Bureau of Consular Affairs; Registration for the Diversity Immigrant (DV-2017) Visa Program, 61552-61561 [2015-25964]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61552-61561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25964]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9314]


Bureau of Consular Affairs; Registration for the Diversity 
Immigrant (DV-2017) Visa Program

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This public notice provides information on how to apply for 
the DV-2017 Program and is issued pursuant to 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)).

Program Overview

    The Congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is 
administered annually by the Department of State. 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 2017, 50,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available. There is no 
cost to register for the DV program.
    Applicants who are selected in the program (``selectees'') must 
meet simple, but strict, eligibility requirements in order to qualify 
for a Diversity Visa. Selectees are chosen through a randomized 
computer drawing. Diversity Visas 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-2017, 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, Ecuador, 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: None.

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 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 was 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-2017 program. For more details on what this means, see the 
Frequently Asked Questions.

[[Page 61553]]

    Requirement #2: Each DV 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 requiring at least two years of training or experience to 
perform. The U.S. Department of Labor's O*Net Online database will be 
used 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

    Entries for the DV-2017 DV program must be submitted electronically 
at www.dvlottery.state.gov between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) 
(GMT-4), Thursday, October 1, 2015, and noon, Eastern Standard Time 
(EST) (GMT-5), Tuesday, November 3, 2015. 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-2017 Program

    Submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form 
or DS-5501), online at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Incomplete entries will 
not be accepted. There is no cost to register for the DV Program.
    You are strongly encouraged to complete the entry form yourself, 
without a ``visa consultant,'' ``visa agent,'' or other facilitator who 
offers to help. If someone 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. 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 your 
entry status. Be wary if someone offers to keep this information for 
you. You also should retain access to the email account listed in your 
E-DV entry. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information 
about Diversity Visa program scams.
    After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation 
screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Print 
this confirmation screen for your records. Starting May 3, 2016, you 
will be able to check the status of your entry by returning to 
www.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-2017, 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 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.
    Group photographs will not be accepted; you must submit a 
photograph for each individual. Your entry may be disqualified or visa 
application refused if the photographs are not recent, have been 
manipulated in any way, or do not meet the specifications explained 
below. 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. 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--Unmarried, married and my spouse is NOT 
a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), married and my 
spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR, divorced, widowed, or 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 your 
disqualification as the Diversity Visa principal applicant and refusal 
of all visa applications in your case at the time of the visa 
interview. You must list your spouse even if you plan to be divorced 
before you apply for a visa. A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or 
LPR will not require or be issued a visa, though you will not be 
penalized if you list them on your entry form. 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 of whether or not they are living 
with you or intend to accompany or follow to join you, should you 
immigrate to the United States. Submit individual photographs of each 
of your children using the same technical specifications as your own 
photograph.

[[Page 61554]]

    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 your DV entry is made 
before your unmarried child turns 21, and the child turns 21 before 
visa issuance, he/she may be treated as though he/she were under 21 for 
visa-processing purposes.
    A child who is already a U.S. citizen or LPR is not eligible for 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 visa 
applications 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-2017 Program.

Selection of Applicants

    Based on the allocation of available visas in each region and 
country, individuals will be randomly selected by computer from among 
qualified entries. All DV-2017 entrants will be required to go to the 
Entrant Status Check using the unique confirmation number saved from 
their DV-2017 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 www.dvlottery.state.gov starting May 
3, 2016, through at least September 30, 2017.
    If your entry is selected, you will be directed to a confirmation 
page that will provide further instructions, including information 
about fees connected with immigrating to the United States. Entrant 
Status Check will be the ONLY means by which selectees are notified of 
their selection for DV-2017. The Department of State will not mail 
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 ONLY will be notified 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.
    If you are selected, in order to receive a Diversity Visa to 
immigrate to the United States, you still must meet all eligibility 
requirements under U.S. law. These requirements may significantly 
increase the level of scrutiny required and time necessary for 
processing for visa applications of natives of some countries listed in 
this notice including, but not limited to, countries identified as 
state sponsors of terrorism.
    All processing of entries and issuance of DVs to selectees meeting 
eligibility requirements and their eligible family members must be 
completed by midnight on September 30, 2017. Under no circumstances can 
DVs be issued or adjustments approved 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 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.
    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: The subject 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 Decorative Items: The subject must not wear sunglasses 
or other items that detract from the face.
     No Head Coverings or Hats: Head coverings or hats worn for 
religious reasons 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 take 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. Black and white, 
monochrome, or grayscale images will not be accepted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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'' also can 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 a numerical limitation is placed on immigrants entering 
from a country or geographic region, each

[[Page 61555]]

individual is ``charged'' to a country. Your ``chargeability'' refers 
to the country whose limitation you count towards. Your country of 
eligibility normally will 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.
    Listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., 
one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) may 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 only will be issued a DV-1 
immigrant visa if your spouse also is 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 in your country of birth at the time of your birth. People are 
not generally considered residents in 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 of 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) may 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 
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) tallies the family and 
employment immigrant admission and adjustment of status figures 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. Since this calculation is made 
annually, the list of countries whose natives are eligible or not 
eligible may change from one year to the next.
4. How many DV-2017 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 INA. The number of visas that 
eventually will be issued 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 requiring 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. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be 
presented 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 many occupations 
are listed on the DOL Web site, 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 determine 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 (https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected/confirm-your-qualifications.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-2017 entry period will run from 12:00 p.m. (noon), Eastern 
Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Thursday, October 1, 2015, until 12:00 
p.m. (noon), Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), Tuesday, November 3, 
2015. Each year,

[[Page 61556]]

millions of people submit entries. Holding the entry period on these 
dates ensures that selectees are notified in a timely manner and gives 
both the visa applicants and our embassies and consulates time to 
prepare and complete cases for visa issuance.
    You are strongly encouraged to enter early during the registration 
period. Excessive demand at the end of the registration period may slow 
the system down. No entries will be accepted after noon EST Tuesday, 
November 3, 2015.
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 entry may be submitted 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, spouses 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: You must list your spouse regardless unless 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, though you will not be penalized if you list 
him/her on your entry form. 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). 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.
    Children: You must list ALL your living children who are unmarried 
and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial 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 laws of your country. 
List all children under 21 years of age 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 should not be included 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 and later 
list them on your visa application forms, 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 about all 
dependents in your family (see FAQ #12 above).
14. Must I submit my own entry, or can someone else do it for me?
    You are encouraged 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 
www.dvlottery.state.gov. Entrants should 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.
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 Thursday, 
October 1, 2015, and ending at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Standard Time 
(EST) (GMT-5) on Tuesday, November 3, 2015.
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 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 electronically 
submitted your complete entry, any information already entered is 
discarded. 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. If your photo(s) did not meet the specifications, your entry 
will not be accepted by the E-DV Web site, 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 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 received and the confirmation notice sent. Once you have

[[Page 61557]]

received 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 received and the confirmation notice sent. However, once 
you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.

Selection

22. 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 www.dvlottery.state.gov 
starting May 3, 2016, through at least September 30, 2017. Entrant 
Status Check is the sole means by which you will be notified if you are 
selected, provided further instructions on your visa application, and 
notified 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 
www.dvlottery.state.gov.
    The Department of State will NOT contact you to tell you that you 
have been selected (see FAQ #23).
23. How will I know if I am not selected? Will I be notified?
    You may check the status of your DV-2017 entry through the Entrant 
Status Check on the E-DV Web site at www.dvlottery.state.gov starting 
May 3, 2016, until at least September 30, 2017. Keep your confirmation 
number until at least September 30, 2017. (Status information for the 
previous year's DV program, DV-2016, is available online from May 5, 
2015, through September 30, 2016.) If your entry is not selected, you 
will not receive any additional instructions.
24. 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 on the E-DV Web 
site that will allow you to retrieve your confirmation number via the 
email address you registered with 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.
25. 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-2017 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.
    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 Web sites trying 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 of 
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.
26. How many individuals will be selected for DV-2017?
    For DV-2017, 50,000 Diversity Visa are available. Because it is 
likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not 
qualify for visas or 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.
    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-2017 program will begin in October 2016 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 overseas.
    Each month, visas will be issued to those applicants who are ready 
for issuance during that month, as long as visas are available. Once 
all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program will end. Visa 
numbers could be finished before September 2017. Selected applicants 
who wish to receive 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, potentially to be issued a Diversity Visa. Only 
50,000 visas will be issued to such applicants.
27. How will successful entrants be selected?
    Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant 
Status Check, available May 3, 2016, through at least September 30, 
2017, on the E-DV Web site www.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

[[Page 61558]]

period will have an equal chance of being selected. When an entry has 
been selected, the entrant will be notified of his/her selection 
through the Entrant Status Check available starting May 3, 2016, on the 
E-DV Web site www.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 
the case until those selected are instructed to appear for visa 
interviews at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate or until those in the United 
States who are applying to adjust status apply at a domestic USCIS 
office.
28. 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, 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 applications for a spouse or for children 
under 21 years of age, before September 30, 2017, since on that date 
your eligibility for the DV-2017 program expires. No visa numbers or 
adjustments of status for the DV-2017 program will be approved after 
midnight EDT on September 30, 2017, under any circumstances.
29. If I am selected, for how long am I entitled to apply for a 
Diversity Visa?
    If you are selected in the DV-2017 program, you are entitled to 
apply for visa issuance only during U.S. government Fiscal Year 2017, 
which spans from October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017. Selectees 
are encouraged to apply for visas as early as possible, once their 
program rank 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, 2017 (the end of 
the fiscal year). Also, spouses and children who derive status from a 
DV-2017 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between 
October 1, 2016, and September 30, 2017. Individuals who apply overseas 
will receive an appointment notification from the Department of State 
through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV Web site four to six weeks 
before the scheduled appointment.
30. 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, the DV case is automatically closed. 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

31. How much does it cost to enter the Diversity Visa program?
    There is no fee charged to submit an electronic entry. However, if 
you are selected and apply for a Diversity Visa, you must pay all 
required visa 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 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 www.dvlottery.state.gov.
32. 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 www.dvlottery.state.gov. You will pay all DV and immigrant 
visa 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 
www.dvlottery.state.gov contains separate instructions on how to mail 
DV fees to a U.S. bank.
33. 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 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

34. 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 Immigration 
and Nationality Act (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

35. How can I report Internet fraud or unsolicited email?
    Please visit the www.econsumer.gov Web site, hosted by the Federal 
Trade Commission in cooperation with consumer-protection agencies from 
17 nations. You also may 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

36. How many visas will be issued in DV-2017?
    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-2017 program, so 50,000 visas remain for the DV program described in 
these instructions.
37. 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

[[Page 61559]]

you receive a visa through the DV program. If you are selected to apply 
for a DV, you must 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-
2017

    The list below shows the countries whose natives are eligible for 
DV-2017, grouped by geographic region. Dependent areas overseas are 
included within the region of the governing country. The countries 
whose natives are not eligible for the DV-2017 program were identified 
by USCIS, 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                                  Lesotho
Angola                                   Liberia
Benin                                    Libya
Botswana                                 Madagascar
Burkina Faso                             Malawi
Burundi                                  Mali
Cameroon                                 Mauritania
Cape Verde                               Mauritius
Central African Republic                 Morocco
Chad                                     Mozambique
Comoros                                  Namibia
Congo                                    Niger
Congo, Democratic Republic of the        Rwanda
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)              Sao Tome and Principe
Djibouti                                 Senegal
Egypt *                                  Seychelles
Equatorial Guinea                        Sierra Leone
Eritrea                                  Somalia
Ethiopia                                 South Africa
Gabon                                    South Sudan
Gambia, The                              Sudan
Ghana                                    Swaziland
Guinea                                   Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau                            Togo
Kenya                                    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                              Maldives
Bahrain                                  Mongolia
Bhutan                                   Nepal
Brunei                                   North Korea
Burma                                    Oman
Cambodia                                 Qatar
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region  Saudi Arabia
 **
Indonesia                                Singapore
Iran                                     Sri Lanka
Iraq                                     Syria *
Israel *                                 Taiwan **
Japan                                    Thailand
Jordan *                                 Timor-Leste
Kuwait                                   United Arab Emirates
Laos                                     Yemen
Lebanon
Malaysia
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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.

[[Page 61560]]

 
** 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), and Taiwan (Asia
  region) do qualify and are listed here.


                                 Europe
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albania                                  Lithuania
Andorra                                  Luxembourg
Armenia                                  Macau Special Administrative
                                          Region **
Austria                                  Macedonia
Azerbaijan                               Malta
Belarus                                  Moldova
Belgium                                  Monaco
Bosnia and Herzegovina                   Montenegro
Bulgaria                                 Netherlands (including
                                          components and dependent areas
                                          overseas)
Croatia                                  Northern Ireland **
Cyprus                                   Norway
Czech Republic                           Poland
Denmark (including components and        Portugal (including components
 dependent areas overseas)                and dependent areas overseas)
Estonia                                  Romania
Finland                                  Russia
France (including components and         San Marino
 dependent areas overseas)
Georgia                                  Serbia
Germany                                  Slovakia
Greece                                   Slovenia
Hungary                                  Spain
Iceland                                  Sweden
Ireland                                  Switzerland
Italy                                    Tajikistan
Kazakhstan                               Turkey
Kosovo                                   Turkmenistan
Kyrgyzstan                               Ukraine
Latvia                                   Uzbekistan
Liechtenstein                            Vatican City
------------------------------------------------------------------------
** 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, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,
  Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, 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.

    Macau S.A.R. does qualify and is listed above.

                              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      Papua New Guinea
 dependent areas overseas)
Fiji                                     Solomon Islands
Kiribati                                 Tonga
Marshall Islands                         Tuvalu
Micronesia, Federated States of Nauru    Vanuatu
New Zealand (including components and    Samoa
 dependent areas overseas)
Palau
------------------------------------------------------------------------


            South America, Central America, and the Caribbean
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antigua and Barbuda                      Honduras
Argentina                                Nicaragua
Barbados                                 Panama
Belize                                   Paraguay
Bolivia                                  Saint Kitts and Nevis
Chile                                    Saint Lucia
Costa Rica                               Saint Vincent and the
                                          Grenadines
Cuba                                     Suriname
Dominica                                 Trinidad and Tobago

[[Page 61561]]

 
Grenada                                  Uruguay
Guatemala                                Venezuela
Guyana
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this 
year's diversity program: Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, 
Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru.

    Dated: September 29, 2015.
David T. Donahue
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-25964 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P