you failed, you also supposed to select primary school only.

• High school, no degree

People who are supposed to select high school, no degree are the people who attended HSC or high school and did not complete to achieve their certificate or their degree, as they call it in USA.

If you know you did not complete your High School or HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate), as it be call in some Africa countries, you are supposed to select high school, no degree.

Even those people who finished ‘O level and you did not attend HSC, you are supposed to select high school, no degree.

• High School Degree

High school degree is for those people who finished the high school and have their certificate. As some country call it certificate, in USA they call it degree. If we know you completed your high school, you have your certificate, you can select high school degree.

Even if you sat for your final examination and you failed, you are supposed also to select high school degree because you have your certificate, despite the fact that you failed, but you have your certificate for high school. You completed that level of high school. You can select high school degree.

Even if you completed but you not pick your certificate from the school, that certificate is still there. When you go and ask them, they will give you a certificate. In some countries, you just pick the pass lip, which shows the results. But when you go back to your school, there is your certificate.

So even if you have not picked your certificate from the school, but it is there. So you select high school degree.

• Vocational School

Vocational school, they don’t even qualify to apply, but it is option here. Vocational school are not qualifying to apply DV lottery.

The reason why vocational school are not qualifying is because some of the vocational, they are just providing technical skills whereby even someone from primary school can go and attend vocational school. He/she can go there and get some skills, or programming, or carpentry, mechanical, they don’t require high school qualification to go there to study.

Even a primary school or someone who did not go to school can go in a vocation and get some skills there, and start making money.

• Some University Courses

If you completed your high school and you went to university, but you are still pursuing your degree and you also did some certificate or you did a certificate course from the university, after completing your high school and you also did a diploma. If you did your diploma, your certificate and you are still in the process of finishing your degree, you can select “Some University Courses”.

• University Degree

This is self-explanatory. If you know you’ve finished, you have your degree, you select this one.

• Some Graduate Level Courses

Here, you should be still pursuing your masters, you have not yet completed your master’s degree, but you are still in the process to finish. So you are supposed to select some graduate-level courses. You have not yet graduated, but you are soon to graduate, but not yet graduated. You just select “Some Graduate-Level Courses.

• Master’s Degree

If you already have your Master’s Degree, you select this one direct.

• Some Doctorate-Level Courses

If you are still pursuing your doctorate, not yet completed, you select some doctorate level courses.

• Doctorate Degree

That is when you completed your doctorate degree, then you select this one.

Note: You must have a minimum of a high school diploma reflecting the completion of a full course of study (vocation schools or equivalency degrees are not acceptable) or be a skilled worker in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to qualify (visit http://www.onetonline.org/ to see if your occupation qualifies) for a Diversity Visa.

That is how you can select those options. Avoid selecting wrong options in your DV lottery application. Another thing, if you know like you are in your last year, like high school, you are in the last year, you are yet to sit your final exams, you can also apply because by the time results will come in May, you do have attend your certificate.

I hope the information is clear for you.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

DV-2025 Lottery FAQs: This post will focus mainly on some very important frequently asked questions about Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program.

DV-2025 Lottery FAQs: Answers to Your Most Common Questions

Question: Can I still apply if I was not born in a qualifying country?

Answer: There are two circumstances in which you still might be eligible to apply. First, if your derivative spouse was born in an eligible country, you may claim chargeability to that country. As your eligibility is based on your spouse, you will only be issued an immigrant visa if your spouse is also eligible for and issued an immigrant visa. Both of you must enter the United States together, using your DVs.

Similarly, your minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.

Second, you can be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither of your parents was born in or a resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth.

People are not generally considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized. For example, persons simply visiting, studying, or temporarily working in a country are not generally considered residents.

If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form.

Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will make you ineligible for a DV.

Question: Why do natives of certain countries not qualify for the DV program?

Answer: DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons who are not from “high admission” countries. U.S. law defines “high admission countries” as those from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years.

Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counts the family and employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status numbers for the previous five years to identify the countries that are considered “high admission” and whose natives will therefore be ineligible for the annual Diversity Visa program.

Since DHS makes this calculation annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not eligible may change from one year to the next.

Question: Is there a minimum age to apply for the E-DV Program?

Answer: There is no minimum age to apply, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.

Question: I am in the United States. Can I enter the DV program?

Answer: Yes, an entrant may apply while in the United States or another country.  An entrant may submit an entry from any location.

Question: Can I only enter once during the registration period?

Answer: Yes, the law allows only one entry per person during each registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. Individuals with more than one entry will be ineligible for a DV.

Question: May my spouse and I each submit a separate entry?

Answer: Yes, each spouse may each submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either spouse is selected, the other is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.

Question: Which family members must I include in my DV entry?

Answer:

Spouse: If you are legally married, you must list your spouse regardless of whether they live with you or intend to immigrate to the United States. You must list your spouse even if you currently are separated from them unless you are legally separated. Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remains married but lives apart, following a court order.

If you and your spouse are legally separated, your spouse will not be able to immigrate with you through the Diversity Visa program. You will not be penalized if you choose to enter the name of a spouse from whom you are legally separated.

If you are not legally separated by a court order, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the Diversity Visa, or your spouse does not intend to immigrate.

Failure to list your eligible spouse or listing someone who is not your spouse will make you ineligible for a DV.

If you are not married at the time of entry but plan on getting married in the future, do not list a spouse on your entry form, as this would make you ineligible for a DV. If you are divorced or your spouse is deceased, you do not have to list your former spouse.

The only exception to this requirement is if your spouse is already a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, do not list them in your entry.

A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident will not require or be issued a DV.

Therefore, if you select “married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR” on your entry, you will not be able to include further information on your spouse.

Children: You must list ALL your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial DV entry, whether they are your natural children, your stepchildren (even if you are now divorced from that child’s parent), your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the applicable laws.

List all children under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, even if they no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to immigrate under the DV program.

You are not required to list children who are already U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, though you will not be penalized if you do include them. Parents and siblings of the entrant are ineligible to receive DV visas as dependents, and you should not include them in your entry.

If you list family members on your entry, they are not required to apply for a visa or to immigrate or travel with you. However, if you fail to include an eligible dependent on your original entry or list someone who is not your dependent, you may be ineligible for a DV, in which case your spouse and children will be ineligible for derivative DVs. This only applies to those who were family members at the time the entry was submitted, not those acquired at a later date.

Your spouse, if eligible to enter, may still submit a separate entry even though they are listed on your entry, and both entries must include details about all dependents in your family.

Question: Must I submit my own entry, or can someone else do it for me?

Answer: Interested applicants are encourage to prepare and submit their own entry, but you may have someone submit the entry for you. Regardless of whether you submit your own entry, or an attorney, friend, relative, or someone else submits it on your behalf, only one entry may be submitted in your name.

You, as the entrant, are responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete; entries that are not correct or complete may be disqualified. Entrants should keep their confirmation number, so they are able to check the status of their entry independently, using Entrant Status Check at dvprogram.state.gov. Entrants should retain access to the email account used in the E-DV submission.

Question: I’m already registered for an immigrant visa in another category. Can I still apply for the DV program?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Can I download and save the E-DV entry form into a word processing program and finish it later? 

Answer: No, you will not be able to save the form into another program for completion and submission later. The E-DV Entry Form is a web-form only. You must fill in the information and submit it while online.

Question: Can I save the form online and finish it later?

Answer: No. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted at one time. You will have 60 minutes, starting from when you download the form, to complete and submit your entry through the EDV website.

If you exceed the 60-minute limit and have not submitted your complete entry electronically, the system discards any information already entered. The system deletes any partial entries so that they are not accidentally identified as duplicates of a later, complete entry.

Read the DV instructions completely before you start to complete the form online so that you know exactly what information you will need.

Question: I don’t have a scanner. Can I send photographs to someone else to scan them, save them, and email them back to me so I can use them in my entry?

Answer: Yes, as long as the photograph meets the requirements in the instructions and is electronically submitted with, and at the same time as, the E-DV online entry. You must already have the scanned photograph file when you submit the entry online; it cannot be submitted separately from the online application.

The entire entry (photograph and application together) can be submitted electronically from the United States or from overseas.

Question: If the E-DV system rejects my entry, can I resubmit my entry?

Answer: Yes, you can resubmit your entry as long as your submission is completed by 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. You will not be penalized for submitting a duplicate entry if the E-DV system rejects your initial entry.

Given the unpredictable nature of the Internet, you may not receive the rejection notice immediately. You can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent. Once you receive a confirmation notice, your entry is complete, and you should NOT submit any additional entries.

Question: How soon after I submit my entry will I receive the electronic confirmation notice?

Answer: You should receive the confirmation notice immediately, including a confirmation number that you must record and keep. However, the unpredictable nature of the Internet can result in delays.

You can hit the “Submit” button as many times as is necessary until a complete application is sent and you receive the confirmation notice. However, once you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.

Question: I hit the “Submit” button but did not receive a confirmation number. If I submit another entry, will I be disqualified?

Answer: If you did not receive a confirmation number, your entry was not recorded. You must submit another entry. It will not be counted as a duplicate. Once you receive a confirmation number, do not resubmit your information.

Checkout more DV-2025 Lottery FAQs: Answers to Your Most Common Questions.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

Each DV applicant must meet the education/work experience requirement of the 2025 DV lottery program by having either: 

• at least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education;

OR 

• two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience.

Education/Work Experience Requirement for DV Lottery

The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program requires the principal DV applicant to have a high school education, or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience as defined under provisions of U.S. law.

If you do not have either the required education or qualifying work experience, you are not eligible for a diversity visa. (Only you, as the principal applicant, must meet this requirement. Your spouse and children do not have to meet this requirement.)

You should consider not pursuing a DV application if you do not meet the qualifying education or work experience requirements explained in this guide, as you may not be eligible for a diversity visa and any fees you pay for the visa application will not be refunded.

High School Education: A high school education means successful completion of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a 12-year course in the United States.  Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; equivalency certificates (such as the G.E.D.) are not acceptable.

GED is a General Educational Development program that’s an alternative to a high school diploma. People who are unable to complete high school can obtain a GED as an equivalent to a grade 12 education.

In Africa, G.E.D equivalents are the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the General Certificate of Education (GCE).

Work Experience: If you are qualifying with work experience, you must have two years of experience in the last five years, in an occupation which, by U.S. Department of Labor definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher.

What occupations qualify for the DV program? 

The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) O*Net OnLine database to determine qualifying work experience.  The O*Net OnLine database categorizes job experience into five “job zones.”  While the DOL website lists many occupations, not all occupations qualify for the DV program.

To qualify for a DV on the basis of your work experience, you must have, within the past five years, two years of experience in an occupation classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

If you do not meet the requirements for education or work experience, you will be ineligible for a DV, and your spouse and children will be ineligible for derivative DVs.

How can I find the qualifying DV occupations in the Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database?

When you are in O*Net OnLine, follow these steps to determine if your occupation qualifies:

1. Under “Find Occupations,” select “Job Family” from the pull down menu;
2. Browse by “Job Family,” make your selection, and click “GO”.
3. Click on the link for your specific occupation; and
4. Select the tab “Job Zone” to find the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range.

For example, select Civil Engineers, at the bottom of the Summary Report for Civil Engineers, under the Job Zone section, you will find the designated Job Zone 4, SVP Range, 7.0 to < 8.0. Using this example, Civil Engineering is a qualifying occupation.

You should not submit an entry to the DV program unless you meet both of these requirements.

The DV-2025 entry period will run from 12:00 pm (noon), Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT4), Wednesday, October 4, 2023, until 12:00 pm (noon), Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT5), Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

Each year, millions of people submit entries. Restricting the entry period to these dates ensures selectees receive notification in a timely manner and gives both the visa applicants and the embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to enter early during the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period may slow the processing system. Entries will not be accepted after noon EST on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

How to Fill DV Lottery Application Form | Part Two: Derivatives Section

This is how to fill the Part two of the DV lottery application form, which is famously known as the DS-5501, the electronic diversity visa application form or entry form. This part two is called the Derivatives section.

Part two will depend if the main applicant has derivative. Derivative means dependence. So part two will depend if the person has dependence, if the person either has children or the person has got married in that particular way.

If you are married or if you have children, party two is open for you. But if you are not married, if you don’t have children, that means you apply as unmarried with no dependence, you will fill just part one, not part two.

See How to Fill Part One Section of DV Lottery Application Form: Entrant Information>>>

How to Properly Fill Out the DV Lottery Application Form (DS-5501)

Part Two: Derivatives

If you open this section of DV lottery form, it starts with the following:

13. Spouse 

Fill your spouse name, i.e your husband or wife name.

Find out more about Who to Add As Spouse in The Diversity Visa (DV-2025) Lottery Application

13a. Birth Date

Fill your spouse (husband or wife) date of birth, start with month first, day and then the year, e.g 10/30/1990.

13b. Gender

Choose your spouse gender, i.e Male or Female

13c. City Where Spouse Was Born

Fill in the city where your spouse was born, enter birth city only, do not enter District/Country/Province/State.

13d. Country Where Spouse Was Born.

Choose the country where your spouse was born.

13e. Spouse Photograph

Photographs must be submitted at the time of eDV entry. Photographs that do not comply with all specifications, including but not limited to recency of the photos (must be taken in the last six months), composition of the photos, and unacceptable backgrounds are grounds for disqualification of the entire entry.

Any manipulation of photographs that alters the facial characteristics is grounds for disqualification of the entire entry. See examples on the Photo Examples page.

Please refer to the Instructions for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa program (DV-2025) for technical specifications and compositional specifications for the digital image.

You will use one of the following methods to enter the image into eDV:

• Take a new digital image.
• Use a digital scanner to scan a recent photograph.

See Link to Photo Instructions/Photo Examples page

14. Child #1 Name

Fill in the name of your first child, starting with last name, first name and middle name.

Find out more about Which Children To Add As Derivatives in DV Lottery Application

14a. Birth Date

Fill the date of birth of your first child, starting with month, day and year, e.g 09/25/1995.

14b. Gender

Choose your first child gender, male or female.

14c. City Where Child Was Born

Fill in the city where your first child was born, enter birth city only, do not enter District/Country/Province/State.

14d. Country Where Child Was Born

Select the country where your child was born.

14e. Child Photograph

Refer to same instructions in 13e above.

Click Continue

A page will appear where you will preview everything you have filled, make sure you through everything very well, confirm if everything is filled correctly, then you can click SUBMIT and then you have your success page.

If all parts are completed successfully, the entry will be submitted to the DV-2025 Processing Center. After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Make sure you print this confirmation screen for your records.

You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status Check available on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov from May 4, 2024, through September 30, 2025.  Entrant Status Check is the sole means by which the Department of State will notify you if you are selected, provide further instructions on your visa application, and notify you of your immigrant visa interview appointment date and time.

To ensure the use of all available visas, the Department of State may use Entrant Status Check to notify additional selectees after May 4, 2024.  Retain your confirmation number until September 30, 2025, in case of any updates.  The only authorized Department of State website for official online entry in the Diversity Visa Program and Entrant Status Check is dvprogram.state.gov.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

DV-2023 and DV-2024 lessons: If you are a DV lottery 2024 winner and you’re waiting for your interview because the interview period is just about to begin, that is exactly from October 1st to next year, September 30, 2024.

Also, if you are planning to take part in the DV lottery 2025, from 12:00PM EDT (GMT -4) on October 4, 2023 to 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 7, 2023, then read this post well because you are going to learn much and it will help you even in this process.

What can we learn from the already concluded DV lottery 2023?

Remember, this is the DV lottery that was terminated or ended before the 30th of September as is usual. It was terminated exactly on 6th September this year, and that came as a surprise to lot of people.

What can we learn from this?

There are five lessons to learn from this concluded diversity visa lottery 2023.

KCC can exceed the limit: We all know that there are 55,000 visas allocated for the diversity visa lottery, for  last year DV 2022 and the DV 2023, and we’ve clearly seen KCC exceeding this limit.

For example, in this year, they have exceeded the 55,000 visa limit by about a thousand. So sometimes they can exceed the limit, and these visas include those from the embassy level, the consulate level, and also the adjustment of status.

The totality for this year exceeded the 55,000 mark by around 1,000 cases. That’s the first the things we can learn from the DV lottery 2023.

The next thing we can learn, and this is a painful one, is that KCC can terminate the process even before the fiscal year ends for that visa program. For this year, they terminated it on September 6.

It’s now clear that once the cap reached the limit, the 55,000 visa plus the few that they exit, they can terminate regardless of whether the period has ended or not. That’s what we can learn. They can terminate the process once they suffice what they’re supposed to do.

The third thing that we can learn from this, is that, after the termination of the process, before the fiscal year ends, even those that were scheduled for an interview, their interviews are canceled.

We have seen several interviews canceled once the process was terminated. This comes as a pain because when you get your second notification letter (2NL), the appointment to the interview, which means your interview has been scheduled and you know the date.

You need to visit the link inside the 2NL and follow all the steps. The steps include you certifying your documents and that requires money. It includes also you going for the medicals and the medicals are not as cheap. It also includes many steps that will cost you some money.

So regardless of whether you have gone through all those steps that prepares you for the interview, that is not an issue. Your interview will be canceled.

Once they terminate the process, regardless of the expenses that you have incurred, they will terminate and cancel your interview, and that is so painful.

Having known that, the other thing that we need to really learn from this, is that you should not do nothing that will put your interview at risk, that will put your visa approval at risk.

Having known all those things regarding the DV Lottery 2023, what we learned from it, know that you should not mess up with anything. When you get your appointment, do everything that is needed for you to have your visa approved.

Because if, for example, you come without one of the documents, the supporting documents, that normally lead you to be put to the 221G visa refusal. Let’s say you are put to that refusal, and it normally does not take a short time to be resolved. If you’re put on that and then time runs on you, once they terminate the process, then you will get your visa ruined.

There are many cases that were on 221G visa refusal and are waiting for the month of September for them to be processed. For those 221Gs that were to be processed in the month of September, they were not because time ran off them. After it was terminated, their visas were doomed.

So if you have won a DV lottery, you must do everything possible to ensure you have all the details and all the documents and everything that is required for a successful interview and visa approval.

The last thing is that, once the program has been terminated before the end of the year, and of course, your interview has been canceled, if you had been scheduled for that interview, there is nothing you can do, in embassy or KCC. Because the limit has been reached. The visas have been exhausted.

There’s nothing you can do once your interview has been canceled because the process has been terminated on the reason that the visas have been exhausted.

You just need try and apply this Diversity Visa Lottery 2025.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

What happens if a child is born after DV lottery application? What if the applicant is pregnant during DV lottery application? This guide will answer these two questions.

What happens if a child is born after DV lottery application?

Let say for example, at the time of DV lottery application, assume you (i.e DV lottery application) are married, assume you are engaged and your spouse or you are person who is engaged to, is pregnant. You cannot put the photo to say you have a child, you cannot use another person photo in place of your unborn child.

After application in October, maybe the month of November or December the child is born or after the DV lottery result is out and the child is born. How are you going to do? How are you going to navigate that?

There is no need stressing yourself in any way. When there’s a change of status after applying DV lottery, it doesn’t affect you from being given the visa. You’ll be able to add that child born after the DV lottery application or after the results, in the visa form called the DS-260 form, and you’ll be able to go with that child to United States of America.

The problem is if you have a child born already, on the time of application and you lie to say that you don’t have a child, but if a child is born two days later, a day later, or few hours later after applying DV lottery, there is no problem. The child can be added in the DV lottery visa form called the DS-260 form, and upon successful processes, you can go together with the child to United States of America.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

DV lottery 2025 Eligible Countries List

The list below shows the countries and areas whose natives are eligible for DV-2025, grouped by geographic region. Dependent areas overseas are included within the region of the governing country.

AFRICA

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Djibouti, Egypt*, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

ASIA

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel*, Japan***, Jordan*, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria*, Taiwan**, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

*Persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable, respectively, to Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt.  Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.

** Macau S.A.R. (Europe region, chargeable to Portugal) and Taiwan (Asia region) do qualify and are listed. For the purposes of the diversity program only, persons born in Macau S.A.R. derive eligibility from Portugal.

***Persons born in the Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu are chargeable to Japan. Persons born in Southern Sakhalin are chargeable to Russia.

EUROPE

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark (including components and dependent areas overseas), Estonia, Finland, France (including components and dependent areas overseas), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau Special Administrative Region**, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands (including components and dependent areas overseas),  Northern Ireland***, Norway (including components and   dependent areas overseas), Poland,  Portugal (including components and dependent areas overseas), Romania  Russia****, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom (including dependent areas), Uzbekistan, Vatican City.

** Macau S.A.R. does qualify and is listed above and for the purposes of the diversity program only; persons born in Macau S.A.R. derive eligibility from Portugal.

***For purposes of the diversity program only, Northern Ireland is treated separately. Northern Ireland does qualify and is listed among the qualifying areas.

**** Persons born in the Habomai Islands, Shikotan, Kunashiri, and Etorofu are chargeable to Japan.  Persons born in Southern Sakhalin are chargeable to Russia. Great Britain (United Kingdom) and its dependent areas do qualify for DV-2025.

Great Britain (United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands.

NORTH AMERICA 

The Bahamas

OCEANIA 

Australia (including components and dependent areas overseas), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Federated States of  Nauru, New Zealand (including components and dependent areas overseas), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.

Those are the DV lottery 2025 eligible countries list.

See List of Countries and Areas whose Natives are NOT Eligible for DV-2025>>>>

When can I apply for DV Lottery 2025?

The U.S Department of State Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is open for interested individuals who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year. The choice of winners of the U.S diversity visa lottery is completely random. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only.

Find out DV-2025 photo requirements.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

Which countries are not eligible for DV Lottery 2025?

Countries in these regions whose natives are not eligible for this year’s (DV-2025) DV program are listed below. The list shows the countries and areas whose natives are not eligible for DV-2025, grouped by geographic region.

Africa

In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year’s (2025) Diversity Visa program.

Asia

Natives of the following Asia Region countries are not eligible for this year’s Diversity Visa program:

Bangladesh, China (including Hong Kong), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam.

NORTH AMERICA

In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico are not eligible for this year’s DV program.

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this year’s DV program:

Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, and Venezuela.

LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025

SEE DV LOTTERY 2025 ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES LIST>>>

When can I apply for DV Lottery 2025?

The U.S Department of State Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is open for interested individuals who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year. The choice of winners of the U.S diversity visa lottery is completely random. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only.

Some frequently asked questions about Diversity Visa Lottery Eligibility

Question 1: Can I still apply if I was not born in a qualifying country?

Answer: There are two circumstances in which you still might be eligible to apply. First, if your derivative spouse was born in an eligible country, you may claim chargeability to that country.

As your eligibility is based on your spouse, you will only be issued an immigrant visa if your spouse is also eligible for and issued an immigrant visa.  Both of you must enter the United States together, using your DVs.

Similarly, your minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.

Second, you can be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither of your parents was born in or a resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth.  People are not generally considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized.

For example, persons simply visiting, studying, or temporarily working in a country are not generally considered residents.

If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6.

Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will make you ineligible for a DV.

Question 2: Why do natives of certain countries not qualify for the DV program?

Answer: DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons who are not from “high admission” countries. U.S. law defines “high admission countries” as those from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years.

Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counts the family and employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status numbers for the previous five years to identify the countries that are considered “high admission” and whose natives will therefore be ineligible for the annual Diversity Visa program.

Since DHS makes this calculation annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not eligible may change from one year to the next.

Question 3: If I apply for a DV, but don’t qualify to receive one, can I get a refund of the visa fees I paid?

Answer: No. Visa application fees cannot be refunded. You must meet all qualifications for the visa as detailed in these instructions. If a consular officer determines you do not meet requirements for the visa, or you are otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer cannot issue a visa and you will forfeit all fees paid.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

In this post, we will learn the differences between the country of birth and the country of citizenship, when entering the DV Lottery, and also the importance of Country of Birth and Country of Eligibility in DV Lottery.

These two terms are very important and understanding them will help you avoid many mistakes that could emerge during the application of the diversity visa.

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list
• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

Importance of Country of Birth and Country of Eligibility in DV Lottery

In the application form you will find this page below.

This means that the first item that we are going to cover will be the country of birth. The country of birth is that country in which you are born. To be specific, it is that country that is indicated on your birth certificate, and that is how important you should have your birth certificate during application.

The country indicated on the birth certificate, that is the country of your birth and that is the country that you insert in item number five, in the application, i.e the place where it says country where you are born.

Don’t make any mistake in choosing the country in which you are born. Select the country indicated on the birth certificate, this is regardless of whether you are living in that country or you immigrated to a different country. Even if you took the citizenship of a different country, the birth country remains as it is on the birth certificate.

In most cases, majority of the cases, the country of birth is what country qualifies you for eligibility in the DV Lottery. It is the country of birth that qualifies many people into the DV Lottery.

Also, in this second part country of eligibility. If the country in which you are born is eligible to enter into the DV Lottery for that year, then selecting the correct country of birth will also qualify you in the eligibility category.

Therefore, in that case, you would select the same country of your birth. But remember, you can qualify based on a country of chargeability of either your spouse or your parents. So it’s not a must that the country of your birth be the country of eligibility. That is the importance of the country of birth.

Country of citizenship

From the image below, in item number nine in the DV Lottery application form, and it says mailing address.

The country of citizenship is that country in which you have immigrated and taken citizenship. It might also be the country of your birth if you have not immigrated.

But if you have attained citizenship of a different country from that of your birth, and you are currently living and working in that country of citizenship, which is not your birth country, then it comes in handy when filling in the mailing address.

In the mailing address, you indicate your current address, in whichever country you are in and you are living at the moment.

So the mailing address is not based on the country of birth. It is based on where you are currently residing and this helps KCC to know where to schedule your interview. This is also important to note, that if you are currently living in a certain country, you cannot select the mailing address of a different country in which you are not living in, as at present.

Some people can decide to select some other country because they had their embassies work faster. No, don’t do such mistake. If you do that mistake, then you risk being denied the visa.

The current country in which you are living in at the time you are making your application that is the country that you will use in filling in the mailing address.

Country where you live today section

This can be the country of your citizenship, it can also be the country where you are working, even though you are not a citizen there. It can also be your country of birth if you are still living in the country where you are born in.

So, the country of citizenship may also be important in this area. The country of birth may also be important in this area, only that you are currently living in that place in which you are indicating here.

I hope the information about Importance of Country of Birth and Country of Eligibility in DV Lottery is clear.

Question: What if I did a mistake during the process of typing my place of birth can I correct it before the results comes out and please how?

Answer: You will do it on DS-260, if selected.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

The 2025 Diversity Visa Program opens at 12:00 p.m. EDT on October 4. Thinking about entering? Read the program instructions.

The 2025 Diversity Visa (DV) Program will open from October 4 to November 7, 2023, and allows those from countries with low U.S. immigration rates, who meet eligibility requirements, to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa.

Below are the 10 Tips for Applying for 2025 Diversity Visa Program:

Tip 1 – Read the instructions at dvprogram.state.gov to find out if you qualify. Do NOT enter if you do not meet the qualifications.

Tip 2 – Only rely on U.S. government websites. travel.state.gov and dvprogram.state.gov are the only official source of DV-2025 information.

Tip 3 – Go to dvprogram.state.gov to submit your entry. This is the ONLY way to enter. Do not be fooled by scams or fraudulent sites.

Tip 4 – There is NO fee to enter. Beware of those who claim they can improve your chances if you pay them, or who offer to complete your application for free.

Tip 5 – Use a photo taken in the last six months. Using an old photo will disqualify you.

Find out DV-2025 photo requirements.

Tip 6 – Only submit ONE entry per person. Individuals with more than one primary entry per DV season will be disqualified.

Tip 7 – Remember to list your spouse and ALL unmarried children under the age of 21 in your application, even if they will not be traveling or immigrating with you. Incorrect or missing information in your entry can mean disqualification, even after you are selected.

Tip 8 – Keep your unique confirmation number. You will need this to check the status of the entry when selections are made in May 2024.

Tip 9 – Selections will be made in May 2024. The website dvprogram.state.gov/ESC is the ONLY way to see if you were selected. Do NOT be fooled by any letter or e-mail announcements; these are scams.

Tip 10 – Remember, being selected does not guarantee you an interview or a visa.

Any individuals or services that claim they can increase your chances of being selected are being dishonest. DV selection is performed completely randomly from the eligible entries.

Read Now: Double or Triple Your Chances Of Selection In DV-2025 Application

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

This guide concerns filling of names during the application of the DV lottery and also during the filling in of the DS-260 form.

If you are currently making your application into the DV Lottery, or if you are currently dealing with the DS-260 form because you are a DV selectee, then this guide is for you.

Make sure you read this guide to the end because the answer is found in the end. Don’t read the first parts and jump into conclusion.

Names on DV lottery Application and DS-260 Form

The issue on names has raised a lot of questions to many, and the concern is on what to fill in the DV lottery application or in the DS-260 form.

In an earlier guide, I discussed in details, that the birth certificate is a very important document when doing your DV lottery application.

That means that the names that you have or that are indicated on your birth certificate in their order, you’re supposed to use that. Because that will eliminate a lot of errors or mistakes that can face you later on.

If you are married and you have a different name, maybe you took the name of your spouse, and on the marriage certificate, you have the name of the spouse added onto your names. You are allowed to use those names because they are your legal names as of now. You can use your married names in the application.

Another thing, many people are wondering that the names that appear on their passports differ from the names that appear on the birth certificate. That on their birth certificate they might be having two names, but on their passport, they have three names.

First of all, remember that in every country there is an embassy, a United States embassy. In those countries, the embassies in those countries, they are well-conversant and they know how your birth certificate and your passports look like.

For example, if you take an example of Ghana, the birth certificate might be having either two or three names, and the passport you might find others having up to four names. The embassy in Ghana, Accra, they know the naming systems that will apply on those both documents.

So when you use your birth certificate as the names during the application, then the embassy knows of that. Even if you come with your passport and it has four names, they well know the naming system of your country.

In Kenya, for example, majority of the birth certificate, if not all, they have two names, your two names, and there below we have the parents, the male parent and the female parent. But when it comes to the birth certificate and any other documents, the academic documents, you’ll find majority having three names. That is, they are given names plus the family name.

The embassy in Nairobi, the United States embassy in Nairobi, they are aware of that the birth certificate contain two names, the names of the parents. But any other document, including the passport, may have three names: the given name plus the family name.

This is not an issue that should bother you so much. But what happens when your birth certificate has two names, for example, and your passport has three name, for example, and your academic documents, some have two names while others have three names?

First of all, if you apply and you’ve used your birth certificate name, then if you get selected and in the process of filling in the DS-260 form, you will put the names that you used in the application and any other extra name.

If you have an inclusive family name, an additional family name, then you will include during the DS-260 form where it says, have you ever used other names? That is the maiden, the religious, the professional, etc.

In that slot, if you select yes, it gives you a slot where you are to insert any other name that you used. So it is in this place that you will add that extra name. Having done so, then you have no problem at all.

You have to include all the names used in the DS-260 form, and this will help because it will give additional information of all the names that you used, covering those on the documents, the academic documents, the passport, and also the birth.

So make sure during the filling in of the DS-260 form, you include all the names that you have ever used.

Secondly, you will have to go ahead and swear an affidavit of name. This is just to keep you on the safe side. If you have two names on your birth certificate and maybe three names on your passport or four, then it’s good that for you to be on the safe place, you swear an affidavit of name.

This is done before an advocate or before the court. It is a stamped document proving that though the names they differ, the number of names on your different documents they differ, you are still the same person holding that name.

An affidavit of name would be very effective. Before you go for your interview and you have different names appearing on your different documents, swear an affidavit of name and go with it to the interview.

In any case they ask you why they differ, you will present the affidavit of name. Also, the names that appear on your DS-260 form will also act as an evidence.

Some Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Question: If you added a name which is different from the one on your high school certificate, where can you indicate the old name on the DS-260 form, incase of background check?

Answer: Other names used.

I hope this guide is clear.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

This is guide on how to properly fill out the DV Lottery Application Form (DS-5501) and win Green Card.

DV Lottery Application Form: Applicants must submit entries for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery program electronically between first week of October 2023 and November  2023.

Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter, as heavy demand may result in website delays. No late entries or paper entries will be accepted. The law allows only one entry per person during each entry period.

There are so many mistakes many people do and these mistakes are divided into too many parts. There are mistakes people are doing which will cause them to be automatically rejected, and there are some of the mistakes, despite of those mistakes, you will be selected, you will become the winner, but you will be denied the visa.

If you are filling the DV lottery application by yourself or if someone is filling this form for you, avoid these mistakes, which will be point out as we proceed, learn now on how to properly fill this diversity visa lottery application.

This form is famously known as the DS-5501, the electronic diversity visa application form or entry form. The form has main part (part one) and Part two, which will depend on some of the information you’ll be filling.

Part one is the most crucial one because it has the information of what is call the information of the main applicant, or rather the person who will be selected as the winner.

Part two will depend if the main applicant has derivative. Derivative means dependence. So part two will depend if the person has dependence, if the person either has children or the person has got married in that particular way.

If you are married or if you have children, party two is open for you. But if you are not married, if you don’t have children, that means you apply as unmarried with no dependence, you will fill just part one, not part two.

In order to fill this form, few things we should note.

There are no any documents which are needed to do the application. You need to make sure that certain information are correct, but there is no uploading of any documents, exception is on the DV lottery photo, which has been explained very well here.

If you want to go with your passport is up to you, but there is no requirement which needs you to fill the DV lottery application form with the passport.

There is no passport requirement in the DV-2025 lottery application. What is required is passport photo, not passport as a traveler. There are no place to put your ID number. But if you want to give someone who is helping to fill to look the names on the passport or to look at the name of your ID, so that they can match correctly spelling, that’s okay.

But there are no place to upload any documentation.

How to Properly Fill Out the DV Lottery Application Form (DS-5501)

Part One: Entrant Information

All application must done at dvprogram.state.gov. If you open this form, it starts with the following:

1. Name: The names are arranged as follows. It starts with the last name or family name. Then it comes with the first name, then the middle name. The biggest mistake people are doing, they are assuming the names are arranged this way, they start at first, the middle, and the last. That is incorrect arranging of your names.

Make sure the names are arranged orderly. You start with your last name (i.e your Surname), your own first name and then your middle name.

Incase you don’t know what is your last name. Surname is the last name, your family name.

First name: Some people have two first names or two middle names. Some people don’t have middle name. So it will be last name and first name. You will tick no middle name.

Also, some people have four names or more than four names. You have to know which one are two first names or if you have two middle names, make sure you arrange it correctly. Because how you arrange these names, when you win, the names will appear that way, and that will be able to guide you on getting the visa.

But if you make a mistake on arranging the names, they are not going to affect anything, whether you’re going to win or not to win. It doesn’t affect you. You can fix that one after winning, but you cannot fix it after submitting the form.

Find out more about Names filling on DV lottery Application and DS-260 Form

2. Gender: Male or Female, you select one.

3. Birthday: You start with month, day, and year. Make sure you start with the month.

4. City Where You Were Born (Place of birth): Enter birth city only. Do not enter district, country, province or state. If you using your passport to fill the form, write what it is written on your passport.

5. Country where you are born: This is one important part. If you make a mistake on the place you were born, there is no problem. But if you put a mistake on the country of birth, that can cause you to be denied the visa.

Because the eligibility to participate in the diversity visa lottery depends on the place of birth, not citizenship. For example, you can be born in Ghana, but currently you are a citizen of Canada. Canada is not eligible country. Fill in your country of birth.

Find out more about eligibility country for DV Lottery.

According to the instruction for the DV lottery, listing an incorrect country of eligibility or changeability will make you ineligible, meaning you’ll be not eligible because of wrong filling. So be careful when you put the country of birth, because that is going to be used.

6. Country of Eligibility for the DV Program

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list
• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

7. Entrant Photograph (Photo): This is a very important part you need to do correctly.

Find out more about Photo Requirements for DV Lottery.

Note: The photo of the derivative can cause the entire family to be disqualified, because it did not to meet the requirements.

8. Mailing address: You can put address where you receive physical mail, maybe post office. Mailing address will not cause you not to win the DV lottery.

9. Country where you live today: Type in the country are you currently in.

10. Phone number (is optional): Whether you put a phone number, or you don’t put, means nothing, there is no problem.

11. Email Address: It is important. You must put the email address. Make sure you use your correct email address. If you want to use the email of a person, make sure you know the person. If you don’t have email, you can use your wife, your husband or your brother email, it’s better to use your close relative or the person you trust.

Email address is very important because this email will be used to provide additional information if needed. When selected, you’ll be using this email address.

12. What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today?

You must have a minimum of a high school diploma reflecting the completion of a full course of study or be a skilled worker in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to qualify for a Diversity Visa.

Find out more about filling Education and work experience.

13. What is your current marital status?

Fill in your marital status correctly.

14. Number of Children

Fill in the number of children you have correctly.

Proceed to PART TWO: DERIVATIVES SECTION>>>

If all parts are completed successfully, the entry will be submitted to the DV-2025 Processing Center. After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Make sure you print this confirmation screen for your records.

You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status Check available on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov from May 4, 2024, through September 30, 2025.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery Entry: Interested individuals who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year.

The Diversity Visa Program (DV Program) makes up to 50,000 immigrant visas available annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States, based on a random drawing among all applications. The DV Program is administered by the Department of State (DOS) of the United States.

During each fiscal year, you can register for the Diversity Visa Program (DV) for a limited amount of time. Each year, the Department of State publishes comprehensive guidelines for applying to the DV Program. These instructions contain the dates of the registration period during which you may participate

All entries must be submitted electronically during the specified registration period on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website. No late entries or paper entries are permitted. During each registration period, the law authorizes only one entry per individual.

To detect multiple entries, the Department of State employs sophisticated technology. You will be disqualified for submitting more than one entry. This website cannot be used to submit an entry until the date and time specified on the DV Instructions page.

Diversity Visa Program Cost

There is no fee to enter the green card lottery.

Diversity Visa Lottery 2025 Start Date

When can I apply for diversity visa 2025 lottery? The U.S Department of State Website for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) opens for entry submission from interested individuals who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year.

Only those from countries with low U.S. immigration rates, who meet eligibility requirements, qualifies to enter for a chance to apply for this U.S. immigrant visa. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only.

Eligibility for DV lottery 2025

DV2025 applicants must be native of a Qualifying Country to Enter the Green Card Lottery.

1. LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list

2. LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

Diversity Visa Qualifications

• High School Education

A high school education means successful completion of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a 12-year course in the United States.  Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; equivalency certificates (such as the G.E.D.) are not acceptable.

• Work Experience

If you are qualifying with work experience, you must have two years of experience in the last five years, in an occupation which, by U.S. Department of Labor definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher.

The U.S. Department of Labor provides information on job duties, knowledge and skills, education and training, and other occupational characteristics on their website http://www.onetonline.org/. The O*Net online database groups work experience into five “job zones.” While many occupations are listed, only two years of experience in certain specified occupations qualify an individual for a Diversity Visa.

Find out more about Education/Work Experience Requirement for DV-2025 Lottery Program>>>

DV Photo Requirements

DV entry photos must be of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos.  You can see examples of acceptable photos here.  Do not submit a photograph older than six months or a photograph that does not meet all of the standards described at the link below.

Find out more details about DV-2025 photo requirements.

How to apply for DV lottery 2025

You will submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form) online at dvprogram.state.gov.

The entry form is prepared in two parts, one for the primary Entrant and one for derivatives (if any). Each part must be completed correctly and completely before going to the next part. After all parts are completed, the entry will be submitted to the DV-2025 Processing Center.

After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Make sure you print this confirmation screen for your records.

Must READ:

• How to Double or triple your chances of getting selected for DV2025 lottery
• How to Properly Fill Out the DV2025 Lottery Application Form (DS-5501)
• These High School Students Can Apply For DV Lottery

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

What are the photo requirements for DV lottery?

For the DV Lottery, applicants must upload a recent photo of themselves and all their derivatives (spouse and children). Derivatives are those people that you include in your DV process as the DV principal applicant.

DV entry photos must be of the same quality and composition as U.S. visa photos.  You can see examples of acceptable and not acceptable photos here.

Are you allowed to use the Green Card Photo from previous DV Lottery Application?

Do not use images from the previous DV Lottery year. The U.S authorities take a close look at the photo. Registering with an old picture will lead to your disqualification.

Do not submit a photograph older than six months or a photograph that does not meet all of the standards described below.  Submitting the same photograph that  you submitted with a prior year’s entry, a photograph that has been manipulated, or a photograph that does not meet the specifications below will make you ineligible for a DV.

Photo Requirements for DV Lottery

Your photos or digital images must be: 

• In color
• In focus
• Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50 percent and 69 percent of the image’s total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.  View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
• Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance
• Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
• Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
• Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
• Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose.  Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
• Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
• Do not wear eyeglasses.

Photos copied or digitally scanned from driver’s licenses or other official documents are not acceptable. In addition, snapshots, magazine photos, low quality vending machine or mobile phone photos, and full-length photographs are not acceptable. Review the Photo Examples to see examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos.

Also, for entering the Diversity Visa (DV) Program online, you must upload your digital image as part of your entry. Your digital image must be:

• In JPEG (.jpg) file format
• Equal to or less than 240 kB (kilobytes) in file size
• In a square aspect ratio (height must equal width)
• 600×600 pixels in dimension

You want to scan an existing photo?  In addition to the digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:

• 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
• Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)

Taking photos of your baby or toddler

When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should be in the photo, and your child should be looking at the camera with his or her eyes open.

• Tip 1: Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby’s head is supported and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby’s face, especially if you take a picture from above with the baby lying down.
• Tip 2: Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is supported.

Examples of Acceptable DV Lottery Photo

Examples of not acceptable DV Lottery Photo

Your photo is a vital part of your visa application.

Eligibility for DV lottery 2025

DV2025 applicants must be native of a Qualifying Country to Enter the Green Card Lottery.

1. LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list

2. LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2025

• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

Proceed to Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 2025 entry period and other procedures>>>

Must READ:

• How to Double or triple your chances of getting selected for DV2025 lottery
• How to Properly Fill Out the DV2025 Lottery Application Form (DS-5501)
• These High School Students Can Apply For DV Lottery

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

DV2025 Lottery Application Checklist: The online registration for DV-2025 lottery will only be available on the State Department website (dvprogram.state.gov) between October and November 2023. This guide will focus on key things you need to easily apply for DV-2025 lottery (DV-2025 Lottery checklist).

The DV lottery is intended to diversify the American population and provide immigration opportunities for people from countries that only send a small number of immigrants to the United States of America.

This year’s (2023) Green Card Lottery is called the DV-2025 (where 2025 is the year selected applicants can enter the U.S) and it is scheduled to close for further applications by November, 2023.

Entries are open for all eligible applicants in addition to selectees from a prior program year who were unable to obtain a visa.

There is a limited period of time during which you can register for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program during each fiscal year.

Applicants may be in the United States or any another country when they apply for the DV2025 lottery. The application can be submitted from the United States or from any country abroad.

Applicants that want to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery must complete the on-line registration process at: dvprogram.state.gov

It is the applicants’ responsibility to check on-line, by themselves, if they were selected in the DV-2025 lottery.

The qualified applicants are selected randomly by a computer and all applicants have an equal chance of being selected.

However, if you are married, you have the advantage that you and your spouse can both apply and enter the lottery on separate applications where you include each other on both applications and you thereby double your chances of getting selected in the lottery draw.

Below are things you should know about before time and before applying for DV Lottery (Green Card) 2025.

DV Lottery Application Checklist

Passport Tips

• Passport size photo
• Dimension 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm) in size
• Taken with a white background
• Recent (within the last six months)
• For you and derivatives
• No Selfies
• No Glasses

Your photo is a vital part of your visa application. Checkout sample below:

Find out more about Photo Requirements for DV Lottery.

Access to Smartphone/Computer

• Good enough
• Internet Enabled
• Doesn’t have to be expensive

Access to good internet connectivity

• Able to search through browser
• Good speed
• Away from distraction

Have your details and of your derivatives

• Have birth certificates for reference
• Use information on birth certificates
• Leave none of your derivatives out

Relevant qualification

• Either academically (High school diploma)
• Or work experience (two years experience within last 5 years, job with SVP 7 or more)

Find out more about filling Education and work experience.

Eligibility by country

• You qualify by country of birth
• Or country of your spouse birth
• Or country of your parents’ birth
• Not all countries are eligible
• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list
• For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

When it comes to the Diversity Visa lottery (i.e Green Card Lottery), every applicant is treated equally. Everyone has an equal chance of getting selected. The DV Lottery selection is fair.

The diversity visa is only meant to diversify the immigration to the United States, and the selection process is not incumbent to anything. Everyone that enters into the lottery has an equal chance of getting selected. That is the beauty of this program.

Always try to apply because regardless of anything that you have or any other person have or the position, you are all the same when it comes to the Green Card lottery.

Everyone have equal chances of getting selected, regardless of the education level beyond the high school or the secondary education that is a requirement.

If you have any advancement in education beyond high school, probably the college degree, the university degree, the PhD or the master’s degree or any level beyond high school, that is not a factor in selection.

If you have your PhD and the other person has the high school diploma, all of you have equal chances. You are treated equally. You are equal when it comes to the diversity visa.

If you qualify through work experience and the other one qualifies through academics, all of you have equal chances of getting selected. You are treated equally.

The title that you hold

Having a higher title or a stronger title does not give you higher chances of getting selected than the other one without that title. Maybe you are a professor or you are an engineer or a doctor or any other specialization or any other title.

Regardless of the title you hold back in your country, you have all equal chances.

Your current profession

If you are in the teaching profession, it does not mean that you will have higher chances of getting selected because of your teaching profession. Or you are a doctor, you will not get higher chances of getting selected simply because you are a doctor and the other person who is just a casual laborer.

Regardless of the profession you are doing, be it an engineer or a doctor or any other profession or a casual laborer, it does not matter. All of you become equal when it comes to the diversity visa selection.

Your country

Whether you come from the first-world countries like those in the Europe or Asia, or you come from a second-world country or a third-world country, whether you come from a wealthy country or from a poor country, that one is not a factor.

You are all equal when it comes to the diversity visa. All of you qualify equally when it comes to the Green Card lottery.

It does not matter the race, whether you’re white or Asian or Latinos or blacks, it does not matter your race. A black person doesn’t have higher chances of getting selected than a white person and vice versa.

An Asian does not have higher chances of getting selected than the white or the white higher than the Asian or the Latinos. It does not matter the race. All people in the application, they are treated equally.

It doesn’t matter how many times you have ever tried your luck in the diversity visa lottery. Even if you have applied several times, it does not increase your chances of getting selected. It does not bring you closer to getting selected.

You might try the first time and get selected. You might try the seventh time and don’t get selected. The higher you try does not mean the closer to winning. Whether you are a first timer or you have applied separately, all of you have equal chances. You are treated the same and equal.

Having visited the United States for several times or for many times doesn’t guarantee you a higher chances of getting selected. Even if you’ve toured the United States 10 times or 20 times or whichever number of times, that doesn’t give you a higher chance of getting selected.

Whether you’ve never visited the United States or you have visited there several times, you are all treated the same. You have the same chances of getting selected.

What happens during the entry and selection is, whenever a person submits his or her entry into the DV Lottery Program, a special number is assigned to that particular application.

Every application into the diversity visa or any entry into the diversity visa, will be having an assigned number, and that number is what will be used when the computer program is selecting the winners. It will use just the numbers and not any other factor.

When the numbers are plugged into that program and then they are randomly selected, meaning you all have equal chances of being picked as a winner.

If you have applied and you’re waiting for the results, know that you have the same chances as the other applicant.

Yes, DV Lottery selection process is fair. I hope the information is clear and very useful to you.

DISCLAIMER: This post and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any Diversity Visa and is not the official site for DV Lottery program. The information presented in this post should not be construed to be formal legal advice.

DV-2025 Application: Doubling your chances of getting selected in the DV2025 lottery or tripling your chances of getting selected is exactly what this guide will focus on.

At the time of posting this guide, we have exactly one month to the DV Lottery 2025 application.

To apply for DV2025 lottery, you need to be well prepared and by preparation, have your photo ready. Your photo as the principal applicant together with all those members of your family that you will apply with.

Make sure you get your photo ready and because that is one major requirement. You don’t need to have a passport, only the passport photo that meets the requirements for you to apply the DV2025 lottery.

But remember, it is good also to have by your side the birth certificate, and this is not a requirement, but it is a good item, a piece of document that will guarantee you that you fill in the correct information.

Some people messed up with their place of birth or the city of birth. Others also messed up with their names and many other minor mistakes and they ended up not getting their visa.

So having the birth certificate by your side as you’re filling the DV lottery, together with those birth certificates of your derivatives, it is of great help. It will help you eliminate such errors, those mistakes that will cost you your visa.

How do you double or triple your chances of getting selected for DV2025?

Let discuss two sets of people:

1. The couples or the parents, and number two, the children.

Every person from a qualifying country, an eligible country, and has met all their requirements, and they are simple requirements, having achieved a high school education or if not, have a qualifying work experience within the past five years, and that is a two-year work experience within the last five years. That is the only requirement.

Remember, it is either of the two, either a high school diploma or if you don’t have a high school diploma, then a two-year work experience within the last five years and you should be coming from an eligible country.

If you are a couple, that is to mean you are married, you can double your chances, the both of you. This is by you applying for the DV2025 lottery and including your spouse.

If you are the husband, you apply and then include your wife or your wife applies and includes the husband. That is how you double the chances, both of you apply, including one another.

2. The Children

If you have children that are not married yet, they should be under the age of 21 years, then you also include. Also, if the wife fills as the principal applicant, she should includes the husband and the kids. The husband applies, includes the wife and the kids. All those kids that have fulfilled those qualification.

Remember, even if your kid is under 21 years of age but he or she is married does not count as a qualified derivative. The child must be under 21 and not married. By you doing that, you’ve doubled your chances of getting selected as the couple.

For tripling your chances of getting selected for DV2025 : How does it happen?

Your parents, both of them and each one of them applies and includes you as their kid. That is the father applies, includes the mother and you.

Again, the mother applies includes the father and you, those are two, and you also apply, that is three. So long as you have the high school diploma or certificate or you are just about to do your final exam in the high school education.

So if you are about to sit for your final exam, let’s say, for example, you will be doing your final exam at the end of this year. If you are there and you will be sitting for your high school final exam within this year, then you are qualified to apply for it because by the time the results will be out, that is May next year, you will have already sat for your exam and you will be having your certificate, that is the diploma.

So if you are in high school and you will be sitting for your final exam this year, just go ahead and apply.

In summary

How do you triple your chances as a kid?

If you are a kid and you are about to sit for your exam or you are under the age of 21 and you have your diploma, that is the high school certificate. Then you can triple your chances of getting selected by you applying for the DV lottery and then let your father apply and include you, because that is what is required, and your mother apply and includes you and the family.

By so doing, you will have a chance from your father, a chance from a mother, and a chance from you yourself. That is triple the chance of getting selected.

For doubling chances

If you are a couple, ensure that you apply the both of you, including each other in the application.

I hope that the information is clear and well understood.

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