Step 1
Go to the official DV Lottery website at dvprogram.state.gov and enter the confirmation number you received when you submitted your application. This is the only legitimate way to check whether you have been selected. Results are typically available starting in May each year. If selected, the website will display your case number and further instructions.
The U.S. government does not notify DV Lottery winners by email, phone, or letter. Any message claiming you won is a scam. Do not pay anyone who claims they can check results for you or guarantee selection. Only use dvprogram.state.gov.
Step 2
After confirming your selection, your next step is to complete and submit the online immigrant visa application.
Form DS-260 is the Online Immigrant Visa Application that all DV Lottery selectees must complete through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC). It collects detailed personal information, travel history, work experience, education, family details, and security-related questions. You must submit a separate DS-260 for each family member who will be applying for a visa.
To complete the DS-260, you will need: your passport details, travel history for the last 5 years, employment history for the last 10 years, education history, addresses for the last 5 years, family information (parents, spouse, children), and your U.S. point of contact. Gather all this information before you start — the form can be saved and resumed, but completing it in one session reduces errors.
Step 3
You will need to gather and prepare several original documents for your embassy interview. All documents must be originals or certified copies, and non-English documents must include certified translations.
Your original birth certificate with a certified English translation if it's not in English. This must be the official government-issued document.
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned entry date to the United States. Each family member needs their own valid passport.
Police certificates from every country where you have lived for 12 months or more since age 16. Each country has its own process for obtaining these.
Your high school diploma or equivalent, plus any higher education certificates. If using work experience to qualify, provide employer letters confirming at least 2 years in a qualifying occupation.
Complete a medical exam with a U.S. embassy-approved physician. The exam includes vaccinations, blood tests, and a physical examination. Results are sent directly to the embassy.
Two recent passport-style photographs (2x2 inches / 51x51 mm) for each applicant. Photos must meet U.S. Department of State specifications: white background, no glasses.
Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) from a U.S.-based financial sponsor showing they can support you financially, OR evidence that you have sufficient personal funds or a job offer in the U.S.
Marriage certificate (if applicable), divorce or death certificates for previous marriages, and birth certificates for all children included in the application.
Step 4
The embassy interview is the final major step in the DV Lottery visa process. Proper preparation is essential for success.
After you submit your DS-260 and all required documents, the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will schedule your interview at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. You will receive a notification (called a '2nd letter') with your interview date, time, and location. Interviews are typically scheduled based on your case number — lower numbers are scheduled first. The entire DV Lottery visa process must be completed before September 30 of the fiscal year.
Arrive early with all original documents organized in a folder. The interview typically lasts 10-20 minutes. A consular officer will verify your identity, review your documents, ask about your background, education, work experience, and family. Be honest and direct in your answers. If approved, the officer will retain your passport and mail it back with your immigrant visa. If additional documents are needed, you will receive a written request.
Step 5
Understanding your case number and the Visa Bulletin is crucial for tracking your progress in the DV Lottery process.
When you are selected, you receive a case number (e.g., 2026AF00012345). This number determines when your interview will be scheduled. The U.S. Department of State publishes a monthly Visa Bulletin that shows which case numbers are currently being processed. Your case number must become 'current' — meaning it falls below the cutoff number in the Visa Bulletin — before you can be scheduled for an interview. Lower case numbers are processed earlier in the fiscal year (October–September). If your case number is high, you may need to wait several months. All DV visas must be issued before September 30.
Frequently Asked Questions