New DV-2024 Program
The online registration period for the DV-2024 Program lasted from October 5 till November 8, 2022. Applicants submitted their entries for the DV-2024 program electronically at dvprogram.state.gov . The law allows only one entry per person during each registration period. Electronic lottery entry in the annual DV program is free (there is no fee). No late entries or paper entries were accepted. You had to submit a current photo, taken within the last 6 months, of each member of your family. Using the same photo as was submitted with the previous year entry automatically disqualified your application, also old photos may be the reason for a visa refusal at interview with the Embassy.
It was important that you submitted correct data in your application as outlined in the DV instructions. Discrepancies or mistakes in personal data on your original entry may result in the visa refusal later on. It is very important that you retain your unique confirmation number and have access to the e-mail address submitted with your entry.
Starting May 6, 2023, you will be able to check the status of your entry by returning to dvprogram.state.gov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. You must use Entrant Status Check to check if you have been selected for DV-2024 and, if selected, to view instructions on how to proceed with your application.
Please check the website of the State Department at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry/diversity-visa-instructions.html for instructions and more details.
The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program, where 50,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual program, starting in fiscal year 1995. The program aims to diversify the immigrant population in the United States, by selecting applicants mostly from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States in the previous five years.
To apply for a diversity visa, follow the steps outlined in the Diversity Visa Process on the Department of State’s website. Once you have completed those steps, review the instructions given to you by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.
DV-2023 Program
Online registration period for the DV-2023 Program began on October 6 and concluded on November 9, 2021. You had to submit a current photo, taken within the last 6 months, of each member of your family. Using old photos or mistakes in personal data on the original application may result in the visa denial at interview.
You may check the status of your entry through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov using your unique confirmation number and personal information. It is the only way to check whether your entry was selected. If your entry is selected, you will be directed to a confirmation page that will provide further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the United States. If you are selected, we encourage you to complete the DS-260 visa applications soon. The Embassy will be processing DV-2023 cases until September 30, 2023.
Please note that selection in the DV program does not mean getting an immigrant visa or a green card. DV applicants have to meet all the requirements for both the DV program and the U.S. immigrant visa to be eligible to obtain it.
Electronic entry in the annual DV program is free (there is no fee). To enter the DV program, you must be a native of one of the countries listed by the State Department.
SCAM WARNING!!!
If you receive an e-mail or a phone call claiming that you have been selected in the Diversity Visa program, and requesting any action or payment from you, you should be aware that you are a victim of a scam.
The Embassy warns Sierra Leonean citizens that such notifications are not legitimate. Please do not take any action or send any money. For fraud warning details please check the State Department’s info at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fraud.html.
If you were selected in a prior DV program year: Information regarding the processing of diversity visas from FY2020 in accordance with the court order in Gomez v. Biden and information regarding the processing of diversity visas from FY2021 in accordance with the court orders in Rai v. Biden, Goodluck v. Biden, and Goh v. Blinken will be published on travel.state.gov as it becomes available. Please see the announcement on the State Department’s website:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/diversity-visa-2020-and-2021-updates.html
Updated: 02/08/2023
