**** UPDATE ****
I am getting reports of people experiencing a problem during submission. People see “submission in progress.” This sort of error usually means the servers are getting overwhelmed with activity. My best advice is STOP entering for a few days. The system will be quieter in a few days time. There are no prizes for being first!!!! PATIENCE!
It is important to not enter more than once. However, if you don’t get a confirmation number, you cannot check your entry in May 2017. There is NO workaround for that. So – if you have a problem , you may as well wait a few days and try again. Hopefully it will work at that time and you get a confirmation number.
I advise trying a different browser (for example, if you are using Chrome, try IE or Firefox).
Please note that the DV2018 instructions and FAQ specify that an issue like this could happen and the applicant should try again. This is question 22 on the instructions everyone should have read.
*******************
OK the entry period for DV2018 has started. It will last until November 7th. There is NO advantage to rushing the entry now, or waiting until the last minute. The entries are chosen at random from the whole entry period.
Entering the lottery is easy and free. DO NOT use an agent to apply for you, as doing so usually causes problems. The agents get details wrong (which can cause disqualification), they charge you money to do something you can do yourself and I have known many cases where agents blackmail winners for money later in the process.
Good luck!!!
October 4, 2016 at 18:28
Hello Simon
I filled my information for the dv 2018 lottery and after submission it said submission in progress. So after every few minutes I would click the check submission button and it was still in progress. But my WiFi connection went down and after reloading the page I was sent to the verification page (page before the actual dv form)
Does this mean my entry was not successful?
October 4, 2016 at 19:10
See the update above.
October 5, 2016 at 05:00
Thankyou Simon
I would wait as you have suggested and I really hope as I saw no confirmation number none was generated.
I tried only once though.
October 6, 2016 at 12:08
best wishes to dv2018 applicants
October 7, 2016 at 04:45
Hi Brit I enter in dv lottery form yesterday it say submition in progress now today I enter is it double entry
October 7, 2016 at 05:21
That is explained above!
October 4, 2016 at 19:05
hi
what happens if someone uploads a wrong photo, say a flowerpot!?
October 5, 2016 at 00:28
The flowerpot is disqualified.
October 4, 2016 at 19:17
Hey Brit.
1. I cannot access the photo tool with my phone browser can i email you my photo to verify if it is perfect.
2. I cannot access the pdf instructions, i have downloaded but it cannot open, can you post this pdf information please
3. How do i input my mailing address info?
(A) in care of: what should i enter?
(B) address line 1: is this the city i live in?
(C) address line 2: is this the city i live in?
(D) postal code: do i enter the p.o box postal code that i use?
i.e:- p.o box 82, kalu, 00900 (0900 is my postal code)
4. I have completed high school. I have completed university but not graduated. I intend to tick HIGHSCHOOL NO DEGREE, Is it okay?
Thank you sir.
October 4, 2016 at 19:20
Thanks brit for the early alert to calm a bit for the first days till the site calms down. I value your insights. Thank you.
October 4, 2016 at 20:27
good day Mr Simon,
i hope you are doing great..
today, the dv lottery has started . and my wife tried to apply. everything seems to go well not until she got to the final stage of the application where she is suppose click submit, because, she clicked submit and we were expecting the confirmation page with the confirmation number, but to our surprise, the page never came. instead the page of the already filled entry form is what came up again and this time the submit provision was not there. we try to do it again but it still the same.
can you please kindly advice on what to do regarding this?
thanks.
October 4, 2016 at 20:42
Please read the article above – particularly the update.
October 4, 2016 at 22:01
I had the exact same problem. I really hope they didn’t register these submissions and just didn’t show the confirmation number. If they did, we might be disqualified (because I tried twice, it broke twice…). Brit is right, we should wait a bit until things calm down and hope we didn’t get disqualified for double submission.
October 4, 2016 at 21:21
thank you very much for the useful information.
i also would like to be sure of something… as the entrant, though my country is not eligible so i am charging to my wife country. do i have to fill in my own country ( Nigeria ) in the information space for city of birth and country? then i can now fill in my wife country in no:6 that is the country eligibility for the DV program?
and the last question, how can i cancel the application. base on your advice to stop as their system might be jam due to a lot of people applying, because its more than two hours now its been saying submission in progress
sorry for many troubles.
thanks.
October 4, 2016 at 21:49
Your understanding is correct on the chargeability question.
You cannot cancel the submission – try again in a few days.
October 4, 2016 at 22:01
thanks a lot for your prompt reply.
yes i can not cancel the application because there is no provision for that. but what can i do?
should i just leave my computer turn on as it is still showing submission in process or i should off it.
i just cant sleep. i keep looking at my computer.. lol
anyway thanks and hope to hear from you.
October 4, 2016 at 22:31
Turn the PC off and go to sleep. Try again in a few days. US DoS have said in the past that unless the system generates the confirmation number, the entrant can assume the entry was not submitted. Normally the confirmation number is instantly available.
October 4, 2016 at 22:39
hey guys im born in italy but am libyan i have the libyan passport ,its my nationality ,i just was born in italy ,which choice i should choose as country eligebility <YES claim eligebility of the country you were born in ? or <NO n choose libya ,am a bit confused
October 4, 2016 at 23:06
The instructions make it very clear that they want you to list your place of birth. It has nothing to do with nationality.
October 4, 2016 at 23:30
Dear brit ,
How you doing today,..
I have tried to submit my application for two times with no confirmation number
The third time I got the confirmation number
Do you think my application will disqualify because I have clicked the submit click bottom before I got the confirmation number in the third time.
Do you think everything is ok brit ?
Kind regards
October 4, 2016 at 23:34
I hope so.
October 4, 2016 at 23:57
Just for the statistics: I had a similar problem, namely when I clicked on “submission” it brought me back to the first page (to the already filled out entry form) with no submission or cancel submission buttons and of course no confirmation.
I bet that if this causes multiple entries then even DoS will consider it unfair and they will do something.
October 5, 2016 at 00:05
“I bet that if this causes multiple entries then even DoS will consider it unfair and they will do something.”
That is not how they work.
October 5, 2016 at 00:12
If the problem is serious enough affecting too many people then they will work that way.
October 5, 2016 at 00:23
1. It isn’t.
2. No they won’t.
I have been doing this a few years….
October 5, 2016 at 04:02
Hi Simon.
Is this greencard DV lottery really random? I mean, I’ve been doing this for over 12 years now and each time I never get selected. I am sure always to check my information 3 times before I submit so I don’t disqualify myself. Anyway, am just letting off some steam. Thanks for this useful site. Cheers!!!!!
Good luck to me this year.
October 5, 2016 at 05:03
Yes it is really random – but in most regions the chances are far lower than one in 100 – so 12 years without winning is not surprising.
October 5, 2016 at 07:15
12 years….what region you in
October 5, 2016 at 11:33
Hi Simon
Let’s say I have won the lottery and go my visa and arrived to the US for the first time, What is the minimum period that I must stay in the US before going back to my country?? In other words, What is it exactly that I will do when I first arrive and how much time does it take?
October 5, 2016 at 11:34
Got* my visa
October 5, 2016 at 13:41
You go through immigration at the airport. You can leave on the next flight out if you like – there is no “minimum” time.
October 5, 2016 at 14:29
Thanks for the reply!
Bu do not I have to apply for admission and at some point provide my fingerprints for the green card ??
October 5, 2016 at 14:58
Again. At the airport. They don’t let you in until you have done that.
October 5, 2016 at 15:25
Thank you very much.
October 5, 2016 at 20:03
Hi, I had the same problem but I could solve restarting my pc and modem wifi, after that, I changed to other browser and finally I get my confirmation number. My advice is to try again with other browser (Crome recommended) and you can complete the form.
October 5, 2016 at 21:48
Hello, How does Northern Ireland do in the lottery? Or does country not matter in anyway? Many Thanks
October 5, 2016 at 23:43
Country doesn’t matter.
October 6, 2016 at 05:35
dear brit how are you? i am a dv 2017 winner with case no AF24***.i have apply on 05/10/2016 for the dv 2018 will affect my first selection dv 2017?
October 6, 2016 at 06:11
Excuse me Mr simon, But U didn’t reply in the last post, So I’m trying to get your reply here
OK, When I applied the ds-260 I scheduled the appointment to be in ethiopia, but they instead schedule it in malaysia, … NOW can I in any possible way to reschedule the appointment back to ethiopia..
I don’t want to reschedule I just wanna change the country
Thank you so much Mr simon
October 6, 2016 at 13:09
You have to contact the embassies (Malaysia and Ethiopia) to ask them to transfer the case.
October 6, 2016 at 07:20
Good luck to all
October 6, 2016 at 10:03
This error happened to me and I submitted twice ! Will I be dis-qualified
October 6, 2016 at 12:53
If you didn’t get the confirmation number, then no.
Try in a few days or in a different browser.
October 6, 2016 at 10:24
Dear Simon i can’t acces to the link for 2018 DV, can you please advice the link again
October 6, 2016 at 12:52
Google works too you know….
https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/
October 6, 2016 at 13:29
HI Mr Britsimon
Iam 20 years old and iam single i would live submit my application DV 2018 as an individual and also my mom wants to send application using all children pictures including me is that makes me double entry or disqualified
October 6, 2016 at 13:32
No that is not a problem.
October 6, 2016 at 14:22
dear brit how are you? i am a dv 2017 winner with case no AF24***.i have apply for the dv 2018 will affect my first selection ?
October 6, 2016 at 14:54
No
October 6, 2016 at 15:21
My bother and his family entried the DV program through an agency; he won the DV 2017; his interview is on November 25th but he thinks that the agency used two years old photos. Could you please advise what will happen?
October 6, 2016 at 17:33
In most cases he would be OK.
October 6, 2016 at 21:51
Thank you; an other question
One of his children lost his passport which he used for the dv260,; now he issued a new passport for him. Will that be a problem?
Thank you
October 7, 2016 at 01:30
No
October 7, 2016 at 05:50
Hi Sir Simon, when I filed the form DS-260 I just realized that in the parents information I put my mother’s middle name at the place of her surname and her surname at place of her middle name, question: is that going to cause her problem for visa issuance if I want to sponsor her? How do I correct that? As I am already living in the USA and have my green card can’t ask KCC to unlock my case. Thx sir
October 7, 2016 at 13:53
It I not a huge problem. You’ll get it right in the sponsorship process.
October 7, 2016 at 06:46
Brit,I am a Ghanaian and been trying this for 8 years now hoping to win but always not selected.I observed that you normally study the trends of Ghana’s selectees.I know one day i will be selected but want to know that will this program be cancelled in the future???
I am asking this question because US congress says its against national security and they debated this with president Obama to jilt the DV program but i’m surprised that its still ongoing.
October 7, 2016 at 13:51
It might be cancelled at some point in the future, but that won’t happen overnight.
October 7, 2016 at 07:41
hi simon
when i pushed Submit button it went back to first page without any buttons!!! and it doesn’t gave me any confirmation code!!! so i had no way except close the page and start again, it was happened for 3 times and 4th time it gave me confirmation code!!! now i have a question, is it possible that my information eliminated from lottery process ? please help me bro
October 7, 2016 at 13:48
As I make clear above, that is all you can do.
October 7, 2016 at 10:44
Hello mr Britsimon. When I submitted my application yesterday, a new windows pop up that said that my submission is a success and I’ve got my comfirmation number. however, I didn’t have a mail confirming it, and I am sure that I didn’t make a mistake is my mail adress before submitting my application. Is my application was sent in that case?
October 7, 2016 at 13:41
If you have your confirmation number the entry was submitted.
October 7, 2016 at 16:58
Thank you very much, I weren’t sure if my application was sent or not.
October 7, 2016 at 13:16
Hi Brit. first i wanna to thank your much support.
i am 2017 dv winner
secondly please would you send me that the latest form of i-134 affidavit of support becauese i have got the old one.
thank you in advane
October 7, 2016 at 13:32
If you have downloaded the form from the USCIS link, it is the current one. IGNORE the expiry date on the form itself.
October 7, 2016 at 15:21
thank you for your quik replay
October 7, 2016 at 16:01
Thank you Simon for your help, my brother is getting nervous when we get to November, during the interview will the whole family be together or everyone will be separated
Thank you
October 7, 2016 at 22:20
Everyone together.
October 7, 2016 at 18:08
Please Mr Simon,
Can I edit luminosity of my photo, I want to lower the luminosity using a photoshop without doing any edit to my face or body. It’s like a little too much light. Is it ok?
Thanks a lot
October 7, 2016 at 20:57
The instructions say no edits.
October 8, 2016 at 13:38
Mr. Simon
I am going fill out three applications for myself and two friends of mine, can I use the same email address and phone No for the 3 applications? Their English is very bad. Thank you
October 8, 2016 at 18:17
Yes.
October 8, 2016 at 14:09
Hello mr Simon,
I was born in Saudi Arabia but I am Egyptian and I live in Egypt I do understand from the instructions that Saudi will be my country of eligibility. And the country where I live in today will be Egypt….
my question is .. if I am selected then will the interview be conducted in Egypt (where I live in currently) or it will be conducted in Saudi (where I was born)?
And my second question is …if I am selected how do I prove that I am NOT going to be a public charge? Is a bank statement of $10,000 enough proof or do I need more proof in addition to this bank statement ?
Noting that I have a university degree.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
October 8, 2016 at 18:16
You must list Saudi as your birth country and answer yes to question 6. Your address is listed as Egypt and the interview can take place in egypt.
October 8, 2016 at 18:16
Google britsimon 134.
October 8, 2016 at 19:58
Thank you very much for your help
October 8, 2016 at 20:40
Sorry to bother you again but I have another question..my son is also applying he is over 21 yo.
He has a beared and a mustache and its not for a religious reason he is not a (Sheikh) or something … should he shave his beared and mustache for the photo? As it is not mentioned or specified in the photo requirements instructions.
Again thanks for your help
October 8, 2016 at 23:34
The photo requirements are clear about that. Beards are OK.
October 8, 2016 at 22:12
Dear Mr. Simon,
my brother will be interviewed next month, he has all documents ready, his question is when he was young from age 16 to 18 (from year 1986 to 1988) he lived in Tunisia. He tried to apply for a police clearance several times; in somehow the Tunisians government are delaying it and it seems that he won’t get it from them for no reason. But he has a police clearance from his country where he’s originally born and lives.
Should he keep trying or should he attend his interview and present what he has?
Thank you
October 8, 2016 at 23:32
He should keep trying AND attend the interview with what he has.
October 9, 2016 at 03:06
Hi Brit how r u I fill my dv form2018 what is postal code do I enter my city postal code
October 9, 2016 at 05:09
If you don’t have one, leave it blank.
October 9, 2016 at 10:40
OK thank u so much
October 9, 2016 at 10:57
plz simon can u help me fix my pic the wihite behind picture is naturale so its not verry white do i must change it with photohop?? or its normal plz if u can give email to send u the picture teh check thanks
October 9, 2016 at 14:01
It doesn’t have to be pure white. A light color is OK.
October 9, 2016 at 14:43
thanks
October 9, 2016 at 19:54
Hi simon when 3rd visa bulletin will published
October 10, 2016 at 04:10
A month after the 2nd.
The timing is the same each month, within a few days.
October 10, 2016 at 07:48
Hi Brit my background in picture is colored can I change it to off white in photo shop
October 10, 2016 at 16:51
The instructions say to not edit the photo.
October 10, 2016 at 08:16
My another question dv lottery winners must have there birth certificate but me and my wife don’t have birth certificate because in we born in home if I won dv lottery what I do
October 10, 2016 at 16:49
Follow procedures in your country to obtain birth certificates.
October 11, 2016 at 02:39
Thank u Simon
October 10, 2016 at 10:44
Hello Simon
I have some concern. I applied for DV 2018. In the application, they ask for surname (Aboud), Given name ( Alikoli) and Middle name (Hoshkol). I write my surname, My given name and my middle name. But later I found that on my passport, my middle name is put with my given name, meaning ‘Alikoli Hoshkol’ under given name. I can’t see ‘middle name’ indicated on pp. Can that brings an issue later if get selected? Thanks
October 10, 2016 at 16:45
No, you did fine. Both names are considered given names.
October 10, 2016 at 13:46
Hello Mr.Simon,hope you are fine…
I was born in Saudi but I am Egyptian and I live in Egypt… right now I am on a short visit in Saudi and I won’t return to Egypt before November,7th… my question is
Should I list Egypt as the country where I live in Today?or should it be Saudi ? As the question literally says TODAY ?and I am NOT a resistant in Saudi…I am only on a short visit.
Regards..
October 10, 2016 at 16:36
Egypt.
October 10, 2016 at 16:51
Thank you very much for your prompt answers and your great help.
October 10, 2016 at 15:48
I am new on this website and want an advice on how to win this year please.
October 10, 2016 at 16:32
Enter the lottery. Follow the instructions carefully. Answer honestly. That’s all.
October 10, 2016 at 23:08
Hello Simon
A friend of mine and his wife applied for DV2018, but both applied as an applicant in two separate entry. Can this be right so they can have more chance of winning?
October 11, 2016 at 01:33
Yes they were correct.
October 11, 2016 at 14:57
Dear SIMON
When you pass the interview how many days it takes to get your passport back with your visa on it?
Thank you
October 11, 2016 at 15:03
1 to 2 weeks.
October 11, 2016 at 20:43
Hello,please save me from this little problem we took our picture for dv in a standard photo lab and we gave them the photo size & image resolution which 600×600 & the resolution images is not more than 240kb and everything was done one their system after they snapped us finished but when I was trying to check it on photo tool I didn’t get it due to the fact i didn’t know much about croping of photo Please can I use the photo like that or I still need to check it on photo tool before going ahead with the entry or if there is any means of site you can give that I can use to check my photo again. But have try this photo site XXXX and my photo was test & ok but my fear is that I don’t want to go ahead without be confirm it from you.please your respond is higher needed. Thanks
October 12, 2016 at 18:28
Use the official photo tool to check your photo. It really is simple.
October 12, 2016 at 06:26
Hi Simon, I applied for the DV few days ago but now I am little worried about the picture I have submitted. The background is white however the cameraman did not use enough light to make the background white (i.e its partially white and partially in shade but no shadows). Other than the background, my face and all other details in the picture are fine. Do you think that might effect my DV entry?
October 12, 2016 at 18:22
Possibly. There is nothing you can do about it now though, so why worry?
October 12, 2016 at 20:52
I used the photo tool to readjust the size of my picture, but I am guessing it wont be able to detect if my background is acceptable? Will I ever know if I get disqualified just because of the picture?
October 12, 2016 at 16:42
Is brit enlightening us with his views on Nov visa bulletin?
October 12, 2016 at 18:24
I have posted.