DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM – DV-2019 • Diversity Visa-2019

DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM – DV-2019

 Diversity Visa-2019 opens for electronic entries at noon, Eastern Daylight

Time, Tuesday, October 3, 2017, and closes at noon, Eastern Standard Time,

Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

 The Congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes

available up to 55,000 diversity visas (DV) each year, drawn from random

selection among all entries, to persons who meet strict eligibility

requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United

States. For DV-2019, 55,000 DVs are set aside; however, since DV-1999,

Congress has set aside 5,000 of this annual allocation to be made available

for use under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).

Therefore, up to 50,000 visas are available for DV-2019.

 Applicants can access the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at the official E-

DV website, dvlottery.state.gov, during the registration period. DV

instructions also are available on the Department of State’s public webpage

at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions.

 The Department accepts DV entries ONLY through the E-DV site, which

has complete instructions. There is no fee to enter. All entrants must print

and retain their online confirmation page after completing their DV entries

so that they will be able to check their entry status as explained below.

 It is very important for entrants to keep a record of their unique

confirmation number until at least September 30, 2019. The

confirmation number is the only way to check whether an entry has been

selected and obtain visa application and appointment information, if

selected. The unique confirmation number helps to protect DV entrants

against fraud, malfeasance, and problems with the mail. Unscrupulous visa

facilitators have been known to assist entrants with their entries, retain the

confirmation page, and then demand more money in exchange for

information on the entry. Entrants can avoid this by ensuring they receive

the unique confirmation number at the time of entry.

 Beginning May 1, 2018, DV-2019 entrants will be able to use their unique

confirmation number provided at registration to check the online Entrant

Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov to see if their entry was selected. Entrant

Status Check will inform successful entrants how to apply for DVs for

themselves and their eligible family members. The Department also will

confirm visa interview appointments through the Entrant Status Check.

 All entrants must enroll with a recent photo, taken within the last six months.

Submitting the same photograph that was submitted with a prior year’s

entry, a photograph that does not meet specifications published in the DV

Instructions, or a photograph that has been manipulated in any way will

result in disqualification.

 The law allows only one entry per person during the registration

period. Entrants who submit more than one entry will be disqualified.

 The Department will not notify successful entrants of the status of their E-

DV online entry by email. Any email claiming to notify entrants they have

been selected for the DV program is not legitimate. Entrants can only access

information on their application through the online Entrant Status Check at

dvlottery.state.gov.

 Those selected in the DV program may apply for immigrant visas (IVs).

Selectee notification information will be available on Entrant Status Check

beginning May 1, 2018, and will provide successful entrants further

instructions, including information about immigrant visa application fees.

 Being randomly chosen 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 your rank number becomes eligible for final

processing, potentially to be issued a DV.

 Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons selected will not

qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, the program will

select more than 50,000 entries to ensure that the Department issues all of

the available DVs.

 However, this means there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all

those who are initially selected. Once the Department issues all of the

50,000 DV visas, the program will end. In principle, visa numbers could be

finished before September 2019.

 Selected DV applicants who wish to apply for visas must be prepared to act

promptly on their cases. Individuals who miss or reschedule their visa

application appointments or come without all required documents risk that a

visa number will not be available.

 DV applicants must pay all application fees and costs, including those for

medical examinations, for themselves and qualifying family members. Visa

applicants under the DV program also must prove that they will be able to

support themselves in the United States. Immigration under the DV

program does not entitle the immigrant or family members to any financial

or settlement assistance in the United States.

 The section of the law establishing the DV program limits the list of

“eligible countries” to those countries from which fewer than 50,000 persons

in various visa categories immigrated to the United States during the

previous five years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

modifies the list of eligible countries for each year’s DV program on the sole

basis of this five-year calculation.

 Countries whose natives are ineligible for DV-2019 are BANGLADESH,

BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA,

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA,

MEXICO, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, PERU, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH

KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent

territories, and VIETNAM. A “native” ordinarily means someone born in a

particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence

or nationality. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan

are eligible.

 Entrants must provide an email address as part of their entry. Entrants

should provide a personal email address they can access easily, rather than

someone else’s address or a standard company address. Entrants should be

aware that the Department of State will only send an email to applicants

alerting them to check their status or to indicate that details of their

immigrant visa appointment are available on Entrant Status Check. Email

communications will not provide selectee notification, will not direct

recipients to pay fees, will not provide application instructions, and will not

detail visa interview dates and times. This information is ONLY available

by directly accessing Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website.

 We encourage entrants to prepare and submit their own entries. Entrants

may have someone submit the entry for them, though they should be

cautious if the assistant tries to charge them a fee. Whether an individual

submits an entry directly, or an attorney, friend, relative, etc., provides

assistance, only one entry may be submitted in the name of each individual.

Entrants remain responsible for ensuring that their information is correct and

complete. All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check

the status of their entries by directly accessing Entrant Status Check on the

E-DV website. Entrants should not allow others to retain their

confirmation page information, but should hold on to it themselves so

they may independently check the status of their entry.