OK – as I am writing this it is midnight here in California, 3am on the East coast of USA. That means the DV2016 results have been available for 15 hours. So far, I have not seen a single verified “selected” case. Some people have claimed success, but so far all the cases seem to be hoaxes.
So – it is feeling like something is amiss. We might be seeing another technical problem. It wouldn’t be the first in recent years.
In 2012 the selection program had some testing code left switched on that meant all the winners selected were from the first couple of days of entries. People were notified they were winner, and others were told they were not. The bug was identified, the results were cancelled and the draw was redone.
In DV2015 there was a glitch where some people saw a not selected message by mistake when they were actually winners. This was resolved within a day or so and some people have been contacted by email to suggest they checked the result again – whereupon they found they were winners.
So how about this year?
There seems to be two different cases.
1. In one case the entry is checked and almost instantly the system returns “not selected”.
2. In the other case the entry is checked and after a slightly longer period (1 to 2 seconds) the system returns a message saying “Session Timed out” as shown below:-
There is a consistency of this second message – some cases always get it whilst the not selected cases are just as reliable. Some people are getting messages through incorrect data input, but that is not what I am referring to.
The regularity and the consistency of the session timed out message is making me feel these cases are somehow different to the not selected – and since that can only mean the opposite of not selected, I am speculating that these cases may in fact be winners. So – I am saying the cases that return “not selected are indeed not selected, but those that go straight to session timed out might be winners.
I hate speculating BUT people may jump to various conclusions and I would rather get an explanation out to my readers, as opposed to no information.
I have details for three cases like this at the moment. I am hopeful that DoS will resolve whatever issue they are having and I have my fingers crossed for those that may be about to get some good news.
UPDATE: People have mentioned they can see the session timed out message after seeing the not selected message. You can cause the session timed out error. Multiple windows, clicking back and yes – actually letting the session time out.
However, what we are talking about is someone who consistently enters the information and gets the session timed out error – and in my tests I can alternate between not selected cases and “interesting” cases with 100% predictability. So – that rules out network issues, browser issues, server load and so on. There is something “different” about the 3 interesting cases I have.
If this is true it is because of a programming glitch. I’m a programmer. The programming logic would go like this:-
Check the login data against a database.
Is the case selected?
If No – easy – just put up the standard not selected message that 99% of people see.
If Yes – the system has to go and retrieve the 1NL which is a prepared letter (a “report” in IT terms).
The yes logic means an extra step would have to be made. That would require access to the letter image, or at least the data that is filled into a form (but I believe it is an image based on previous years 1NLs).
THat theory would suggest that “not selected” cases are indeed not selected – but it should be remembered that last year the glitch meant that some were told they were not selected when they were in fact selected. So – everyone should check again once this is resolved…
Hope that explains why the IT geeks are leaning a certain way… could be wrong of course – just an educated guess.
DV2016 results mystery update
May 7, 2015 at 20:56
‘session timed out’ it mean WIN!
May 8, 2015 at 02:01
Yep!
May 7, 2015 at 21:21
Dear friend, I want to thank you for the help you gave us.
I want to inform you that I have been selected.
Excuse my bad English, I think now I have to improve.
thank you very much
Congratulations to all selected and those who were not lucky, never, never lose hope.
May 7, 2015 at 21:53
Hello
As I told you earlier, my wife and had the ‘time out’ error, and now I’m happy to announce that both of us were selected, each one with separate number!!
We are super happy 🙂
Thanks for your support
May 7, 2015 at 21:55
Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!! my brother got selected. it was “Session Timed Out” and now it says Selected!!! I am so happy my brother will join me… Great!!! Good luck to you all. I applied for 22 people, and only one got selected. One is better than 0. I am going to call him and let him know, he will be so happy.
May 7, 2015 at 21:57
I have the same error message (session timed out) every time i check my entry. Im tryring since yesterday and every 5/10 minute but no way. the same error session timed out! :/ so what can i do to see the result ???
May 8, 2015 at 02:00
Did you check again now?? 🙂
May 11, 2015 at 13:29
When I was entering my information they said to me that “Based on the information provided, the Entry HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED for further processing for the Electronic Diversity Visa program at this time.”
then I refreshed the page and I found ” session timed out ” until today
I don’t know how can i do to see the result help me please !!!:)
May 11, 2015 at 14:04
If you refresh the page you will cause the error. You have not been selected, you have not won the lottery – try again next year.
May 7, 2015 at 22:21
I applied for me and my brother. HE HAS BEEN SELECTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEESSSS!
May 8, 2015 at 01:56
Great!
May 7, 2015 at 23:15
What is the next step? Do all people get PR. My letter says not everyone gets, but I believe all selectees with correct documents will get through?
Can you create a new post for this?
May 8, 2015 at 01:53
Step by step guide and loads of info here:-
https://britsimonsays.com/dv-lottery-guide/
May 8, 2015 at 03:12
Hi, thank you. Excellent information. Could you however make a similar guide for people already in USA like a person who is on f1 visa
God bless Sofia
May 8, 2015 at 03:26
The best AoS help is actually from Sm1smom – here http://forums.immigration.com/threads/dv-2016-aos-only.326148/#post-2398392
May 7, 2015 at 23:35
Never ever I forget this night. I still think i am sleeping. winning lottery is realy wounderful and surprise. Dear Britsimon many thanks for creating this page and for your realy well assumption and hope for “session timed out group”. god bless you and this group. peace and cheers for every one….
May 8, 2015 at 01:51
Congratulations – read the blog for full instructions on how to apply.
May 8, 2015 at 00:50
AF00005XXX THATS GOOD OR NOt?
May 8, 2015 at 01:49
Excellent.
May 8, 2015 at 01:02
Hello again. The 2 cases that was coming up with sto error have won. I have just checked the not selected ones and they are still not selected. God you are such a clever man for guessing it. Good luck to all of you guys and God bless you all.
May 8, 2015 at 01:49
Congratulations!
May 8, 2015 at 03:29
Hello ! It’s me again ( invalid information !!)……
Thanks BritSimon and congrats to all the winners ! Unfortunately I checked over all the application data and the confirmation page and I re input the information rather than copy and paste them and it keep saying the same INVALID message !!! Even when I tried the Forgot confirmation number method !!????
Definitely there is some thing wrong or may be it is another type of system error !!????
** sorry I resend my comment to you so as not to be missed due to the large number of msgs that came after my original post earlier !thanks again.
May 8, 2015 at 03:30
Email me the info and I will check for you. britsimon3 at gmail dot com
May 8, 2015 at 04:25
Thanks ,,, data at your end !!
May 8, 2015 at 22:07
Heloooooo !!!! Waiting for your reply dear Simon ! I know u r loaded with requests but really I need a feed back please .
May 8, 2015 at 05:09
Unlucky, Not selected 🙁
My second time…
May 8, 2015 at 05:47
I’m sorry. 🙁
May 8, 2015 at 05:31
Hello. Applying for over 30 people from different countries on same computer is good or not they all got not selected. Thank you
May 8, 2015 at 05:48
It is a random draw, so the fact that you used one computer doesn’t mean that is why none were selected.
May 8, 2015 at 06:23
Hi BritSimon,
Just a note to say yep you were right about the timed out session, I too have won. Its good have people like you out there guiding us through this maze. If I may ask a question, if the principle applicant does not qualify under the two criterion (Education and work), could the spouse’s education or work be used for visa issuance?
Cheers mate.
Jass.
UK
May 8, 2015 at 06:41
Congratulations. No – the principal must meet the requirement by themselves. If that is an issue in your case, let me know the details to give you a proper opinion.
May 8, 2015 at 06:30
You were right i guess, it was in deed interesting
May 8, 2015 at 06:42
🙂
May 8, 2015 at 07:48
You were right. I won tooooo
Thank you cery much
May 8, 2015 at 14:00
Congratulations.
May 8, 2015 at 07:58
Hi brit.
I need your advice. When i applied ib the original form i put that in unmarried when iam married with a son. I didnt had my spouse and son fotos so that i applied as un married.
How can i solve this situation?
May 8, 2015 at 14:03
WHY on earth did you do that??
Basically, you have cost yourself the visa. There is no “solution” because you have lied and to proceed would require false documents and immigration fraud.
I am sorry but you made a very bad decision for the sake of not having photos.
May 8, 2015 at 14:33
Winter wrote:
May 8, 2015 at 7:58 am
Reply
Hi brit.
I need your advice. When i applied ib the original form i put that in unmarried when iam married with a son. I didnt had my spouse and son fotos so that i applied as un married.
How can i solve this situation?
BritSimon Reply:
May 8, 2015 at 2:03 pm
Reply
WHY on earth did you do that??
Basically, you have cost yourself the visa. There is no “solution” because you have lied and to proceed would require false documents and immigration fraud.
I am sorry but you made a very bad decision for the sake of not having photos.
* My Question *
What if Winter just go through the process as being ‘unmarried’ single? Will that work? How will they know? She can always sponsor her spouse and child later.
May 8, 2015 at 16:47
Well like I said – that would be immigration fraud. Yes they do background checks so they “may” find out. But let’s assume they did not. If he got through the interview and got the visa, he could never take his wife and child to the USA since revealing them is proof of his immigration fraud and he could face deportation – even if he waits until after he becomes a citizen!
May 8, 2015 at 14:59
I am curious to find this out answer, Simon. What if Winter go through the process as if he/she was single? Will they know through public records search? Will they find out?
May 8, 2015 at 15:22
Well like I said – that would be immigration fraud. Yes they do background checks so they “may” find out. But let’s assume they did not. If he got through the interview and got the visa, he could never take his wife and child to the USA since revealing them is proof of his immigration fraud and he could face deportation – even if he waits until after he becomes a citizen!
May 8, 2015 at 15:57
I was just curios. People get marry, divorce, remarry for various reasons. You offer very insightful points on various subjects in relation to this DV topics. Appreciate it.
May 15, 2015 at 00:35
Ok, another thought for you to ponder. So Winter, even though married with a child, entered the DV as single unintentional, and win the drawing. What if Winter decided NOT to go through the selectee process and forget about it? And Winter can re-enter the DV lottery with proper registration, each and every year in hoping Winter will win again? Will that be OK, if Winter happened to win in the next few years?
May 15, 2015 at 02:40
Yes that would be OK
May 8, 2015 at 09:16
hi, i didn’t have the confirmation number with ma hand but i can find it later…. i want to know that if its possible to see the result in email……
May 8, 2015 at 14:10
No you cannot see the result in an email. You can use the lost confirmation link on the ESC page to retrieve your number.
May 8, 2015 at 10:00
Hi Brit…when I enter the information…system shows invalid informations, time and again, even if I entered the right informations…could u pls advice me?
May 8, 2015 at 14:14
You are entering your data wrong. I checked 10 cases like this yesterday where people were getting the same message as you over and over. ALL of the cases worked first time when I tried them. Just be careful how you key in the information and make sure you enter just your LAST name and YEAR of birth.
May 8, 2015 at 10:10
Simon
You are awesome, good job once again.
May 8, 2015 at 13:15
Has anybody heard or know about people use old picture for the DV lottery, win and pass the process? I used my picture taken in 2013 for DV 2014. Then I use the same picture to enter in 2014 for DV 2015. I think the picture must be 6 months new.
So win/pass the process with old picture, yes, or no?
May 8, 2015 at 14:44
You should be OK as long as you still look the same.
May 8, 2015 at 14:04
Hi Britsimon,I’m not a winner,will I have to try next lottery(october 2015 so DV17)?or will be there other winners in the next months?(I have never seen time out or similar so I’m not a winner since the beginning)because it’s possible to check the entry status until september 2016.Thanks a lot for the answers.How many are the winners?
May 8, 2015 at 14:43
They might have a small 2nd draw – just a few thousand.
May 8, 2015 at 14:59
but is it not sure?because I read that there are 84000 winners for only 50000 cards
May 8, 2015 at 15:19
Many people don’t meet the requirements or don’t proceed with their case. So – they always select more than 50000 people. 84000 is probably to small a number.
May 8, 2015 at 16:47
BritSimon I have some questions for one of my friend:1)Is it necessary a passport for ds260 or he can make passport later or before ds260?2)if he doesn’t want to proceed with processing,can he apply for an other lottery in future?3)if he doesn’t want to proceed with processing can he obtain in future other visas?
May 8, 2015 at 20:33
1. he can fill out the DS260 without a passport but needs it for the interview.
2. Yes
3. Yes.
May 8, 2015 at 14:29
(INVALID info!)
Good evening dear BritSimon ,,
I emailed you my data earlier and from some of the comments I noticed that u mentioned 10 cases that worked fine with you !!?? So what about mine could you figure what was wrong ??
Respect..
May 8, 2015 at 20:57
MEME PROBLEM
May 8, 2015 at 21:56
You were right britsimon!!
May 8, 2015 at 22:32
Yup!
May 8, 2015 at 22:37
Hello again. I am a winner. I am originally from Congo but now live in the UK. I have 3 kids and they were all born in the UK and are british citizen. Me and my husband have dual nationalities. We have congolaise passports and british citizens do not qualify. Do we need to get congolese passports for the kids as well or they will be ok on british passports?…Please advise. Thanks
May 9, 2015 at 00:48
THey are fine on British passports. I am British and got my DV Green Card via my Spanish wife.
May 9, 2015 at 12:03
Thank you so much simon for your all valuable information, i am from Nepal and my wife is winner of 2016 Dv lottery , but i am very upset to let you know that my wife’s education not so well and she passed out class 10 examination with very low percentages and she passed the examination in second chance that is repeat examination next year and she passed her higher secondary examination that class 12 exam from india(Indian secondary board) with very low percentage too in second chance next year, so in each examination she took two years to pass her examination, is it okay to start process or i should stop here, is there any chances to get the visa in this critical situation, your suggestion will be very helpful for me
thank you
May 9, 2015 at 21:03
I think there is a high risk she will be refused.
May 9, 2015 at 22:36
Hi BritSimon.
I have been following your update quietly while keeping my fingers crossed since I was also getting the same error of session time out. Yesterday I tried one more time expecting the session timed out error again and boy oh boy! This is the first time in my life that I have won a lottery!! Yes I got selected and yes I just came to let you know that on my account,you were right. Thank you.
May 10, 2015 at 06:08
Congratulations!
May 10, 2015 at 01:25
Hello Dear Simon , as I told you befor I have been trying to check on my status for the last couple of days and the message kept saying INVALID info ,, now Iam sure it was a system error because at last I managed to see our results but unfortunately we were both NOT SELECTED!!
Iam sharing this because I noticed many posts in this blog talking about the same problem so I want them to keep checking and eventually they will see the results which I hope to be better than mine!!
Any ways I think we will all wait till late June with the hope of a seconded small draw may be we might get lucky …
Stay well all .
May 10, 2015 at 06:00
Thanks for letting me know
May 10, 2015 at 03:10
Thank yuo BritSimon for your hard work and helps. I am a winner from Iraq. I want to know who wins from iraq to connect with them. Is there is any forum about this.
May 10, 2015 at 05:58
I don’t know of an Iraqi forum…
May 11, 2015 at 06:22
infact it is like there is a selection itch and hope they will notify us if the selection will be redone or we mind other businesses.
May 11, 2015 at 14:13
Time to focus on something else and try again next year.
May 11, 2015 at 08:18
Hello,
I still cannot recive my confirmation number, it says information entered is not valid.My wife confirmation nr i had recived it from the firts attempt, for mine nothing, i put i think 100 times now and nothing
Any ideea what to do?
Thanks
May 11, 2015 at 14:10
You can only email [email protected]
May 12, 2015 at 16:56
Hi simon, I got thru my interview today.! You were absolutely right about the leaving cert, my husband is a chief executive of a company and also the primary applicant.. All they asked to see was his ugh school degree very bit his masters, or his accounting qualifications or anything else. They asked to see finances we had over 200k so no further questions were asked regarding work, employment in US, US address, relatives etc.. They did ask about our relationship history. How and when we met and how long we dated. They also asked about my previous K1 visa although not relevant to the case in hand.
My problem is they kept our passports to stamp the visas and said it could take up to two weeks. Do you have any idea about the processing time?
If I can give any advise to the folks in this forum, be clear in all your answers, show your finances and take your high school degree with you. Good luck!! And thank you Simon!!
May 12, 2015 at 19:27
Awesome news – congratulations. It is an odd thing about them caring about elementary and secondary – but that is the spirit/rule of the program.
Generally passports are ready within the week – you might want to contact the embassy to pick them up if you need them fast.
May 12, 2015 at 19:19
This year dv-2016 is not encouraging any one at all, all entrance checked are returning Not be selected, why? The DV Counselor should please look at their errors coding message and make sure they settle this problem, because we that played for people, they are blaming us that, we lied to them, because out of 50 candidates that i have checked returns no availed.
Too bad,my Name is Mr.Richard D.Jah, from Liberia.
Thanks
May 12, 2015 at 19:44
THe chance of being selected in this lottery is 1 in 125. 91500 selected out of 11+ million entries (17+ million people). It is not surprising that 50 entries reveals no winners.
May 13, 2015 at 16:52
there will be a Repechage? I am from Italy
May 13, 2015 at 18:37
I think you mean 2nd draw. Possibly – but not that likely given the 84000 announced is now confirmed to be 91500 selectees….
May 13, 2015 at 23:23
Hi BritSimon,
I just wanna say you’re genius! I checked my result for the first two days, and no matter how many times I checked, the system kept showing “session timed out”. Thought it was just too much traffic as many people wanted to check their result. I found your article on May 7th, in the morning. And noticed that some people could see their results without problem. I started texting my friend who also joined the lottery. He answered me he was not selected. And I started feeling something is weird, or special indeed. I started hoping that I am really the special one just like you said in your article. After half an hour, I went back to check my result, and boom! This time, a bar code showed up instead of the session time out message. “You have been selected!” I was so happy. And right at that moment I wanted to say “thank you BritSimon for giving me the hope and making me understand I am the special one”.
May 13, 2015 at 23:30
🙂 Congratulations. You are indeed special. One of 91563 people out of over 17 million who wanted to see that bar code.
Now, read my blog, do everything right – and make the most of your chance….
May 14, 2015 at 18:54
Please, I just need to make sure about one think…
in the past I helped a friend to apply for a DV. And at that time I made to him more then one application at one time. and to confirm more we made 7 application just for him. I mean the same person applied 7 times. ( at the time, when we must send a letter to apply). he won the lottery and he got his green card.
what about now?
Can a person apply more then ones application online.
Thanks in advance.
May 14, 2015 at 19:28
Now it is electronic and multiple applications will cause disqualification.
May 16, 2015 at 15:03
Not selected. Doomed to live in this shitty country 🙁
May 16, 2015 at 15:32
Sorry – try again.
May 17, 2015 at 23:21
Hi Simon, All,
I have a question regarding the medical examination. The principal applicant in my case has been diagnosed as a carrier of Hepatitis C virus a couple of years back. Tests are good, low levels of the virus and no signs of affection to the liver.
My question – is this a disqualifying reason? Will this affect the result of the interview and possibly not be granted a visa?
Thanks to all that may have information on this topic.
May 18, 2015 at 00:52
No Hep C is not on the list of diseases of public health significance, so it is not a disqualifying reason.
May 18, 2015 at 01:14
Thank you very much Simon, that kinda lifts a big burden off my shoulders. Fingers crossed. If you do have more information about the medical process, tests etc please do share.
Thanks.
May 20, 2015 at 11:17
Hi Brit,
I am From Nepal.My entry has not been Selected.I just have one quesion? is there a chance to win this year2016.Or is it done.Because i m still hoping for good news, I dont want to live in Dream your reply will be helpful.
Raju
May 20, 2015 at 17:41
I don’t think there will be a further draw now. Look to DV2017.
June 2, 2015 at 14:57
Hello again. I have 2 winning cases. One were I am the main applican and the other is my husband the main applican and the two cases hav very low case numbers so we are bound to be called. I want to know if we should abandon one case now or fill out the forms for both cases just in case on goes wrong. Please advise. Thank you.
June 3, 2015 at 01:33
Pick the case with the best chance of being approved. So – choose the winner with the best set of documents, best police certs and so on.
June 4, 2015 at 23:54
I can’t get my result. I still have the form which I played the lottery with but all my information is said to be invalid .I have tried several times but same issue
June 5, 2015 at 03:14
You could try emailing [email protected] and explain the issue.
June 16, 2015 at 17:54
Hello,
I was selected for DV 2016. However, my case number is very high (AS8000+) would this mean that my chances are very slim? I am also physically present in the United States as an F-1, so I will be applying as AOS and not CP. Any tips or bad news maybe that I should know? Maybe I shouldn’t keep my hopes up?
Thank you in advance.
June 16, 2015 at 20:48
It is too soon yet to be sure – bit if you are less than AS9000 I would guess you have a good chance in DV2016.
July 2, 2015 at 01:46
Thanks for the explanation. I have one thing going around the circle of friends I hangout. Is it real that if I put in my confirmation number & got “not selected”, do you I really have to check it subsequently till September 30, 2016? I don’t really understand this message from DV “The U.S. Department of State Electronic Diversity Visa Entrant Status Check for Diversity Visa Program for DV-2016 is available until September 30, 2016. The Entrant Status Check for DV-2015 applicants will remain open until September 30, 2015” Thanks in advance
July 2, 2015 at 01:52
You can check it again later if you want…
July 7, 2015 at 00:54
Dear britsimons
I have applied dv2016 but not selected also DOS says keep your confirmation number at least june 30 2016 even if you were not selected may 5 2015 what does that mean DOS ?
July 7, 2015 at 00:57
DOS means “Department of State”.
July 7, 2015 at 02:34
Hi brit. I often ask questions but I can’t see/get my reply. Why.
July 7, 2015 at 03:08
Because you seem to lose track of where you post them – like here (answered):-
https://britsimonsays.com/follow-join-dv-lottery-cases/
and here (again answered by me and someone else):-
https://britsimonsays.com/delay-getting-2nl-letter/#comment-13804
I wonder if you will read this response, or just post again!
July 7, 2015 at 02:40
Hi b. My cn is af42428 and I’m expecting my appointment for august but up to now I have not received my letter of appointment. I need your advice. Thanks.
July 7, 2015 at 03:09
Already answered this – twice.
July 7, 2015 at 10:43
Hi Britsimon
Why dos say keep your confirmation number at least 5 may 2016 is that mean there might be next draw possible your replay will appreciate thanks a lot
July 7, 2015 at 14:28
It is possible, but not likely.
July 18, 2015 at 03:23
Whats a low case number? 2016af000033.. is
That low or high. Thanks brit
July 18, 2015 at 09:03
33000? That is medium high – totally safe.