As I write this, it is around 2 hours before the DV2018 draw results are available on the website. So – I just want to make some points to those people are to check.
- The website to check the results is https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/.
- The checking starts at noon in the time zone for the Eastern United States. That will be evening time in EU and Africa for example.
- The servers are always overwhelmed for the first few hours – to avoid frustration – check tomorrow.
- If you have not been selected, you will see a simple message that says “not selected”.
- If you are “selected” you will see a letter explaining the selection. If you see that – you are lucky enough to have been selected – but that does not guarantee you a Green Card at this point. You have to go through some steps and the process will take between 6 to 18 months. So get ready to exercise some patience!
- If you are selected, don’t fill your DS260 in for the first few days. Take your time and learn about how to do this. I have a guide on completing the DS260 and also a guide of how the DV cases are processed.
Good luck to all!
May 2, 2017 at 13:53
Thanks Britsimon,i thought Trump said it will be skills based. Does it mean the process will go on as usual? Am sure most people will not pursue it as America dream is no longer attractive. Too much fear of the American future, it’s my personal views.
May 2, 2017 at 14:51
What Trump says usually makes no sense.
May 2, 2017 at 14:35
Thank you.
May 2, 2017 at 14:43
Luck for those of us who are waiting the long awaited results
May 2, 2017 at 14:49
Scared
May 2, 2017 at 15:31
faith level on d increase
May 2, 2017 at 15:13
Brit, you help so many people from around the world…i really appreciate what you do. you are a great example…information is everything. Thank you so much!!!
May 2, 2017 at 15:14
Thanks .good luck to everyone else.
May 2, 2017 at 16:51
Hope
May 2, 2017 at 17:07
DV is such a waste. I am happy it is being removed. Nothing should be random when it comes to immigration. Most of the persons who are even selected will not meet the financial income requirement or work experience level. You don’t want to bring in people just for their American dreams. You also want qualified persons who can build up the country so that high school requirement should have been replaced with a more mature requirement like if you don’t have a degree, you have a trade.
May 2, 2017 at 17:10
It is not removed ?
May 2, 2017 at 17:14
This is the last DV Lottery. There will not be another one Hamidah.
May 2, 2017 at 17:18
Nonsense.
May 2, 2017 at 17:20
You clearly don’t understand the lottery or American thinking.
May 2, 2017 at 17:24
Yeah alright, when this administration replaces this same DV Lottery with a unique pathway for International Students at universities in the United States to get a green card (i.e. those same 55,000 GC’s a year), I hope you still call that nonsense.
May 2, 2017 at 17:43
I won’t call THAT nonsense. But I did say your “last lottery” comment was nonsense. And it is. You don’t know what you are talking about.
May 2, 2017 at 17:34
Think about it from a business perspective not just a lieberal view. What do you think this administration will ask themselves? Why should I let you into my country? What do you have to offer? If you had a business, we got a stream for that. If you had work experience that was really wanted, there is also a stream for that already. Oh you got family, yeah we have a stream for that too. But wait, you graduated from a university in the US? You surely deserve a GC too. Where is the pathway for that? There is none. Just wait and see. Yeah in the previous administration it was all about liberty but not this one. What do you have to offer that is not applicable to the other streams already available? But hey, let me just carry along before I violate any NDAs.
May 2, 2017 at 17:42
Trust me – I have thought about it. I understand it. I have studied it.
May 2, 2017 at 17:30
The initial selection is random but then what happens ? people go to their interviews the qualified enough gets it and that’s pretty much it.
your comment respectfully is pointless this is a lottery not a form of immigration that is ONLY made to have better residents, nope it got the word lottery in it meaning that everyone gets a chance by luck you might get selected and by hard work (gathering documents n’ gaining) and good presentation you get it.
May 2, 2017 at 17:08
Hope
May 2, 2017 at 17:10
I remember last year the “shock” I received when I discovered we were selected.
Thank you Brit for helping everybody for all the help you provide.
It’s almost over (we’re 12 months later), as my interview is scheduled for end of May.
May 2, 2017 at 17:20
Best of luck.
May 2, 2017 at 17:20
Thank you so much for all your info! And good luck everyone!
May 2, 2017 at 17:22
Thanks Brit Simon – you guided us through our journey last year all the way to Green Card, and we cross our fingers for the results today as we applied for our over 21 year old son (his third year trying…). Al the best to everyone.
May 2, 2017 at 17:23
its realy this is last dv lottery???
May 2, 2017 at 17:38
Nobody knows
May 2, 2017 at 17:45
I know. It isn’t the last one.
May 2, 2017 at 17:44
NO! That comment was made by someone who has no idea about the law. That’s all.
May 2, 2017 at 17:35
Good Luck People!
Bless you Simon for the amazing work.
May 2, 2017 at 18:13
Based on the information provided, the Entry HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED for further processing for the Electronic Diversity Visa program at this time. this me pretty much beat now?
May 2, 2017 at 19:54
Yup. They sometimes have a small second draw around October – but it is small, and not certain.
May 2, 2017 at 18:19
Do you know when we will be able to estimate if we “won” by our case number? Any ideas for oceanic region?thanks
May 2, 2017 at 19:52
I assume this is for DV2018. If you have been selected – you won. In some years they over select – but I have no idea how many people they selected at the moment so I cannot guess.
May 2, 2017 at 18:30
Is almost 3 hours since the the Noon pass and still website is difficult to check status.
May 2, 2017 at 18:48
good luck !!!!!
May 2, 2017 at 20:09
Still haven’t seen a single selectee in a group of members with a few thousands. Have an odd feeling regarding this draw.
May 2, 2017 at 20:16
A lot of ppl complaining about invalid confirmation number received as a respond after checking the result.
May 2, 2017 at 20:17
I won in dv 2015, my case number was 60 000. so I thought I had made it.
I spent one year getting ready to fly to the US and start a new life. But then, my dream fell apart.
That’s not fair!!
May 2, 2017 at 21:23
But the selected letter warned that selection was not a guarantee of a Green card – right?
May 2, 2017 at 20:54
Simon any single selectee
May 2, 2017 at 21:22
yes there are plenty of selectees.
May 2, 2017 at 21:03
First of – thank you for making this website and giving us hopeful ones such good info on this frustrating process.
But I have one question though: if you end up getting the message “not selected”, wil you still be able to get a more positive response later or are you completely out of the draw for 2018?
May 2, 2017 at 21:04
Never mind – I noticed it had been answered already 🙂
May 2, 2017 at 21:22
Still not able to check dv 2018
May 2, 2017 at 21:42
Simon, there are no plenty of selectees…
May 2, 2017 at 23:55
You mean YOU don’t know many! I know some. Relax!
May 2, 2017 at 21:47
Are the servers still down Mr Simon? It’s been 6 hours and still no luck
May 2, 2017 at 21:56
The servers aren’t “down”. Hundreds of thousands/millions of people are hammering it constantly trying to receive their results. Until people relax and stop trying to check every 2 minutes you’re not going to be able to see anything.
May 2, 2017 at 23:53
Quite.
May 2, 2017 at 22:06
How do you expect him to know that?
May 2, 2017 at 23:51
LOLOL
May 2, 2017 at 23:54
Relax and wait until tomorrow.
May 2, 2017 at 21:50
Is anybody knows at least one DV2018 selectee?
May 2, 2017 at 23:54
Yes – several.
May 2, 2017 at 21:59
How many people can be checking their status and we cannot access?
May 2, 2017 at 23:53
12+ million entries – with many of those checking on the first day. The government haven’t sought my input into how many people their system should support – so I don’t know when it slows down, but it’s just very predictable that it will slow down.
May 2, 2017 at 22:15
https://analytics.usa.gov/state/ you can see the trends of people connected now and choose the rigth time to check
May 2, 2017 at 22:28
Hey!
It’s hard to even get to the screen where you can type in your confirmation number, but even when I do get there and fill out all the information I get this message after some time:
” Warning: The system is unable to process your request. Please try again later. Connection request timed out”.
Any one else experiencing the same thing?
May 2, 2017 at 23:47
Yes, lots of people – try tomorrow.
May 2, 2017 at 23:53
I heard about people having been able to get their result already. I’ve been trying to do so for more than 5 hours now and I get the connection timed out message all the time. Does it mean anything?
May 2, 2017 at 23:57
It means you need to be more patient and try tomorrow.
May 2, 2017 at 23:50
Im from Yemen and its from the counties that trumb stopted to enter US and my question is >Yemens are not available eventhough some of them win the lottery??
May 2, 2017 at 23:58
Trump’s executive order was blocked – so there is currently no ban on Yemenis or any other country for DV cases.
May 2, 2017 at 23:58
Hello BritSimon, I used 2017 passports pictures when registering for 2018 dv registration. Can this affect my chances of winning?
May 3, 2017 at 00:24
Yes.
May 3, 2017 at 00:19
Hi Brit,
I received a letter of instructions from the consulate regarding my interview and it contains the following :
“Please ensure you bring to your interview evidence of your own funds/assets and CV/Resume’ to enable you to support yourself in the U.S.”
What do you think i should prepare exactly and what is the minimum amount for family consist of 4 persons
Thanks
Mody
May 3, 2017 at 00:25
https://britsimonsays.com/all-about-public-charge-affidavit-of-support-i-134/
May 3, 2017 at 00:25
What embassy is that, by the way?
May 3, 2017 at 00:30
Aukland
May 9, 2017 at 12:38
Hello, simon, thank you for all yor help.
I’ve had the interview on February 14 2017, I was in embassy with my family, they requested some court records, I provided to them, then requested some more I was for the third time and then they told me that they will call me in two or three days for an decision but they haven’t call yet is more than two weeks.
What do you think, why they didn’t call yet?
Thanks
May 9, 2017 at 13:25
Eventually, yes
May 3, 2017 at 02:38
Hi
I got the confirmation number for me and two of my family members and once I write the information to see the results the system is telling me that my entry is incorrect. This is my 4th year applying for the DV lottery and this never happened before.
Could be the system that generated an incorrect confirmation code?.
thank you
May 3, 2017 at 03:56
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:28
OK – thanks!
May 3, 2017 at 00:31
It’s a good time to check status NOW…
May 3, 2017 at 00:32
SELECTEE?????? only about 4900 on DV page
May 3, 2017 at 04:27
Congrats – what is your region/number?
May 3, 2017 at 04:28
Yep
May 3, 2017 at 00:47
“The information entered is not valid” 5 different cases each try we get same message.. anybody else ?
May 3, 2017 at 00:51
Not sure what that means, but u can try going through the lost confirmation number tab…
May 3, 2017 at 01:02
me too
May 3, 2017 at 04:25
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:04
I’m getting the same thing GD. Like SimonSays: Try tomorrow I guess.
May 3, 2017 at 04:25
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:24
same here, me and my friends are stuck with the same problem
May 3, 2017 at 04:11
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:30
the same problem here !
May 3, 2017 at 02:07
me too!!
May 3, 2017 at 04:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:11
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:45
Same problem with me on 4 entries out of the 15 or so I’ve checked for friends and family.
May 3, 2017 at 04:11
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:17
Did you use new photos or old (DV 2017) photos? I used only photos for 3 cases and have the same problems as yours. So I think it is because of the old photos. And it is clear in the DV 2018 application instruction written as follows:
“Entrant photograph(s) – Recent photographs (taken within the last six months) of yourself, your spouse, and all your children. 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.
We cannot accept group photographs; you must submit a photograph for each individual. Your entry may be disqualified or your visa application refused if the photographs have been manipulated in any way, or do not meet the specifications explained below. Submitting the same photograph that was submitted with last year’s entry (DV-2017) will result in disqualification. See Submitting a Digital Photograph for more information.”
So if you used an old photo, you are disqualified.
May 3, 2017 at 02:40
I also have the same problem. I saved the confirmation number in digital format, and when I tried to check the entrant Status, I just copy and paste. So there should not be any error in entering the information. But still I got the message: “The information entered is not valid”. Any solution? Or should I request as “Forgot Confirmation Number”?
May 3, 2017 at 02:43
I did that , but it appears as if I didn’t register at the lottery at all !
May 3, 2017 at 02:44
I even used different browsers, different devices , and also I used a VPN program !
May 3, 2017 at 02:53
did you use new photos in the application?
May 3, 2017 at 03:25
Everyone should have used new photos!
May 3, 2017 at 02:53
Yes, same experience. Why? How to do next?
May 3, 2017 at 03:53
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 03:56
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:13
Based on the information provided, your Entry HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED for further processing of the EDV program at this time. Any hope?
May 3, 2017 at 04:25
No
May 3, 2017 at 01:21
Hi simon can you please tell me im qaulified Boilermaker / Welder 4 years of study is this enough or equivalent to high school year 12.
Ive read some of you posts still confused.
Also i have been working in that industry for more than 10 years but have not had a continuous job for 2 years my offshore jobs go for 6 months then maybe 2 months of then maybe 8 months on 1 off etc .
May 3, 2017 at 04:14
No that work experience/ job is not at the right level. You will not qualify unless you have education at the correct level.
May 3, 2017 at 01:21
Same here
May 3, 2017 at 04:12
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:40
I apply for several people every year (usually my husband’s friends and family) and this year I’ve noticed something odd: four of the confirmation numbers are showing up as invalid. I know I’m typing the correct number as I always copy and paste. I hit the “Forgot confirmation number” link on those four and had it retrieved by the system and all their info automatically input after that process and still, when I hit Submit, it comes back with an error. I’m wondering if this may be by any chance similar to what happened a previous year where the winners were shown error messages the first few days until it was fixed?
May 3, 2017 at 04:11
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 01:49
i saw my confirmation number it says HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED….does that mean i am out of E-DV 2018
May 3, 2017 at 04:11
Yes. Try again next year.
May 3, 2017 at 01:55
Hi Simon. I put in my confirmation number but the system keeps telling me that the information I entered is not valid. I swear everything I put in is correct. I saved the initial receipt as pdf so I even tried copying the info on the pdf into the blanks just in cased and the system still says the information is not valid. I am thinking about calling them tomorrow. Do you possibly know what is the issue? Thanks!
May 3, 2017 at 01:56
Also I tried retrieving my confirmation number but it still says information invalid….
May 3, 2017 at 03:17
I applied last year and I had no problem retrieving my confirmation last year. I am not sure what could possibly go wrong.
May 3, 2017 at 03:51
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:04
I had the same problems with 3 cases. I had saved the confirmations in digital format and cut and paste to check the status, so it should be ok with the information entered. Why?
May 3, 2017 at 04:10
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:08
Am confuse now i dont know which Name to put where it say Last/ Family Name: Help please
May 3, 2017 at 04:10
Only the confirmation it list the name in lastname, firstname order – like Presley, Elvis. So Presley is the last name.
May 3, 2017 at 02:31
Warning: The information entered is not valid.
Please review the Confirmation Number, your Last/Family Name, and Year of Birth to ensure you have entered them exactly as they appear on your DV Confirmation Page, including punctuation.
Several characters are often confused:
0 = zero, O = letter ‘O’, 1 = one, I = letter ‘I’ (like ‘Ice’), 5 = ‘five’, S = letter ‘S’, 6 = six, G = letter ‘G’, 8 = eight, B = letter ‘B’
I keep getting the same message over and over although i am 100% its the same information on the confrmation page
May 3, 2017 at 02:39
Hi
I am in the same boat
May 3, 2017 at 03:56
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:43
I am applying for the second year now and I am experiencing the same issue. The weird part is that I have copied and pasted the output from the registration from back in October into a text file so I am for sure not miss typing anything.
When attempting to see my 2017 results, everything seems to work fine.
@BritSimon: I know this is probably a cliche as you for sure get asked every year if you are aware of any issues with the results pages but would you say is safe to assume that something went wrong during my registration and that I should just forget about it and apply again in a few months?
Thanks.
May 3, 2017 at 03:55
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 03:58
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:46
same error here
May 3, 2017 at 03:55
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:53
WHAT is wrong? i keep on recieving this message.is the system having problem?
Warning: The information entered is not valid.
Please review the Confirmation Number, your Last/Family Name, and Year of Birth to ensure you have entered them exactly as they appear on your DV Confirmation Page, including punctuation.
Several characters are often confused:
0 = zero, O = letter ‘O’, 1 = one, I = letter ‘I’ (like ‘Ice’), 5 = ‘five’, S = letter ‘S’, 6 = six, G = letter ‘G’, 8 = eight, B = letter ‘B’
May 3, 2017 at 03:24
This seems to happen every year. There is nothing wrong with the system because some have been selected and many not selected. So – take care in what you are entering.
If you want, Send me the details to britsimon3 at gmail – I’ll check.
May 3, 2017 at 03:53
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:56
Warning: The information entered is not valid.
Please review the Confirmation Number, your Last/Family Name, and Year of Birth to ensure you have entered them exactly as they appear on your DV Confirmation Page, including punctuation.
Several characters are often confused:
0 = zero, O = letter ‘O’, 1 = one, I = letter ‘I’ (like ‘Ice’), 5 = ‘five’, S = letter ‘S’, 6 = six, G = letter ‘G’, 8 = eight, B = letter ‘B’
COULD IT BE THAT WE USED PREVIOUS YEAR PHOTO?
May 3, 2017 at 03:20
It’s not about the photos.
Send me the details to britsimon3 at gmail – I’ll check.
May 3, 2017 at 03:52
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:56
Hi Brit I enter my confirmation number but it say the information invalid why it say invalid
May 3, 2017 at 03:52
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 02:57
same here. i am trying to check for 4 people and i keep getting the same message. did you use new photos when you applied?
May 3, 2017 at 03:19
It’s not about the photos!
May 3, 2017 at 03:53
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 03:12
Hi fellows, If you enter with the old picture the one you submitted before, you will receive this error, which means you haven’t been selected.
May 3, 2017 at 03:18
Nonsense.
May 3, 2017 at 03:46
Yes, the problems caused by using the previous year’s photo. It is clear in the INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2018 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2018).
May 3, 2017 at 03:49
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/
May 3, 2017 at 04:21
NO It is NOT for that reason!
May 3, 2017 at 03:52
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid/