[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 180 (Friday, September 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63841-63849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22217]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9629]


Registration for the Diversity Immigrant (DV-2018) Visa Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This public notice provides information on how to apply for 
the DV-2018 Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Program Overview

    The Department of State administers the Congressionally-mandated 
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program annually. Section 203(c) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of 
immigrants known as ``diversity immigrants,'' from countries with 
historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal 
year 2018, 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) will be available. There is no 
cost to register for the DV Program.
    Applicants who are selected in the lottery (``selectees'') must 
meet simple, but strict, eligibility requirements to qualify for a 
diversity visa. The Department of State determines selectees through a 
randomized computer drawing. Diversity visa numbers are distributed 
among six geographic regions and no single country may receive more 
than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.
    For DV-2018, natives of the following countries are not eligible to 
apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated 
to the United States in the previous five years:

    Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, 
Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, 
Nigeria, 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: Ecuador is eligible for DV 2018.

Eligibility

    Requirement #1: Individuals born in countries whose natives qualify 
may be eligible to enter.
    If you were not born in an eligible country, there are two other 
ways you might be able to qualify.
     Was your spouse born in a country whose natives are 
eligible? If yes, you can claim your spouse's country of birth--
provided that both you and your spouse are named on the selected entry, 
are found eligible for and issued diversity visas, and enter the United 
States simultaneously.
     Were you born in a country whose natives are ineligible, 
but in which neither of your parents were born or legally resident at 
the time of your birth? If yes, you may claim the country of birth of 
one of your parents if it is a country whose natives are eligible for 
the DV-2018 program. For more details on what this means, see the 
Frequently Asked Questions.
    Requirement #2: Each applicant must meet the education/work 
experience requirement of the DV program by having either:
     At least a high school education or its equivalent, 
defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal 
elementary and secondary education; OR
     two years of work experience within the past five years in 
an occupation that requies at least two years of training or experience 
to perform. The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of 
Labor's O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience. 
For more information about qualifying work experience for the principal 
DV applicant, see the Frequently Asked Questions.
    Do not submit an entry to the DV program unless you meet both of 
these requirements.

Entry Period

    Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2018 DV program 
electronically at dvlottery.state.gov between noon, Eastern Daylight 
Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 4, 2016, and noon, Eastern 
Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Monday, November 7, 2016. Do not wait 
until the last week of the registration period to enter, as heavy 
demand may result in Web site delays. No late entries or paper entries 
will be accepted. The law allows only one entry by or for each person 
during each registration period. The Department of State uses 
sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries. Individuals with 
more than one entry will be disqualified.

Completing Your Electronic Entry for the DV-2018 Program

    Submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form 
or DS-5501), online at dvlottery.state.gov. We will not accept 
incomplete entries. There is no cost to register for the DV Program.
    We strongly encourage you to complete the entry form yourself, 
without a ``visa consultant,'' ``visa agent,'' or other facilitator who 
offers to help. If someone else helps you, you should be present when 
your entry is prepared so that you can provide the correct answers to 
the questions and retain the confirmation page and your unique 
confirmation number.
    After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation 
screen that contains your name and a unique confirmation number. Print 
this confirmation screen for your records. It is extremely important 
that you retain your confirmation page and unique confirmation number. 
Without this information, you will not be able to access the online 
system that will inform you of the status of your entry.

[[Page 63842]]

You also should retain access to the email account listed in the E-DV. 
See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about Diversity 
Visa scams. Starting May 2, 2017, you will be able to check the status 
of your entry by returning to 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-2018, providing instructions on how to 
proceed with your application, and notifying you of your appointment 
for your immigrant visa interview. Please review the Frequently Asked 
Questions for more information about the selection process.
    You must provide the following information to complete your E-DV 
entry:
    1. Name--last/family name, first name, middle name--exactly as on 
your passport.
    2. Gender--male or female.
    3. Birth date--day, month, year.
    4. City where you were born.
    5. Country where you were born--Use the name of the country 
currently used for the place where you were born.
    6. Country of eligibility 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, please review 
the Frequently Asked Questions to see if there is another way you may 
be eligible.
    7. Entrant photograph(s)--Recent photographs (taken within 6 
months) of yourself, your spouse, and all your children listed on your 
entry. See Submitting a Digital Photograph for compositional and 
technical specifications. 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, but you will not be penalized if you do. We cannot accept 
group photographs; you must submit a photograph for each individual. 
Your entry may be disqualified or your visa refused if the photographs 
are more than six months old, have been manipulated in any way, or do 
not meet the specifications explained below. Submitting the same 
photograph that you submitted with last year's entry (DV-2017) will 
result in disqualification. See Submitting a Digital Photograph for 
more information.
    8. Mailing Address--In Care Of

    Address Line 1
    Address Line 2
    City/Town
    District/Country/Province/State
    Postal Code/Zip Code
    Country

    9. Country where you live today.
    10. Phone number (optional).
    11. Email address--An email address to which you have direct 
access, and will continue to have direct access after we notify 
selectees in May of next year. If your entry is selected and you 
respond to the notification of your selection through the Entrant 
Status Check, you will receive follow-up email communication from the 
Department of State notifying you that details of your immigrant visa 
interview are available on Entrant Status Check. The Department of 
State will never send you an email telling you that you have been 
selected for the DV program. See the Frequently Asked Questions for 
more information about the selection process.
    12. Highest level of education you have achieved, as of today: (1) 
Primary school only, (2) Some high school, no diploma, (3) High school 
diploma, (4) Vocational school, (5) Some university courses, (6) 
University degree, (7) Some graduate-level courses, (8) Master's 
degree, (9) Some doctoral-level courses, and (10) Doctorate. See the 
Frequently Asked Questions for more information about educational 
requirements.
    13. Current marital status--(1) Unmarried, (2) married and my 
spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR, (3) married and my spouse IS 
a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR, (4) divorced, (5) widowed, or (6) legally 
separated. Enter the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, 
country of birth of your spouse, and a photograph of your spouse 
meeting the same technical specifications as your photo.
    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 
even if you currently are separated from him/her, unless you are 
legally separated (i.e., there is a written agreement recognized by a 
court or a court order). A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or a 
Lawful Permanent Resident will not require or be issued a DV visa. 
Therefore, if you select ``married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or 
U.S. LPR'' on your entry, you will not be prompted to include further 
information on your spouse. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more 
information about family members.
    14. Number of children--List the Name, date of birth, gender, city/
town of birth, and country of birth for all living unmarried children 
under 21 years of age, regardless. Submit individual photographs of 
each of your children using the same technical specifications as your 
own photograph.
    Be sure to include:
     All living natural children;
     all living children legally adopted by you; and,
     all 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 child 
does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you.
    Married children and children over the age of 21 are not eligible 
for the DV. However, the Child Status Protection Act protects children 
from ``aging out'' in certain circumstances. If you submit your DV 
entry before your unmarried child turns 21, and the child turns 21 
before visa issuance, it is possible that he or she may be treated as 
though he or she were under 21 for visa-processing purposes.
    A child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent 
Resident will not require or be issued a diversity visa, and you will 
not be penalized for either including or omitting such family members 
from your entry.
    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 the Frequently Asked 
Questions for more information about family members.
    See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about 
completing your Electronic Entry for the DV-2018 Program.

Selection of Applicants

    Based on the allocations of available visas in each region and 
country, the Department of State will randomly select individuals by 
computer from among qualified entries. All DV-2018 entrants must go to 
the Entrant Status Check using the unique confirmation number saved 
from their DV-2018 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 Web site at dvlottery.state.gov starting May 2, 
2017, through at least September 30, 2018.
    If your entry is selected, you 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 the Department of State notifies 
selectees of their selection for

[[Page 63843]]

DV-2018. The Department of State will not mail out notification letters 
or notify selectees by email. U.S. embassies and consulates will not 
provide a list of selectees. Individuals who have not been selected 
also will be notified ONLY through Entrant Status Check. You are 
strongly encouraged to access Entrant Status Check yourself and not to 
rely on someone else to check and inform you.
    In order to immigrate, DV selectees must be admissible to the 
United States. The DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration 
Application, electronically, and the consular officer, in person will 
ask you questions about your eligibility to immigrate, and these 
questions include criminal and security related grounds.
    All eligible selectees, including family members, must be issued by 
September 30, 2018. Under no circumstances can the Department of State 
issue DVs or approve adjustments after this date, nor can family 
members obtain DVs to follow-to-join the principal applicant in the 
United States after this date. See the Frequently Asked Questions for 
more information about the selection process.

Submitting a Digital Photograph (Image)

    You can take a new digital photograph or scan a recent photographic 
print, taken within the last 6 months, with a digital scanner, as long 
as it meets the compositional and technical specifications listed 
below. Test your photos through the photo validation link on the E-DV 
Web site, which provides additional technical advice on photo 
composition and examples of acceptable and unacceptable photos. Do not 
submit an old photograph. Submitting the same photograph that was 
submitted with last year's entry will result in disqualification.
    Photographs must be in 24-bit color depth. If you are using a 
scanner, the settings must be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. See 
the additional scanning requirements below.

Compositional Specifications

     Head Position: You must directly face the camera. The 
subject's head should not be tilted up, down, or to the side. 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.
     Light-colored Background: The subject should be in front 
of a neutral, light-colored background.
     Focus: The photograph must be in focus.
     No Eyewear: The subject must not wear glasses or other 
items that detract from the face.
     No Head Coverings or Hats: Head coverings or hats worn for 
religious beliefs are acceptable, but the head covering may not obscure 
any portion of the face. Tribal or other headgear not religious in 
nature may not be worn. Photographs of military, airline, or other 
personnel wearing hats will not be accepted.

Technical Specifications

     Taking a New Digital Image. If you submit a new digital 
image, 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 
(240KB).
    Image Resolution and Dimensions: Minimum acceptable dimensions are 
600 pixels (width) x; 600 pixels (height) up to 1200 pixels x 1200 
pixels. 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 you scan a 
photographic print, make sure it meets the color and compositional 
specifications listed above. 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 Color Depth: 24-bit color. [Note that black and white, 
monochrome, or grayscale images will not be accepted.]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Eligibility

    1. What do the terms ``native'' and ``chargeability'' mean?
    ``Native'' ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, 
regardless of the individual's current country of residence or 
nationality. ``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.
    Because there is a numerical limitation on immigrants who enter 
from a country or geographic region, each individual is ``charged'' to 
a country. Your ``chargeability'' refers to the country towards which 
limitation you count. Your country of eligibility will normally be the 
same as your country of birth. However, you may choose your country of 
eligibility as the country of birth of your spouse, or the country of 
birth of either of your parents if you were born in a country in which 
neither parent was born and in which the parents were not resident at 
the time of your birth. These are the only three ways to select your 
country of chargeability.
    If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, 
you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6. 
Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one 
to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will disqualify your 
entry.
    2. Can I still apply if I was not born in a qualifying country?
    There are two circumstances in which you still might be eligible to 
apply. First, if your derivative spouse was born in an eligible 
country, you may claim chargeability to that country. As your 
eligibility is based on your spouse, you will only be issued a DV-1 
immigrant visa if your spouse is also eligible for and issued a DV-2 
visa. Both of you must enter the United States together using your DVs. 
Similarly, your minor dependent child can be ``charged'' to a parent's 
country of birth.
    Second, you can be ``charged'' to the country of birth of either of 
your parents as long as neither of your parents was born in or a 
resident of your country of birth at the time of your birth. People are 
not generally considered residents of a country in which they were not 
born or legally naturalized, if they were only visiting, studying in 
the country temporarily, or stationed temporarily for business or 
professional reasons on behalf of a company or government from a 
different country other than the one in which you were born.
    If you claim alternate chargeability through either of the above, 
you must provide an explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, in question #6. 
Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one 
to which you cannot establish a valid claim) will disqualify your 
entry.
    3. Why do natives of certain countries not qualify for the DV 
program?
    DVs are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons 
who are not from ``high admission'' countries. The law defines ``high

[[Page 63844]]

admission countries'' as those 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) counts the family and 
employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status numbers for the 
previous five years to identify the countries that are considered 
``high admission'' and whose natives will therefore be ineligible for 
the annual diversity visa program. Because USCIS makes this calculation 
annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not 
eligible may change from one year to the next.
    4. How many DV-2018 visas will go to natives of each region and 
eligible country?
    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 Immigration and Nationality Act 
(INA). The number of visas the Department of State eventually will 
issue to natives of each country will depend on the regional limits 
established, how many entrants come from each country, and how many of 
the selected entrants are found eligible for the visa. No more than 
seven percent of the total visas available can go to natives of any one 
country.
    5. What are the requirements for education or work experience?
    U.S. immigration law and regulations require that every DV 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 that requires at least two years of training or experience. 
A ``high school education or equivalent'' is defined as successful 
completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education in 
the United States OR the 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. You must present documentary proof of education or work 
experience to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.
    If you do not meet the requirements for education or work 
experience, your entry will be disqualified at the time of your visa 
interview, and no visas will be issued to you or any of your family 
members.
    6. What occupations qualify for the DV program?
    The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) O*Net OnLine database will be 
used to determine qualifying work experience. The O*Net Online Database 
groups job experience into five ``job zones.'' While the DOL Web site 
lists many occupations, not all 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 classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation 
(SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.
    If you do not meet the requirements for education or work 
experience, your entry will be disqualified at the time of your visa 
interview, and no visas will be issued to you or any of your family 
members.
    7. How can I find the qualifying DV occupations in the Department 
of Labor's O*Net online database?
    When you are in O*Net OnLine, follow these steps to find out if 
your occupation qualifies:
    1. Under ``Find Occupations'' select ``Job Family'' from the pull 
down;
    2. Browse by ``Job Family'', make your selection, and click ``GO'';
    3. Click on the link for your specific occupation.
    4. Select the tab ``Job Zone'' to find the designated Job Zone 
number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range.
    As an example, select Aerospace Engineers. At the bottom of the 
Summary Report for Aerospace Engineers, under the Job Zone section, you 
will find the designated Job Zone 4, SVP Range, 7.0 to < 8.0. Using 
this example, Aerospace Engineering is a qualifying occupation.
    For additional information, see the Diversity Visa--List of 
Occupations Web page (travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1319.html).
    8. Is there a minimum age to apply for the DV program?
    There is no minimum age to apply, 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.

Completing Your Electronic Entry for the DV Program

    9. When can I submit my entry?
    The DV-2018 entry period will run from 12:00 p.m. (noon), Eastern 
Daylight Time (EST) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 4, 2016, until 12:00 p.m. 
(noon), Eastern Standard Time (EDT) (GMT-5), Monday, November 7, 2016. 
Each year, millions of people submit entries. Holding the entry period 
on these dates ensures selectees receive notification in a timely 
manner and gives both the visa applicants and our embassies and 
consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance.
    We strongly encourage you to enter early during the registration 
period. Excessive demand at the end of the registration period may slow 
the system down. We cannot accept entries after noon EST Monday, 
November 7, 2016.
    10. I am in the United States. Can I enter the DV program?
    Yes, an entrant may be in the United States or in another country, 
and the entrant may submit an entry from anywhere.
    11. Can I only enter once during the registration period?
    Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during 
each registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated 
technology to detect multiple entries. Individuals with more than one 
entry will be disqualified.
    12. May my spouse and I each submit a separate entry?
    Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry if each meets 
the eligibility requirements. If either spouse is selected, the other 
is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.
    13. What family members must I include in my DV entry?
    Spouse: If you are legally married, you must list your spouse 
(husband or wife) regardless . 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, you do not have to list your 
spouse, though you will not be penalized if you do so. If you are 
divorced or your spouse is deceased, you do not have to list your 
former spouse.
    The only exception to this requirement is if your spouse is already 
a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. A spouse who is 
already a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident will not require 
or be issued a DV. Therefore, if you select ``married and my spouse IS 
a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR'' on your entry, you will not be able to 
include further information on your spouse.
    Children: 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 stepchildren (even if you 
are now divorced from that child's parent), your spouse's children, or 
children you have formally adopted in accordance with the applicable 
laws. List all children under 21 years of age

[[Page 63845]]

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, though you will not be 
penalized if you do include them.
    Parents and siblings of the entrant are ineligible to receive DV 
visas as dependents, and you should not include them in your entry.
    If you list family members on your entry, they are not required to 
apply for a visa or to immigrate or travel with you. However, if you 
fail to include an eligible dependent on your original entry, your case 
will be disqualified at the time of your visa interview and no visas 
will be issued to you or any of your family members. 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, if 
eligible to enter, 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 FAQ #12 above).
    14. Must I submit my own entry, or can someone else do it for me?
    We encourage you to prepare and submit your own entry, but you may 
have someone submit the entry for you. Regardless of whether you submit 
your own entry, or an attorney, friend, relative, or someone else 
submits it on your behalf, only one entry may be submitted in your 
name. You, as the entrant, are responsible for ensuring that 
information in the entry is correct and complete; entries that are not 
correct or complete may be disqualified. Entrants should keep their own 
confirmation number so that they are able to independently check the 
status of their entry using Entrant Status Check at 
dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants should keep retain access to the email 
account used in the E-DV submission.
    15. I'm already registered for an immigrant visa in another 
category. can I still apply for the DV program?
    Yes. Your DV registration will not make you ineligible for another 
immigrant visa classification.
    16. When will E-DV be available online?
    You can enter online during the registration period beginning at 
12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) on Tuesday, 
October 4, 2016, and ending at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Standard Time 
(EST) (GMT-5) on Monday, November 7, 2016.
    17. Can I download and save the E-DV entry form into a word 
processing program and finish it later?
    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. You must fill in the information and submit it while online.
    18. Can I save the form online and finish it later?
    No. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted 
at one time. You will have sixty (60) minutes starting from when you 
download the form to complete and submit your entry through the E-DV 
Web site. If you exceed the sixty minute limit and have not submitted 
your complete entry electronically, the system discards any information 
already entered. The system deletes any partial entries so that they 
are not accidentally identified as duplicates of a later, complete 
entry. Read the DV instructions completely before you start to complete 
the form online, so that you know exactly what information you will 
need.
    19. I don't have a scanner. Can I send photographs to someone in 
the United States to scan them, save them, and mail them back to me so 
I can use them in my entry?
    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. You must already have the scanned photograph 
file when you submit the entry online; it cannot be submitted 
separately from the online application. The entire entry (photograph 
and application together) can be submitted electronically from the 
United States or from overseas.
    20. According to the procedures, the system will reject my E-DV 
entry form if my photos don't meet the specifications. Can I resubmit 
my entry?
    Yes, as long as you complete your submission by 12:00 p.m. (noon) 
Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) on Monday, November 7, 2016. If 
your photo(s) did not meet the specifications, the E-DV Web site will 
not accept your entry, so you will not receive a confirmation notice. 
However, given the unpredictable nature of the Internet, you may not 
receive the rejection notice immediately. If you can correct the 
photo(s) and re-send the Form Part One or Two within sixty (60) 
minutes, you may be able to successfully submit the entry. Otherwise, 
you will have to restart the entire entry process. You can try to 
submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete 
application is submitted and you receive the confirmation notice. Once 
you receive a confirmation notice, your entry is complete and you 
should NOT submit any additional entries.
    21. How soon after I submit my entry will I receive the electronic 
confirmation notice?
    You should receive the confirmation notice immediately, including a 
confirmation number that you must record and keep. However, the 
unpredictable nature of the Internet can result in delays. You can hit 
the ``Submit'' button as many times as is necessary until a complete 
application is submitted and you receive the confirmation notice. 
However, once you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your 
information.
    22. I hit the ``Submit'' button, but did not receive a confirmation 
number. If I submit another entry, will I be disqualified?
    If you did not receive a confirmation number, your entry was not 
recorded. You must submit another entry. It will not be counted as a 
duplicate. Once you receive a confirmation number, do not resubmit your 
information.

Selection

    23. How do I know if I am selected?
    You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status 
Check available on the E-DV Web site at dvlottery.state.gov starting 
May 2, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Entrant Status Check is the 
sole means by which the Department of State will notify you if you are 
selected, provided further instructions on your visa application, and 
notify you of your immigrant visa interview appointment date and time. 
The only authorized Department of State Web site for official online 
entry in the Diversity Visa Program and Entrant Status Check is 
dvlottery.state.gov.
    The Department of State will NOT contact you to tell you that you 
have been selected (see FAQ #24).
    24. How will I know if I am not selected? Will I be notified?
    You may check the status of your DV-2018 entry through the Entrant 
Status Check on the E-DV Web site at dvlottery.state.gov starting May 
2, 2017, until September 30, 2018. Keep your confirmation number until 
at least September 30, 2018. (Status information for the previous 
year's DV program, DV-2017, is available online from May 5, 2016, 
through September 30, 2017.) If your entry is not selected, you will 
not receive any additional instructions.
    25. What if I lose my confirmation number?
    You must have your confirmation number to access Entrant Status 
Check. A tool is now available in Entrant Status Check (ESC) on the eDV 
Web site that will allow you to retrieve your confirmation number via 
the email

[[Page 63846]]

address with which you registered by entering certain personal 
information to confirm your identity.
    U.S. Embassies and Consulates and the Kentucky Consular Center are 
unable to check your selection status for you or provide your 
confirmation number to you directly (other than through the ESC 
retrieval tool). The Department of State is NOT able to provide a list 
of those selected to continue the visa process.
    26. Will I receive information from the Department of State by 
email or by postal mail?
    The Department of State will not send you a notification letter. 
The U.S. government has never sent emails to notify individuals that 
they have been selected, and there are no plans to use email for this 
purpose for the DV-2018 program. If you are a selectee, you will only 
receive email communications regarding your visa appointment after you 
have responded to the notification instructions on Entrant Status 
Check. These emails will not contain information on the actual 
appointment date and time; they will simply tell you that appointment 
details are available and you must then access Entrant Status Check for 
details. The Department of State may send emails reminding DV lottery 
applicants to check the ESC for their status. However, such emails will 
never indicate whether the lottery applicant was or was not selected.
    Only Internet sites that end with the ``.gov'' domain suffix are 
official U.S. government Web sites. Many other Web sites (e.g., with 
the suffixes ``.com,'' ``.org,'' or ``.net'') provide immigration and 
visa-related information and services. The Department of State does not 
endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material on these 
other Web sites.
    You may receive emails from websites that try to trick you into 
sending money or providing your personal information. You may be asked 
to pay for forms and information about immigration procedures, all 
which are available free on the Department of State Web site or through 
U.S. Embassy or Consulate Web sites. Additionally, organizations or Web 
sites may try to steal your money by charging fees for DV-related 
services. If you send money to one of these scams, you will likely 
never see it again. Also, do not send personal information to these Web 
sites, as it may be used for identity fraud/theft.
    These deceptive emails may come from people pretending to be 
affiliated with the Kentucky Consular Center or the Department of 
State. Remember the U.S. government has never sent emails to notify 
individuals that they have been selected, and will not use email to 
notify selectees for the DV-2018 program. The Department of State will 
never ask you to send money by mail or by services such as Western 
Union.
    27. How many individuals will be selected for DV-2018?
    For DV-2018, 50,000 DV visas are available. Because it is likely 
that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify 
for visas or not 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 will not be a 
sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. To 
maximize use of all available visas, the Department of State may update 
Entrant Status Check to include additional selectees at any time before 
the program ends on September 30, 2018.
    You can check the E-DV Web site's Entrant Status Check to see if 
you have been selected for further processing and your place on the 
list. Interviews for the DV-2018 program will begin in October 2017 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 Web site'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 
eligible for issuance during that month, visa-number availability 
permitting. Once all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the 
program will end. Visa numbers could be finished before September 2018. 
Selected applicants who wish to apply for visas must be prepared to act 
promptly on their cases. Being randomly chosen 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 your rank number 
becomes eligible for final processing, you potentially may be issued a 
Diversity Visa. Only 50,000 visas will be issued to such applicants.
    28. How will successful entrants be selected?
    Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant 
Status Check, available starting May 2, 2017, through at least 
September 30, 2018, on the E-DV Web site dvlottery.state.gov. The 
Department of State does not send selectee notifications or letters by 
regular postal mail or by email. Any email notification or mailed 
letter stating that you have been selected to receive a DV does not 
come from the Department of State and is not legitimate. Any email 
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.
    All entries received from each region are individually numbered, 
and at the end of the entry 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 within each region during the 
entry period will have an equal chance of being selected. When an entry 
has been selected, the entrant will receive notification of his or her 
selection through the Entrant Status Check available starting May 2, 
2017, on the E-DV Web site dvlottery.state.gov. If you are selected and 
you respond to the instructions provided online via Entrant Status 
Check, the Department of State's Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will 
process your case until you are instructed to appear for a visa 
interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate or, if you are in the United 
States, until you adjust status apply with USCIS in the United States.
    29. I am already in the United States. If selected, may I adjust my 
status with USCIS?
    Yes, provided you are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the 
terms of Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), you 
may apply to USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent resident. You 
must ensure that USCIS can complete action on your case, including 
processing of any overseas spouse or children under 21 years of age, 
before September 30, 2018, since on that date your eligibility for the 
DV-2018 program expires. The Department of State will not approve any 
visa numbers or adjustments of status for the DV-2018 program after 
midnight EDT on September 30, 2018, under any circumstances.
    30. If I am selected, for how long am I entitled to apply for a 
diversity visa?
    If you are selected in the DV-2018 program, you are entitled to 
apply for visa issuance only during U.S. Government Fiscal Year 2018, 
which spans from October 1, 2017, through September 30, 2018. We 
encourage selectees to apply for visas as early as possible, once their 
lottery rank

[[Page 63847]]

numbers become eligible for further processing.
    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, 2018 (the end of 
the fiscal year). Also, spouses and children who derive status from a 
DV-2018 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between 
October 1, 2017 and September 30, 2018. Applicants who apply overseas 
will receive an appointment notification from the Department through 
Entrant Status Check on the E-DV Web site four to six weeks before the 
scheduled appointment.
    31. If a DV selectee dies, what happens to the case?
    If a DV selectee dies at any point before he or she has traveled to 
the United States or adjusted status, the DV case is automatically 
terminated. Any derivative spouse and/or children of the deceased 
selectee will no longer be entitled to a DV visa. Any visas that were 
issued to them will be revoked.

Fees

    32. How much does it cost to enter the E-DV Program?
    There is no fee charged for submitting 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. If you are a selectee already in the United States and you 
apply to USCIS to adjust status, you will pay all required application 
fees directly to USCIS. If you are selected, you will receive details 
of required DV and immigrant visa application fees with the 
instructions provided through the E-DV Web site at dvlottery.state.gov.
    33. How and where do I pay DV and immigrant visa fees if I am 
selected?
    If you are a randomly selected entrant, you will receive 
instructions for the DV visa application process through Entrant Status 
Check at dvlottery.state.gov. You will pay all DV and immigrant visa 
application fees in person only at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the 
time of the visa application. The consular cashier will immediately 
give you a U.S. government receipt for payment. Do not send money for 
DV fees to anyone through the mail, Western Union, or any other 
delivery service if you are applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. 
Embassy or Consulate.
    If you are selected and you are already present in the United 
States and plan to file for adjustment of status with USCIS, the 
instructions page accessible through Entrant Status Check at 
dvlottery.state.gov contains separate instructions on how to mail 
adjustment of status application fees to a U.S. bank.
    34. If I apply for a DV, but don't qualify to receive one, can I 
get a refund of the visa fees I paid?
    No. Visa application fees cannot be refunded. You must meet all 
qualifications for the visa as detailed in these instructions. If a 
consular officer determines you do not meet requirements for the visa, 
or you are otherwise ineligible for the DV under U.S. law, the officer 
cannot issue a visa and you will forfeit all fees paid.

Ineligibilities

    35. As a DV applicant, can I receive a waiver of any grounds of 
visa ineligibility? Does my waiver application receive any special 
processing?
    DV 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 in 
some cases, but the time constraints in the DV program may make it 
difficult for applicants to benefit from such provisions.

DV Fraud Warning and Scams

    36. How can I report Internet fraud or unsolicited email?
    Please visit the econsumer.gov Web site, hosted by the Federal 
Trade Commission in cooperation with consumer-protection agencies from 
17 nations. You may also report fraud to the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center. To file a 
complaint about unsolicited email, visit the Department of Justice 
Contact Us page.

DV Statistics

    37. How many visas will be issued in DV-2018?
    By law, a maximum of 55,000 visas are available each year to 
eligible persons. However, in November 1997, the U.S. Congress passed 
the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), 
which 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 began with DV-2000 and will remain in effect through the 
DV-2018 program, so 50,000 visas remain for the DV program described in 
these instructions.
    38. If I receive a visa through the DV program, will the U.S. 
Government pay for my airfare to the United States, help me find 
housing and employment, and/or provide healthcare or any subsidies 
until I am fully settled?
    No. The U.S. government will not provide any of these services to 
you if you receive a visa through the DV program. If you are selected 
to apply for a DV, you will need to demonstrate 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) submitted by a relative or 
friend residing in the United States, an offer of employment from an 
employer in the United States, or other evidence.

List of Countries/Areas by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible for DV-
2018

    The list below shows the countries whose natives are eligible for 
DV-2018, grouped by geographic region. Dependent areas overseas are 
included within the region of the governing country. USCIS identified 
the countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV-2018 program 
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
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cabo Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Djibouti
Egypt *
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia, The

[[Page 63848]]

Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

    * Persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by 
Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable, respectively, to 
Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. 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.
    In Africa, natives of Nigeria are not eligible for this year's 
diversity program.
Asia
Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region **
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel *
Japan
Jordan *
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria *
Taiwan **
Thailand
Timor-Leste
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

    * Persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by 
Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable, respectively, to 
Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. 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.
    ** For the purposes of the diversity program only, persons born in 
Macau S.A.R. derive eligibility from Portugal, and must select Portugal 
as their country of eligibility.
    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 region), Macau S.A.R. (Europe region, chargeable to 
Portugal), and Taiwan (Asia region) do qualify and are listed here.
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Estonia
Finland
France (including components and areas overseas)
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau Special Administrative Region **
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Northern Ireland **
Norway (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Poland
Portugal (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Romania
Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vatican City

    ** Macau S.A.R. does qualify and is listed above. For the purposes 
of the diversity program only, persons born in Macau S.A.R. derive 
eligibility from Portugal, and must select Portugal as their country of 
eligibility.
    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 Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman 
Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, South 
Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, 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.
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)
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of
Nauru
New Zealand (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Palau

[[Page 63849]]

Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Ecuador
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, El 
Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru.

    Authority: 22 CFR 42.33(b)(3), implementing sections 201(a)(3), 
201(e), 203(c), and 204(a)(1)(I) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act, as amended, (8 U.S.C. 1151, 1153, and 1154(a)(1)(I)).

    Dated: August 31, 2016.
David T. Donahue,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2016-22217 Filed 9-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-06-P