People often stop and ask me and my colleagues about visa processes, and I believe many Ghanaians will be interested in learning that the 2016 Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DV) is now open. The entry process is simple and free of charge.
For the first time, the DV Lottery process is entirely online. It is simple enough that anyone can do it, and I encourage prospective entrants to complete the entry forms themselves. Using a third party to assist is not necessary and frequently leads to misinformation that could lead to an automatic disqualification after you’ve won.
The entry form, qualifications for the program, and complete instructions for submitting an entry are available on the Department of State’s web
page. This is the central location for all the information you need to understand the minimum qualifications for the DV, how to enter the Lottery, and later to see whether your entry has been selected for further review.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals, companies, and websites around the world that advertise services for assistance with submission of DV Program entries. We are also aware that here in Ghana, there are businesses operating as visa facilitators, visa agents, or visa coordinators that offer to provide assistance with the DV process.
Even though these services and businesses may be available, the online entry application is simple and free of charge. I strongly encourage entrants to complete the DV program entry without such unnecessary cost or assistance.
There is simply no reason to use an agent or facilitator.
I would encourage potential applicants to enter for themselves and very carefully review the information they have entered on the online form before submitting. Each entrant is only allowed one entry per year, and there is no room for errors in submitting personal data such as your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, marital status or number of children.
Anyone who enters the Lottery more than one time in a year will be disqualified—so don’t do it.
The computer system will generate a confirmation number for your entry when it is completed. You must retain that confirmation number carefully and should not share it with anyone. The only way to find out whether your application has been selected for advancing in the process is by returning to that website,
http://www.DVLottery.state.gov, beginning 5 May 2015, to see if your confirmation number is among those selected for the lottery.
If you receive a phone call or an email informing you that you have been selected—it’s a trick. The Department of State will not phone, text or email applicants informing them that they have won. While DV applicants may receive an email from the U.S. government reminding them to check their status online through DV Entrant Status Check, they will not receive a notification letter or email informing them that they are a successful DV entrant. Applicants can only find out if they were selected to continue with DV processing by checking their status online through the DV Entrant Status Check at
http://www.DVLottery.state.gov.
Finally, remember that if your entry is selected, you should only pay fees for the DV application process directly to the U.S. Embassy or consulate cashier at the time of your scheduled appointment. The U.S. government will never ask you to send payment in advance by check, money order, or wire transfer.
The DV Program helps America grow stronger through diversity. The DV Lottery makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas each year, drawn through a random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. The 2016 entry deadline is 16:00 local time on Monday, 3 November, 2014.
Remember: there is no fee to enter the DV Lottery, and you can and should complete your entry by yourself. It’s simple and it’s free. Good luck.
