FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT DO THE TERMS “ELIGIBILITY,” “NATIVE,” AND “CHARGEABILITY” MEAN? ARE THERE ANY SITUATIONS IN WHICH PERSONS WHO WERE NOT BORN IN A QUALIFYING COUNTRY MAY APPLY?
Your country of eligibility will normally be the same as your country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where you live. “Native” ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the individual’s current country of residence or nationality. For immigration purposes, “native” can also mean someone who is entitled to be “charged” to a country other than the one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

For example, if you were born in a country that is not eligible for this year’s DV program, you may claim chargeability to the country where your derivative spouse was born. Because your eligibility is based on your spouse, however, you will not be issued a DV-1 immigrant visa unless your spouse is also eligible for and issued a DV-2 visa, and both of you must enter the United States together using your DVs. In a similar manner, a minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.

Finally, if you were born in a country not eligible to participate in this year’s DV program, you can be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible country at the time of your birth. In general, people are not considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized, if they are only visiting the country, studying in the country temporarily, or stationed temporarily in the country for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or government from a country other than the country in which the applicant was born. If you claim alternate chargeability, you must indicate such information on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6. Please be aware that listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) may disqualify your entry.

2. HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED IS AUTHENTIC? HOW CAN I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE IN FACT BEEN CHOSEN IN THE RANDOM DV PROGRAM?
Keep your confirmation page from the online registration entry submission until at least June 2014. You must have your confirmation number to access information through the Entrant Status Check available on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means by which DV-2014 entrants are notified of their selection, provided instructions on how to proceed with their application, and notified of their immigrant visa interview appointment date and time. Be advised that the E-DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov is the only authorized Department of State website for official online entry, as well as the required online status check for the Diversity Visa Program.

Status information will be available starting May 1, 2013 through at least June 30, 2014. You must have your confirmation information in order to check your DV entry status. Only the individuals selected randomly to continue the visa process will be given additional instructions on how to pursue their DV visa application. Persons not selected may verify the non-selection of their entry using their confirmation information through the official DV website, but they will not receive any additional instructions. U.S. Embassies and Consulates have no access to the Entrant Status check system; they are unable to check the system for you. The Department of State is NOT able to provide a list of those selected to continue the visa process.

Randomly selected entrants will receive notification instructions for the DV visa application process on the selectee confirmation page available through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov. The instructions say the selected applicants will pay all DV and immigrant visa fees in person only at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the visa application. The consular cashier immediately gives the visa applicant a U.S. government receipt for payment. Selected applicants applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate should never send money for DV fees through the mail, Western Union, or any other delivery service. Those selectees who are already present in the United States and who file for adjustment of status will receive separate instructions on how to mail DV fees to a U.S. bank.

The E-DV program entries are submitted on the Internet, on the official U.S. government E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Notification letters will not be sent to the selected applicants. The U.S. government has never sent e-mails to notify individuals that they have been selected, and there are no plans to use e-mail for this purpose for the DV-2014 program. Selectees will only receive e-mail communications alerting them that a visa appointment has been scheduled after they have responded to the notification instructions on Entrant Status Check. Such e-mails will direct selectees to check their interview appointment details on Entrant Status Check and will not contain information on the actual appointment date and time.

Please note that only Internet sites that end with the “.gov” domain suffix are official U.S. government websites. Many other non-governmental websites (e.g., using the suffixes “.com,” “.org,” or “.net”) provide immigration and visa related information and services. Regardless of the content of non-governmental websites, the Department of State does not endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material shown at these other websites.

Some websites try to mislead customers and members of the public into thinking they are official websites and may contact you by e-mail to lure you to their offers. These websites may attempt to require you to pay for services such as forms and information about immigration procedures, which are free on the Department of State website or through U.S. Embassy or Consulate websites. Additionally, these other websites may require you to pay for services you are not likely to receive (such as fees for DV immigration applications and visas) in an effort to steal your money. If you send in money to one of these scams, you will likely never see it again. Also, you should be wary of sending any personal information to these websites, as it may be used for identity fraud/theft.

3. WHY DO NATIVES OF CERTAIN COUNTRIES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE DV PROGRAM?
DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the historical source countries of large numbers of immigrants to the United States, as indicated in the law by stating that no Diversity Visas shall be provided for natives of “high-admission” countries. The law defines this to mean countries 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, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adds the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five years to identify the countries whose natives will be ineligible for the annual diversity visa program. Since there is a separate determination made before each annual E-DV entry period, the list of countries whose natives are not eligible may change from one year to the next.

4. WHAT IS THE NUMERICAL LIMIT FOR DV-2014?
By law, the DV program makes available a maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to eligible persons. However, the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning as early as DV-1999, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated DVs will be made available for use under the NACARA program. The actual reduction of the limit by up to 5,000 DVs began with DV-2000 and will remain in effect through the DV-2014 program

5. WHAT ARE THE REGIONAL DV LIMITS FOR DV-2014?
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines the regional DV limits for each year according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the INA. Once USCIS has completed these calculations, the regional visa limits will be announced.

6. WHEN WILL ENTRIES FOR THE DV-2014 PROGRAM BE ACCEPTED?
The DV-2014 entry period will run from noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2, 2012, until noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012. Each year, millions of people apply for the program during the registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous amount of work in selecting and processing successful individuals. Holding the entry period starting noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 2 and continuing until noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 3 ensures that selectees are notified in a timely manner and gives both the visa applicants and our embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance. You are strongly encouraged to enter early during the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period may slow the system down. No entries whatsoever will be accepted after noon EDT Saturday, November 3, 2012.

7. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE IN THE UNITED STATES APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?
Yes, an applicant may be in the United States or in another country, and the entry may be submitted from the United States or from abroad

8. IS EACH APPLICANT LIMITED TO ONLY ONE ENTRY DURING THE ANNUAL E-DV REGISTRATION PERIOD?
Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals for whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State employs technology and other means to identify individuals who submit multiple entries during the registration period. People submitting more than one entry will be disqualified, and an electronic record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State. Individuals may apply for the program once each year during the regular registration period.

9. MAY A HUSBAND AND A WIFE EACH SUBMIT A SEPARATE ENTRY?
Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either is selected, the other is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.

10. WHAT FAMILY MEMBERS MUST I INCLUDE ON MY E-DV ENTRY?
On your entry you must list your spouse (husband or wife) and all living unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of whether or not they are living with you or intend to accompany or follow to join you should you immigrate to the United States. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated (i.e., there is a written agreement recognized by a court or a court order). If you are legally separated or divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. You must list ALL your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial E-DV entry, whether they are your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country, unless such child is already a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident. 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.

The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application forms that you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. This only applies to those who were family members at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date. Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your family. See question #9 above.

11. CAN MY SAME-SEX SPOUSES BE INCLUDED IN A DV ENTRY?
No, same-sex marriages are not recognized under U.S. immigration law for the purpose of immigrating to the United States. However, your same-sex partner is free to submit his/her own entry into the DV program if he or she meets all eligibility requirements.

12. MUST I SUBMIT MY OWN ENTRY, OR MAY SOMEONE ACT ON MY BEHALF?
You may prepare and submit your own entry, or have someone submit the entry for you. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each person, and the person seeking the Diversity Visa remains responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete. All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the Entrant Status Check available as of May 1, 2013, on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants must keep their own confirmation page information so that they are able to independently check the status of their entry

13. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE?
U.S. Immigration law and regulations require that every Diversity Visa entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. A “high school education or equivalent” is defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; correspondence programs or equivalency certificates (such as the General Equivalency Diploma G.E.D.)) are not acceptable. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.

14. WHAT OCCUPATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE DV PROGRAM?
To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) O*Net OnLine database will be used. The O*Net Online Database groups job experience into five “job zones.” While many occupations are listed on the DOL Website, only certain specified 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 that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

15. HOW DO I FIND THE QUALIFYING OCCUPATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEB SITE?
Qualifying DV Occupations are shown on the DOL O*Net Online Database. Follow these steps to find out if your occupation qualifies: Select “Find Occupations” and then select a specific “Job Family.” For example, select Architecture and Engineering and click “GO.” Then click on the link for the specific Occupation. Following the same example, click “Aerospace Engineers.” After selecting a specific Occupation link, select the tab “Job Zone” to find out the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range. For additional information, see the Diversity Visa – List of Occupations webpage.

16. HOW WILL SUCCESSFUL ENTRANTS BE SELECTED?
All entries received from each region are individually numbered, and at the end of the registration period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered; the second entry selected will be the second case registered etc. All entries received during the registration period will have an equal chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the entrant will be notified of his/her selection through the Entrant Status Check available starting May 1, 2013, on the E-DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov. The Department of State’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will then process the case until those selected to be visa applicants are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate or until those qualifying to change status in the United States apply at a domestic USCIS office.

Important Note: Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant Status Check, available starting May 1, 2013, through at least June 30, 2014, on the E-DV website www.dvlottery,state.gov. The Department of State does not send selectee notifications or letters by regular postal mail or by e-mail. Should you receive an e-mail notification or a mailed letter stating that you have been selected to receive a DV, be aware that the notification is not legitimate. Any e-mail communication you receive from the Department of State will direct you to review Entrant Status Check for new information about your application. The Department of State will never ask you to send money by mail or by services such as Western Union.

17. MAY SELECTEES ADJUST THEIR STATUS WITH USCIS?
Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected individuals who are physically present in the United States may apply to USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent resident. Applicants must ensure that USCIS can complete action on their cases, including processing of any overseas spouse or children under 21 years of age, before September 30, 2014, since on that date your eligibility for the DV-2014 program expires. No visa numbers for the DV-2014 program will be available after midnight EDT on September 30, 2014, under any circumstances.

18. WILL ENTRANTS WHO ARE NOT SELECTED BE INFORMED?
All entrants, including those NOT selected, may check the status of their entry through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov to find out if their entry was or was not selected. Entrants must keep their own confirmation page information from the time of their entry until at least June 30, 2014. Status information for DV-2014 will be available online from May 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014. (Status information for the previous DV program, DV-2013, is available online from May 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013.)

19. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WILL BE SELECTED?
There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2014. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected to ensure that all of the available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there may not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. All applicants who are selected will be able to see whether they have been selected for further processing and their place on the list by checking the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check. Interviews for the DV-2014 program will begin in October 2013 for selectees who have submitted all pre-interview paperwork and other information as requested in the notification instructions. Selectees who provide all required information will be informed of their visa interview appointment through the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check four to six weeks before the scheduled interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month, visas will be issued to those applicants who are ready for issuance during that month, visa-number availability permitting. Once all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program will end. In principle, visa numbers could be finished before September 2014. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases. Random selection as a selectee does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. Selection merely means that you are eligible to apply for a Diversity Visa, and if qualified, be issued a Diversity Visa. Only the first 50,000 selected applicants to qualify will be issued visas.

20. IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR THE E-DV PROGRAM?
There is no minimum age to apply for the program, 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. Parents and siblings are ineligible to receive DV visas as dependents, and should not be included in the entry of the principal applicant.

21. ARE THERE ANY FEES FOR THE E-DV PROGRAM?
There is no fee for submitting an electronic entry. DV applicants must pay all required visa fees at the time of visa application and interview directly to the consular cashier at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Selected individuals who adjust status while in the United States will pay all required fees directly to USCIS.

Details of required DV and immigrant visa application fees will be included with the instructions provided to applicants who are selected.

22. IF I AM SELECTED AND APPLY FOR THE DV, BUT DO NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE ONE, CAN I GET A REFUND OF THE VISA FEES I PAID?
Visa fees cannot be refunded. DV applicants must meet all qualifications for the visa as detailed in these instructions. If a consular officer determines an applicant does not meet requirements for the visa, or is otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer cannot issue a visa and the applicant will forfeit all fees paid.

23. DO DV APPLICANTS RECEIVE WAIVERS OF ANY GROUNDS OF VISA INELIGIBILITY OR RECEIVE SPECIAL PROCESSING FOR A WAIVER APPLICATION?
Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility aside from those ordinarily provided in the INA, nor is there special processing for waiver requests. Some general waiver provisions for people with close relatives who are U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Resident aliens may be available to DV applicants as well, but the time constraints in the DV program will make it difficult for applicants to benefit from such provisions.

24. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA IN ANOTHER CATEGORY APPLY FOR THE DV PROGRAM?
Yes, such persons may apply for the DV program.

25. HOW LONG DO APPLICANTS WHO ARE SELECTED REMAIN ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR VISAS IN THE DV CATEGORY?
Persons selected in the DV-2014 program are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during U.S. Government Fiscal Year 2014, which spans from October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014. Without exception, all selected and eligible applicants must obtain their visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year. There is no carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are selected but who do not obtain visas by September 30, 2014 (the end of the fiscal year). Also, spouses and children who derive status from a DV-2014 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014. Applicants who apply overseas will receive an appointment notification from the Department through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website four to six weeks before the scheduled appointment.

26. IF AN E-DV SELECTEE DIES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DV CASE?
The death of a DV selectee results in automatic revocation of the DV case. Any eligible spouse and/or children will no longer be entitled to a DV visa for that entry.

27. WHEN WILL E-DV BE AVAILABLE ONLINE?
Online entry will be available during the registration period beginning at noon EDT (GMT-4) on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, and ending at noon EDT (GMT-4) on Saturday, November 3, 2012.

28. WILL I BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND SAVE THE E-DV ENTRY FORM TO A MICROSOFT WORD PROGRAM (OR OTHER SUITABLE PROGRAM) AND THEN FILL IT OUT?
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. This makes it more “universal” than a proprietary word processor format. Additionally, it does require that the information be filled in and submitted while online.

29. IF I DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A SCANNER, CAN I SEND PHOTOGRAPHS TO MY RELATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES TO SCAN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, SAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO A DISKETTE, AND THEN MAIL THE DISKETTE BACK TO ME TO APPLY?

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.  The applicants must already have the scanned photograph file when they submit the entry online.  The photograph cannot be submitted separately from the online application.  Only one online entry can be submitted for each person.  Multiple submissions will disqualify the entry for that person for DV-2014.  The entire entry (photograph and application together) can be submitted electronically from the United States or from overseas.

30. CAN I SAVE THE FORM ONLINE SO THAT I CAN FILL OUT PART AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND COMPLETE THE REMAINDER?
No.  The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted at one time.  However, because the form is in two parts, and because of possible network interruptions and delays, the E-DV system is designed to permit up to sixty (60) minutes between the form’s download and when the entry is received at the E-DV website.  If more than sixty minutes have elapsed and the entry has not been electronically received, the information already received is discarded.  This is done so that there is no possibility that a full entry could accidentally be interpreted as a duplicate of a previous partial entry. The DV-2014 instructions explain clearly and completely what information is required to fill in the form.  Thus, you can be fully prepared, making sure you have all of the information needed before you start to complete the form online. 


31. IF THE SUBMITTED DIGITAL IMAGES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, THE PROCEDURES STATE THAT THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY REJECT THE E-DV ENTRY FORM AND NOTIFY THE SENDER.  DOES THIS MEAN I WILL BE ABLE RE-SUBMIT MY ENTRY?
Since the entry was automatically rejected, it was not actually considered as a submission to the E-DV website, so, yes, the entry can be resubmitted.  It does not count as a submitted E-DV entry, and no confirmation notice of receipt is sent.  If there are problems with the digital photograph sent, because it does not conform to the requirements, it is automatically rejected by the E-DV website.  However, the amount of time it takes the rejection message to reach the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet.  If the applicant can fix the error, and the Form Part One or Two is re-sent within sixty (60) minutes, there is no problem.  Otherwise, the applicant will have to restart the submission process.  An applicant can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent.


32. WILL THE ELECTRONIC CONFIRMATION NOTICE THAT THE COMPLETED E-DV ENTRY FORM HAS BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH THE ONLINE SYSTEM BE SENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUBMISSION? 
The response from the E-DV website which contains confirmation of the receipt of an acceptable E-DV Entry Form is sent by the E-DV website immediately.  However, the amount of time it takes the response to reach the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet and e-mail systems.  If many minutes have elapsed since pressing the “Submit” button, there is no harm in pressing the “Submit” button a second time.  
The E-DV system will not be confused by a situation where the “Submit” button is hit a second time, because no confirmation response has been received.  An applicant can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent.  However, once you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.


33. HOW DO I REPORT INTERNET FRAUD OR UNSOLICITED E-MAIL?
If you wish to file a complaint about Internet fraud, please see the econsumer.gov website, hosted by the Federal Trade Commission, in cooperation with consumer-protection agencies from 17 nations (http://www.econsumer.gov/english/).  You may also report fraud to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center.  To file a complaint about unsolicited e-mail, visit the Department of Justice Contact Us page.

34. IF I AM SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING A VISA THROUGH THE DV PROGRAM, WILL THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ASSIST WITH MY AIRFARE TO THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LOCATE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, OR PROVIDE ANY SUBSIDIES UNTIL I AM FULLY SETTLED?
No, applicants who obtain a DV are not provided any type of assistance such as airfare, housing assistance, or subsidies.  If you are selected to apply for a DV, you will be required to provide evidence that you will not become a public charge in the United States before being issued a visa.  This evidence may be in the form of a combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from a relative or friend residing in 
the United States, and/or an offer of employment from an employer in the United States.