INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2014 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2014)

The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department
of State and conducted based on United States law, specifically Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants,” with visas made available to persons
from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2014, 50,000 diversity visas
(DV) will be available.

The annual DV program makes visas available to persons meeting simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-
generated, random drawing chooses selectees for DVs. The visas are distributed among six geographic regions, and
within each region, no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year. Visas
are allocated to natives of countries with historically lower rates of U.S. immigration. Natives of countries who have sent
more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the past five years are not eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa
program.

For DV-2014, natives of the following countries1 are not eligible to apply because the countries sent a total of more than
50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years:

BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN,
PERU, PHILIPPINES, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its
dependent territories, and VIETNAM.

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

Changes in eligibility this year:

FOR DV-2014, NATIVES OF GUATEMALA ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR SELECTION.

The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the DV
process more efficient and secure. The Department utilizes special technology and other means to identify those who
commit fraud for the purposes of illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.

DV REGISTRATION PERIOD

Entries for the DV-2014 DV program must be submitted electronically between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
(GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2, 2012, and noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012.
Applicants may access the electronic DV Entry Form (E-DV) at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration
period. Paper entries will not be accepted. We strongly encourage applicants not to wait until the last week of the
registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon,
EDT, on November 3, 2012.

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The term "country" in this notice includes countries, economies, and other jurisdictions explicitly listed at the end of these
instructions.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY

 To enter the DV program, you must be a native of one of the listed countries. See List Of Countries
By Region Whose Natives Qualify.

Native of a qualifying country: In most cases, this means the country in which you were born.
However, there are two other ways you may be able to qualify. First, if you were born in a country whose
natives are ineligible but your spouse was born in a country whose natives are eligible, you can claim
your spouse’s country of birth – provided that both you and your spouse are on the selected entry, are
issued visas, and enter the United States simultaneously. Second, if you were born in a country whose
natives are ineligible, but neither of your parents was born there or resided there at the time of your birth,
you may claim nativity in one of your parents’ countries of birth if it is a country whose natives qualify for
the DV-2014 program.

 To enter the DV program, you must meet either the education or work experience requirement of the
DV program: you must have either a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful
completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR two years of work experience
within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work
experience. For more information about qualifying work experience for the principal DV applicant, see
Frequently Asked Question #13.

If you cannot meet either of these requirements, you should NOT submit an entry to the DV program.

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING AN ENTRY TO DV-2014

 The Department of State will only accept completed E-DV entry forms submitted electronically at
www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period between noon, EDT (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2,
2012, and noon, EDT (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012.
 All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE entry for that individual is received,
regardless of who submitted the entry. You may prepare and submit your own entry or have someone
submit the entry for you. There are NO COSTS or FEES to register for the DV Program.
 A registered entry that complies with submission instructions will result in a confirmation screen
containing your name and a unique confirmation number. You must print this confirmation screen for
your records using the print function of your web browser and ensure that you retain your confirmation
number. Starting May 1, 2013, you will be able to check the status of your DV-2014 entry by
returning to www.dvlottery.state.gov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your
unique confirmation number and personal information. Entrant Status Check will be the sole
means of informing you of your selection for DV-2014, providing instructions to you on how to
proceed with your application, and notifying you of your appointment for your immigrant visa
interview. Therefore, it is essential you retain your confirmation number.
 Paper entries are no longer accepted. The sole method for entry to the 2014 Diversity Visa Program is
through this electronic process.

 On your entry, you must list your spouse (husband or wife), and all living unmarried children under
21 years of age, regardless of whether or not they are living with you or intend to accompany or follow to
join you should you immigrate to the United States, with the exception of children who are already U.S.
citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents. A spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful
Permanent Resident will not require or be issued a DV visa. Failure to comply with this instruction can
result in the disqualification of your entry.

 It is very important that you submit all required photographs. Your entry will be disqualified if you do
not submit all the required photographs. Recent photographs of the following people must be submitted
electronically with the E-DV entry form:
 You
 Your spouse

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  Each living unmarried child under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, including all
natural children as well as all legally adopted children and stepchildren, even if a child no longer resides
with you or you do not intend for a child to immigrate under the DV program. You do not need to include
a photograph for a spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident.

Failure to submit the required photographs for your spouse and each child listed will result in an
incomplete entry to the E-DV system. The entry will not be accepted and must be resubmitted.
Group or family photographs will not be accepted; there must be a separate photograph for each family
member.

Failure to enter the correct photograph of each individual into the E-DV system may result in
disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visas associated with the case at the
time of the visa interview. Entries are subject to disqualification and visa refusal for cases in which the
photographs are not recent, show manipulation in any way, or fail to meet the specifications explained
below.

Instructions for Submitting a Digital Photograph (Image)

A digital photograph (image) of you, your spouse, and each child must be submitted online with the E-DV entry
form. The image file can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by scanning a photographic
print with a digital scanner. The image file must adhere to the compositional and technical specifications listed
below. Entrants may test their photos for suitability through the photo validation link on the e-DV website before
submitting their entries. The photo validation provides additional technical advice on photo composition, along
with examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos.

Compositional Specifications: The submitted digital image must conform to the following compositional
specifications or the entry will be disqualified.

 Head Position
o The person being photographed must directly face the camera.
o The head of the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side.
o The head height or facial region size (measured from the top of the head, including the hair, to the
bottom of the chin) must be between 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height. The
eye height (measured from the bottom of the image to the level of the eyes) should be between 56
percent and 69 percent of the image's height.

 Digital Image Head Size Template

Review examples on the Photo Requirements webpage

 Background
o The person being photographed should be in front of a neutral, light-colored background.

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 o Dark or patterned backgrounds are not acceptable.

 Focus
o The photograph must be in focus.

 Decorative Items
o Photographs in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or other items that
detract from the face will not be accepted.

 Head Coverings and Hats

o Photos of applicants wearing head coverings or hats are only acceptable if the head covering is
worn for religious beliefs; even then, the head covering may not obscure any portion of the face of
the applicant. Photographs of applicants with tribal or other headgear not specifically religious in
nature will not be accepted; photographs of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats will
not be accepted.

Color photographs in 24-bit color depth are required. Color photographs may be downloaded from a
camera to a file in the computer or they may be scanned onto a computer. If you are using a scanner, the
settings must be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. See the additional scanning requirements below.

Technical Specifications
The submitted digital photograph must conform to the following specifications or the system will automatically reject
the E-DV entry form and notify the sender.

 Taking a New Digital Image. If a new digital image is taken, it must meet the following specifications:

 Image File Format: The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
format.

 Image File Size: The maximum image file size is 240 kilobytes (240 KB).

 Image Resolution and Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 pixels (width) x 600 pixels
Dimensions: (height). Image pixel dimensions must be in a square aspect ratio
(meaning the height must be equal to the width).

 Image Color Depth: Image must be in color (24 bits per pixel). 24-bit black and white or 8-bit
images will not be accepted.

 Scanning a Submitted Photograph. Before a photographic print is scanned, it must meet the
compositional specifications listed above. If the photographic print meets the print color and
compositional specifications, scan the print using the following scanner specifications:

 Scanner Resolution: Scanned at a resolution of at least 300 dots per inch (dpi).

 Image File Format: The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
format.

 Image File Size: The maximum image file size is 240 kilobytes (240 KB).

 Image Resolution: 600 by 600 pixels.

 Image Color Depth: 24-bit color. [Note that black and white, monochrome, or grayscale
images will not be accepted.]

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INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR THE ELECTRONIC ENTRY
There is only one way to enter the DV-2014 program. You must submit the DS-5501, the Electronic Diversity Visa
Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form), which is only accessible online at the EDV website www.dvlottery.state.gov.
Failure to complete the form in its entirety will disqualify the entry. Those who submit the E-DV entry will
be asked to include the information below on the E-DV Entry Form.

NOTICE: The Department of State strongly encourages applicants to complete the entry form without the
assistance of “Visa Consultants,” “Visa Agents,” or other individuals who offer to submit an entry on behalf
of applicants. If somebody else (a third-party) helps you to complete your entry form, you should be
present when the entry is prepared so that you can retain the confirmation page and your unique
confirmation number. Facilitators may try to withhold confirmation numbers in order to make an unlawful
demand for money or services in exchange for notification information that should have been directly
available to you.

REMINDER: Your unique confirmation number from your DV-2014 online entry registration is required for
you to later access the E-DV website. You will need to access the E-DV website (www.dvlottery.state.gov)
after May 1, 2013, to determine whether or not your entry has been selected through the Entrant Status
Check. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means of informing you of your selection for DV-2014. It will
provide instructions to you on how to proceed with your application and notify you of the date and time of
your immigrant visa interview. If you do not have your confirmation information, you will not be able to
check your DV entry status.

1. FULL NAME – Last/Family Name, First Name, Middle name. Enter your name exactly as listed on your
passport.

2. DATE OF BIRTH – Day, Month, Year

3. GENDER – Male or Female

4. CITY WHERE YOU WERE BORN

5. COUNTRY WHERE YOU WERE BORN – The name of the country should be the one currently in use for
the place where you were born.

6. COUNTRY OF ELIGIBILITY OR CHARGEABILITY FOR THE DV PROGRAM – Your country of eligibility

will normally be the same as your country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where you live.
If you were born in a country that is not eligible for the DV program, please review the instructions to see if
there is another option for country chargeability available for you. For additional information on chargeability,
please review “Frequently Asked Question #1” of these instructions.

7. ENTRY PHOTOGRAPH(S) – See the technical information on photograph specifications. Make sure you
include photographs of your spouse and all your children, if applicable. See Frequently Asked Question #3.

8. MAILING ADDRESS – In Care Of, Address Line 1, Address Line 2, City/Town,

District/Country/Province/State, Postal Code/Zip Code, and Country

9. COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE TODAY

10. PHONE NUMBER (optional)

11. E-MAIL ADDRESS – Provide an e-mail address to which you have direct access. You will NOT
receive an official selection letter at this address. However, if your entry is selected and you respond
to the notification of your selection through the Entrant Status Check, you will receive follow-up
communication from the Department of State by e-mail notifying you that details of your immigrant
visa interview are available on Entrant Status Check. The Department of State may contact you at
this e-mail address, but will never send you an e-mail telling you that you have been selected for the
DV program.

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 12. WHAT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION YOU HAVE ACHIEVED, AS OF TODAY? You must
indicate which one of the following represents your own highest level of educational achievement: (1)
Primary school only, (2) High school, no degree, (3) High school degree, (4) Vocational school, (5) Some
university courses, (6) University degree, (7) Some graduate level courses, (8) Masters degree, (9) Some
doctorate level courses, and (10) Doctorate degree.

13. MARITAL STATUS – Unmarried, Married, Divorced, Widowed, or Legally Separated.

14. NUMBER OF CHILDREN – Entries MUST include the name, date, and place of birth of your spouse and
all living natural children. Entries must also include all living children legally adopted by you, and living step-
children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 on the date of your electronic entry, even if you are no
longer legally married to the child’s parent, and even if the spouse or child does not currently reside with you
and/or will not immigrate with you. Note that married children and children 21 years or older are not eligible
for the DV; however, U.S. law protects children from “aging out” in certain circumstances. If your DV entry is
made before your unmarried child turns 21, and the child turns 21 before visa issuance, he/she may be
protected from aging out by the Child Status Protection Act and be treated as though he/she were under 21
for visa-processing purposes. You are not required to list a spouse or child who is already a U.S. citizen or a
Lawful Permanent Resident, as they will not be eligible for a DV visa. Failure to list all children who are
eligible will result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visas in the case at
the time of the visa interview. See Frequently Asked Question #11.

15. SPOUSE INFORMATION – Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country of Birth, and
Photograph. Failure to list your eligible spouse will result in disqualification of the principal applicant
and refusal of all visas in the case at the time of the visa interview. You must list your spouse here
even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for a visa.

16. CHILDREN INFORMATION – Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country of Birth, and
Photograph. Include all children declared in question #14 above.

SELECTION OF APPLICANTS
Based on the allocations of available visas in each region and country, the computer will randomly select
individuals from among qualified entries. All DV-2014 entrants will be required to go to the E-DV website
Entrant Status Check using the unique confirmation number saved from their DV-2014 online entry
registration to find out whether their entry has been selected in the DV program. Entrant Status Check
will be available on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov starting May 1, 2013, and continuing
through at least June 30, 2014. Selectees will be directed to a confirmation page that will provide further
instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the United States. Entrant
Status Check will be the ONLY means by which selectees will be notified of their selection for DV-2014.
The Department of State will not be mailing out notification letters. Those selected in the random drawing
are NOT notified of their selection by e-mail. Those individuals NOT selected will be notified of their non-
selection through Entrant Status Check. U.S. embassies and consulates will not provide a list of
selectees. Selectees’ spouses and unmarried children under age 21 may also apply for visas to accompany or
follow-to-join the principal applicant. DV-2014 visas will be issued between October 1, 2013, and September 30,
2014.

Processing of entries and issuance of DVs to selectees meeting eligibility requirements and their eligible family
members MUST be completed by midnight on September 30, 2014. Under no circumstances can DVs be issued
or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members obtain DVs to follow-to-join the principal
applicant in the United States after this date.

In order to receive a DV to immigrate to the United States, entrants in the random drawing that are selected for
the next steps (called selectees) must meet ALL eligibility requirements under U.S. law. These requirements may
significantly increase the level of scrutiny required and time necessary for processing for natives of some
countries listed in this notice including, but not limited to, countries identified as state sponsors of terrorism.

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 Important Notice
Electronic online entry in the annual DV program is FREE. The State Department does not charge any
fees to enter The U.S. government employs no outside consultants or private services to operate the DV
program. Any intermediaries or others who offer assistance to prepare DV entries do so without the authority or
consent of the U.S. government. Use of any outside intermediary or assistance to prepare a DV entry is entirely
at the entrant’s discretion. The ONLY website on which people can officially register to participation in the
Diversity Program is www.dvlottery.state.gov.

A qualified electronic entry submitted directly by an applicant has an equal chance of being randomly selected by
computer, as does a qualified electronic entry received from an outside intermediary on behalf of the applicant.
However, receipt of more than one entry per person will disqualify the person from registration,
regardless of the source of the entry.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT DO THE TERMS “ELIGIBILITY,” “NATIVE,” AND “CHARGEABILITY” MEAN? ARE THERE ANY
SITUATIONS IN WHICH PERSONS WHO WERE NOT BORN IN A QUALIFYING COUNTRY MAY APPLY?

Your country of eligibility will normally be the same as your country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not
related to where you live. “Native” ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the
individual’s current country of residence or nationality. For immigration purposes, “native” can also mean
someone who is entitled to be “charged” to a country other than the one in which he/she was born under the
provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

For example, if you were born in a country that is not eligible for this year’s DV program, you may claim
chargeability to the country where your derivative spouse was born. Because your eligibility is based on
your spouse, however, you will not be issued a DV-1 immigrant visa unless your spouse is also eligible for
and issued a DV-2 visa, and both of you must enter the United States together using your DVs. In a similar
manner, a minor dependent child can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth.

Finally, if you were born in a country not eligible to participate in this year’s DV program, you can be “charged”
to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible
country at the time of your birth. In general, people are not considered residents of a country in which they
were not born or legally naturalized, if they are only visiting the country, studying in the country temporarily, or
stationed temporarily in the country for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or
government from a country other than the country in which the applicant was born. If you claim alternate
chargeability, you must indicate such information on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6. Please be aware
that listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid
claim) may disqualify your entry.

2. HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION THAT I HAVE RECEIVED IS AUTHENTIC?
HOW CAN I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE IN FACT BEEN CHOSEN IN THE RANDOM DV PROGRAM?

Keep your confirmation page from the online registration entry submission until at least June 2014.
You must have your confirmation number to access information through the Entrant Status Check available
on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means by which
DV-2014 entrants are notified of their selection, provided instructions on how to proceed with their application,
and notified of their immigrant visa interview appointment date and time. Be advised that the E-DV website
www.dvlottery.state.gov is the only authorized Department of State website for official online entry, as
well as the required online status check for the Diversity Visa Program.

Status information will be available starting May 1, 2013 through at least June 30, 2014. You must have
your confirmation information in order to check your DV entry status. Only the individuals selected
randomly to continue the visa process will be given additional instructions on how to pursue their DV visa
application. Persons not selected may verify the non-selection of their entry using their confirmation
information through the official DV website, but they will not receive any additional instructions. U.S.
Embassies and Consulates have no access to the Entrant Status check system; they are unable to check the

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 system for you. The Department of State is NOT able to provide a list of those selected to continue the visa
process.

Randomly selected entrants will receive notification instructions for the DV visa application process on the
selectee confirmation page available through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website
www.dvlottery.state.gov. The instructions say the selected applicants will pay all DV and immigrant visa fees
in person only at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the visa application. The consular cashier
immediately gives the visa applicant a U.S. government receipt for payment. Selected applicants applying for
an immigrant visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate should never send money for DV fees through the mail,
Western Union, or any other delivery service. Those selectees who are already present in the United States
and who file for adjustment of status will receive separate instructions on how to mail DV fees to a U.S. bank.

The E-DV program entries are submitted on the Internet, on the official U.S. government E-DV website at
www.dvlottery.state.gov. Notification letters will not be sent to the selected applicants. The U.S. government
has never sent e-mails to notify individuals that they have been selected, and there are no plans to use e-mail
for this purpose for the DV-2014 program. Selectees will only receive e-mail communications alerting them
that a visa appointment has been scheduled after they have responded to the notification instructions on
Entrant Status Check. Such e-mails will direct selectees to check their interview appointment details on
Entrant Status Check and will not contain information on the actual appointment date and time.

Please note that only Internet sites that end with the “.gov” domain suffix are official U.S. government
websites. Many other non-governmental websites (e.g., using the suffixes “.com,” “.org,” or “.net”) provide
immigration and visa related information and services. Regardless of the content of non-governmental
websites, the Department of State does not endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material
shown at these other websites.

Some websites try to mislead customers and members of the public into thinking they are official websites
and may contact you by e-mail to lure you to their offers. These websites may attempt to require you to pay
for services such as forms and information about immigration procedures, which are free on the Department
of State website or through U.S. Embassy or Consulate websites. Additionally, these other websites may
require you to pay for services you are not likely to receive (such as fees for DV immigration applications and
visas) in an effort to steal your money. If you send in money to one of these scams, you will likely never see it
again. Also, you should be wary of sending any personal information to these websites, as it may be used for
identity fraud/theft.

3. WHY DO NATIVES OF CERTAIN COUNTRIES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE DV PROGRAM?

DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the historical
source countries of large numbers of immigrants to the United States, as indicated in the law by stating that
no Diversity Visas shall be provided for natives of “high-admission” countries. The law defines this to mean
countries from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa
categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each year, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) adds the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous
five years to identify the countries whose natives will be ineligible for the annual diversity visa program. Since
there is a separate determination made before each annual E-DV entry period, the list of countries whose
natives are not eligible may change from one year to the next.

4. WHAT IS THE NUMERICAL LIMIT FOR DV-2014?

By law, the DV program makes available a maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to
eligible persons. However, the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed
by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning as early as DV-1999, and for as long as necessary,
up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated DVs will be made available for use under the NACARA program.
The actual reduction of the limit by up to 5,000 DVs began with DV-2000 and will remain in effect through the
DV-2014 program.

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5. WHAT ARE THE REGIONAL DV LIMITS FOR DV-2014?

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines the regional DV limits for each year
according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the INA. Once USCIS has completed these calculations,
the regional visa limits will be announced.

6. WHEN WILL ENTRIES FOR THE DV-2014 PROGRAM BE ACCEPTED?

The DV-2014 entry period will run from noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2,
2012, until noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012. Each year, millions of
people apply for the program during the registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an
enormous amount of work in selecting and processing successful individuals. Holding the entry period
starting noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 2 and continuing until noon Eastern Daylight Time
(EDT) on November 3 ensures that selectees are notified in a timely manner and gives both the visa
applicants and our embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance. You are
strongly encouraged to enter early during the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration
period may slow the system down. No entries whatsoever will be accepted after noon EDT Saturday,
November 3, 2012.

7. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE IN THE UNITED STATES APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM?

Yes, an applicant may be in the United States or in another country, and the entry may be submitted from the
United States or from abroad.

8. IS EACH APPLICANT LIMITED TO ONLY ONE ENTRY DURING THE ANNUAL E-DV REGISTRATION
PERIOD?

Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals for
whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State employs
technology and other means to identify individuals who submit multiple entries during the registration period.
People submitting more than one entry will be disqualified, and an electronic record will be permanently
maintained by the Department of State. Individuals may apply for the program once each year during the
regular registration period.

9. MAY A HUSBAND AND A WIFE EACH SUBMIT A SEPARATE ENTRY?

Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either is
selected, the other is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.

10. WHAT FAMILY MEMBERS MUST I INCLUDE ON MY E-DV ENTRY?

On your entry you must list your spouse (husband or wife) and all living unmarried children under 21 years
of age, regardless of whether or not they are living with you or intend to accompany or follow to join you
should you immigrate to the United States. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated
from him/her, unless you are legally separated (i.e., there is a written agreement recognized by a court or a
court order). If you are legally separated or divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. You must
list ALL your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial E-
DV entry, whether they are your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally
adopted in accordance with the laws of your country, unless such child is already a U.S. citizen or Lawful
Permanent Resident. List all children under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, even if they
no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to immigrate under the DV program. You are
not required to list children who are already U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents.

The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they must travel with you.
They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application
forms that you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. This only applies to those
who were family members at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later
date. Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as
both entries include details on all dependents in your family. See question #9 above.

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11. CAN MY SAME-SEX SPOUSES BE INCLUDED IN A DV ENTRY?

No, same-sex marriages are not recognized under U.S. immigration law for the purpose of immigrating to the
United States. However, your same-sex partner is free to submit his/her own entry into the DV program if he
or she meets all eligibility requirements.

12. MUST I SUBMIT MY OWN ENTRY, OR MAY SOMEONE ACT ON MY BEHALF?

You may prepare and submit your own entry, or have someone submit the entry for you. Regardless of
whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend,
relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each person, and the person seeking the
Diversity Visa remains responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete. All
entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the Entrant Status
Check available as of May 1, 2013, on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants must keep their
own confirmation page information so that they are able to independently check the status of their entry.

13. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE?

U.S. Immigration law and regulations require that every Diversity Visa entrant must have at least a high
school education or its equivalent or have two years of work experience within the past five years in an
occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. A “high school education or equivalent” is
defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the
United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary
education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Only formal courses of study meet this
requirement; correspondence programs or equivalency certificates (such as the General Equivalency Diploma
G.E.D.)) are not acceptable. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the
consular officer at the time of the visa interview.

14. WHAT OCCUPATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE DV PROGRAM??

To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL)
O*Net OnLine database will be used. The O*Net Online Database groups job experience into five “job
zones.” While many occupations are listed on the DOL Website, only certain specified occupations qualify for
the DV Program. To qualify for a DV on the basis of your work experience, you must have, within the past
five years, two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a
Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.

15. HOW DO I FIND THE QUALIFYING OCCUPATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEB SITE?

Qualifying DV Occupations are shown on the DOL O*Net Online Database. Follow these steps to find out if
your occupation qualifies: Select “Find Occupations” and then select a specific “Job Family.” For example,
select Architecture and Engineering and click “GO.” Then click on the link for the specific Occupation.
Following the same example, click “Aerospace Engineers.” After selecting a specific Occupation link, select the
tab “Job Zone” to find out the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating
range. For additional information, see the Diversity Visa – List of Occupations webpage.

16. HOW WILL SUCCESSFUL ENTRANTS BE SELECTED?

All entries received from each region are individually numbered, and at the end of the registration period, a
computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. Within
each region, the first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered; the second entry selected will
be the second case registered etc. All entries received during the registration period will have an equal
chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the entrant will be notified of
his/her selection through the Entrant Status Check available starting May 1, 2013, on the E-DV website
www.dvlottery.state.gov. The Department of State’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will then process the
case until those selected to be visa applicants are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. Embassy
or Consulate or until those qualifying to change status in the United States apply at a domestic USCIS office.

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 Important Note: Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant Status Check,
available starting May 1, 2013, through at least June 30, 2014, on the E-DV website
www.dvlottery,state.gov. The Department of State does not send selectee notifications or letters by
regular postal mail or by e-mail. Should you receive an e-mail notification or a mailed letter stating
that you have been selected to receive a DV, be aware that the notification is not legitimate. Any e-
mail communication you receive from the Department of State will direct you to review Entrant Status
Check for new information about your application. The Department of State will never ask you to send
money by mail or by services such as Western Union.

17. MAY SELECTEES ADJUST THEIR STATUS WITH USCIS?

Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected
individuals who are physically present in the United States may apply to USCIS for adjustment of status to
permanent resident. Applicants must ensure that USCIS can complete action on their cases, including
processing of any overseas spouse or children under 21 years of age, before September 30, 2014,
since on that date your eligibility for the DV-2014 program expires. No visa numbers for the DV-2014
program will be available after midnight EDT on September 30, 2014, under any circumstances.

18. WILL ENTRANTS WHO ARE NOT SELECTED BE INFORMED?

All entrants, including those NOT selected, may check the status of their entry through the Entrant Status
Check on the E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov to find out if their entry was or was not selected.
Entrants must keep their own confirmation page information from the time of their entry until at least June 30,
2014. Status information for DV-2014 will be available online from May 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014.
(Status information for the previous DV program, DV-2013, is available online from May 1, 2012, through
June 30, 2013.)

19. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS WILL BE SELECTED?

There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2014. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons
who are selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will
be selected to ensure that all of the available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there may
not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. All applicants who are selected will
be able to see whether they have been selected for further processing and their place on the list by checking
the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check. Interviews for the DV-2014 program will begin in October 2013 for
selectees who have submitted all pre-interview paperwork and other information as requested in the
notification instructions. Selectees who provide all required information will be informed of their visa interview
appointment through the E-DV website’s Entrant Status Check four to six weeks before the scheduled
interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month, visas will be issued to those applicants
who are ready for issuance during that month, visa-number availability permitting. Once all of the 50,000 DV
visas have been issued, the program will end. In principle, visa numbers could be finished before September
2014. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases.
Random selection as a selectee does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. Selection merely
means that you are eligible to apply for a Diversity Visa, and if qualified, be issued a Diversity Visa.
Only the first 50,000 selected applicants to qualify will be issued visas.

20. IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE FOR APPLICANTS TO APPLY FOR THE E-DV PROGRAM?

There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the requirement of a high school education or work
experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who
are under age 18. Parents and siblings are ineligible to receive DV visas as dependents, and should not be
included in the entry of the principal applicant.

21. ARE THERE ANY FEES FOR THE E-DV PROGRAM?

There is no fee for submitting an electronic entry. DV applicants must pay all required visa fees at the
time of visa application and interview directly to the consular cashier at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Selected individuals who adjust status while in the United States will pay all required fees directly to USCIS.

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 Details of required DV and immigrant visa application fees will be included with the instructions provided to
applicants who are selected.

22. IF I AM SELECTED AND APPLY FOR THE DV, BUT DO NOT QUALIFY TO RECEIVE ONE, CAN I GET A
REFUND OF THE VISA FEES I PAID?

Visa fees cannot be refunded. DV applicants must meet all qualifications for the visa as detailed in these
instructions. If a consular officer determines an applicant does not meet requirements for the visa, or is
otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer cannot issue a visa and the applicant will forfeit all
fees paid.

23. DO DV APPLICANTS RECEIVE WAIVERS OF ANY GROUNDS OF VISA INELIGIBILITY OR RECEIVE

SPECIAL PROCESSING FOR A WAIVER APPLICATION?

Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA). There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility aside
from those ordinarily provided in the INA, nor is there special processing for waiver requests. Some general
waiver provisions for people with close relatives who are U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Resident aliens
may be available to DV applicants as well, but the time constraints in the DV program will make it difficult for
applicants to benefit from such provisions.

24. MAY PERSONS WHO ARE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR AN IMMIGRANT VISA IN ANOTHER
CATEGORY APPLY FOR THE DV PROGRAM?

Yes, such persons may apply for the DV program.

25. HOW LONG DO APPLICANTS WHO ARE SELECTED REMAIN ENTITLED TO APPLY FOR VISAS IN THE
DV CATEGORY?

Persons selected in the DV-2014 program are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during U.S. Government
Fiscal Year 2014, which spans from October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014. Without exception, all
selected and eligible applicants must obtain their visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year.
There is no carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are selected but who do not obtain
visas by September 30, 2014 (the end of the fiscal year). Also, spouses and children who derive status from
a DV-2014 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between October 1, 2013 and September 30,
2014. Applicants who apply overseas will receive an appointment notification from the Department through
Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website four to six weeks before the scheduled appointment.

26. IF AN E-DV SELECTEE DIES, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE DV CASE?

The death of a DV selectee results in automatic revocation of the DV case. Any eligible spouse and/or
children will no longer be entitled to a DV visa for that entry.

27. WHEN WILL E-DV BE AVAILABLE ONLINE?

Online entry will be available during the registration period beginning at noon EDT (GMT-4) on Tuesday,
October 2, 2012, and ending at noon EDT (GMT-4) on Saturday, November 3, 2012.

28. WILL I BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD AND SAVE THE E-DV ENTRY FORM TO A MICROSOFT WORD
PROGRAM (OR OTHER SUITABLE PROGRAM) AND THEN FILL IT OUT?

No, you will not be able to save the form into another program for completion and submission later. The E-DV
Entry Form is a Web form only. This makes it more “universal” than a proprietary word processor format.
Additionally, it does require that the information be filled in and submitted while online.

29. IF I DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO A SCANNER, CAN I SEND PHOTOGRAPHS TO MY RELATIVE IN THE
UNITED STATES TO SCAN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, SAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO A DISKETTE, AND
THEN MAIL THE DISKETTE BACK TO ME TO APPLY?

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 Yes, as long as the photograph meets the requirements in the instructions and is electronically submitted
with, and at the same time as, the E-DV online entry. The applicants must already have the scanned
photograph file when they submit the entry online. The photograph cannot be submitted separately from the
online application. Only one online entry can be submitted for each person. Multiple submissions will
disqualify the entry for that person for DV-2014. The entire entry (photograph and application together) can
be submitted electronically from the United States or from overseas.

30. CAN I SAVE THE FORM ONLINE SO THAT I CAN FILL OUT PART AND THEN COME BACK LATER
AND COMPLETE THE REMAINDER?

No. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted at one time. However, because the
form is in two parts, and because of possible network interruptions and delays, the E-DV system is designed
to permit up to sixty (60) minutes between the form’s download and when the entry is received at the E-DV
website. If more than sixty minutes have elapsed and the entry has not been electronically received, the
information already received is discarded. This is done so that there is no possibility that a full entry could
accidentally be interpreted as a duplicate of a previous partial entry. The DV-2014 instructions explain clearly
and completely what information is required to fill in the form. Thus, you can be fully prepared, making sure
you have all of the information needed before you start to complete the form online.

31. IF THE SUBMITTED DIGITAL IMAGES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE SPECIFICATIONS, THE
PROCEDURES STATE THAT THE SYSTEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY REJECT THE E-DV ENTRY FORM
AND NOTIFY THE SENDER. DOES THIS MEAN I WILL BE ABLE RE-SUBMIT MY ENTRY?

Since the entry was automatically rejected, it was not actually considered as a submission to the E-DV
website, so, yes, the entry can be resubmitted. It does not count as a submitted E-DV entry, and no
confirmation notice of receipt is sent. If there are problems with the digital photograph sent, because it does
not conform to the requirements, it is automatically rejected by the E-DV website. However, the amount of
time it takes the rejection message to reach the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet. If
the applicant can fix the error, and the Form Part One or Two is re-sent within sixty (60) minutes, there is no
problem. Otherwise, the applicant will have to restart the submission process. An applicant can try to submit
an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation
notice sent.

32. WILL THE ELECTRONIC CONFIRMATION NOTICE THAT THE COMPLETED E-DV ENTRY FORM HAS
BEEN RECEIVED THROUGH THE ONLINE SYSTEM BE SENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER SUBMISSION?

The response from the E-DV website which contains confirmation of the receipt of an acceptable E-DV Entry
Form is sent by the E-DV website immediately. However, the amount of time it takes the response to reach
the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet and e-mail systems. If many minutes have
elapsed since pressing the “Submit” button, there is no harm in pressing the “Submit” button a second time.
The E-DV system will not be confused by a situation where the “Submit” button is hit a second time, because
no confirmation response has been received. An applicant can try to submit an application as many times as
is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent. However, once you
receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.

33. HOW DO I REPORT INTERNET FRAUD OR UNSOLICITED E-MAIL?

If you wish to file a complaint about Internet fraud, please see the econsumer.gov website, hosted by the
Federal Trade Commission, in cooperation with consumer-protection agencies from 17 nations
(http://www.econsumer.gov/english/). You may also report fraud to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Internet Crime Complaint Center. To file a complaint about unsolicited e-mail, visit the Department of Justice
Contact Us page.

34. IF I AM SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING A VISA THROUGH THE DV PROGRAM, WILL THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT ASSIST WITH MY AIRFARE TO THE UNITED STATES, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO
LOCATE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT, PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, OR PROVIDE ANY SUBSIDIES
UNTIL I AM FULLY SETTLED?

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 No, applicants who obtain a DV are not provided any type of assistance such as airfare, housing assistance,
or subsidies. If you are selected to apply for a DV, you will be required to provide evidence that you will not
become a public charge in the United States before being issued a visa. This evidence may be in the form of
a combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from a relative or friend residing in
the United States, and/or an offer of employment from an employer in the United States.

LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2014

The list below shows the countries whose natives are eligible for DV-2014, grouped by geographic region.
Dependent areas overseas are included within the region of the governing country. The countries whose natives
are not eligible for the DV-2014 program were identified by USCIS, according to the formula in Section 203(c) of
the INA. The countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV program (because they are the principal source
countries of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based immigration or “high-admission” countries) are noted after
the respective regional lists.

AFRICA

Algeria Madagascar
Angola Malawi
Benin Mali
Botswana Mauritania
Burkina Faso Mauritius
Burundi Morocco
Cameroon Mozambique
Cape Verde Namibia
Central African Republic Niger
Chad Nigeria
Comoros Rwanda
Congo Sao Tome and Principe
Congo, Democratic Republic of the Senegal
Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Seychelles
Djibouti Sierra Leone
Egypt Somalia
Equatorial Guinea South Africa
Eritrea South Sudan
Ethiopia Sudan
Gabon Swaziland
Gambia, The Tanzania
Ghana Togo
Guinea Tunisia
Guinea-Bissau Uganda
Kenya Zambia
Lesotho Zimbabwe
Liberia
Libya

Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan;
persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.

ASIA

Afghanistan Burma
Bahrain Cambodia
Bhutan Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brunei Indonesia

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Iran North Korea
Iraq Oman
Israel Qatar
Japan Saudi Arabia
Jordan Singapore
Kuwait Sri Lanka
Laos Syria
Lebanon Taiwan
Malaysia Thailand
Maldives Timor-Leste
Mongolia United Arab Emirates
Nepal Yemen

Natives of the following Asia Region countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program:
Bangladesh, China (mainland-born), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. Hong Kong S.A.R. (Asia),
Macau S.A.R. (Europe), and Taiwan (Asia) do qualify and are listed here.

Persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, and Syria are chargeable, respectively, to
Israel, Jordan, and Syria. Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are
chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.

EUROPE

Albania Lithuania
Andorra Luxembourg
Armenia Macau Special Administrative Region
Austria Macedonia
Azerbaijan Malta
Belarus Moldova
Belgium Monaco
Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro
Bulgaria Netherlands (including components and
Croatia dependent areas overseas)
Cyprus Northern Ireland
Czech Republic Norway
Denmark (including components and Poland
dependent areas overseas) Portugal (including components and
Estonia dependent areas overseas)
Finland Romania
France (including components and Russia
areas overseas) San Marino
Georgia Serbia
Germany Slovakia
Greece Slovenia
Hungary Spain
Iceland Sweden
Ireland Switzerland
Italy Tajikistan
Kazakhstan Turkey
Kosovo Turkmenistan
Kyrgyzstan Ukraine
Latvia Uzbekistan
Liechtenstein Vatican City

Natives of the following European countries are not eligible for this year’s DV program: Great Britain (United
Kingdom). Great Britain (United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin

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Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
Note that for purposes of the diversity program only, Northern Ireland is treated separately; Northern Ireland
does qualify and is listed among the qualifying areas.
Macau S.A.R. does qualify and is listed above.

NORTH AMERICA

The Bahamas

In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico are not eligible for this year’s diversity program.

OCEANIA

Australia (including components and dependent areas overseas)

dependent areas overseas) Palau
Fiji Papua New Guinea
Kiribati Solomon Islands
Marshall Islands Tonga
Micronesia, Federated States of Tuvalu
Nauru Vanuatu
New Zealand (including components and Sam

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela

Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this year’s diversity program:
Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru.

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