Immigrant Visas
Diversity Lottery Visa Program
General Information
Diversity visa applications are only accepted electronically. Applicants may submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry on their behalf. The registration period for the 2011 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is from 12:00PM EDT (GMT -4) on October 2, 2009 to 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 30, 2009. For more information about this http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/DV-2011instructions.pdf
Application Submission
During the months of October and November, the USINT Information Resource Center will be available on a limited basis for Cuban citizens to use the computers to submit their online Diversity Visa application.
Available dates & times:
- October 26-29 - 12:30p - 2:00p
- October 23, & 30 - 1:00p-3:00p
- November 9-12 & 23-26 - 12:30p - 2:00p
- November 6, 13, 20, & 27 - 1:00p - 3:00p
An appointment must be made to use this service by emailing DVHavana@state.gov or by sending a fax to 833-1084. Include local contact information for the user so they can be informed of their appointment date & time. Users must arrive at the USINT NIV gate, with their carnet and without any electronic devices, 15 minutes prior to their appointment time. In order to ensure that a greater number of people can take advantage of this opportunity, each applicant is permitted only one appointment. Therefore, all users should read through the Diversity Visa lottery instructions very carefully prior to their appointment to ensure all qualifications are met and documents are prepared.
U.S. INTERESTS SECTION
Information Resource Center (IRC)
Calzada y L, Vedado
Havana, Cuba
Pre-Selection
Individuals pre-selected to participate in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program will receive a packet of forms and instructions from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) that they will need to complete and return to the KCC.
Final Selection
The entries of individuals chosen to participate in the pre-selection phase will undergo a final random selection at the Kentucky Consular Center. The finalists will be notified by KCC of the date and time of their interview appointment at the U.S. Interests Section.
Those individuals who had not been contacted by the Kentucky Consular Center by July should assume that they have not been selected to participate in this year’s program.
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:
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Appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center
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Valid passport and a photocopy of the pages where the issuance and expiration dates appear
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(2) Frontal color photos measuring 50mm x 50mm
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Birth certificate
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Civil status certificate, indicating whether the applicant is single, married, or widowed.
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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.
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Medical exam. Beneficiaries need to check the list of hospitals where they can have their medical examination.
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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.
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