Instructions for the Diversity Visa Lottery program DV-2013

November 8, 2011

Based on Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the U.S. government conducts the Diversity Visa program each year. In this program, applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States are selected in a random lottery from among those who enter.

The registration period is from early October to early November every year. This year’s registration period ended on November 5, 2011 at noon and no more entries will be accepted.

Successful applicants will no longer be notified by mail, and will not receive first notifications about a successful application by e-mail. Instead, from May 1, 2012 on, applicants can check for themselves to see if they have been selected online using “Entry Status Check” at the same website, http://www.dvlottery.state.gov, using their confirmation numbers. Entrants should make sure to keep their confirmation numbers, because no one else has access to them. After checking the status of their entry next year, successful applicants in this year’s lottery will be directed to a confirmation page and instructions on further steps toward the visa application. Then, they will receive instructions on how to apply via e-mail.

Entries will be selected at random using a computerized system. If an applicant is selected for interview, he or she may apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy at a time to be determined after the drawing, along with any legal spouse and unmarried children under 21 at the time of the application for a visa. Visas in this program for qualified applicants will be issued from October 1, 2012, until September 30, 2013. No more visas in this year’s program can be issued after that final date. Applicants must be legally qualified for a visa under all sections of U.S. immigration law in order to be issued a visa in the DV program.

Important Notice:

Electronic entry to the DV-2013 program is free of charge. The U.S. government does not employ any outside consultants or private firms in connection with the DV program. Agents offering help to enter the program do so without any verification or authority of the U.S. government. We cannot be responsible for use of third parties to enter the DV program.

If you receive a notification about a winning entry in the DV lottery by mail or e-mail, please do not consider that notice to be valid.

Applicants who are not selected in the random drawing will also not be notified, but will be able to check their status using Entry Status Check as explained above.