DV processing

Marriage Questions and Answers on DV Lottery Process: This guide will answer some family questions regarding the Diversity Visa.

Marriage Questions and Answers on DV Lottery Process

Question: I filled single during the initial entry (Diversity Visa Lottery Application), yet I was married, can I add my spouse in the DS-260 form?

Answer: The answer is directly no.

When entering the diversity visa lottery program, you are supposed to be truthful. Meaning, if you’re married, you are supposed to choose you’re married.

If you had a spouse or children prior to submitting your original entry, but you did not include them on your original entry form, such errors may render you, as well as any of your family members, ineligible for a diversity visa.

If you listed a spouse or child on your original entry who was not your spouse or child at the time of entry, such errors may render you, as well as any of your family members, ineligible for a diversity visa.

If you’re married to a non-citizen of the United States, you indicate that. If you are married to a United States citizen, then you indicate that as well.

But if you’re married and you indicate you are single, there’s no way you can add the spouse in the DS-260. Since you said you are single. Such results to fraud, and fraud definitely will deny you Green card visa, if you did this.

If you applied as single, yet you are married, be sure that you will end up being denied the visa because this is fraud.

If you’re married, indicate you’re married and include the details of your family. If you’re single, just include your single and continue the process.

If your family circumstances have legitimately changed after submitting your original entry, you should add those family members and all family members’ applications will be reviewed.

Find out more about Marriage-Based Green Card Interview Questions and Answers

Question: I filled married because I was customarily married, during the process i separated with my spouse and therefore I cannot obtain a separation document or a divorce document. What will I do?

Answer: To answer this, if at all you cannot prove your separation legally, then there’s no way you will receive your Green card visa.

If you can find ways to get a legal separation, then that’s the only way. But if you are separated and you cannot obtain the legal separation document, then you are screwed. You cannot receive your diversity visa.

Find out more about Marriage-Based Green Card Interview Questions and Answers

I hope the answer to those questions is very clearly.

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.

Single parents in the DV Lottery Program: This guide is for the single parents that are intending to apply for the DV lottery or are selected or they are selectees in the DV lottery.

Categories of Single Parents in the DV Lottery Program

We have two categories of single parents:

Category one: Maybe you have never gotten married in your life, but you have kids and that means that even when getting the kid, delivering the kid, there was no manly figure that was there to claim paternity of the kid or the kids.

Or if you’re a man, the lady gave birth to the kid and left the kid immediately, and therefore you are the custodian of that child as a man.

Category two: You are a single woman because you have a relationship with a man, and therefore you have kids whose birth certificate have the name of the second parent as well as yours. That means that during birth of your kids, that man was there to give you support and claim paternity of that kid.

You are in either of these situations or scenarios and you want to apply for the DV lottery or you have been selected a winner in the DV lottery.

1. If you are in either of those scenarios and you are intending to apply for the DV lottery, the first key point that you should note is that you are supposed to apply as a single.
2. Applying as a single, you have to add all of your kids. All of your kids must be lined up in the application.

Those two things must be done. If you get successful and you are selected, the process begins. So you proceed the way you did in the application.

When it comes to your kids and immigration, of course, no country will allow anyone to get out of the country with any kid without the consent of both the parents.

For the first case that you are single and your kids, no one came to claim paternity. That means that you have the full custody over your child. That means the children belong to you solely, you alone. No one claims the other parenthood.

In that case, you have nothing to worry about. You don’t need to look for any consent. In any case, whose consent are you looking for? You don’t have anyone claiming paternity.

Even on the birth certificate, there is no indication of the other parent. It is only you. And therefore that means these children belong to you. No consent is needed. You are right to go ahead and immigrate with them. You have the full custody over your children.

But when it comes to the single parent who is maybe in a relationship or was in a relationship and the kids have the second name of the parent in their birth certificates. So there’s someone claiming the parenthood of the children as well. In this case is when you will be required to have the consent of the other parent.

You cannot move out with the children without the consent of the other parent claiming parent hold of the children. It does not mean that it’s a hard process. You just need to get the other parents to sign a consent letter.

It must be a notary consent letter, meaning before an advocate or a court that is signed and stamped by the legal authority that the other parent intends the children to immigrate with you. In this case, you will be required to look for that consent letter and it should be notary, that should be noted.

If you are a single parent, and you have another parent claiming parenthood of the children, then look for his or her consent.

However, there is a second option, if at all you cannot reach the other parent, maybe you were in a relationship long time ago and there’s no way you can access this other parent, then you need to look for the full custody through a court, the full custody of your children. It is called the sole custody.

That means that before a court or an advocate, you will sign the sole custody of your children. It means all of the decisions around your children be imposed on you, be transferred to you.

When you obtain the sole custody over your children, then you have the right to make all decisions, be it academic, be it immigration, about your children, you are allowed to do that. That is the second option.

If at all you cannot reach the other parent in whichever way, then you can go and seek to sign the sole custody of your children and you’ll have all the decisions over your children by yourself without needing any consent letter.

Finally, remember that in this case, if you don’t or you are unable to get the consent letter, you will not be allowed to get out of the country with your children.

Some Questions About Applying As Single Parents In The DV Lottery Program

Question: Is there any advantage applying as a single parent?

Answer: No.

Question: What if I don’t want to initially travel with the kids and later pick them up? Should I tell them so or keep it to myself.

Answer: First, even if you don’t want to go with them, you have to add them in application and also in ds260. And in DS-260 you select not immigrating with them.

Question: I’m the principal applicant and have a husband and daughter, I filled DS-260 with both as my accompany but we got issues with the husband, can I travel alone with daughter, what do I expect on interview because since we separated he won’t be coming, can I remove him?

Answer: First, a consent letter for the kids from him is a must. Second, you can immigrate without him.

Question: Will you be denied visa if you applied as single parent but you want to leave your child behind?

Answer: So long as you included the kid in the application you are safe. You can choose not to immigrate with him. However if you left the kid out, you will be denied visa.

Question: Can you be denied visa if you are married for like 20 or 25 years and you recently got your marriage certificate like this year.

Answer: No you won’t be denied. You did good to get the certificate.

Question: The person on my son birth certificate died some yes back which was my uncle, since the father deny the pregnancy and I don’t have any information about his dead. How am I going to do to have consent letter for my child, can a lawyer sign the consent letter for me?

Answer: A lawyer cannot sign. What you do, get the uncle death certificate. You will be totally safe.

Question: What if one is a widow how do you go about it?

Answer: You use the death certificate of the husband.

Question: If I happen to fill DS-260 form before I give birth and I don’t include my baby, will I be denied visa? or where will I fill baby’s details? Or I can wait to start the process once I give birth?

Answer: You will fill the DS-260 early, and unlock it to add the newborn.

Question: Does the consular at the embassy ask for consent letter during interview or is it at the port of entry you are asked for?

Answer: At the embassy.

I hope this information for the single parents 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.

Which Children To Add As Derivatives in DV Lottery? This guide will focus on which children to be added as derivatives during the application in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

In my previous post, we learned about the qualifications of a spouse who is supposed to be added as a derivative during the application in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

In this next guide, which is part two, we are going to learn in details on the qualifications of the children who are supposed to be added as derivatives in the application.

Therefore, we will learn about the three classes of children that are considered qualified as derivatives in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. But first of all, all these three categories of children should fulfill the following:

• They should be under the age of 21 years old.
• They all should be unmarried and single.

Submit individual photographs of each of your children using the same technical specifications as your own photograph.

Based on the document from the travel.state.gov, as shown in sample below, in number 15, it covers about the children.

It says…..

When applying in the diversity visa lottery, you are supposed to list the number of children that you have, and you also include all these details about the children.

All unmarried and under the age of 21 years of age, regardless of whether you are living with them or intend to accompany you or follow to join you.

Which Children To Add As Derivatives in DV Lottery?

As you proceed down, you see the three categories of children that qualify as derivatives in the application.

• The first category of children include all living natural children.

This means all the children that you have given birth to or all the children that are biologically yours, they are eligible to be added as derivatives in the application.

• The second category is all living children that are legally adopted to you.

These are the children that through court procedures or legal procedures, they have been acquired by you. By the law, they belong to you. They all are eligible to be added as derivatives.

• The third category include all step-children.

These are the children of your spouse, and this spouse must be legally married to you. All the children that he or she came in to join you with, they all are qualified to be added as derivatives.

It is important to note that even if the child does not currently live with you, or even if you are no longer married to that spouse, even if you broke up, these children, they are still eligible to be added as derivatives in your diversity visa lottery application.

Married children and children who are already age 21 or older, they are not eligible. Even if your child is under the age of 21 and he or she is married, he or she is not eligible to be added as derivative.

There is another important clause from the sample above, and this is the Child Status Protection Act. What does this act do?

This act was put forth to protect all the children that attain the age of 21 years during the processing of the diversity visa. This means that when you were applying in the diversity visa lottery program, the child was not 21 years of age yet. But during the process, he or she turned 21. This act will protect that child.

Even if he or she is above 21 years during the processing, he or she is considered as under the age of 21 and is eligible for the visa.

Finally, the last clause says, a child who is already a U.S citizen or a legal permanent resident when you submit your diversity visa entry will not require to be issued a diversity visa.

This is because he or she is a citizen or she holds the green card. So he or she will not require to be issued another one.

It’s continued to say, even if you omit that child that is already in the United States in your application, you will not be penalized. So if you include him or her or you exclude him or her, it’s not a penalty.

I hope that is very clear and the information is useful. Don’t make a mistake of including any unqualified child because this will cost you the visa.

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 guide, we will learn who qualifies to be added as your derivative when applying for the diversity visa lottery. What is the spouse Diversity Visa lottery?

First of all, we know that if you are a family man or woman, you are required to add the members of your family as your derivatives when applying for the diversity visa lottery without leaving anyone out.

Speaking of the family, here it is referring to the immediate family, that is the nuclear family, the spouse together with the children. But who qualifies to be your spouse? Or who qualifies to be your children when applying the diversity visa lottery?

The answer to this question will be divided into two parts.

In the first part, we are going to discuss on the qualifications of a person to be your spouse and as a derivative in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. In the second part of this answer, we are going to discuss on the qualification of the children that are supposed to be added as your derivatives.

Therefore, read this guide to the end to avoid jumping into conclusions that are not valid.

Who is your spouse that qualifies to be added as a derivative?

A spouse is your legally married husband or wife. This means that you have a certifying document issued by the government showing that this is your wife or this is your husband. To be more precise, you should be having a marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriages in your country.

Having known that, who does not qualify to become your spouse that you should add as a derivative when applying in the diversity visa lottery?

1. Your girlfriend or your boyfriend does not qualify as a spouse to be added as the derivative when entering the diversity visa lottery program.
2. Partnering is not allowed. That means if you are residing with a man or a woman or cohabiting with a lady or a gentleman, that lady or gentleman is not your spouse. He or she does not qualify to be added as a derivative in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.
3. Your fiancé is not a spouse or your fiancée is not a spouse. You are not yet married, meaning you don’t have the marriage certificate. Therefore, during application and you have a fiancée, you are supposed to apply a single and not as married.

But you will continue with your plans and get married and then add him or her as your spouse in the DS-260 form, after marriage.

4. Your second wife, your third wife, or any other wife apart from your first wife, is not considered as your spouse. So if you are married to several wives, then they are not all qualified as your spouse. Only the first wife is your spouse and is the only one that you will add as the derivative when applying in the Diversity Visa lottery Program.

What if I’m married, but I don’t have that certifying document or the marriage certificate?

If you were customarily married, that means you took your wife or your husband and you went to your parents and you were given a go ahead to go and marry, and therefore you don’t have any certifying document.

Then you will be required to follow the legal procedures for you to obtain the marriage certificate before you enter the diversity visa lottery. Or in some cases, you might apply as married because you’re married, only that you don’t have the certificate. Then you follow the legal procedures and obtain a marriage certificate before you are interview date.

You apply as married because you’re married, yes. Then file for the marriage certificate and make sure you obtain the marriage certificate before you attend your diversity visa interview.

There are many cases where people who are married customarily and did not have the marriage certificate, but after entering the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, they were selected, and what they did, they went ahead and obtained the marriage certificate because without the marriage certificate, you wouldn’t be given visa. Only the marriage certificate will you prove that you are married.

If you are engaged to marry each other and you have applied as a single person because that is what is required, and then you are selected, and in the process you get married and you have your marriage certificate. You will go ahead and add your spouse in the DS-260 form.

But you must note that you must have evidence or proofs of your existing relationship or engagement before entering the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. You’ll have to provide documentation of your engagement or any proof of relationship prior your entry into the Diversity Visa Lottery.

You must have the proofs to prove that you were engaged, you had previous relationship.

Therefore, when applying in the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, ensure you don’t make these mistakes. Ensure that the spouse that you are adding is really your spouse, as we have discussed above.

I hope this information has been useful.

For the next part on the qualification of the children who are supposed to be added as derivatives in the diversity visa lottery application, check here.

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.

Assume someone is applying the DV lottery, on the day of the application that person is unmarried. Maybe one month later, the person is married. What happens? What if i get married after DV lottery?

Will you be allowed to add your wife or your husband, if you got married after application or if you get married after the DV lottery results is out?

Above are some of the questions many individuals applying for DV lottery program asked regularly.

The answer to these questions is yes.

If you are among those that will be selected or have been selected successfully from the DV lottery program, there will be no problem at all to add that particular person (your spouse) but you can only do that when you are filling the DS-260 form.

Any change in marital status after applying for DV lottery program or after the results is out, it will not affect you negatively in any way.

The problem will be if on the day of your DV lottery application, you are married and you lie, you say you are single, or you are single, you lie, you say you are married.

But if you are single and you get married after the DV lottery application, you’ll be able add your spouse when filling the visa form, i.e DS-260 form, and then you’ll be able to go together to the United States, if you both of you pass the DV interview successfully.

The only difference is this way, on the DS-260 form, if you are married on the day of application and you include you are married, when you go to the visa form (DS-260), when you put your confirmation number and everything, you sign in to the DS-260, you will also see the name of your wife or your husband, and if you have children, their names will be already in the DS-260 form.

But if after the DV lottery application you go and get married after or you have a child later, you will manually add those dependents in that particular form (DS-260). That’s the only difference.

But obviously, you need to have evidence to prove that you got married after the application or after the results, to show that the marriage is the bonafide marriage, not the scam, immigration scam or immigration fraud. Maybe you want just to get the benefit of the immigration to go to America through Green Card lottery.

What if I get married after submitting DS-260?

Report the marriage and provide documentary evidence at your interview. The consular official should request that your spouse file their own application for a derivative immigrant visa (and pay the fees.)

The consular official will interview you both to determine the genuineness of the marriage. If they are convinced your marriage is genuine and you both otherwise qualify for visas, you’ll be issued DV immigrant visas. You must then either immigrate together or you must immigrate first followed by your spouse.

I hope the information is very 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.

Winning the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery is a dream come true for thousands of hopeful applicants worldwide. The journey to securing a spot in the United States begins with a single click, the submission of the DV-2025 Lottery application form. In this post, we explore the significance of the DV-2025 Lottery Application Form Success Page, which is more than just a confirmation; it’s the first step toward a brighter future.

1. The Application Process:

Completing the DV-2025 Entry Form: 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.

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. The information you enter must be accurate and correct or you may be disqualified later.

To Apply DV-2025, Check=> How to Properly Fill Out the DV-2025 Lottery Application Form (DS-5501) Part One and Part Two (Derivatives Section)

Submission Confirmation: After successfully submitting the form, applicants are directed to the Success Page, which serves as confirmation.

DV-2025 Entrants may enter their confirmation information through the link (https://dvprogram.state.gov/) starting at noon (EDT) on May 4, 2024. Entrants should keep their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2025.

• The Significance of the Success Page:

The Gateway to Dreams: The Success Page is the threshold to a world of possibilities, it confirms your entry into the DV-2025 Lottery.

Peace of Mind: Success page (confirmation page) brings relief and excitement, knowing that your application has been received.

• The Importance of the Confirmation Number:

Retaining the Confirmation Number: After properly filling out the DV-2025 Lottery Application Form (DS-5501) and you received this success page, please make sure you print out this success page and also write out your confirmation number before you exit it.

Retaining the confirmation number provided on the Success Page is very important, as it is essential for checking the application status.

• Checking Your Status:

Tracking Your Application: Applicants must use the confirmation number to check the status of their DV-2025 Lottery application on the official website.

You must remember to check the lottery results yourself online using your confirmation number. The State Department will not send you a letter or an email to let you know if you have been selected.

Note: Being selected in the DV Lottery does not guarantee you will receive a visa. Selection means you can move forward in the DV Program.

• What Comes Next:

The Waiting Period: Those who are lucky enough to get their applications in successfully on time will wait for the results that will be available next year. They will need to wait until the May 4, 2024, before entering their Confirmation Number and other details on the DV Lottery website and checking the status of their application.

• Preparing for Success:

Preparing for the Next Steps: If you are selected in the DV Lottery and have the qualifications, you can apply for an immigrant visa. If approved, you would be able to go to the U.S., become a permanent resident, and get a Green Card.

(i) Sign up to apply for an immigrant visa at the portal.

(ii) Fill out and submit your immigrant visa application, Form DS-260, online. Learn more about Form DS-260 before you submit it. Selected entrants are encouraged to complete the online DS-260 application immediately to schedule an interview appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

(iii) After you apply, you may receive an email scheduling you for an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Learn how to prepare for your interview.

(iv) Do your medical examinations.

(v) Your interviewer will tell you if you are approved for an immigrant visa. At the end of your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. When approved, you will be informed how and when your passport and visa will be returned to you.

Find out more about the Documents Required After Winning DV (Green Card) Lottery

Conclusion:

The DV-2025 Lottery Application Form Success Page is more than just a digital confirmation; it’s a symbol of hope and potential for a brighter future. The journey to realizing the American dream begins here, with that single click, and the confirmation number you receive is your key to tracking your progress.

As you navigate the waiting period, remember that the Success Page is a tangible sign of your determination to reach new horizons. With preparation, patience, and a little luck, the DV-2025 Lottery may be the first chapter in an incredible story of success and transformation.

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.

Tips for a Winning DV-2025 Lottery Application

The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery is a golden ticket to realizing the American dream for many hopeful applicants worldwide. The chance to obtain a U.S. green card is a life-changing opportunity. However, the road to success is paved with challenges, and avoiding common mistakes is key to securing your spot.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the tips and tricks for a winning DV-2025 Lottery application, steering clear of the pitfalls that often stand in the way of hopeful immigrants.

Understanding the DV-2025 Lottery:

Before we dive into the do’s and don’ts of the DV-2025 application process, it’s crucial to have a solid grasp of the program’s fundamentals:

Eligibility and Entry Requirements: To participate in the DV-2025 Lottery, you must meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the U.S. Department of State, which includes having a high school education or qualifying work experience.

Find out more about filling Education and work experience.

Timely Application: The application window is limited, usually opening in October. Mark your calendar and submit your entry within this timeframe. Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2025 program electronically.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Let’s explore the common mistakes that can undermine your chances of winning and how to steer clear of them:

Submitting Multiple Entries: Some applicants try to increase their odds by submitting multiple entries, but this is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification.

Inaccurate or Incomplete Information: Filling out the DV entry form with incorrect or incomplete information can lead to disqualification.

Find out more about How to Properly Fill Out the DV Lottery Application Form (DS-5501) and WIN the Green Card

Overlooking Eligibility Requirements: Failure to meet the education or work experience requirements will result in disqualification. Double-check your eligibility.

Unverified Agents and Fees: Beware of fraudulent individuals or agencies that charge fees for the DV Lottery. The application process is free, and you don’t need to pay anyone to enter.

Late Entries: Missing the application window is a common mistake. Mark your calendar and submit your entry on time.

Poor-Quality Photos: Ensure your photos meet the specified requirements in terms of size, background, and quality.

Find out more about Photo Requirements for DV Lottery.

Top Tips for a Winning Application:

Double-Check Eligibility: Verify that you meet the eligibility criteria before entering.

Find out more about eligibility country for DV Lottery.

Complete and Submit Your Entry Early: Don’t wait until the last minute. Submit your application as soon as the DV Lottery opens.

Use the Official Website: Only use the official U.S. government website (https://dvprogram.state.gov/) to enter the DV Lottery.

Ensure Accurate Information: Be meticulous in providing accurate details, especially in names, birthdates, and photos.

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

Keep Application Confirmation: After submitting your entry, retain the confirmation number provided. You will need it to check your status.

Difference between the Confirmation Number and Case Number?

Conclusion:

Winning the DV-2025 Lottery is a life-changing opportunity, and avoiding common mistakes is your first step on this incredible journey. By adhering to the eligibility requirements, submitting your application accurately and on time, and being cautious of scams, you increase your chances of securing a spot and beginning your American dream.

Good luck to all future DV-2025 Lottery applicants!

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 do I know that KCC has received my DS-260, after I have submitted it? Does KCC send an email notification showing you that they have received your DS-260? This guide will give you answer to this questions.

Majority of those applicants that submitted their DS-260s, they don’t receive an email telling them that KCC has received their DS-260.

However, there are some cases that they received an email notification from KCC informing them that KCC has received their DS-260 form. Therefore, those are the two answers.

Sometimes KCC may send a notification to you saying that they have successfully received your DS-260, but many other times they might not send you the notification.

But, how do you know that KCC has received your DS-260 form?

Upon finishing your DS-260 and submitting it successfully, you will receive the confirmation page and this confirmation page has this information that will assure you that it has been successfully sent to KCC.

Confirmation Notification After Submitting DS-260 to KCC

Check sample of the confirmation page attached below:

It says….

“Thank you

You have successfully submitted an immigrant visa and alien registration application (form DS-260). You must bring to your visa interview proof that you submitted this form by printing a confirmation page using the below button.

Do not print a copy of this screen. Use the below print confirmation button to print a page with a unique barcode related to the visa application.

You can print a confirmation from this website at any time.”

That information is a confirmation by itself, that your DS-260 has been successfully submitted.

In conclusion

The above sample is the page that you are supposed to print and present it during your interview to the consular officer. You print it by clicking the button down below saying “Print”. Don’t print the website page, but click the “print” button for you to get the confirmation page printed with a unique barcode.

That is the confirmation of your successfully submitted DS-260 form.

Question: How do you know your case has been processed?

Answer: You can write to KCC and request

I hope the information is very 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.

There are these two terms that many people are confused or get confused in the DV process. That is the confirmation number and the case number. What is the difference between these two terms?

Confirmation Number

The confirmation number is the number that you get once you apply for the DV lottery program successfully.

Immediately you fill in your details, the details of your dependents and derivatives, and you submit your application to the DV lottery, the number that you receive, that’s what we call the confirmation number.

You’re supposed to keep it safe because this confirmation number is what you will use during checking the DV lottery results. When you’re checking the results, you’ll use this confirmation number to check if you were selected.

READ ALSO: How To Retrieve Lost DV Lottery Confirmation Number

The Case Number

When you want to check the results and you visit the dvprogram.state.gov and filled in the entrant status check and submit it, then there will be a notification.

If you are successful and you are selected, there will be a notification saying that your entry was selected and there will be a downloadable notification of the same telling you that you are successfully selected to proceed with the process.

That first notification is called the First Notification Letter (1NL), as discussed in this post here, you will find a number and that number is special to you, is specific to you. That number is what we call the case number.

Case Number is the number that the KCC, the Kentucky consular Center uses to schedule the interviews, and they do this in an ascending order. The case number is the one that KCC uses to schedule for your interview.

That is the difference between the two terms that are commonly used in the DV process.

I hope the information 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.

Confirmation number disappeared on the process of applying DV lottery, what should you do?

We are in period of the DV Lottery 2025 application, and majority of people have already applied for it, also majority have not yet. Maybe because they are taking their time in preparation, ensuring that the photo they are applying with meet the qualifications, and also ensuring that they have all the information about the DV Lottery application.

This guide will focus mainly on issues regarding “Confirmation number disappeared” on the process of applying DV lottery, “Same Photos Eligibility” and “Country of Birth”.

It is very important you know that is only when you have your confirmation number that is when you know that you have applied, and you must keep your confirmation number safe, don’t lose it.

This confirmation number, you have to save it very well. It is recommended that you print it out, that page that comes after you have filled your DV application, which says congratulations, you have successfully applied for the DV Lottery 2025, make sure you print it.

You print it out and store it within your important documents because you will require this confirmation number during the checking of your results. Without it, you cannot check for the results. So it is recommended that you print it out and save it.

If you are not able to print it out, maybe you filled the DV lottery form using your phone and you don’t have any access to any printing accessory, then what you need to do is to screenshot the success page. Just take a screenshot of it and preserve it.

You can save it on your phone if you trust your phone. Or you can save it on the Google Drive if you can. You can save it in whichever gadgets or any storage that you feel is safe.

Question: I have applied or just finished applying DV lottery, but I pressed the refresh button before saving my confirmation number, how can I retrieve my confirmation number?

If you did not save your confirmation number and you refreshed the page before saving it, what should you do?

Do not do a second DV lottery application with the aim of saving the confirmation number. If you have applied and you erroneously refreshed the page without you saving the confirmation number, the only option that you have is to wait till the results are out, that is next year in the month of May.

That is the only thing that you have to do, wait till May of next year. After the results are out, then, you will be able to recover your confirmation number.

But one thing that you should note is that, you will need your details (your last name and your year of birth). Your last name and your year of birth is what you should remember.

The name that you used in the application as your last name or the family name is what you need to remember. Also the year of birth that you used in the application. You are recommended to use that date of birth which is indicated on either your passport or birth certificate.

Use the exact date of birth on your birth certificate or passport, so that you can remember it easily. You must remember your year of birth and your last or family name for you to recover the confirmation number.

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

Same Photos Eligibility

Question: Can someone use the same photos that his or her spouse used for the DV lottery application?

Let say, the couple or the family, they took the photos, one set of it, the husband, the wife, and the kids or the husband and the wife. Can you use the same photos for application as your spouse? The correct answer is yes.

The same photos that you used in application, you as the principal applicant, is the same photos that your spouse should use for the application, use the same photos, there is no harm in that.

Find out more about Photo Requirements for DV Lottery.

Remember, when you applied and your spouse applied too, then you increase your chances, you have a double chances of getting selected for diversity visa.

Country Of Birth

The country of birth is the country that you use for eligibility. If you used your country of birth as the country of eligibility and you have some worries whether you should have used that, you did the proper thing. The correct thing to do is to use your country of birth as the country of eligibility.

Remember, there are other ways. If your country of birth is not in the list of the eligible countries for DV lottery, then if you’re married, you can use the country of your spouse as the country of eligibility, provided that the country is on the eligibility list.

If you used your country of birth as the country of eligibility, that is the correct way. You should not use the country of your citizenship if it is not the country of your birth as the country of eligibility, if you’re qualifying through the country of birth.

• For this year Diversity Visa lottery, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list
• For this year Diversity Visa lottery, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list

If you are born in a country that is eligible, use the country of eligibility as the country of your birth.

Thanks for reading this guide, continue applying for those who have not applied yet, and remember, you just apply once, not twice. If you apply twice, you are disqualified completely.

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.

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.