*** Update – the system is fixed. Many are still having problems – but that is because they are entering information incorrectly – see https://britsimonsays.com/faq/checking-esc-page-check-without-mistakes/
OK – IN my last post about the problem. This is an update to that post and to address some fears and theories that are going around. So – some points & explanation.
The system glitch (problem) continues.
I have confirmed this myself as I have some people who have emailed their case information.
The problem is very widespread BUT is not 100% of cases.
Traffic on my site is VERY high – thousands of people are going through this without a doubt.However I have also seen many winning cases and of course many not selected.
The glitch is not specific to one region, continent, country.
There are winners from every region and all over the world. I have seen them reported here, and in other forums.
This is not to do with using an old photo.
There are many people with the problem saying that this is happening to cases where the person used an old photo (which is against the rules). However – I have seen some cases confirmed with the problem where a new photo was used. So – a disqualification due to an old photo is NOT the reason. In fact, cases that have been disqualified in every previous year are simply removed prior to the May announcement. These cases create gaps in the numbers (I call them “holes”) – this older, but still accurate article explains the concept and the draw process.
Now – for those people who used an old photo – well first – you should read instructions more carefully, and second if you do get selected it might cause a problem – mainly if you used the exact photo from DV2017 entry.
If you have this problem AND NOT re-use an old photo it would be useful if you could post a quick reply to this article to calm the others that are feeling like the problem is happening to them because they did not follow that simple instruction (to use a new photo).
The government probably already know about the problem. No need swamp them with calls.
Last year there was another large scale problem with the draw announcement. For a couple of days the IT department seemed not not understand or accept that there was a problem. However, it did get fixed within about 3 days. I expect a similar reaction this year – so maybe this will be fixed later today or in a day or two. Patience is KEY to the DV lottery. If I see any official announcement I will post an update.
It does not suggest these cases are all winners
I don’t think this is the case – we already have seen winners, and I have seen at least one case where the person was hitting the glitch and then finally got a not selected message. So people with the glitch should not assume (like DV2016) that the glitch means they are selected.
It is not about re-using one email for several family members.
That is not a reason to be disqualified.
I do not think this is like DV2012 that required a re-draw
I have seen that theory too. It isn’t like that.
It isn’t something related to the place you check from or using one particular browser.
I know of cases where a person has multiple entries to check (within a family) and some have the glitch, some don’t. Same person checking on the same computer – able to check some and not others.
The forgot confirmation number doesn’t work for these cases
That is interesting – as someone said – it is as if the system is unable to see these cases in the system at all at the moment. That would explain why the error message displayed is the same as when someone enters the detail incorrectly.
I will communicate progress through updates.
I am getting MANY requests for updates – so I will post new articles as I find any news. But no “all clear” article means the problem still exists. I won’t respond to each and every request for further updates personally – there are simply too many.
May 3, 2017 at 14:27
I used photoshop edited picture i changed only background (crop and filled white color) and 7 family member did not wn. Can i use same kind of photo like background change only plz let me know.
Thank you
May 3, 2017 at 15:25
The instructions say not to edit the photo.
May 3, 2017 at 14:37
I use the new photo with qualified requirement to some of my family and friends,however I got the same message you mention.This is to comfirm that the issue is NOT about old photo…However,I pray there will be second draw or re-draw like they did in previous years…Bad new,I am not SELECTED..
May 3, 2017 at 14:50
This kind of odd and very different from the “Session Timed Out” issue from 2 years ago, I wonder if they accidentally wiped off a couple of random accounts
May 3, 2017 at 14:51
Thanks for all your hard work. It’s much more appreciated than you know.
May 3, 2017 at 15:03
Take that:
I submitted total of 12 applications of friends and family.
6- were submitted with the same photo of last year.
2- were submitted with a different photo from last year.
4- were newly participants.
the results: the first 6 got the error. the other 6 got the result.
May 3, 2017 at 15:15
Good info – thanks.
May 3, 2017 at 15:12
The problem still exist for me…
May 3, 2017 at 15:32
Does people who gets disqualified for whatever reason get some kind of message? I mean how do they know if they were disqualified?
May 3, 2017 at 15:41
Probably you cannot, I think there’s a new algorithm that disqualifies the users that have the same exact photo from last year. They will never notify you if you won or if you are disqualified. Next – new photos. We should’ve read the rules more carefully…
May 3, 2017 at 15:41
My Share:
I applied for 3 , all of them with old photos.
– 1 : NOT SELECTED fist attempts, no errors “information entered not valid ”
– 2 : Several attempts, errors “information entered not valid “
May 3, 2017 at 15:59
So it’s not about the old photos then. Weird.
May 3, 2017 at 16:29
Were these entries on different days?
May 3, 2017 at 19:44
Yes, different days. The ones showing error was early October and the ones that showed not selected early November
May 3, 2017 at 15:55
I applied in early October if that helps identify a correlation
May 3, 2017 at 16:26
Yes – time of entry is my theory – I have some dates in mind – looking to confirm when people with problems entered. Your “early October” fits.
May 3, 2017 at 16:41
I tried many times from yesterday and I always receive “Information is not Valid” and I applied to it in Oct 16.. exactly on the 22nd of Oct 16.
It is my first time to apply…Does this mean that there is an error or that I am not selected? How can we differentiate?!
May 3, 2017 at 16:41
It means there is a website error – we all need to wait a few days.
May 3, 2017 at 16:57
I have three cases too which shows error. 2 of them October 12, one of them October 7.
May 3, 2017 at 17:00
I applied late this year cause I missed the opening (on october 17) and I used an old photo (I didn’t have time to get a new one, so better tried than not entering at all). And I have the same pb.
For those who will find out later than the others because of that problem, will it change the chances of winning? I read that we had to return everything as soon as possible since they select more applicants than they have cards….
May 3, 2017 at 17:41
Same here! Applied early October
May 3, 2017 at 15:57
In order to discard the “old pic” hypothesis, we just have to find someone who applied with an old picture and got the “not selected” response. Apparently Mugabe Junior is such a case.
May 3, 2017 at 16:25
We have lots of such cases. It is NOT photos.
May 3, 2017 at 16:44
I saw few people on Polish website who claimed that were able to check their status even if sent untouched – unedited old photo used for DV 2017
May 3, 2017 at 18:54
Hi my boyfriend applied with old pic, hi has ” not selected ” I’m applied with old pic as well, my massage is “not valid”
May 3, 2017 at 15:58
is it possible that DV Lottery 2018 went wrong on counting files just like DV2012 which caused to result cancelation? I Hope a re-draw for dv lottery 2018
May 3, 2017 at 16:24
No
May 3, 2017 at 16:01
Take this also!
Applied for more than 25
5 of them same photo last year
20 new photos
The 20 had there results!
And 3 of the same photo had there results! Whereas 2 from the same photo didnt show the results having the problem
May 3, 2017 at 16:22
Good info. Can you remember the dates of when you entered all 25 entries – were the 2 with the problem on different days to the other 23?
May 3, 2017 at 16:44
I entered 5 applications for 2 of them I get the error and those applications are from October 5 11:54PM EDT and 11:58PM EDT. Of the other 3, 2 are from October 8 and the last one October 17.
May 3, 2017 at 16:49
Great – thanks.
May 3, 2017 at 16:51
The 2 for sure on different dates but i can confirm that they are around end of october! I can get you the right dates when i get back home
May 3, 2017 at 17:27
I’m not sure it’s dates. I just don’t know the connection between all the cases that have the problem. It’s a matter of how they store the entries.
May 3, 2017 at 16:16
Despite what Britsimone I am convinced 100% this issue is old photo related..
May 3, 2017 at 16:18
LOL.
May 3, 2017 at 16:47
It is 100% clear that you are 100% wrong.
It is not the photos.
May 3, 2017 at 17:40
I would advice you not to challenge simon.
May 3, 2017 at 17:58
Well it’s ok to challenge me – if people like to be proven wrong! 🙂
May 3, 2017 at 16:25
Hello sir. Is there an any chance for who seen the HAS NOT SELECTED message? little bit hope heheh. Thank you
May 3, 2017 at 16:45
No – not selected means try next year. 🙁
May 3, 2017 at 16:32
OK, i used old photo (shame on me ) but I got mine ” not be selected ” in a second.
different t story for my husband , tons of tries ..same “invalid info ” , he applied on oct 16 .
May 3, 2017 at 16:33
So now we just wait right?
May 3, 2017 at 16:35
I think its not about the photos, because there were people having the problem for many hours and then some of them were selected others not. Just for the record, i used old photo and i finished my application in the 20th of October and still got the problem 🙁 .
May 3, 2017 at 16:43
Hmmmm
May 3, 2017 at 16:36
I used the same photo which I did for DV2017 for me and my wife. The result is “The information entered is not valid” problem. I completed my application at Oct 4 for both of us.
May 3, 2017 at 16:43
Thanks.
May 3, 2017 at 16:38
I enrolled my fiancee and myself; I checked my result: the Entry HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED.
The one of my fiancée does not pass that poster the information entered is not valid.
May 3, 2017 at 16:42
The entries were on the same day or different days?
May 3, 2017 at 16:51
The entries were on the same day
May 3, 2017 at 16:40
I got the information is not valid
Applied date on Thursday, October 6, 2016
May 3, 2017 at 16:44
I got the information is not valid and applied in early october
May 3, 2017 at 16:45
I’ve tried several times yesterday and today and I keep getting the same invalid message. New picture. I submitted the form on a October 8th.
May 3, 2017 at 16:48
The entries were on the same day
May 3, 2017 at 16:52
All of my entries (3) are “not valid” because of old photos which were already used for DV2017. Entries were sent on November 7, 2016.
May 3, 2017 at 17:26
It is nothing to do with the photos.
May 3, 2017 at 17:38
May be, just a guess. There is an official confirmation of issues here https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/859810724025176068 .
May 3, 2017 at 16:52
have the same probleme, submited on october 10, with older photo.
May 3, 2017 at 16:53
Do you think it might be a winner issue?
May 3, 2017 at 17:02
i don’t know
May 3, 2017 at 17:25
No
May 3, 2017 at 16:53
I got the information is not valid
Applied date on November 3, 2016
May 3, 2017 at 16:54
Made 2 entries on Oct 15th with old photos, got the error message on both.
May 3, 2017 at 16:56
i am getting the same error, however i have applied on 4 october 2016
May 3, 2017 at 16:58
For both of my parents I used the same unedited photos as for DV2017, on October 12, and I also get “information not valid” message.
May 3, 2017 at 16:58
I submitted five entries in the same day (Nov 2nd) and within few minutes apart, 4 out of 5 entries had same last name and showed the status error message that everyone is getting as for the fifth entry, the person had a different last name and the status worked but unfortunately this person has not been selected. I hope they fix this status bug soon enough to show a status result whether or not old or new photos were used.
May 3, 2017 at 17:07
I entered for me and my wife. Same day (as I remember in November) just minutes apart. Applied in USA. Old photos for both of us. She got “not selected”. Mine has the error. I tried to get from the “forget the confirmation #” same error. Did the same for my wife and again got the number and able to get the result.
May 3, 2017 at 17:23
Interesting. I am pretty sure they have lost access to some entries – but I don’t know how they have organized the data.
May 3, 2017 at 17:13
Hey brit,I have this problem of information is not valid for me and my brother application and I applied for both of us on 11 October.Hope there is only a glitch.Thanks for the information tho.
May 3, 2017 at 17:22
https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/859810724025176068
Technical Issue confirmed
May 3, 2017 at 17:22
Applied for 2 people on 30th Oct and getting the error message; Applied for another one on 4th Nov and no error.
May 3, 2017 at 17:35
October 6th I applied – Used the same picture as for 2017 – Information is invalid. Quite sure looking at the comments that it is because of the picture. I won’t make the mistake again, that’s a lesson
May 3, 2017 at 17:59
literally shaking my head.
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid-update-2/
May 3, 2017 at 17:35
My theory is that it is the photos. But their algorithm probably has its glitches so it catches most but does not catch others.
Me an my wife applied on Nov 6, with old photos. We get the same ‘information invalid’ response. The ‘Forgot the Confirmation Number’ link does not work either.
May 3, 2017 at 17:58
It’s not the frickin photos!
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid-update-2/
May 3, 2017 at 17:39
Everyone listen. On twitter the us goverment said its a Tech… just look look up this link. https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/859810800059506688
May 3, 2017 at 17:48
Hello Brit ,I’m looking out the status of the DV2018 results since yesterday but no results yet. Message received the information entered is not valid please advise
May 3, 2017 at 17:55
@travelgov says its a technical issue !!!
May 3, 2017 at 17:56
Just know if it is possible that we check now and receive Not selected and that after being selected in this kind of case
May 3, 2017 at 18:03
Entrant photograph(s) – Recent photographs (taken within the last six 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 were not taken within the last six months, have been manipulated in any way, or do not meet the specifications explained below. See Submitting a Digital Photograph for more information.
May 3, 2017 at 18:43
Both with my partner have the same error message. Applications submitted on 6th October with old photos.
May 3, 2017 at 19:29
In case it helps,
Applied for 4, all with the old pic as last year.
Invalid info error for all of them.
May 3, 2017 at 20:20
I applied with the same photo and got the not valid response but I also know a few people who got the same response even though it was their first time applying. Is there anyone who has been selected with an old photo? Is that even possible or are they directly eliminated?
May 3, 2017 at 22:38
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid-update-2/
May 3, 2017 at 20:31
Dear its not probably about timing
I have submitted two at almost same time
One is not selected & the other have that error
Hope this helps
May 3, 2017 at 22:36
https://britsimonsays.com/dv2018-information-entered-not-valid-update-2/
May 3, 2017 at 21:13
My wife and I submitted the application on 10/27 (back to back). I am selected but she isn’t. It doesn’t look like DV-2012 issue to me.
May 3, 2017 at 21:15
Me and my husband have the same problem. We have our confirmation number but still we are not be able to check our case.
May 3, 2017 at 21:22
I used a new photo and i’m sure i tried correct information but my result is “information is not valid”.My apply date was November 6th.
May 3, 2017 at 23:26
The problem is not from the pictures. I had some entries for my friends n family. Some of the new photos showed ‘not valid’ and some of the old photos also showed ‘not valid’. Notwithstanding one has been SELECTED for future processing. Case No: 2018AF00024*** (Ghana). The photo of this entrant was taking about 4 years ago.
May 3, 2017 at 23:37
I know it’s not photos – I am certain. However, your friend in Ghana with the old photo is at risk. Ghana is very strict when people don’t follow the rules.