Immigrant Visas
Diversity Lottery Visa Program
Please Note: There have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. To learn more, see the Department of State Warning and the Federal Trade Commission Warning.
The Department of State does NOT notify successful Diversity Visa applicants by e-mail. Entrants who completed online DV 2011 entries between October 2, 2009 and November 30, 2009 and who were selected in the random drawing are notified by the Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center by letter. Entrants can also check the status of their entries by returning to the website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov from July 1, 2010 until June 30, 2011. Entrants who completed online DV 2012 entries will not receive notification letters from the Kentucky Consular Center, and must check the status of their entries by returning to the website at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov on or after May 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
General Information
This year's Diversity Visa program entry period is now closed. The entry period to apply for the DV-2012 program was October 5, 2010 to November 3, 2010. Information about the DV-2013 program will be posted before the 2011 entry period begins.
For more information, see http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html.
Pre-Selection
For persons who submitted entries to the DV-2012 program during the entry period: A successfully registered entry will result in a confirmation screen containing the applicant's name and a unique confirmation number which the applicant should print and retain. Starting May 1, 2011, applicants will be able to check the status of their DV-2012 entry by returning to the DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov and using the confirmation number to view "Entry Check Status". This will be the sole means of informing the applicant of his/her pre-selection for DV-2012. Via "Entry Check Status", applicants who have been randomly pre-selected will receive and be directed to respond to further instructions in order to initiate processing of their case through the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC).
Final Selection
The KCC will continue to process the case until those selected to be visa applicants are notified by KCC of the date and time of their interview appointment at the U.S. Interests Section.
The Interview
On the day of their interview applicants need to arrive at the park located near the U.S. Interests Section between Calzada and K streets at 7:00 a.m. and bring the following documentation:
- Appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center
- Valid passport and a photocopy of the pages where the issuance and expiration dates appear
- (2) Frontal color photos measuring 50mm x 50mm
- Birth certificate
- Civil status certificate, indicating whether the applicant is single, married, or widowed.
- Criminal records (if the applicant is over 16 years of age). If the applicant has a criminal record, he or she will need to bring the court sentence at the time of the interview. In addition, applicants who have resided abroad for one year or more will need to submit a copy of his or her criminal records from the foreign country where he or she resided. Applicants that resided for one year or more in countries such as Angola, Ethiopia, former Soviet Union, Germany, Poland, the Check Republic, Romania, Hungary, or Bulgaria will need to consult with the offices of the Civil Registry located between Linea and E streets in Vedado, Havana to obtain this document. Applicants that have resided abroad for one year or more in other countries will need to contact the embassy of that foreign country. If the applicant is unable to obtain these records, the applicant will need to refer to the employer that hired him or her during that period of time.
- Medical exam. Beneficiaries need to check the list of hospitals where they can have their medical examination.
- Evidence of economic solvency such as a bona-fide employment offer and/or submission of the Affidavit of Support I-134
Fees
On the day of their interview, applicants are required to pay the nonrefundable fee per person. Please note that this nonrefundable fee covers the cost of the interview and does not guarantee the issuance of an immigrant visa. The cashier accepts banknotes of $100 CUC and $50 CUC as well as smaller denominations.
Qualified applicants ages 16-80 are subject to special visa processing under the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act. While we make every attempt to promptly issue travel documents to qualified applicants, at times it may be necessary to wait several weeks for the completion of the required administrative process. Once this process has concluded, we can make a final determination on a parole case.
Requesting Parole
Eligible immigrant visa applicants who are over 21 years of age may request parole for certain family members. On the morning of the interview, the applicant should advise the document checker that he or she would like to request parole for certain a family member(s) not included in the petition. Final decisions regarding parole requests are made by an USCIS official.
Additional Information
For additional information about this program, please contact the Kentucky Consular Center at phone number (606) 526-7500, fax (606) 526-7501, or e-mail kccdv@state.gov.