Global Mobility & Immigration Law

Department of State 2017 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program Ends November 3rd

Contact: Janet Cheetham, Joel PagetAmy Royalty & Marsha Mavunkel; Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC (Washington, USA)

The DV-2017 program registration period will run through noon, ET on November 3, 2015. The DV-2017 program is conducted entirely electronically, including electronic entry.  If you have not applied we encourage you to apply early. In the past, system delays caused by extremely heavy demand in the final days of the registration period prevented some individuals from submitting entries.

The Department is once again utilizing 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. Starting May 3, 2016, entrants may enter their DV-2017 entry confirmation number into the Entrant Status Check, available at www.dvlottery.state.gov, to determine whether their entry was selected. Selected individuals who respond to the notification instructions provided on the E-DV selectee confirmation page on Entrant Status Check also will receive notification of their scheduled IV appointment through Entrant Status Check. DV-2017 data will be available through Entrant Status Check until at least September 30, 2017. All entrants should keep their confirmation number until September 30, 2017, regardless of whether they are selected initially.

The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. The Department uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. Entrants who submit more than one entry will be disqualified.

The complete list of ineligible countries includes: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Please refer to the DV-2017 Instructions at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions for complete program rules and answers to Frequently Asked Questions from entrants. These instructions should be read carefully, as failure to comply with all the instructions could result in the disqualification of an entry.

Please contact us if we can help you take advantage of this time-sensitive opportunity.

< Back