So is there any way to increase your chances of selection based on the timing of the entry? No! It is a random selection.
The following two screenshots show a distribution of selectees in EU, AS and AF regions in DV2014, grouped by the day they entered.
You can see there is a pretty random distribution – that seems to peak toward the end. However, that says more about the way people behave, rather than the lottery process. Meaning – I think more people put off entering until the last few days and then there was an increase in winners to match the increase in entry volume…..
February 18, 2016 at 8:40 am
hi brit
please clarify if i let my sponsor fill my edv for fy2018 will i be a winner!!?
February 18, 2016 at 2:08 pm
It is a random lottery. Random. Meaning it does not change the chance based on who clicks the button.
May 7, 2016 at 2:29 pm
Somewhere in your other articles I read where it says, when a country reaches the allocated winning numbers, the rest won’t have no chance.
May 7, 2016 at 6:34 pm
I have never said that.
May 8, 2016 at 10:11 am
Is there any data available that determines the specific dates perhaps applicants from a specific country are selected on the draw process?
May 8, 2016 at 3:39 pm
What do you mean about dates??
May 8, 2016 at 11:02 am
BritSimon: “The next step is to decide the selectees that will be notified. A computer process takes the entries in rank number order, keeping a count for each country as well as an overall count. There seems to be a count on the individual selectees and also one on the derivatives for each selected case. At some point a country will reach a point where it will be limited. From that point onward the process will knock out further entries for that country. Again this produces holes after the point that a country maxes out, and of course, this means the density of real cases will be lower in higher case number ranges (at least in AS, EU and AF regions which each have limited countries).”
“At some point a country will reach a point where it will be limited” isn’t that the same as “when a country reaches the allocated winning numbers, the rest won’t have no chance.”
May 8, 2016 at 3:16 pm
Not the same at all! Not even close.
June 2, 2016 at 8:46 am
Hi Simon,
I have applied for DV 2017 and my case: HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED is there any chance I could win again the same ear, and if not why should I keep my confirmation number, I heard that sometimes they do another draw, each m0onth probably?
June 2, 2016 at 2:05 pm
There is a chance of a small second draw around September. Just once, and very few people.
November 2, 2016 at 10:22 pm
was this 2nd draw done in any past year ?
what makes youexpect there will be another draw?
November 2, 2016 at 11:04 pm
There was a second draw for DV2017 – it happened in September. There won’t be another in DV2017.
June 23, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Will he have a second draw for the Dv2019? what month should I check for a second draw?
June 23, 2018 at 7:09 pm
We don’t know yet.
Please start reading, rather than just asking questions.
March 8, 2017 at 5:21 pm
I applied twice in the first week and nothing but the third year I finished my application about 12 hours before the deadline and got it 🙂
August 20, 2017 at 8:08 am
Hi, just a quick question, out of curiosity around when does the actual draw takes place or is it an ongoing process that takes x months to complete before the results are published? Thank you
August 20, 2017 at 2:34 pm
The results are all released on one day. How long the spend on the draw – I don’t know.
November 18, 2017 at 12:11 pm
I was selected for the DV 2018 but I did not download the photos
I lost my chance to interview?
I want to know
November 18, 2017 at 2:26 pm
What do you mean about downloading photos?
November 18, 2017 at 2:39 pm
DS-260 online form is showing completed but i haven’t uploaded any pictures for the applicants
November 18, 2017 at 2:40 pm
You don’t upload photos to the DS260.
November 18, 2017 at 2:44 pm
Thankyou for the clarification
November 18, 2017 at 3:20 pm
Yes I don’t upload photo to DS260 form
March 7, 2018 at 9:10 pm
Meaning Mr Brits all dv2019 selectees will be released on 15May 2018?
March 7, 2018 at 9:18 pm
That is the plan.
April 19, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Hello BRIT, got two questions; first I played the lottery, when my confirmation form was printed I realised my names came in the wrong order , I’m in Cameroon, so I called a friend in the USA and he played for me there with right orders of my names, do u think they’ll see it as double playing and cancel my entries? My husband played too, what are my chances ??? Last question, how long approximately does it take from the time someone wins the lottery to the time they can be issued a visa?? Just give me a proximity, like the longest time …thanks in advance
April 19, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Double entries mean disqualification. So – you have either been disqualified (if they made the connection from the two versions of the names to the same person), or would be disqualified later if selected. If your husband is selected (and didn’t break the rules as you did), then you could be his derivative.
It can take up to 18 months for cases to be processed.