Important points and cautions that applicants should consider during the Diversity Visa application process:
Applicants must meet the minimum educational and/or work requirements in order to qualify for a visa. Applicants should read the Diversity Visa Program Instructions carefully to be sure that they have the required educational and work experience to qualify for a visa. The application fee is not refundable. In addition; you may prevent a qualified person’s chance. If you don’t qualify, don’t apply!
There is NO FEE to enter the Diversity Visa lottery. DV ENTRY IS FREE TO ALL! You do not need to pay an agent to enter the Diversity Visa program. Requests to send money to a third party are fraudulent. Only DV winners will pay fees at the U.S. Embassy at the time of their interview. There are no other fees to be paid outside of the Embassy.
No one can help you get a visa under the DV lottery, it is a random selection. Any offers to help you obtain a visa through this process for money are fraudulent.
Make sure your DV application is completely correct! Inaccurate information on your application will result in automatic disqualification. Make sure your name, date of birth and all other required information pertaining to you and your family are correctly entered in your original dv application. Make sure the photos attached to your application are your photos. If you use an internet café or other service to help you enter the diversity visa program, make sure the information is exactly correct and there are no mistakes.
You must list all immediate family members (spouse and children under 21) on your application, even if you do not plan to take them with you to the U.S. List all children who are under 21 – even if they do not live with you; even if you do not plan to take them to America. Failure to list your spouse and all Children will result in automatic disqualification.
If you are not married when you enter the DV program, and your name is selected for an interview, DO NOT be persuaded to marry a stranger for money so that they can also get a Diversity Visa. This is the most common form of Diversity Visa fraud and it results in both the principal applicant and the spouse being denied visas and banned from entering the US for life. Be smart. Don’t do it!
Nobody can guarantee you a Diversity Visa. If someone tells you they can guarantee you a DV, they are not telling you the truth. Do not waste your money or your chance to get a Diversity Visa by falling prey to offers from people who say they can guarantee you a visa.
Do not commit fraud of any kind when entering the DV program. The people who commit fraud will be denied visas and can be permanently barred from traveling to the United States.
Visas are limited! Not everyone who receives a Congratulations Letter will get an interview and a visa. Winners are given interview dates in the order in which their entries were selected. It is very important that all DV applicants have all their documentation in order when they come in for an interview. If documents are not complete and the applicant has to return later, it can reduce the chances of getting a visa. Once the global quota of number has been issued, there are no more visas under the DV program.
The DV visa fee is NOT REFUNDABLE. The fee is for processing your application regarding of outcome. Refunds are not granted even if you are denied the visa. If you don’t qualify, don’t apply!
The DV program requires successful completion of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to completion of a 12-year course in the United States. In Ethiopia, the following are acceptable as proof of education:
- An ESLCE (12th grade) or Higher Education Entrance Qualification certificate showing at least five passing grades (A to D), or
- University degree
- Technical and Vocational programs (TVET) don’t meet the educational requirements of the DV
Not all work experience counts towards getting a Diversity Visa. If you do not have the minimum educational requirements to qualify for a DV, it is sometimes possible to use work experience to supplement education. However, qualified work experience requirements are very specific and few jobs count toward these requirements. Consult the guide at http://online.onetcenter.org to see if your job experience qualifies.
Applicants must submit a recent photo taken within the last six months that is compliant with specifications published in the DV-2015 Instructions. Entries that include the same photo submitted with a previous year’s entry or that do not meet specifications will be disqualified.
The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Entrants who submit more than one entry will be disqualified.
Submission of false documents or false information will automatically disqualify you for a Diversity Visa. Do not risk your chance to go to the United States by submitting fake documents or information. Diversity Visas are limited! Help us limit the chances of this happening to you. If you have information about fraudulent activities, Please contact FPMAddis@state.gov. The information you provide will be kept confidential.
An interview does not guarantee a visa. Do not make travel plans, quit employment, sell belongings or make other irreversible life changes until you have an approved visa in your hands.
The department again will use web-based tools to notify entrants of their selection and visa interview appointment as part of ongoing efforts to combat fraud perpetrated against dv entrants. The department will not send selectee notification or appointment letters to successful entrants by regular mail or by email. DV-2025 Entrants may enter their confirmation information through the link below starting at noon (EDT) on May 4, 2024, https://dvprogram.state.gov
Please refer to the dv-2025 instructions at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions for complete program rules and answers to frequently asked questions from entrants.
We want you to tell the public that, the department of State will use web-based tools to notify entrants of their selection and visa interview appointment as part of ongoing efforts to combat fraud perpetrated against dv entrants. The department will not send selectee notification or appointment letters to successful entrants by regular mail or by email. Please ignore any selection notification by mail or email, it’s totally fraud.