Sm1smom
Super Moderator
The DOS has promulgated an interim final rule, effective June 5, 2019, which will require information from unexpired (current) passports. Information such as the unique serial or issuance number associated with a valid unexpired passport; country or authority of passport issuance; and passport expiration date will need to be provided on the eDV entry form by the main petitioner - this requirement however will not apply to the derivatives listed on the form.
Exception to this requirement will be made for a person who is either stateless, a national of a Communist-controlled country and unable to obtain a passport from the government of the Communist-controlled country, or the beneficiary of an individual waiver approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State. Such a person must indicate that he or she falls into one of these three circumstances on the electronic entry form, in place of providing passport information.
Failure to include the required information will lead to automatic disqualifications. This should greatly curb the activities of agents who enter people without their knowledge and hold unto the confirmation numbers of eventual selectees for ransom payments. This should also drive all these unscrupulous agents/organizations who charge people fees for entry submission on an ongoing basis.
Federal Register - Diversity Visa Lottery - for more details.
Exception to this requirement will be made for a person who is either stateless, a national of a Communist-controlled country and unable to obtain a passport from the government of the Communist-controlled country, or the beneficiary of an individual waiver approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State. Such a person must indicate that he or she falls into one of these three circumstances on the electronic entry form, in place of providing passport information.
Failure to include the required information will lead to automatic disqualifications. This should greatly curb the activities of agents who enter people without their knowledge and hold unto the confirmation numbers of eventual selectees for ransom payments. This should also drive all these unscrupulous agents/organizations who charge people fees for entry submission on an ongoing basis.
Federal Register - Diversity Visa Lottery - for more details.