LOL. I guess the whole problem is moot now. I just got notification that my H-1B has been approved. I'll get my visa on my passport next trip to Italy.
Unless, I'm lucky enough to be selected again come July 15.
And by the way, the whole process at the American consulate in Rome (with appointment and proper documents) takes one day: go in in the morning and get the passport back in the afternoon with visa in it (done it several times before for F-1 and J-1 visa).
**IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE 2012 DIVERSITY LOTTERY PROGRAM**
We regret to inform you that, due to a computer programming problem, the results of the 2012 Diversity Lottery that were previously posted on this website have been voided. They were not valid and were posted in error. The results were not valid because they did not represent a fair, random selection of entrants, as required by U.S. law.
If you checked this website during the first week in May and found a notice that you had been selected for further processing or a notice that you had not been selected, that notice has been rescinded and is no longer valid.
A new selection process will be conducted based on the original entries for the 2012 program.
If you submitted a qualified entry from October 5, 2010 to November 3, 2010, your entry remains with us. It will be included in the new selection lottery. Your confirmation number to check results on this website is still valid.
We expect the results of the new selection process to be available on this website on or about July 15, 2011.
We regret any inconvenience this might have caused.
Click here to view a message from David T. Donahue, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services: