Diversity Program

The Diversity Visa (DV) program is designed to offer immigration to persons in countries that do not send large numbers of immigrants to the United States. Applicants are selected at random from qualifying entries, and those winners who qualify are issued visas and, upon entering the United States are granted Legal Permanent Residence status in the United States.

To qualify, an applicant must have completed twelve years of formal education (the equivalent of graduating from a U.S. high school) or two years of qualifying work experience at the time of applying for the DV.  The U.S. Department of Labor sets the standards for work qualifications and may change their interpretation of qualifying work experience at any time.

The Embassy is currently interviewing DV-2008. All DV-2008 cases must be completed by September 30, 2008. Any DV-2008 case that is not completed by September 30 will be closed, and any dependents who have not obtained visas will not be permitted to follow-to-join the principal applicant under the auspices of the DV-2006 program. The fee (per person) for each Diversity Visa is $755, payable in cash (U.S. dollars or Nepali Rupees). The fee must be paid prior to the interview, and will not be refunded if a visa is not issued.

DV-2008

How Can I Find Out If I Won?
Only winners will be notified.  Notifications are received by mail with a first notification letter between May and July 2007 at the addresses listed on the original eDV applications.  However, receipt of a first notification letter does not mean that you will have a visa interview.  Only those recipients of a first notification letter that subsequently receive a second notification letter will have a visa interview.  The second notification letter normally arrives one to three months before your visa appointment time.  The second notification will have your appointment date and time, and instructions and information on fees. Being selected as a winner in the diversity visa lottery does not automatically guarantee that you will be issued a visa, even if you are qualified.   There are a limited number of diversity visas available and winning the lottery is the first step in the process.  Many more candidates are drawn every year than the total number of visas available.  Moreover, applicants must qualify for the Diversity Visa by meeting education or work requirements, demonstrating they will not become a public charge in the U.S. and by following the rules of the lottery.

The Consular Section will not have a list of winners; please do not contact the Consular Section to ask if you have won.

Most applicants whose entry forms were randomly selected in the drawing for DV-2008 have already received their first notification letters.   Only the second notification letter has an appointment date and time.  Please come to the U.S. Embassy on the date of your appointment with your documents.  At that time you will be assigned a date and time for your interview. 

When Will I Have My Appointment?

DV interviews begin in October for each new year’s program. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they meet all requirements for visa issuance, including the educational and employment requirements specific to the DV program. Being selected for further processing does not guarantee issuance of a visa.

Applicants who have been given an interview date should review the information on Immigrant Visa Interview page.

• Applicants in DV interviews are required to demonstrate that they met the educational and employment qualifications for the DV program when they applied for the DV.   Bringing original transcripts and mark sheets from your university or high school (SLC and intermediate or Plus two) education will help to demonstrate educational history.  Providing detailed information about employment and job responsibilities will help to demonstrate work experience.  A Consular Officer will determine if an individual applicant's employment meets the requirements for the DV program.   If you know you do not qualify for the DV program based on your education or work experience, DO NOT APPLY.  Once you have paid the application fee, it cannot be refunded.
  
• Applicants must present evidence that they will not become a public charge in the United States by providing evidence of their own resources, support from friends or relatives in the United States, evidence of employment in the United States or other sources of income.  Applicants may present information about their financial resources here in Nepal, including land documents and other evidence of financial support.  A Consular Officer will review the evidence and make a determination at the time of interview.
  
• The interviewing officer will also check to see that all of the rules for entry were observed when the original entry form was submitted, and that the entry form was properly filled out.

What if I didn’t get a letter?
If you have not yet received a notification letter, you were most likely not selected for further processing. The Embassy does not have a list of DV-2008 winners, and cannot tell you if your application was selected or not.

Diversity Visa – General Information

How Can I Find Out More Information?
Please watch the State Department Website for more information on the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. You may also call the State Department's Visa Lottery Information Center at 1-900-884-8840 for more information. Please note: There is a charge for each call. You may also contact the Consular Section at the US Embassy in Kathmandu at consktm@state.gov.