The U.S Department of State Web site for the 2025 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2025) is now open, and allows those from countries with low U.S. immigration rates, who meet eligibility requirements, to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. In this guide, we will learn 5 Reasons You May be Disqualified from the DV Lottery.
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.
Interested individuals all who are eligible are encouraged to apply, including selectees who were unable to obtain a visa during a prior program year.
5 Reasons You May be Disqualified from the DV Lottery
Below are common reasons why your entry into the Diversity Visa Lottery could be disqualified:
- Your Country is Not Eligible for the Lottery
You may be disqualified from the diversity visa DV Lottery program if you are not chargeable to an eligible country. Maybe you were not born in a country that qualifies you for the diversity visa.
Most countries in the world qualifies for this lottery. There are a list of countries who do not qualify and mainly it’s simply because those countries already have high rates of immigration to the United States.
- For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are eligible to apply…..view list
- For DV-2025, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply…..view list
The whole point of diversity visa is the U.S is trying to give an opportunity to people who come from countries that have low rates of immigration to the U.S. So if you come from a country that already has high rates of immigration, you do not qualify for the DV lottery.
- You don’t have the required Education or Occupational (work) Experience to qualify for the visa lottery.
You may be disqualified from the diversity visa program if you lacks the required education or occupational experience.
Basically, in order to qualify for a diversity visa, you either have completed twelve years of schooling secondary level education, you’ve completed high school or you have to have at least two years’ experience in an occupation that requires a minimum of two years training for that occupation.
Find out more about filling Education and work experience.
So if you lack the education or if you lack the occupational experience, then you don’t qualify for the DV Lottery program.
- You submit Multiple Entries.
You may be disqualified for the program if you tries to submit more than one entry. So each person is only allowed one entry to the diversity visa program, folks. Over 20 million people around the world each year apply for the DV Lottery program and only 55,000 people are going to get a diversity visa.
Those people who try to do shady things and submit extra application, if you submit more than one, you will be disqualified from the program.
Once you submit your application online, you will get an official confirmation number. That’s how you know that your entry has been received. Once you get that confirmation number, don’t submit another one.
Sometimes there are issues where an individual may submit one, and maybe they have their friend or relative or whatever in America or in another country submit another application, please don’t, because for each person, there can be only one submission.
It is perfectly fine for a married couple that each spouse submits their own and then lists the other person as their spouse, that’s totally allowed.
- Your Photo is Non-compliant.
You may be disqualified from the diversity visa program if you don’t submit a compliant photo. You are required for each applicant to submit a photo, and the State Department is very specific about what should or should that be in the photo.
White or off-white background, it needs to be a color photo, No eyeglasses in the photo, no shadows in the photo and it has to be taken within six months.
Find out more about Photo Requirements for DV-2025 Lottery.
Check out the State Department website and make sure your photo is compliant.
- You Submit Incorrect or Fraudulent Information
You may be disqualified from the diversity visa program if you fail to submit the right passport photo, or put information that is wrong, incorrect, or sometimes just fraudulent.
The application itself, the online application, takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. Make sure that the information that you’re putting there is accurate. If you’re married, put that you’re married and put your spouse’s information.
There is separate check boxes for those that are already married to U.S citizen or a permanent resident. Or married to someone who’s not a U.S citizen or permanent resident. If you have children, list all your children. Make sure that the information is accurate.
These are 5 Reasons You May be Disqualified from the DV Lottery. Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a DV.
Note: It is so important that you keep your confirmation number because that’s the only way you can check and see if you have been picked.
I hope this information has been helpful and you are aware of potential pitfalls. Best of luck to you as you submit your application for the lottery.
DISCLAIMER: This post/guide and content is designed for general information only and is NOT legal advice. This site is not offering any legal advice or DV. If you need legal advice, you should seek the advice of an attorney in your jurisdiction before taking any legal action.