Although the website for the lottery has not yet announced it, the instructions for the new lottery have already been quietly posted online. I have been “watching” the location for the instructions, and my script picked it up this morning.
So – the instructions are here.
Important notes, as expected the passport IS NOW REQUIRED. Because of that, I expect entry numbers to be lower this year – which means this could be your best chance of selection for years…
Also, there is no mention of NACARA, which means for the first time in years the program will start with a FULL allocation of 55,000 visas. That is also great news. The NACARA allocation seems to have been officially returned to DV earlier this year with a small allocation for NACARA for DV2020. So DV2020 will have up to 54650 visas available (i.e. 350 allocated for NACARA). That information was published in the Visa Bulletin this morning.
The entry period will start on October 2nd and run until November 5th 2019. The results will be available in May 2020.
Anyone can enter the lottery – even current DV2020 applicants if they want. There is no harm in entering. There is no change in the countries eligible.
I will be publishing a video about entering, with tips to give you the best chance possible – so please look for that in a few days.
November 4, 2019 at 22:32
I’ve been trying for the last few hours to enter my aunt her husband and her children to the 2021 DV lottery but when I hit ‘continue’ after entering the info and pictures of her husband and all her children, it says “site can’t be reached’. normally it should take me to the configuration page to hit submit, but no. I myself applied (I’m single with no kids) with success in less than 5 minutes. Same thing for my single cousin. He too got in. I’ve reduced the size of the images to less than 40 but still the same problem. Please help me cause the time is running out
November 2, 2019 at 14:28
In Ethiopia, we use kebele id card, but most people get a passport when there is an invitation paper or when there is a plan to go abroad. And currently it takes up to 6 Months to get a passport. So how can we apply a DV-2021 those who currently have no a passport and waiting their appointment date to get a passport.
November 2, 2019 at 16:18
You can’t apply this year then.
October 28, 2019 at 18:39
How to take selfie for the dv lottery photo?
October 28, 2019 at 22:12
https://youtu.be/59uuZMpccpQ
October 28, 2019 at 16:59
Hi Brits,
I’m trying since two days to apply for 2021 lottery, but when i press submit the page show me an error in website. I have tried different browser but the issue still the same. Do you have any idea about this issue? is the lottery server has a problem?
Thanks
October 28, 2019 at 22:07
A few people still have problems, but many more have entered. So – try to enter faster – as it might be timing out.
October 26, 2019 at 13:29
Hi sir
I mispelt my middle name on my DV applicant entry form BAMADAN instead of RAMADAN
I already got my confirmation code
How can I change that?
October 26, 2019 at 20:39
If selected you can fix it in the next step.
October 24, 2019 at 18:28
hello Brit
I am Atta Tweneboah .
i mistakenly submitted dv entrance lottery 2021. my name should have been Atta Tweneboah but i realised that after submitting the dv, it appeared as Atta Tweneboah which was a wrong name spelt by me. but i provided the correct name as date of birth on my passport. so i want to know what to do.
secondary, because it appeared to me as wrong name spelt, i failed to print it to get my confirmation number . so what should i do to get my confirmation number back to check if i will be selected or will it be posted to me.
October 24, 2019 at 22:00
In May you can check your entry and can use the forgot confirmation number link. If selected, you can fix the name issue in the next step.
October 26, 2019 at 15:48
Hi brits
Thanks for ur help so far. I’ve submitted my dv2021 entry sucessfully
October 24, 2019 at 05:46
Hi sir please my passport is in my maiden name can I use it as a married person
October 24, 2019 at 15:59
Yes, although you should replace it as soon as you can.
October 21, 2019 at 23:17
hi how many entries how the dv 2021 got so far?
October 22, 2019 at 04:35
10,426,769
October 23, 2019 at 08:44
Hi BritSimon,
WOW! Thanks for the info you provide to us, can I ask you where you find this number?
I had expected a significant drop in entries number due the new passport regulation, but it looks it’s not the case. I think this will open to new scenarios for the dv2021!!
October 23, 2019 at 16:09
Surely it is obviously a made up number to a silly question.
October 20, 2019 at 13:47
Hi Brit,
I am about to submit the scanned documents ( police cert, passport and birth cert) but i wanna know if is there any problem when the profession which is in the passport is different to my present profession.
October 20, 2019 at 18:38
No problem.
October 18, 2019 at 18:21
hello Mr Brit please my sister have a travel passport and she have one lil son so she can register the lottery with her son too?
October 19, 2019 at 03:25
Yes
October 15, 2019 at 16:23
Please if an applicant does not have high school certificates but has two year working experience and selected. Is s/he still eligible to go through the process after selection?
October 15, 2019 at 19:33
https://britsimonsays.com/education-or-work-experience-qualifying-for-the-dv-lottery/
October 15, 2019 at 16:21
1.Hi Brit if a DV winner is diagnosed hepatitis positive will that reduce the person’s chance of getting a Visa?
2.if you win with your step child do you need any adoption document for the child?
October 15, 2019 at 19:35
1. Please read the FAQ about dieases.
2. No
October 15, 2019 at 12:21
Hey sirr!!
Am live in Ethiopia and i have no passport but already i had started my process to getting my passport so am OK to fill the DV lottery for 2021.
October 15, 2019 at 16:09
Only if you have the passport.
October 15, 2019 at 11:15
Hi Brit, thanks for this! I am preparing for the DV 2021 and actually wondering if there is any specific requirement for the clothes to wear in the photograph, if it’s okay to be in dark color with floral print or needs to be in plain.
Thank you.
October 15, 2019 at 16:08
Doesn’t matter.
October 12, 2019 at 23:20
Hey sir!!!
I did O’ level and i proceeded to police training fo a year.Now i hv a Police certificate .
what should i say on educational qualifications?
October 12, 2019 at 23:55
High school.
October 10, 2019 at 12:16
What if I am unable to obtain a valid passport on time despite having already requested it?
October 11, 2019 at 03:35
You don’t enter.
October 10, 2019 at 11:37
What if I am unable (despite having already submitted the paperwork to the government) to obtain a valid passport on time before the closing of the period?
Any chance to submit it later on?
October 11, 2019 at 03:32
No
October 12, 2019 at 21:36
Hey Brit
I want to apply for dv 2021….but there is a portion that confuses meon the form (birth city)
i was born in a district…what should i write on the form?
October 12, 2019 at 23:53
Use some judgement…
October 22, 2019 at 06:27
you have to put the city or disctrict or whatever as you have written on your passport.
October 10, 2019 at 10:07
Hello Brit, greetings from Ghana.. my question is my passport is dated to expire next month, can i apply with that passport number? thanks
October 11, 2019 at 03:30
Yes…. Just like the hundreds of other people who asked the same question….
October 8, 2019 at 21:20
Hi Brit
My mom is 70. And I have four questions here
1- is she eligible to apply to DV lottery 2021. Is there any age restriction?
2- Applying for the DV lottery will affect or can her visit Visa or tourist visa be refused if she applies to come visit me in USA?
3_ My dad passed away and me and my sister are around 40. If I apply for her,in DV lottery 2021, do we still need to fill up the application as married put in the details for my dad and me and my sister?
4- if in case it is a must to include me and my sister, would this affect my sister’s application in the DV lottery 2021
October 9, 2019 at 03:47
1. There is no age restriction, but they may consider she would be unable to avoid becoming a public charge.
2. No impact until she wins and then processes her case. In other words, it is safe to enter.
3. No – she would choose widowed. Assuming her children are over 21 they are not added to her entry.
4. N/A
October 18, 2019 at 10:46
Hi brits I’m honestly giving up now ,have been trying to register for more than two weeks now but to no avail,it tells me me contest can’t be reached .I seriously need your help before this opportunity slips away.Nancy from Zambia
October 18, 2019 at 23:17
I’m sorry but I don’t have time to help individuals submit their entry.
October 8, 2019 at 13:43
Hi Brit what do they mean on the entry form when they say must have a high school diploma i came from an education system similar to the british system i did up to O’ level. I am a chef by profession and i did 3years at college for that.Therefore what should i tick vocational or high school
October 9, 2019 at 03:17
Vocational. You probably don’t meet the educational standard, but you might meet the work experience standard. Make sure you read my article about that.
October 11, 2019 at 06:48
5 Olevels is the standard required
October 8, 2019 at 05:37
Hi Simon Brit
My sister with her husband have a total of 9 family members. Two of their children already passed 21. I want to know what to write to the number of children in while filling the form. Should the total number of children includes the two adults and should the two adults apply separately. Thanks
October 8, 2019 at 16:08
She would not include the children over 21. So if they have 7 children in total but two are over 21 – then enter the lottery with 5 children.
October 7, 2019 at 23:39
BritSimon please are some of us getting strange confirmation numbers like 2021VH0ZXXXXX. Am from Ghana, West Africa
October 8, 2019 at 05:15
Normal.
October 7, 2019 at 11:23
Hi BritSimon,
Thank you for the information here.
I have a 15 -year old daughter who currently does not live with me but with my elder sister in Ghana. The entry required that I include all my children (living with me or not). My problem here is I don’t have a photo of her to be included and I cannot reach my sister at this time. Should I continue the application without my daughter? further, I don’t have the intent to migrate with her if I am selected at this time.
Thanks for your help!
Albert
October 8, 2019 at 04:32
You cannot exclude a child simply for convenience.
October 7, 2019 at 09:11
Hi! Should I wait to participate in the DV 2021 until we know if there will be a second draw for DV 2020?
On the gov website it hasn’t been announced yet but it would have to happen until end of October right?
October 8, 2019 at 03:40
I don’t think there will be a second draw now – but in any case you can enter DV2021.
October 7, 2019 at 07:58
Hi brit I am Ethiopian citizen thanks for your information and i want to ask about in my country the women can not change her family name after marriage so the two spouse family name is not the same so it has a problem for entry ? the second question is can I enter my husband as a derivative and He enter me as a derivative in Dv 2021
October 8, 2019 at 03:37
No problem on both points.
October 6, 2019 at 21:42
Hi Brits, I am having problem submitting my form. Wanting to go to the 3rd page, I am told site can’t be reached. Is there any problem?
October 7, 2019 at 03:57
Some people are reporting similar problems. Wait a few days.
October 6, 2019 at 15:30
Hi Brit, the name on my passport is Paul Okyere Junior. However, my educational certificates bears Paul Okyere with omission of Junior. In effect I have sworn affidavit to the differences. Please what’s your advice on this?
October 6, 2019 at 16:20
Don’t need anything. It’s not a problem.
October 6, 2019 at 11:41
Hello Brit,
Thanks a lot for all the informations, I have a doubt about the passport number, my passport number Is alphanumeric (2 letters 7 numbers), ex YB3122XXX, should I include the letters when I fill the form?
Thanks for the help
October 6, 2019 at 16:06
Yes
October 6, 2019 at 05:50
Hi Simon
Thank you very much for your blog
my question is that if the dv lottery 2021 is started or not? cuz i visited the website and the form is not available yet.
please help
October 6, 2019 at 15:35
It is for everyone else.
October 7, 2019 at 04:03
sorry i didn’t get my answer.
my question is if dv lottery 2021 is open and where can i get the form from.
i visited the website but form is not available there.
October 8, 2019 at 03:04
Like I said – others are entering. https://dvlottery.state.gov
October 6, 2019 at 01:09
hi simon
i appreciate your effort with every body
my Q if u have 200k dollar and other assets value 500k provided other requirements are met, is this good enough financial status to convince the officer during interview as adequate self sponsor for a family of 3 kids and a wife,
thanks
October 6, 2019 at 15:23
Yes
October 5, 2019 at 08:50
hi bri the number of visa you say has changed from 50 to 55k. my question is could this just be a typo !!
October 5, 2019 at 14:15
No. The rationale is described.
October 3, 2019 at 21:12
Hi Brit, my husband tobe won the dv2020 as single and he has a low case, now he want to play as married to include me because my passport expired, my question is is it gonna affect his 2020 win if he play the second time with different information?
October 3, 2019 at 20:05
which browser to use in applying Dv 2021. is chrome, mozilla or internet explorer.
please advice.
October 3, 2019 at 21:19
All those work.
October 3, 2019 at 11:52
Hey Brit is there any Gambian who won the DV2020
October 3, 2019 at 20:51
Yes of course.
October 3, 2019 at 04:28
Brit please reply .. can I Enter For the Second time. I won in 2000 . I lived in USA till 2006 and moved back to Australia due to Australia due to Family Issues. I due plan to move plan to US .
Can I Apply for DV Lottery In 2020/2021 ??
Please REPLY
October 3, 2019 at 04:33
Yes.
October 3, 2019 at 04:37
What Year 2020 or 2021
October 3, 2019 at 05:10
Now. It’s open now.
October 3, 2019 at 02:53
Hi Brit i’m winner of DV 2020 and already submitted DS 260 , my number is high can i register for DV 2021 without disqualification.
October 3, 2019 at 04:29
Yes
October 2, 2019 at 22:08
I am born in a non-eligible country, but my spouse is born in an eligible one. Can we still submit one application per person while listing each other as derivative? Confused because while FAQ says we can apply separately, does me being eligible (through spouse chargeability) affect this situation?
October 3, 2019 at 04:07
Yes – watch the video.
https://youtu.be/CiGh0nkuQ6k
October 2, 2019 at 09:50
Hi Brit
the entry link you provided to register to for the DV lottery 2021 takes me to the status check page.
can’t find a section to register on the government website.
thanks
October 3, 2019 at 01:56
Because you were not considering the opening time…..
October 2, 2019 at 08:20
sry i have a qus,..tion<<<< what is z worke when we arrived to america? is there a communication with any job organization ???
October 3, 2019 at 01:51
No one will help you – that is up to you to find a home, work and so on.
October 2, 2019 at 08:14
Hi sir how was life am from ethiopia …..can ask u some thing about DV 2021??
October 3, 2019 at 01:50
YES!
October 1, 2019 at 22:46
Patience Daniel
Goodday sir
I am a nigerian but born in Benin republic and i wish to apply for the 2021 dvlottery with Benin as my country of eligibility.Considering the new clause added to the lottery application which is the inclusion of a passport,would like to ask,am i to enter the dv lottery 2021 with a Benin passport(which is my country of birth) or the nigerian passport which is my nationality? Which of these 2 country passport am i expected to present as related to the dvlottery. Am asking cos i have a nigerian passport.
Thank you for all you do here.
October 2, 2019 at 04:56
Doesn’t matter.
October 1, 2019 at 14:25
Hi Brit, thanks for everything.
Does the passport required for all ages?
I mean even for the children (1 and 4 years old)
Thank you!
October 1, 2019 at 14:33
Not for the entry, but yes if selected.
October 1, 2019 at 07:29
hi Brit
my passport just expired last week may i still apply for the dv2021?
October 1, 2019 at 13:40
Not with that passport, no.
October 1, 2019 at 05:47
Hi..are the Fiji citizens eligible to apply in DV2021 lottery
October 1, 2019 at 13:37
Yes
September 30, 2019 at 11:52
I meant elementary and High school certificate
October 1, 2019 at 02:58
Yes understood.
September 30, 2019 at 11:49
Hi Brit, u doing a good job for mankind. God bless u. Please I want ask if your elementary and secondary school certificates will be added to your documents if selected for a dv lottery interview. Thanks.
October 1, 2019 at 02:58
Yes
September 29, 2019 at 22:26
Patience
Please will there be a second draw for dv2020 this october?
September 30, 2019 at 04:15
I don’t know.
September 29, 2019 at 01:01
Hi Brit you does not sems to be responding to my questions
I said myself my wife and three kid went for aDV interview in 2017 we were refused because of la our certification.
1. If I wants to enter the 2021 Dv program again and this time around play as single. If I win and goes for interview will I ot be refused since my last winning was with my family?
2. In case I win DV 2021 and decides not to submit some of. My certificate that I presented in 2017 will question not come up by the consor and will they not refuse me visa?
September 29, 2019 at 01:28
I answered.
https://britsimonsays.com/ask-questions/comment-page-376/#comment-201763
October 17, 2019 at 10:25
if you have lied to the consular during the interview in 2017, now it is pointless to apply again because even if you will be selected you will be disqualified during the interview. So you do a good thing: don’t take the chance to someone who is ok with the documents.
September 28, 2019 at 04:07
Mr. BritSimon I am born citizen of India but a naturalization citizen of Liberia and also married in Liberia with 2 kids. Do i qualify to apply as a principal head with my wife and kids? Also my wife has a passport but have not change her last name to my last name but we have valid married certificate. What is your advice on this my case.
September 28, 2019 at 04:43
You can choose Leberia, through your wifes birth ciuntry.
September 27, 2019 at 22:02
BritSimon, thanks for the important information…but I wanted to ask…in the specific time of entering the Diversity Visa…..I just have a question…I am about to get my passport in a couple of weeks…but that would mean that entering the DV-2021 will not happen on the day it starts which is Oct 2nd….will that have a huge significance in my entry or will it not really be a big issue if I enter a week or maybe day after Oct 2nd…..I dont mean to ask a stupid question or mean to be rude in anyway…just want to be sure as this will be my second time entering…and I am hoping for the best…..God Bless
September 28, 2019 at 04:37
Timing of entry makes no difference.