US State Department to Require Passports to Enter the Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa Program)

US State Department to Require Passports to Enter the Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa Program)

The US Department of State will now require foreign nationals who enter the Diversity Visa program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, to have valid unexpired passports.

In a document published on the Federal Register on Wednesday June 5th, the State Department says the principal petitioner will need to provide his/her passport information of the country he/she is a citizen of. Such information will include the passport number, issuing country, and passport expiration date. Derivatives listed on the entry form will not need to have passport at the time of the entry submission [but like before, will need passports at the time of the interview].

The State Department says the new requirement was necessitated by the significant number of fraudulent entries for the Diversity Visa program each year, noting that sometimes criminal enterprises submit entries for individuals without their knowledge. “Individuals or entities that submit unauthorized entries will often contact unwitting individuals whose identities were used on selected DV Program entries, inform them of the opportunity to apply for a diversity visa, and hold the entry information from the named petitioner in exchange for payment,” says the State Department.

The Department says requiring passport information will lead to less fraudulent entries submitted by third parties.

Also new, the Department is adding a sentence in the regulations explicitly stating that individuals identified as entrants will be “disqualified if they fail to include all required information and comply with instructions.” Current instructions do not clearly state that failure to provide all required information will lead to disqualification.

Each year, the State Department makes 55,000 permanent resident visas (green cards) available on a lottery basis to nationals of countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. An estimated 14 million people from around the world participate in the program each year by submitting their entries online on the DV Lottery website. The registration period normally runs between October and November, with the results being available early May. The latest program, DV-2020,  ran between October 2, 2018 and November 6, 2018. Results of DV-2020as well as DV-2019 are currently available at https://dvlottery.state.gov.

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Comments

HONKOU Koffi Florent (not verified)     Thu, 06/06/2019 @ 08:15pm

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BTS

Esther Njoroge (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 08:44am

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When s the next lottery(green card lottery) please inform me because i would like to participate

Cameroon (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 10:45am

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Some nations in Africa have poor electricity and bad internet network which makes it difficult to submit applications. Some countries are at war which further complicates things. When they have friends abroad who can help them submit an application, it is not fraud.First, to do so one needs their specified DV picture, birth certificate information which must come from the individuals.
Maybe those submiting for others be asked to identify themselves and how they relate to those they submit for. Or even sign a document that if they are reported to be asking payment at any point they would be fined! This is wiser than just blocking all in the name of fraud.
NO DOUBT, I helped over a dozen friends and family and none of them were selected. All this in the name of fraud? I don't denny there is fraud. I only think sensible means should be used to check it.

Dada (not verified)     Wed, 09/11/2019 @ 03:00am

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Well yea, if these people want to apply and have their friends in a foreign country, nothing stops them from doing so. These people just have to give their friends the passport number. Problem solved. If they have the means to contact their friends, they can as well tell them the passport number to apply for.
But then you might say that, what if they don't have a passport, so they can't apply... well... it doesn't matter beacuse sooner or later they would need a passport anyway, i mean, if you don't have a passport, you can't travel anyway.

Lester C. Wleh (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 10:51am

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I will be overwhelmed if this measure is put into place. Time without number, many of whom enter the lottery normally enter different people names without their approval.
Predicated on this, many of us who have tried legally to be given the opportunity to pass the DV lottery, have failed probably because of double entrance.
For example: Liberia produced about two thousand plus applicants who successfully passed the 2019-2020 lottery. Many of those people who quote-unquote passed the lottery are yet to be visualized.
This probably happened because of the illegal entrance of people who are visible but knew nothing about how their appellation were entered.

Alfred Ngugi Kagai (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 11:11am

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I have been filling out the Green card since 1999 and also last year I did the same,so it's like 5 times now and I have never won.I do love that Country and I wish I can get a chance to migrate.Currentry am in Qatar working.pls help me.

Cameroon (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 12:36pm

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There should be NOTHING like multiple entrances because the website would delete them as warned. Also, if people can obtain pictures and birth certificate information of others,they could have no problem obtaining passport information as well. The better method is to warn against ANYONE using the DV lottery for business purposes. Also, a direct public phone number should be given on the DV website. This number is for anyone who would be asked to pay to collect their confirmarion letter to call and report the culprit.If guilty, the culprit could be banned from attempting any dealings with the US embassy. Or asked to pay a heavy deterent fine. People of goodwill could continue to help family and friends in difficult 3rd world countries.

Nayiga zam-zam… (not verified)     Fri, 06/07/2019 @ 03:26pm

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I filled this last year before I traveled to Dubai but as I were in Dubai I tried checking whether I passed through but to my surprise I wasn't granted a chance to the green card offer and I honestly felt so disappointed yet I really would love to go to America someday since it's my dream country and I would love to visit USA because it's the best country in the entire world for one to visit,leave in , it's a country full of peace and unity ,above all I love the way it's consitution rules ,it's the country where one can't ever find violence ,in terms of work I would to work for Americans for the rest of my life cause I believe in America and all it's citizens cause they all keep their word.

Rose (not verified)     Sat, 06/08/2019 @ 01:20am

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This is my 5th time applying for a green card ,sometimes i wonder where do I go wrong or my time of winning is not yet? Still will apply this year hope for the best

Blacky (not verified)     Sun, 06/09/2019 @ 12:39am

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I was randomly selected but I haven't officialized myarriage, can I submit the form then I can add my spouch during the interview, someone please answer me, it's a month already

Blacky (not verified)     Sun, 06/09/2019 @ 12:41am

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I was randomly selected in last year's lottery and I have a fiance but we are yet to get married, can I fill and submit the form as single then include him during the physical interview? Someone help

jija (not verified)     Mon, 06/10/2019 @ 06:16am

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Congratulations for your selection. Your statement is self contradictory, if you are single,there cannot be another party for the interview. Best yet, at the embassy only you can enter. Since you are currently single ( not married when you applied and status has not changed yet), get the greencard first, get to the US and you can apply fiancee Visa or get married before coming to US and bring the marriage certificate and petition for spouse. Either process will take 0.5 to 1 year forspouseto get a visa. Use Google, and you will find people who were in solar situations. Good luck!

Mohammed Benhadjia (not verified)     Sun, 06/09/2019 @ 08:02am

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Dear
I want to move to USA to have butter life and to bliud new career
And my dream to study there to have great opportunités in great industriel compenys

Fidelis Nyagaka (not verified)     Tue, 06/11/2019 @ 01:27am

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Hallo I have really strived much to get a chance of winning a green card but have never won please how will yu assist such cases even a visit only...

Fidelis Nyagaka (not verified)     Tue, 06/11/2019 @ 01:27am

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Hallo I have really strived much to get a chance of winning a green card but have never won please how will yu assist such cases even a visit only...

ENOCK KAAKYIRE… (not verified)     Wed, 06/19/2019 @ 05:39pm

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please I want to stay at USA if God permit me because it's my dream to stay in the country to work and help the needy

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