2013 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Registration Begins

The US State Department has announced that applications for the 2013 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will be accepted online beginning noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 4, 2011, and ending at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 5, 2011. This annual program makes US immigrant visas available through a computer-generated random lottery drawing to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements.

The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) Entry Forms submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. Paper entries will no longer be accepted. No fee is charged for entry in the annual DV program.

Successfully registered entries will result in the display of a confirmation screen containing the applicant’s name and confirmation number, which must then be printed. Each entrant will use the information on the confirmation screen page to check the status of his/her own entry through the Entrant Status Check (ESC) available at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Only those entrants who keep their confirmation screen page information will be able to check their entrant status and, if selected, receive application instructions and notification of their IV interview appointment.

All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website starting May 1, 2012. The U.S. Embassy will not be able to provide a list of successful entrants. All entrants should keep their confirmation number, regardless of results processing, until June 30, 2013. If an entrant loses the confirmation number, the U.S. Embassy will not be able to provide it. DV-2013 visas will be issued between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013.

People may prepare and submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry for them. 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 individual, and the person entering DV-2013 remains responsible for ensuring that the information is correct and complete. Submission of more than one entry for the same person will disqualify the applicant.

To receive a Diversity Visa to immigrate to the United States, those chosen in the random drawing must meet all eligibility requirements under US law.

The US Government does not employ outside consultants or private services to operate the DV program. Any intermediaries or others who offer assistance to prepare DV entries do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government. Use of any outside intermediary or assistance to prepare a DV entry is entirely at the entrant's discretion.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all application information, including digital photographs, early in the one-month registration period. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after 7:00 pm local time on November 5, 2011. Please visit the official Diversity Visa Lottery website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/, for authoritative information and answers to frequently asked questions.