What to Do Next After DV Lottery 2025 Results Announce

The United States Diversity Visa Program, also known as the Green Card Lottery or DV Lottery, includes registration, selection, and visa application. Candidates will submit an entry in October and check DV lottery results in May of the next year of registration. After the results are announced to the public, selectees have to prepare for a series of procedures. In this passage, we are going to introduce what to do after the announcement of green card lottery 2025 results, how to avoid DV lottery scams, and what to do next if you fail in the selection or interview.

DV Lottery 2025 Results Date

The green card lottery results for fiscal year 2025 will be announced at 12 PM EDT on or about May 4^th, 2024 until at least September 30, 2025. The US Department of State will not send any notification by letter or email to inform you of whether you won the lottery or not, and you have to check it yourself. Please note that being selected does not mean you will be issued an immigration visa.

DV Lottery 2025 Timeline

The DV program offers 55,000 Green Cards annually and the whole process takes about several months to one year. Here a complete timeline for DV Lottery 2025.

What to Do Next After DV Lottery 2025 Results Announce

What you need to do after the green card lottery results are announced depends on the status of their entries.

Check DV Lottery Results

After submitting an entry online, a confirmation screen will appear showing your name and a unique confirmation number. Print out the screen and keep it well as a record. Starting from May 4^th, 2024, you can use the record to check DV lottery results by visiting dvprogram.state.gov, navigating to “Entrant Status Check”, and entering the 16-digit confirmation number, personal information (including name & date of birth) as well as the verification code. Supposing that you lost the unique number, please retrieve it on Entrant Status Check website with the registered email and personal details.

• 😍If You Are Selected

Congratulations. Now you will see further instructions on what you should do next. If you are outside the US, please continue the steps below to complete a visa application as soon as possible. If you are already in the US, please request an Adjustment of Status by checking your eligibility for adjusting status to obtain permanent residence through the DV Program on the USCIS portal, and following the field office’s instructions. 

• 😖If You Are Not Selected

Your dream of immigrating to the US will end up at this stage. Don’t be frustrated, just get ready for the next registration.

Confirm Your Qualifications

It is an essential step before paying the diversity visa fee because the fees are non-refundable even if your visa application is rejected. The principal applicant of Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program must satisfy either education or work experience requirements which does not apply to dependent spouses or children.

• Education

You must have finished at least a high school education which refers to formal courses of elementary and secondary education equivalent to a 12-year course in the United States. Please note that only formal courses of study are acceptable. Equivalency certificates proving that you have comparable knowledge to a high school graduate, such as the GED (General Educational Development) do not satisfy the requirement.

• Work Experience

You should have at least 2 years of work experience for the previous 5 years and your job requires a minimum of 2 years of training or experience in occupations classified as Job Zone 4 or 5 with a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher by the Department of Labor. 

To confirm the qualification for diversity visas of your occupation, please visit DOL’s O*Net Online Database. Click on “Job Family” under the “Find Occupations” section. Select your industry and click on the “Browse” button. Choose your specific occupation and check whether it falls on Job Zone 4 or 5 and an SVP Range of no less than 7.0.

Submit Your Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application

You must obtain an immigrant visa to enter the US which could be obtained through Form DS-260 which can be filled out online. Your spouse and/or unmarried children under 21 should also complete the Form DS-260.

Provided that you have got married or have a child after submitting entry for the DV program, you are supposed to include them in your application and provide proof of your relationship. The DV case number will be required on the Sign and Submit page of the form. If there is(are) zero(s), skip them. For example, enter “2025AF1234567” for the full number “2025AF0001234567”. After submitting the form, print out the confirmation page which will be needed at the visa interview. For the status of your application, please contact US Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) that administrates the program by email to KCCDV@state.gov.

Submit Necessary Documents

After your application form is sent to and processed by KCC, the authority will send you an instruction for submitting supporting documents. Clear scanned copies and English translations (if any) should be emailed to KCCDVDocuments@state.gov while the original documents must be taken to the interview. The required documents for you and your family members are listed below. If you fail to obtain any of it, attach an explanation in your email in the form of JPEG or PDF.

• Birth Certificate

Every applicant is required to submit the certificate containing the date of birth, place of birth, names of both parents, and an annotation indicating the origin of official records. Please note that only a complete certificate is acceptable instead of a short form.

On the condition that your birth was not officially recorded, was destroyed, or you haven’t got one from the authority, you are supposed to obtain a certified statement explaining the absence of the birth certificate from the government authority of birth records along with an alternative, such as:

• A baptismal certificate with the date of birth, place of birth, and both parents’ names (providing the baby was baptized shortly after birth), or
• An adoption decree (providing the baby was adopted), or
• An affidavit from a close relative (for example, the applicant’s mother) indicating the required information on the birth certificate and the mother’s maiden name. It must be executed in front of an official authorized to take oaths or affirmations. 
• Court and Prison Records (If Applicable)

It is required for applicants who have been convicted of a crime whether they were amnestied or pardoned. The record must contain complete information about the crime and the disposition of the case.

• Military Records (If Applicable)

It is required for those who have joined the army in any country. 

• Police Certificate

It is required in the following cases. Applicants should contact the police authorities of the locality to obtain a certificate covering the entire period of residence and stating all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition.

• You have resided in the country of nationality for over 6 months and you are at least 16 years old.
• You have resided outside the country of nationality for over 6 months and you were aged at least 16 years old at that time.
• You have resided in any previous country for more than 12 months.
• You were arrested for any reason in a country you stay in despite the duration of your stay.
• Photocopy of Biographic Data Page of Passport

It is required for all applicants along with their dependent family members which refers to the page containing the biometric photograph, name, date of birth, and place of birth.

Confirm the Interview Time

As you have provided a desired interview appointment in Form DS-260, KCC will send you an email to confirm that the interview is scheduled at the chosen U.S. Embassy or Consulate after reviewing your form. Log in to the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website and navigate to Entrant Status Check according to the instructions in the email. Print out this information for the interview.

Prepare for the Interview

Only when you pass the interview will you receive the immigration visa, so you are supposed to prepare for it carefully and thoroughly. After confirming the interview, please do as follows to get ready.

• Mark the Interview Date, Time & Location

The scheduling information is available on the E-DV website. Print out the information about the date, time, as well as location and bring it to the interview.

• Review U.S. Embassy or Consulate Interview Instructions

There might be extra requirements according to a specific U.S. embassy or consulate. Please visit the List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates to check whether there is any additional instruction for the visa type you are applying for.

• Complete a Medical Examination

All applicants, including the dependents, must take a medical exam and necessary vaccination with an authorized physician which is listed in the List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates. It is suggested to contact the physician and ask whether a prior appointment is needed. The medical result might be sent to the embassy or consulate directly or given to you in a sealed envelope. Remember not to open it and bring it to the immigration officer.

• Prepare Photos and Other Remaining Required Documents

You have to bring to the interview two identical visa photos, civil documents previously emailed to KCC, and the following ones that have not been submitted.

• Printed appointment information, including the date, time, and location
• DS-260 confirmation page available at Consular Electronic Application Center
• Original passport valid for at least 6 months upon the date of arrival in the US
• Proof of qualifying education or work experience
• Form I-212 – Permission to Reapply after Deportation (providing you have ever been deported or removed officially from the US)
• Original or certified copies of marriage certificates (if applicable)
• Original or certified copies of marriage termination documentation (if applicable), such as final divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment papers
• Custody documentation for adopted children, such as an adoption decree, legal custody decree, a legal statement, etc.
• Immigrant Visa Photo Requirements

The visa photo, identical to the US passport photo, measures 2×2 inches with a white background. It must be colored and clear taken within the last 6 months. The person’s face must be entirely revealed and there are no shadows.

• How to Make Immigrant Visa Photo Online

With AiPassportPhotos, you can take a picture at home for yourself and your family members. Upload the photo to this online DV lottery photo tool and it will automatically adjust the photo to meet green card lottery photo requirements. With compliance check features, it promises to generate a 100% qualified DV lottery visa photo.

👉 Click here to learn how to make a qualified DV lottery visa photo online.

Attend the Interview

After everything is ready, you have to visit the selected U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the scheduled date and time and have an interview with the consular officer. 

• Who Needs to Attend the Interview

You and your dependents (including your spouse, and qualified children) who are immigrating with you must attend the interview. If they don’t travel together with you on the same day, they should schedule a separate interview appointment with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate instead of joining your interview.

• What Documents Do I Need to Bring with Me

Remember to take all information and documentation to the consular office, including the appointment letter, DS-260 confirmation page, passport, photographs, medical exam results, original and supporting documents as well as the English translations, and visa fees or proof of payment.

• What to Do If I Want to Reschedule My Interview?

You should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate by email or in-person to make another appointment. Please note that all diversity visas will be issued before September 30 and the available visas might run out quickly if you delay your appointment. Therefore, rescheduling is necessary as soon as you are sure that you cannot appear as scheduled.

• What’s the Whole Process of the Interview?

The interview usually takes about 5-15 minutes. The officer will ask applicants and beneficiaries (if any) various questions concerning personal information, and educational and professional background. The talk is conducted face-to-face in English. Moreover, your supporting documents will be reviewed and your fingerprint will be captured.

Check the Interview Result

The consular officer will tell you the results at the end of the interview.

• Visa Approval

Pick your passport with a diversity visa as informed and pay the USCIS immigrant fee. You will also receive a sealed packet that is not allowed to be opened by anyone else except for the officer of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a port of entry of the United States, such as at the airport or harbor. You are supposed to arrive in the US before the expiry date of the visa.

• Visa Denial

In such a case, you will be informed of the reasons for denial, such as lack of sufficient information or documentation. Just follow the administrative processing advised by the consular officer or stop applying.

How to Avoid DV Lottery Scams

According to the Office of Visa Services, the number of fraudulent emails and letters is increasing as the announcement date of green card lottery results approaches. In this section, we are going to talk about some common scams and how to deal with them.

🚫 Increase Your Chances of Winning

Some agents or organizations claim to increase your chances of being selected. They usually add false information to your application. However, it will disqualify you. Therefore, it is recommended to complete the form on your own. If you do have to ask someone else to fill out the application, make sure everything you provide is authentic and accurate.

🚫 Paid Visa Consultants

Some consultants advertise to provide one package service to help you complete the whole application and improve your chances of winning. However, please note that the authority does not cooperate with any consultant and they have no right to influence the DV lottery results. Pay attention to any exaggerated or false advertising.

🚫 Offer False Confirmation Number

If you have someone else to apply for you, he/she might give you a false confirmation number. To avoid such a scam, make sure you use your own e-mail address and keep it private.

🚫 Add A Person Who Is Not Legally Your Spouse or Child

Sometimes, your consultant or relative might force you to add someone who is not legally your spouse or child to your visa application. You must refuse it and inform the consular officer when attending the interview.

🚫 Unauthentic Website or Email of the Department of State

Scammers might create fake websites and emails to mislead applicants or steal information. They look like the official government websites. For example, there are images of the U.S. flag, Capitol, White House, Statue of Liberty, etc. Please try not to visit any website with a domain suffix not ending with “.gov”.

What to Do If I’m Not Selected or Failed the Interview?

The diversity visa lottery results are selected randomly despite bias, race, status, wealth, political stand, and so on. Even if you are selected, you are not guaranteed to obtain a diversity visa. Failure in application review and interview might be depressing, but they do happen.

According to the Reasons for Lottery Denials, applicants can appeal a reconsideration. Extra evidence is required to address the address the officer’s suspicions. Finally, supposing that your challenge is refused again, you should turn to other alternatives.

• Employment-Based Immigration Visa

The United States issues 5 categories of permanent worker visas based on employment, ranging from EB-1 to EB-5. Each is designed for different professions or skills, featuring different eligibilities and requirements.

• Family-based Immigrant Visas

US citizens or permanent residents can sponsor immediate relatives to obtain a green card, such as spouses, children, parents, children, and siblings.

• Diversity Visa Lottery

Although you failed in this year’s selection or interview, you can register again in the subsequent year as long as you are eligible. During this period, it is advised to improve your qualifications, which might increase your chances of winning the lottery.

FAQ

📌What to do if I lose my confirmation number?

Losing the confirmation number will prevent you from checking DV lottery results. The authority will not resend the number to you after it is lost, but you can retrieve it on the Entrant Status Check Website by providing personal information.

📌How many winners will there be in DV Lottery 2025?

Up to 55,000 diversity visas will be issued for Fiscal Year 2025.

📌What are the chances of winning DV 2025?

It’s hard to tell the exact odds of “winning” a DV lottery because it will vary due to several factors. We can estimate it through the statistics for DV 2024. 143,000 prospective applicants are selected to apply for 54,850 diversity visas among more than 22 million qualified entrants, which means the chances of being selected are 0.65% and 38.36% of applicants being approved.

📌Is the Green Card Lottery permanent?

No. The green card allows you to live permanently in the US. However, the lottery is not valid permanently. Foreign nationals must register and apply during specific periods for every stage, otherwise, their qualifications might be invalidated.

📌How many times can I apply for the green card lottery?

There is no limit on the number of application times.

📌When is the next DV lottery?

A: It is estimated to be open for registration in October 2024 and the exact date remains to be announced.

Summary

Those who obtain a diversity visa will become a US permanent resident. Compared with other immigration visas, the DV program is more accessible and attractive, which also results in all kinds of scams. To avoid these scams, it is suggested to follow all official instructions to submit entries, check DV lottery results, and file applications. After reading this passage, we hope you can be successfully selected and pass the interview.