Who Qualifies for the US Visa Lottery in Nigeria?
By support@click2visas.com
2 years
The US Immigration Act has established the Diversity Visa (DV) or US Visa Lottery program, which has made nearly 55,000 US immigrant visas available through an annual lottery.
The US Visa Lottery aims to diversify America’s immigrant population. This US program will select applicants primarily from countries with the lowest rates of immigration to the US in the previous five years.
Unfortunately, Nigerians are no longer eligible to apply for the US visa lottery or DV program. No worries; this does not mean that no one can apply for a Diversity visa in Nigeria.
This blog explains who else from Nigeria can apply for the American visa lottery and the steps to apply for it.
What is US Visa Lottery or Diversity Visa Lottery?
The US Visa Lottery is also known as US Diversity Visa. The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery allows nationals of certain countries with low immigration rates to apply for permanent residence in the US by obtaining a green card.
During each fiscal year, you can only register for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program for a limited time. The Department of State establishes detailed instructions for entering the DV Program each year.
You must submit the US Visa lottery form online on the E-DV site during the registration period. Paper entries or late entries will not be accepted. During each registration period, each person is only allowed one entry.
To detect multiple entries, the Department of State employs sophisticated technology. You will be disqualified if you apply for more than one entry.
Nigerians are no longer eligible for US Visa Lottery – Beware of Scams
We recently found a post on the Nigeria Facebook page advising Nigerians to take the chance of living in the United States by applying for the official US green card lottery. Some other Nigerian Facebook accounts have also made a claim.
In most cases, it indicates that an advertisement is a forgery.
- Nigerians are not Eligible to Participate in the US Visa Lottery: According to official guidelines, Nigerians are not eligible to participate in the 2022 US visa lottery. This program provides immigration opportunities for people who do not come from “high admission” countries.
Nigeria is a high-admissions country. Over 50,000 people have moved to the United States under the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the last five years. - Beware of Fake Sites:
The US Embassy in Nigeria warned people interested in immigrating to the US to be wary of fake websites.
As per a tweet from the US Embassy in Nigeria, the US Embassy is aware of websites and social media messages advertising US visa lottery openings for Nigerians. Beware of the message; these all are SCAM!
Who else is eligible for US DV in Nigeria?
The Diversity Visa or US visa Lottery is only available to people born outside of Nigeria or who have parents born outside of Nigeria. You are not eligible for the Diversity Visa or US Visa Lottery if you were born in Nigeria to Nigerian parents.
If you are born outside or have parents born outside of Nigeria and currently living in Nigeria, you can fill the US visa lottery from the US Department of State site.
How to get US Visa Lottery? (Only for those who are eligible to apply)
- Submit an Entry Form
- Selection of Applicants by the US
- If you are selected
- Confirm your Qualifications
- Fill the Form DS-260 and Submit the Documents
- After the interview
- Applicant Interview
- Prepare for the Interview
- Interview
- Submit the Supporting Documents
1. Submit an Entry Form to E-DV Site:
You should submit the US Visa Lottery form online during the registration period. Paper entries or late entries will not be accepted. During each registration period, each person is only allowed one entry.
During each registration period, each person is only allowed one entry. To detect multiple entries, the Department of State employs sophisticated technology.
After submitting an entry form, you will see the confirmation page contains a unique confirmation number and your name. You should print the confirmation screen for your records.
You must keep your confirmation number. It is the only way to check the status of your entry, and you will need it to get further instructions.
2. Selection of Applicants by the US:
The US Department of State selects Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) applicants at random from all registered entries each year, based on visa allocations in each region and country.
The E-DV website will inform all applicants whether or not their online registration was selected.
To check your entry status, enter your confirmation number, which you obtained when filling out your entry form. You will be unable to check the status of your entry if you have misplaced your confirmation number.
Please keep in mind that the Department of State will not mail or e-mail notification letters to selectees. The United States’ embassies and consulates will not provide a list of those chosen.
The ONLY way for the Department of State to notify selectees of their selection is through the E-DV website.
If your entry got selected, It would direct you to a confirmation page with additional instructions, including information on immigration fees to the United States. The ONLY way for selectees to be notified of their selection is through Entrant Status Check.
3. If You are Selected for DV:
US State Department will notify you via the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website.
It’s important to remember that being chosen does not guarantee you’ll get a visa. Selectees must still meet all eligibility conditions under US law to receive a DV to immigrate to the US.
4. Confirm Your Educational Qualifications:
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program requires the primary DV applicant to have two years of qualifying work experience as defined by US law or a high school diploma or its equivalent.
You are ineligible for a diversity visa if you do not have the required education or qualifying work experience.
5. Fill the Form DS-260 and Submit the Documents:
You need to fill the Form SD-260 to apply for US Visa Lottery. To view and update the information about yourself and your family included in your DV entry, enter your DV case number into the online DS-260 form.
Print the confirmation page after submitting Form DS-260 online. You must carry the confirmation page to your visa interview.
6. Submit the Supporting Documents:
Once KCC processes the DS-260 application, you will receive instructions on submitting the required documents.
US Embassy will not schedule your interview until you have submitted scanned copies of all required supporting documents by the US guidelines.
7. Interview:
After the US officials have reviewed your DS-260 application form, you may receive a mail informing you that an interview has been scheduled at the US Embassy in Nigeria.
The e-mail will instruct you on the further steps. You need to put your DV entry confirmation number to log into the Entrant Status Check on the Electronic Diversity Visa/E-DV site to view the interview time, date, and location.
Please print this information and carry it with you to your interview.
Prepare for the Interview in US Embassy, Nigeria:
- Take careful note of the time, date, and location of your interview.
- Examine the Interview Procedures at the US Embassy or Consulate.
- Make an appointment for and complete a medical examination.
- Collect all remaining required documents and photographs.
- Payment of the DV Fee before the interview.
8. Applicant Interview:
Go to the US Embassy or Consulate in Nigeria on the scheduled date and time of your interview. A consular officer will interview you to decide whether you are eligible for an immigrant visa. At the interview, US officials will take the Ink-free digital fingerprint scans.
What should you carry to your interview?
- Interview Appointment letter.
- DS-160 Confirmation Page.
- Your Passport.
- Photographs.
- Medical Exam Results.
- Original and Supporting Documents.
- DV Visa Fee; if you did not pay your visa fees before your interview.
9. After the interview:
The US consular officer in Nigeria will inform you whether your visa application was approved or denied at the end of your interview.
If your DV visa application is approved, you will get notified of how and when the officials will return your passport and visa.
If you are rejected for DV, you will be notified why you are ineligible for a DV visa. You can find the additional information about visa denials at the bottom of the Denials webpage.
Once your DV is approved, you will get and know the below,
Passport with Visa – US officials will insert your diversity visa into a page of your passport. Please review the printed information as soon as possible to ensure that there are no errors. If there are any spelling mistakes, please contact the embassy or consulate as soon as possible.
Sealed Immigrant Package – You will receive a sealed package that contains documents. You must present the package to US Customs and Border Protection at the US entry port. Do not open the sealed package.
When You Should Travel to the US- You must arrive in the United States and apply for admission no later than the visa expiration date printed on your visa.
USCIS Immigrant Fee – After receiving your immigrant visa and traveling to the United States, you must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee to USCIS.
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