The DV lottery instructions seem to confuse people about the main requirements for the DV lottery process. The first requirement is about country of eligibility which I will address in another post. The second requirement is education/work experience. So I would like to address some common misconceptions. The rules say this.
Requirement #2: In addition, to meet the education/work experience requirement of the DV program,
you must have either:
a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of
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.
I highlight the either/OR because that is the first misconception – You only need to qualify by one or the other, not both. If you meet the education requirement you do not have to worry about proving work experience.
The second misconception is that each adult (husband and wife) needs to meet the requirement #2. That is normally not the case (the exception being to do with cross charging which I will explain in another post). The principal selectee only needs to meet the requirement.
OK so let’s look at the two options. The first is the simplest and best way to qualify.
Education requirement
The intent of this requirement is to take in immigrants that have achieved an education equivalent to a USA High School education. Note the “USA” part. They are dealing with immigrants from all over the world and needed to establish some “level” in USA terms that can be compared to other countries. So – the level they chose is High school. This is the point at which an American child has graduated high school and is qualified to enter s US University (college).
The term High school is confusing. For instance, in the UK where I was educated, “High school” ended at 16 years old – and that would NOT be sufficient to meet the DV requirement. In UK terms a child would have to attend 2 further years of education beyond 16 years old (receiving “A levels”) to be qualified to enter a University – and that is the level required therefore. Other countries will have other standards – and each embassy is able to set the level required based on their understanding. This has led to some changes over the years that has caught people out. Some embassies publish specific and quite detailed information such as this information for DV2015 from the Kenyan US embassy or the information from the embassy in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka by the way was a recent example of changing their standards and there are some sad stories about that on the internet.
There is a page which offers a listing for many countries here. However, be very careful with the information as it is not 100% accurate or up to date and some countries will have varied their requirements (again Sri Lanka is an example).
So – hopefully by now you have understood that there is a minimum requirement for your country. The various embassy websites are a good place to get information on the level required.
Does a higher education satisfy the education requirement???
Another common question I get asked is “I have a Bachelors degree/masters or whatever, surely I don’t have to show my High school A levels/High school diploma”. The answer is a bit of a grey area. It makes sense that someone having gained their masters or whatever must have met the requirements BUT there are some exceptions to that logic. For example, it is possible to obtain a Masters degree without having finished 12 years of elementary and secondary education and for that reason some Consular Officers will be “picky” about seeing the HIgh School level proof. There have been many reported cases where COs have insisted on this and I am sure there have been cases of denials based on this.
Vocational education
The rules specifically exclude vocational education as being used to qualify on education grounds. For example, if a selectee were to leave school at 16 and then immediately or later go into a vocational program such as teaching or nursing, the time spent in that vocational training/education could not be used to satisfy the educational requirement. In cases such as this, the selectee may need to consider whether their work experience is sufficient to meet the requirement #2.
Work Experience requirement
Ok let’s say you cannot qualify on education grounds. It is possible to base your eligibility on your work experience – although doing so is harder than education so you would only use this as a fallback method. Why is it harder, well with education you either do or you don’t meet the requirement. You present your proof and as long as you understood the standard correctly you are done. Work experience cases are “judged” by the CO based on the proof you can supply at the interview. They are subjective therefore – it is a matter of how well you can convince the CO that you meet the requirement.
So ok – what is the requirement? The instructions say it is 2 years experience, gained in the previous 5 years, in a job that meets the standard described in the O*Net database. The standard to be met is a job that is classified in job zone 4 or 5 with a SVP (Specific Vocational Preparation) rating of 7.0 or higher. Not all jobs will meet that criteria – it is generally jobs which require a higher level of education, or skills.
How do you check your job? Well you navigate to the O*Net database and enter your approximate job title in the Occupation Search field. You will get a list of similar jobs and you should find the one that is closest to your work by title. For example I typed in “teachers” and from there I chose “Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education“. Scroll down the page and find the section “Job Zone” as shown here:-
You can see that Kindergarten teachers is a job at the correct qualifying level. However if you look at a Teachers Assistant – then you can see that is NOT a qualifying job.
Sometimes of course your exact job title will not appear. You can choose a similar job that explains what you do and if necessary you might want to detail your job duties to show they align well with the skills, tasks and so on of the job you wish to use as proof.
How to present the case…
OK – you believe you have found the right job description in the O*Net database. You are soon to attend the interview – how do you prepare.
Well first of all, you have to understand that your credibility will come in to play. The CO has some latitude about how they approve these work experience cases, your task is to give them a good case to be able to approve you.
I would suggest preparing a well organized and professional looking file to include as much as possible of the following:-
- The print out from of the job to which you are aligning your experience.
- Employment letters such as job offers, promotion letters and so on.
- Letters (preferably notarized) from current and former managers, colleagues and so on.
- A description of your day to day duties in the roles covering a minimum of 2 years.
- Details of any vocational training or education that supports you in your job.
- Examples of work product if possible/applicable.
Make this as complete as possible. As I said your credibility counts, so look professional, have a professional demeanor and make sure what you present is well presented, free of typos etc. You generally should not need professional help in preparing this file – and if you think about it the use of a professional could cause the CO to question whether yuou are really at the level you are claiming.
It is worth spending some time on this point, if you fail to convince the CO and have not qualified on education you will be denied and there is no appeal process (if processing outside of the USA).
OK hope that helps. Feel free to comment or ask questions below, I will come back to you as fast as possible.
October 24, 2017 at 8:17 pm
HI Brit,
I am a fifth year medical student. While filling in the DV entry form shall I choose my highest level of education as high school with diploma or some university courses? I ask since I’m wondering whether the 8 semesters of university I’m done with would be considered as courses or not?
October 24, 2017 at 8:38 pm
It doesn’t matter which you choose, but yes, some university courses sounds right.
October 25, 2017 at 12:43 pm
Hey mr brit
I’ve won the lottery this year.but I’m 16 and still a 10th garader . I’ve been teaching orff music to kindergartens for the past 3years .i don’t have a 100% convincing certificate that proves that. But there are some certificates that I’ve teaching( from my teachers ,school,and etc)can l convinced the officer that I’m qualified.?tnx
October 25, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Probably not. The level of education they are looking for is the point at which an American child is able to enter University – that usually happens at age 18.
October 25, 2017 at 2:17 pm
I want to apply as a musician. Its job zone is 4. With SVR 7 to 8.
Although i’m under the age you’re saying, but as a teenager, i’ve performed in 3 concerts. I’m in the school band and in the badminton team too. I’ve coach assistant too. I’m first in my class and there are several certificates (such as The Australian Math exams) that proves that. My question is will these qualities be any help? Thank you for your responds before.
October 25, 2017 at 2:24 pm
No. Performing in concerts is NOT the same as earning a living as a musician. This isn’t about whether you are an impressive 16 year old, it’s about meeting a requirement that is normally achieved at 18.
November 1, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Hi Mr. Brit, i want to play american lottery for my brother who is in Cameroon; i have one problem he doesn’t have a high school diploma but he is working in a insurance firm of Marketing and Communication. will it cause a problem if i help him with the application? or will he be consider in any chances? thanks for your consideration.
November 1, 2017 at 6:17 pm
Read the article above.
November 10, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Hi
Do you have to be employed at the time of winning a dvlottery? I have a high school certificate and a bacherlors degree and 5 years experience. But I am a stay at home mom at present. Is that a problem?
November 10, 2017 at 11:01 pm
No you do not need to be employed.
November 11, 2017 at 10:38 pm
I vocational school certificate Catering and have 17 years experience, do i need to prove all my years of experience ?
November 12, 2017 at 1:21 am
Are you trying to qualify through work experience? You should be able to find your answers above.
November 13, 2017 at 3:02 pm
Hi mr Brit,
I dropped out in 9th grade, 3 years before high school and tha was happend in 2011, Now I am continuing a formal training in Graphic Design with 2 years program in a Vocational school.
Do am I eligible to apply for dv lottery after two years of experience?
November 13, 2017 at 3:33 pm
Read the article above that answers that question.
November 18, 2017 at 1:56 pm
Thanks for a solution at the beginning. Now I understand education/work experience requirement which I was also confused about
November 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Hi Brit, I want to find out my wife hair cover her ears when I took picture for the registration for the dv lottery, would it cause her disqualification.
November 20, 2017 at 3:11 pm
No
November 20, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Hi, Britsimon
I am kinda confused on which level of education someone with a diploma in nursing from kenya should choose.
Also, if the applicant is currently a first year student in the university, is “some university courses” the right choice or high school with a degree.”
Thanks.
November 20, 2017 at 3:08 pm
Don’t overthink that question – it isn’t important. Just make a choice.
November 20, 2017 at 5:30 pm
Thanks.
November 22, 2017 at 7:57 am
Hi, Brit
I am a Registered Nurse, Job zone three, and have 4 year experiences. Am I eligible or not?
November 22, 2017 at 3:16 pm
Not by that work experience.
November 22, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Hi Mr. Brit, I will finish my senior year (high school) in july 2019, do qualify for DV-2019?? am from Chile….
November 22, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Possibly. Enter anyway.
November 22, 2017 at 1:27 pm
sorry, I will finish my senior year in july 2018, Do I qualify for DV 2019,
November 22, 2017 at 2:49 pm
You can enter.
November 26, 2017 at 7:05 pm
hello there,
Right now, my current occupation is a supermarket manger(from 2014 till now)
which doesn’t meets the standard described in the O*Net database.
And doesn’t necessarily require 2 years of training or experience either..
Before that, my occupation was Salesman for 9 years which meat the standard occupation in the O*Net database(Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products)
My friend suggested that I should add a high school education instead and shouldn’t mention any work experience at all.
My questions are :
Should I follow my friend’s suggestion ?
If my frind is right. What I should choose for (Present work/education/training information) ? NOT EMPLOYED or RETIRED ??
I’m really confused! please help.
November 27, 2017 at 11:05 pm
First, you should complete the DS260 FULLY. Don’t pick and choose what to tell them. Tell the whole truth.
Second, if you meet the education standard, they won’t worry about work experience.
Third, if they do consider work experience they take the last 5 years into account.
November 28, 2017 at 6:28 pm
Thank you very much.
November 30, 2017 at 2:31 am
Are laminated documents acceptable?
All of my documents are original. My high school certificate document was *laminated* (I’m the principal applicant for the DV lottery). The high school certificate document is original and its content is very clear.
By the way, I have a university bachelor degree, and I answered the question “12. What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today?” (My answer: “University Degree”)
So, are applicants disqualified based on laminated documents?
November 30, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Most embassies do not have a problem with laminated documents UNLESS there is a suspicion about the documents being fake.
November 30, 2017 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for the response 🙂
Thanks for the amazing website.
December 21, 2017 at 7:22 am
I qualify for the work experience section which i am a architectural draftsman under job zone 4, svp7.0 to 8.0 i have all the documents to proof as a professional and i was trained through the job when i started working there where i have proof that i was trained but i have an educational background. Will not having the vocational or education certificate deny me of my visa since i don’t have any.
December 21, 2017 at 7:46 pm
If you can prove you are doing the job described in O*Net, you don’t need to show the training you performed for that job.
December 22, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Hello brit thanks for the value and what u have done with this group. My question is
1.I qualified with high school for the DV but at the question add Education Institutions i added my high school ofc but i also added a course i have done for IT from cisco?
2.Should i remove it leave just the high school or should i leave it as it is because it says add educational institutions secondary level or above and im not sure.
THank you for everything Brit
December 22, 2017 at 3:52 pm
You can leave it as is.
December 27, 2017 at 1:54 pm
Hello Mr.Simon,how are u and thanks for the wonderful work…I am a 2018 select and my case 2018AF00023XXX..I got confused where they say high school no degree and high school degree because for us in our country we use O and A’level..I finish A’level and this is where I stopped and I got my certificate..but on feeling my form 260, I put high school no degree but to my understanding and following your posts here, it has come to my understanding that high school degree is completion of A level….1..is it necessary to call back these forms and correct it to high school degree or I can explain it was a mistake on my interviews?
2..According to my case number I think I am about to be scheduled…do u think it won’t delay my forms processing if I call them back? Thank so much Simon..waiting for your advise..
December 28, 2017 at 12:41 am
1. Provide your A level and O level certificates.
2. No delay.
January 2, 2018 at 9:44 pm
Hi. I qualify by education but my certificate is missing. I have my result statement from the examining body. Can it replace the certificate
January 2, 2018 at 10:11 pm
That depends on local procedures. Ideally, get a replacement.
January 15, 2018 at 6:28 am
Pls Britsimon, pls do I need to make some specific grades after my completion of secondary education before I can qualify for the diversity lottery?
January 15, 2018 at 6:43 am
THat varies by country. Check the embassy website.
January 18, 2018 at 8:11 am
am graduate from religious institute by bachelor of theology and am selected dv 2018 how can i get work experience there is no information about religious O*NET oN line database
January 18, 2018 at 2:44 pm
If you don’t have work experience you can’t “get it”. You just qualify on education.
January 22, 2018 at 11:25 am
Hello!
My wife and I have been selected for the lottery program. We are from Spain and would like to apply with the education experience, but she, as the applicant, has “educacion secundaria obligatoria”. Does she qualify? I know your wife is from Spain as well, so maybe you can share more info about this.
I have seen another link you posted but the info there shows the equivalent of a previous system in Spain (outdated).
Hope you can help us!
Thanks in advance,
Dan
January 22, 2018 at 2:49 pm
No. That education is usually completed at age 16 and does not allow entry to a University. US High school graduation finishes at 18 and allows entry to University.
So – if the embassy applies the rule correctly, that education would not qualify her. Perhaps she meets the work experience standard?
January 29, 2018 at 3:55 pm
Hi.
It is necessary to present the diploma of the elementary school + secondary school + university (I am an engineer); or just the last two? Or understand that if you have high school and college it is obvious that you passed primary school. I can not find the elementary school diploma.
Thanks, Brit.
January 29, 2018 at 6:05 pm
No need for elementary.
February 7, 2018 at 3:19 pm
Hi Mr Brit,
I’m a high school graduate. I have not continued to the university yet. I want to know whether I will be placed. In a university in the US and how.
February 7, 2018 at 4:55 pm
No one will place you. It is up to you to arrange.
February 8, 2018 at 10:02 am
Hiii brit today was my interview and my educational qualification has been kept in hold as I have studied from india and it is original so when will I get my email about verification as there is chance of visa rejection plz tell me I m so worried n how much time take for verication and I will receive my mail
February 8, 2018 at 10:03 am
And I am a edv winner
February 8, 2018 at 3:22 pm
I can’t predict how long it will take or the outcome.
February 8, 2018 at 11:00 pm
Mr Brit, like you said the dv requirements are 2 years experience in work and a high school certificate. Should I win the dv whiles making preparations to enter into the university, is there a chance of rather gaining admission into a university in the US on schorlaship?
February 8, 2018 at 11:41 pm
Get selected. Then ask.
February 10, 2018 at 5:16 am
Hello Brit, thanks for the wonderful work…am a dv 2018 selected under 2018AF0002305X..from East Africa a country called Uganda
1. According to my case number, do u think I will be called for an intervie?
2.Is there site which can show number of selectee per country as for dv 2018? Just wanted to know how many where selected in my country..
Thanks Brit ..for your response…
February 10, 2018 at 5:24 am
1. Wait and see.
2. Towards the bottom of this page https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2017/visa-bulletin-for-july-2017.html
February 10, 2018 at 5:52 am
Hello Brit..we really appreciate the wonderful work u do …
1.you following the visas for dv 2018, how many visas have so far been sent as far as dv 2018 is concerned
2. Is there any site I can follow these visas..?
Thanks for your time …be blessed forever
February 17, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Hi, I have two years experience in education. I worked as an education supervisor. Do you care about the lottery?
February 17, 2018 at 2:18 pm
All your answers are in the article above.
March 7, 2018 at 6:21 pm
Hi BritSimon! I’m preparing all my documents for our interview next month and the Education proof requirements are not very clear. It’s even harder as I’m Canadian and since my country isn’t one that is applicable (my husband is Irish but I was selected), there’s not much information.
I have a University degree (from Canada) that I can physically take in with me (the original you’re meant to frame) but your post here makes me feel like I should also get a copy of my high school diploma. I imagine they must be equivalent from USA and Canada. Would you agree that I should get the high school one too if possible? Are transcripts enough or should I get the actual diploma?
Lastly, do they have to be certified or anything like that?
Thanks once again for your help!
March 7, 2018 at 6:33 pm
First: As you are the selectee charging to your husbands country – you should BOTH take education proof to the interview. If the embassy follow the correct procedure (and they might, or might not), you should BOTH be treated as primary selectees.
Second: Yes you should take High School completion proof (in addition to further education) – whatever that is. It does not have to be certified.
March 9, 2018 at 1:30 pm
I am a dv winner of 2018 and I had already given interview on March 8. I am a PCL Nursing student of 3rd year that’s why I couldnot submit my certificate in the interview.As my nursing is running,I had taken GED(General Education Development/Diploma) course and submit its certificate as I had mentioned it in DS-260 form but the embassy rejected to give visa. A friend of mine who was also a edv winner of 2017 get the visa by showing GED certificate but I don’t get it. They had told me to submit my nursing certificate upto sep 30 but I will be able to attend final examination but cannot submit my certificate upto that date.
As I can’t submit my nursing certificate what can I do now to get the visa? And according to CO GED is not valid for EDV and I don’t get any way from CO.
Plz suggest me a way because I don’t wanna let this opportunity go out of my hand. I have time upto sep. 30 could you plz suggest me another way.
March 9, 2018 at 2:43 pm
You already asked, I already answered.
http://britsimonsays.com/dv-interview-questions-will-asked/comment-page-13/#comment-105073
March 9, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Its a DV case sir!
What can I do to get visa Or +2 equivalancy ni this 6 months?
Plz help sir
March 9, 2018 at 4:24 pm
I have no idea how to help – you have simply talked about the GED and nursing – neither of which is helpful. What you need to talk about is the level of secondary education you attained. Did that meet the required level or not?
March 9, 2018 at 4:18 pm
If u have some way, plz do help and if u can’t help me with this than thank u very much sir I will continue my nursing
If u hav some ideas then plz do share. I will b very thankful towards u.😊
March 10, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Hello Brit.am very grateful via your busy schedules to fix time for us and listen..God bless u so much..
1. Am a dv winner under 2018 and 40 years of age..my level of education endded at A level certificate and started working by my self because parents never had money to push me university..do they look at age to qualify for dv?
2. I won dv with my child but the mom was not around by the time i registered in the lottery..she had a pending contract in UAE and when contract ended, she came back and we got married then i added her..
People are threatening me that if i did not add her innitially they will reject my visa ..but she is the mother of the child ..please advise?
3..let me be open to u Brit..the mother of the child is saying that may she should devorce and pretend that she got another man to let us go and then come back after words re marry her and go with her afterwords…please also advise on this because i dont want to loose my oppprtunity when i can do something before?
4..Some one in USA who went under the same program is saying that so many people visa were rejected because of winning and adding lovers but to me this is the mother of my boy who i have been with for 10 yrs ..what is only distancing us is work because is Working in UAE and ready to come back and go together at interview after your beautiful advise..
5.. Is it true that u have heard about people visa rejected because of adding lovers after winning ..and under what creteria do think they should be rejected
after they have marriage certificate..
NB..my wife is ready to go out of this if it will create problems, then get a lwayer,follow procedures and let me go with our son then come for her when am settled..please advise what we should do and what u expect..
Thanks God bless your hands Brit
March 10, 2018 at 3:44 pm
1. No
2. That will certainly cause disqualification.
3. That’s nonsense.
4 and 5 are pointless after 2.
You need to forget this. Don’t waste your money.
March 10, 2018 at 5:47 pm
Thank you Mr. BritSimon I have read the article but when I look at the list of work I did not find the name of my work exactly … I want to know my work supervisor Education Do you enter the education in general ….. And thank you again Mr. BritSimon
March 10, 2018 at 7:20 pm
You need to check the closest match to your role. I can’t do that for you.
March 20, 2018 at 2:31 pm
How about the COs in Guyana, are they as strict as the ones in Greece? Would a degree by distance training be rejected?
March 20, 2018 at 4:47 pm
Probably.
March 25, 2018 at 7:09 am
Hi Brit,
One more question (btw thank you for your patience). I made a mistake in my original entry. I put there that I do have university degree. The thing is that I have only high school diploma (which meets the US requirements). In my DS260 I also put that I have high school diploma, so the mistake was only in my original entry. Is it a big deal?
Thank you.
March 25, 2018 at 5:59 pm
No
March 29, 2018 at 6:10 am
dear mr. Brit Simon, I won the dv2018 lottery and wait the interview. I was working for several research works of 2 months each – I was paid for each whole research work (every two months I was paid) and not every month. It was my decision to pay or not social insurance and I didn’t pay social insurance for the money I was paid for each research work.
not paying social insurance will affect the acceptance/decline of the visa at interview? thank you mr. Brit Simon
March 29, 2018 at 4:28 pm
No.
April 2, 2018 at 12:37 pm
also mr. Brit Simon, should I bring document from my employer that I was working for these periods or a CV with the job duties is okay?
I will try to get eligibility for the green card because of my education. thank you again mr. Brit Simon
April 2, 2018 at 2:23 pm
No need.
March 30, 2018 at 3:48 pm
Hi brit, in my ds260 form i mentioned my educational institutions from grade 10 to onwards till university degree and did not mentioned the institution from where i completed my education till grade 9 will that be a problem (grade 1 to 9 i studied abroad before coming to pakistan)
March 30, 2018 at 5:00 pm
Not really a problem.
April 7, 2018 at 11:06 pm
Hello Britsimon i just want to find out if you have a service that someone can chat to you directly without posting on this page like in private like email or whatsapp something that.
Thank you
April 7, 2018 at 11:54 pm
That is usually unnecessary – but if you have something that must be asked privately you can email britsimon3 at gmail.
April 13, 2018 at 1:05 pm
I was denied on an interview on the dv lottery recently on educational grounds that my grades were not good. But I have another certificate to prove myself. Can I appeal
April 13, 2018 at 4:16 pm
No.
April 13, 2018 at 4:29 pm
That certificate have better grades than the other one. Can’t I apply for reconsideration
April 13, 2018 at 4:34 pm
Again – no.
Why didn’t you show that in the interview??
April 19, 2018 at 9:59 am
Hi dear Brit, I have my g-c lottery interview next week, I will prove my eligibility based on my education. I will take the original and copies of my diplomas. Will I need to take the diploma copies in sealed envelope or is it okay to take them not in envelope but with stamp and signatures? thank you again for helping us mr. Brit.
April 19, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Any way you like.