What you should know about DV-2026 – important points to remember
1. There is no cost to register for the DV program!
There is no fee charged to submit an electronic entry. However, if you are selected and apply for a Diversity Visa, you must pay all required visa application fees at the time of visa application and interview directly to the consular cashier at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
2. We strongly encourage you to complete the entry form yourself, without a “visa consultant,” “visa agent,” or other person who offers to help. If someone helps you, you should be present when your entry is prepared so that you can provide the correct answers to the questions and keep your unique confirmation number and a printout of your confirmation screen. It is extremely important that you have the printout of your confirmation page and unique confirmation number. Unscrupulous visa facilitators have been known to assist entrants with their entries, keep the confirmation page printout, and then demand more money in exchange for the confirmation number. Without this information, you will not be able to access the online system that informs you of your entry status. Be wary if someone offers to keep this information for you.
3. Failure to list your eligible spouse or, listing someone who is not your spouse, will make you ineligible as the DV principal applicant and your spouse and children ineligible as DV derivative applicants. You must list your spouse even if you currently are separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated. Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remain married but live apart, following a court order. If you and your spouse are legally separated, your spouse will not be able to immigrate with you through the DV program. You will not be penalized if you choose to enter the name of a spouse from whom you are legally separated. If you are not legally separated by a court order, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the Diversity Visa, or your spouse does not intend to immigrate.
4. You must list all your children!
Be sure to include:
o all living natural children;
o all living children legally adopted by you; and,
o all living stepchildren 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 child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you.
Married children and children who are already aged 21 or older when you submit your entry are not eligible for the DV program.
5. Selections will be made in May 2025. The website dvprogram.state.gov/ESC is the ONLY way to see if you were selected. Any email claiming to notify entrants that they have been selected for the DV Program is a scam. The Department of State will NOT contact you if you have been selected.
10 Tips for Applying for the 2026 Diversity Visa Program:
Tip #1 – Read the instructions to find out if you qualify. Do NOT enter if you do not meet the qualifications.
Tip #2 – Go to dvprogram.state.gov to submit your entry. This is the ONLY way to enter. Do not be fooled by scams or fraudulent sites.
Tip #3 – There is NO fee to enter. Beware of those who claim they can improve your chances if you pay them, or who offer to complete your application for free.
Tip #4 – Complete the Diversity Visa Program entry yourself. Unscrupulous visa facilitators have retained an applicant’s confirmation number, and then demanded more money or illegal activities in exchange for the confirmation number.
Tip #5 – Use a photo taken in the last six months. Using an old photo will disqualify your entry. (If you want to be sure that your photo meets the dv-2025 requirements – click here)
Tip #6 – Only submit ONE entry per person. Individuals with more than one primary entry per Diversity Visa season will be disqualified.
Tip #7 – Remember to list your spouse and ALL unmarried children under the age of 21 in your application, even if they will not be traveling or immigrating with you. Incorrect or missing information in your entry can mean disqualification – even after you are selected.
Tip #8 – Keep your unique confirmation number. The confirmation number will be the only way to check whether an entry has been selected in May 2025.
Tip #9 – Selections will be made in May 2025. The website dvprogram.state.gov/ESC is the ONLY way to see if you were selected. Any email claiming to notify entrants that they have been selected for the Diversity Visa program is a scam. The Department of State will NOT contact you if you have been selected.
Tip #10 – Remember, being selected does NOT guarantee you a visa interview or visa. In order to issue as many visas as possible, there will be more selectees than there are visas available.