Embassy of the United States Kathmandu, Nepal

The Diversity Visa Program

The Diversity Visa (DV) program offers an opportunity for 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.   Those winners who qualify at the time of their interview are issued visas and, upon entering the United States, are granted Legal Permanent Residence ("Green Card") status in the United States.

Important notes about the DV program:  

• There are no costs or fees to register for the DV program.  Only those applicants who come to the US Embassy for an Immigrant Visa interview will be charged applicable visa fees.   As of April 13, 2012, the per person fee for each Diversity Visa is $330, payable in cash (U.S. dollars or Nepali rupees) at the time of the visa interview.  This is a non-refundable fee.
• Please be aware that even if you are selected as a DV winner and receive the second letter from KCC, this does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. At the time of your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you meet the qualifications and are eligible for the DV.
• DV winners must have the equivalent of twelve years of formal education at a minimum to qualify for a visa.  In Nepal, this is Intermediate (+2 or A levels) or certificate (Proficiency Leaving Certificate) level, which is the degree obtained for successfully attending and passing two years in college after ten years of school. Private exams taken instead of school attendance do not count. 
• Vocational degrees, including the CTEVT, will count only if they are accepted in Nepal as a basis for further academic study in higher education institutions. Vocational degrees that allow limited admission to selected programs do not count as twelve years of formal education for the purposes of the DV program.    
• If the DV winner has not completed 12 years of education, he or she must have work experience in an occupation identified by the U.S. Department of Labor. Most of these kinds of jobs require the equivalent of a U.S. university degree. To find out more about whether your work experience qualifies you for a DV, look up your job here. Your job should score a 7.0 or higher on the Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range to qualify.    
• Very few people qualify for the DV based on their work experience. If you do not have either the educational or work experience, you WILL NOT qualify to receive a DV and should not proceed with your DV application.  
• On your entry, you must list your spouse (husband or wife), and all unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of whether or not they are living with you.  Please note that if you did not include your spouse and all unmarried children under age 21 on your original electronic DV entry for any reason, you WILL be disqualified from the DV, and you WILL NOT receive a visa (even though you receive the second letter from KCC).    
• If you have not received a medical clearance from our panel physician, IOM, by September 30 of the year in which you qualify for an interview, you will not receive a DV.

 For more information about the DV program, click here.

 Entering the Lottery

The entry registration period for the 2013 DV Program has closed. The registration period began at noon, EDT (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 4, 2011, and ended at noon, EDT (GMT-4), Saturday, November 5, 2011.  We will post information about registration for the 2014 DV program here when it becomes available.

How to Check Your Status

Between July 15, 2011 and June 30, 2012, you will be able to check your DV-2012 entry by visiting http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. Starting May 1, 2012, you will be able to check the status of your DV-2013 entry by visiting the same website.  This Entrant Status Check will be the sole means of informing you of your selection for DV-2012 or DV-2013, 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.  If you have lost your confirmation information, you will not be able to check your DV entry status.

Next Steps

If you have been selected for further processing in the Diversity Visa program, the next step is to demonstrate you are eligible for a diversity immigrant visa. When requested to do so by the Kentucky Consular Center, you will need to complete the immigrant visa application, submit required documents and forms, pay required fees, complete a medical examination, and be interviewed by a consular officer at the U.S. embassy to demonstrate you qualify for a diversity visa. Please note that the Kentucky Consular Center will provide application information online through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website.

Preparing for the Interview

Applicants in DV interviews are required to demonstrate that they had met the educational or 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.  Note that very few people qualify for the DV based on their 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, PLEASE DO NOT APPLY.

Below is a checklist of documents to bring to your interview.  Please assemble them in the following order and bring original documents:

1. For Principal Applicant (DV Winner):
   • Appointment Letter
   • One photograph (2” X 2”)
   • Passport
   • Birth Certificate 
   • Divorce Decree (If Applicable)
   • Marriage Certificate 
   • Police Certificate 
   • Academic Certificates for all degrees including Transcripts
   • Photocopies of all the above documents
   • Postal Address in the U.S
2. For DV Winner's Spouse (Husband/Wife):
   • One photograph (2” X 2”)
   • Passport
   • Birth Certificate 
   • Divorce Decree (If Applicable)
   • Police Certificate 
   • Photocopies of all the above documents
3. For Children:
   • One photograph (2” X 2”)
   • Passport
   • Birth Certificate 
   • Police Certificate (If child is above 16 years)
   • Photocopies of all the above documents

Note:  All civil documents issued in the local language must be accompanied by an official translation in English.

Diversity Visa Fraud – Avoid Becoming a Victim!

• There have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. Please be aware that there is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. Also note that the Department of State no longer notifies successful Diversity Visa applicants by letter. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program must register online through the designated website (http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/) during the registration period. 
• There is no cost for the DV program until the day of the interview. Applicants do not need to pay money to anyone for DV information.  On the day of the interview, DV winners will pay the application fee to the U.S. Embassy directly.    
• The United States government employs no outside consultants to facilitate visas.  We strongly urge you NOT to use consultants’ services, as their assistance does not improve your chances of obtaining a visa.  If you do not meet the minimum qualifications for the visa, you WILL NOT receive a visa.  Any consultant who claims that he can improve your odds is promising something he cannot deliver.    
• Please do NOT attempt to submit fraudulent documents with your visa application.  By doing so, you will be refused a visa and risk being permanently ineligible for any type of visa to the United States in the future. Furthermore, you may be turned over to the police who may take legal action against you.    
• Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the applicant directly, or assistance is provided by someone else, the applicant alone remains responsible for insuring that all information in the entry is correct and complete.    
• Apply early to make sure your application is accepted.  All registrations must be done electronically; mail-in requests or paper entries will not be accepted.  Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.  Heavy demand may result in website delays.