*** 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 – so there is an official confirmation of the issue. This might take a day or two to get resolved. Something similar happened a couple of years ago and it took around 3 days to fix. So – everyone relax. Stop checking every 5 minutes and no need to call KCC or anyone else – they know!
Now – in terms of reasons. I am now 100% certain it is not related to the old photos. For those that are worrying about that being the reason – it is not the reason you cannot check. Using an old photo was a silly thing to do – it is clearly stated in the rules not to do that – but that is NOT why you can’t check the result.
As best as I can guess (and this is speculation or an educated guess) the reason (for those that might want to speculate) is probably to do with how the system stores the entries.
In DV2012 there was a huge problem that caused a redraw – but as part of the court case there was a description of the system that stores the entries. The entries are too numerous to be stored on one physical drive (think about a hard drive). For good reasons they separated the entries into different drives. In DV2012, that was done by date. So – the first few days were on drive 1, then drive 2 for a few days then drive 3 and so on. In DV2012 the draw only included entries on drive 1. The whole selection process was then repeated with all drives and results re-announced.
So – imagine they still separate the data on different drives. That could be by date of entry, name of entrant, or some other reason. Somehow they will be separating the entries. Now – if certain drives (one or more of the several drives) cannot be accessed for the checking, it would be as if the entry doesn’t even exist (which explains why the forgotten conf number link also doesn’t work for those cases). That does not necessarily mean those entries were not included in the draw. As long as they were included in the draw, then the draw will be considered fair and not need to be repeated (like DV2012). All they need to do is plug in the drives – and people will be able to check their results. Once that happens we will be watching or people that experience the glitch but do get selected. There will have to be some cases like that – as well as many that will be not selected once they can see their results. Remember – for every person who is selected – there are around 100 more who are not selected.
So – everyone – please be patient and keep checking my site for updates.
May 4, 2017 at 03:48
Hi mate, need your advice. I felt like something was wrong with status checking yesterday, now i’m absolutely sure in it after reading your post,. I’m from Tajikistan and i’ve checked my status yesterday (24 hours ago 03/05/2017 10-30 a.m. local time it’s about 01-30 a.m. EDT). I was informed that i have not been selected. I also know some people who has been selected. What do you think about it? Should i recheck again or it’s an exact result? Please be kind to answer.
May 4, 2017 at 03:56
Not selected.
May 4, 2017 at 04:20
Should I keep my CN? Will there be another draw?
May 4, 2017 at 05:32
I don’t think there will be another draw – but hold on to it for now.
May 4, 2017 at 04:51
Hmmm still not working for me, and I think it’s been more than 24hrs. Typing this to see what time time stamp is on this site.
May 4, 2017 at 05:30
Obviously (since it is the middle of the night in Washington) this won’t be fixed until tomorrow – or perhaps longer.
May 4, 2017 at 06:12
But wasn’t their tweet sent out 3rd May 9:45am… according to the screenshot on this page?
Anywho I don’t mind waiting… keeps the suspense building.
May 4, 2017 at 06:19
Yes – so what – do you literally think that at 9:45 the system is suddenly going to be fixed??? LOLOLOL
May 4, 2017 at 07:33
Well yeah… if it says try again in 24hrs? I take that to mean they expect to work on it during the day (yesterday) and hope to have a fix within 24 hours. Don’t know why that’s such a LOL moment?
May 4, 2017 at 05:39
Hi Brit, what happens if I am on Administrative Processing and yet I missed the embassy calls after they changed my status?
May 4, 2017 at 05:45
No problem. You can call them. Chill out!
May 4, 2017 at 06:27
hello britsiomon, Thanks for your concern and helping us.
May 4, 2017 at 06:30
Hi Brits: Is it possible to be selected even if I used an old photo? Do you have information for anyone who was selected after using an old photo?
May 4, 2017 at 06:42
Again. For the first time this year they have said in the instructions that using the photo from the previous years entry will cause disqualification. We don’t know whether that has caused disqualification of cases or not – we may never know since disqualification gets “not selected” which is the same as someone simply not selected.
May 4, 2017 at 07:31
thank you brit for your update is it possible to select applicants get not selected
May 4, 2017 at 08:39
The problem is solved
May 4, 2017 at 07:29
Hey BritSimons, I just want to thank you for your information. Your side is really helpful. Great job! Now, we only have to be patient until the problem is solved.
May 4, 2017 at 07:35
NOT SELECTED PEOPLE CAN GET ADVANTAGE
May 4, 2017 at 07:43
I tend to agree with your educated guess (some drives are OK while others are screwed up). Both my wife and myself made applications. I received the same “HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED” message I have been receiving for the past 8 years 🙁
However, my wife’s application received the message that people are complaining about today “The information entered is not valid.”
So I think it is not working for some people only (who happen to be on the corrupt drive or whatever technical explanation)
May 4, 2017 at 07:46
i lost my conformation number so
May 4, 2017 at 08:02
I spoke to Kentucky Consular Section and they are aware of the problem and stated that they are trying to fix it but they don’t know how long it would take them a day or a week or more
May 4, 2017 at 08:54
i smell putin involvment again…
May 4, 2017 at 09:14
Hi Simon
Thanks a lot for the info and updates
I have a question. The first 3 times I checked it showed me Session Timed Out after several hours it began showing Information Is Not Valid, then after several hours it showed again Session Timed Out and today in the evening it showed Information Is not Valid. I only used one browser so if we can mention that the Session is Timed Out popped up for more than one browser was were active is not going to work.
I also read that in 2016 and 2017 when it was showing session is timed out then people won. A friend of mine won in such a way also.
My question is so. how do u think the situation that I described will increase the chances to win or it absolutely does not matter. I heard a lot of people just got information is not valid,but only several both: Not Valid and Session Timed Out
Thanks in advance
May 4, 2017 at 13:52
This is not like DV2016 session timed out. It’s fixed now.
June 4, 2017 at 17:15
What does it mean by ”hasn’t been selected at this time” Does it mean we can again check later for the results or that’s it?
June 4, 2017 at 17:32
IN some years there is a second draw in September – but I don’t think that will happen this year.
May 4, 2017 at 09:29
Important Announcement
We are experiencing intermittent connectivity issues with the DV Entrant Status Check website. If you have problems checking your status, please re-enter your confirmation information later.
( https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected.html)
May 4, 2017 at 10:01
Thanks for your effort Bri, I have friend live in Kuwait and He is Egyptian ,was born in Egypt. He won DV 2018 but I have doubt that He applied for Kuwait eligible country because his confirmation No :
2018 AS 00002XXX , foreign state chargeability : Kuwait , I think he did a mistake and he will not able to get the visa , Africa code is AF , I’m right or no.
May 4, 2017 at 13:44
He will be disqualified – 100% certain.
May 4, 2017 at 14:22
Thanks . If He won should his case No start with AF 000 because He is Egyptian & born in Egypt .
May 4, 2017 at 14:25
Yes – but he didn’t follow instructions and chose Kuwait.
May 4, 2017 at 10:11
Goodmorning Mr. simom how are you doing thank you for good job may ALLAH bless you today i have check my dv the result i got Please review the Confirmation Number, your Last/Family Name, and Year of Birth to ensure you have entered them exactly as they appear on your DV Confirmation Page, including punctuation. SOME MY FRIENDS SAY IF YOU USE THE OLD PICTURE THEY WILL DISQUALIFY YOU
May 4, 2017 at 10:23
Your friends are right unfortunately… Even if the problem is not the photo, even if you win, you’ll be disqualified if you used an old photo.
May 4, 2017 at 10:48
So when will you be disqualified if you used the previous passport pic ?
Will they disqualify you during the random or you can win but will be disqualified during your interview ?
May 4, 2017 at 13:28
We don’t know how they will implement the new procedure.
May 4, 2017 at 11:38
I doubt it.
May 4, 2017 at 13:32
Not exactly correct.
Using the DV2017 photo should mean disqualified from draw (not selected)
Using an old photo (not used in DV2017) might cause disqualification – but that would be at the interview.
May 4, 2017 at 13:43
Using the DV2017 photo should mean disqualified from draw (not selected)
Using an old photo (not used in DV2017) might cause disqualification – but that would be at the interview (and at the discretion of the CO)
May 4, 2017 at 10:44
What time will they disqualify you after winning it ?
Is’t during your interview or when ?
May 4, 2017 at 11:21
I don’t understand why they can’t put some information in the check status form. Like: “we currently having issues, you can’t check the status at the moment”. It would be, so clear than there is no point for checking. And after fixing it they would remove the message. Know we live in complete obscurity.
May 4, 2017 at 11:29
Brit Simon. …I regret that the message that says you have entered invalid email or come. Number is is a sign of not being included in the draw .not only accessing my result I couldn’t retrieve my confirmation number. May be we are deleted from the hard drive
May 4, 2017 at 11:31
If we are not known by the system it is difficult to get chance of to participate in the draw
May 4, 2017 at 11:34
How many people gon a winner of this year (2018 ) from nepal any idea sir ?
May 4, 2017 at 13:22
No idea
May 4, 2017 at 11:35
Hi folks after having this problem for 2 days, i finally abled to check my status. Unfortunately not selected. You should try to check again, it seems that the system started to function again
May 4, 2017 at 11:40
After getting this glitch resolved “I HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED”
May 4, 2017 at 11:42
same here NOT SELECTED
May 4, 2017 at 11:44
I can confirm that I had the “information is not valid” problem and just checked again..it seems the issue has been resolved..not selected tho..
By the way..this is my first time applying.
May 4, 2017 at 11:54
Not selected. Oh well. I didn’t expect to win anyways. But still I had my hopes up. Now that I have tried the lottery I guess I’ll keep trying eh
May 4, 2017 at 11:54
Confirmed that it is now working.
May 4, 2017 at 11:59
Same problem 1st not valid then not selected here in Ethiopia
May 4, 2017 at 12:03
Hello simonbrit… do you have any idea about what it means?
“Have you checked your Diversity Visa (DV) 2018 status recently? Additional entrants have been added to “selected” status! Check your status using your unique confirmation number on the Entrant Status Check (ESC) website”
May 4, 2017 at 12:34
Source?
May 4, 2017 at 12:41
Where did you recieve this?
May 4, 2017 at 13:21
It means their IT guy (who is obviously not too smart) did a “save as” from DV2017 information. Just forget it.
May 4, 2017 at 16:58
https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected.html
I saw it too on official website, truly shocking, this is a real mess, how they can add extra selectees if the announcement for winner was just 2 days ago
May 4, 2017 at 18:53
It’s just a silly mistake that I already explained. Not really “truly shocking”.
May 4, 2017 at 12:06
Looks like it’s fixed…. have not been selected of course.
May 4, 2017 at 12:08
I got my case is not valid yesterday and today HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED.
I wonder if anybody like us has been selected??!!
May 4, 2017 at 12:13
HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED 😀
May 4, 2017 at 12:32
you can check your ID now its working, i just checked mine. but unfortunately not selected.
May 4, 2017 at 12:45
Hi Mr Brit The problem solved now I can check the status of many applicants who appear the previous error message , Good Luck for All
May 4, 2017 at 12:53
Everybody who has a problem to see results is because they weren’t registered in the system so they don’t won’t to make like in year DV2012 and that’s why everybody now see a results as Has Not Been selected! It’s not good to do this it’s unfair!
May 4, 2017 at 12:57
It’s working now, just checked
May 4, 2017 at 13:00
Same here – not valid yesterday and not selected today…
May 4, 2017 at 13:12
It’s working again for me too. All 4 entries that were invalid have not been selected now.
May 4, 2017 at 13:12
Hi
me and my wife HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED
please let me know if there is anyone wonder from valid case
Thanks
May 4, 2017 at 13:15
Hi
me and my wife HAS NOT BEEN SELECTED
please let me know if there is anyone SELECTED from valid case
Thanks
May 4, 2017 at 13:47
How many people in every country have the right? for example, my Country Somalia, in the past two years won Dv lottery 215 and 275 winners but this year we see only 15 peaple ? Is it possible the mistake is from D.J Trump? Sorry for my broken English
May 4, 2017 at 16:28
No mistake, nothing to do with Trump. It’s a random lottery with low chances of selection.
May 4, 2017 at 13:48
Yep, it’s working now.
May 4, 2017 at 13:59
Anyone with a previous “Invalid information” issue getting SELECTED today??
May 4, 2017 at 16:15
Yes
May 4, 2017 at 14:21
Dear Madam or Sir
We the DV2018 participants have noticed that the selection of the Diversity Visa Program of this year is unfair : Technical issues ,lot of participants could not check their status ,and a really few percentage of selected entrants compared to the previous years. We have decided to send you this petition to reorganize another selection in order to have a fair draw and equal chance to win for all.
THANK YOU Best regardS
May 4, 2017 at 14:26
This is not correct and a waste of time.
May 4, 2017 at 14:32
I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference it’s all done and over with. I would really loved to have selected but I wasn’t. Deep down I kinda wish there will be a second draw but probably wont happen. Well dv thing was plan A what do we do now ? Move on to plan B. Heck yeah. I will be there one day ?
May 4, 2017 at 14:30
The website finally is working, although it seems a fraud, it doesn’t make any sense believe that during almost three days the system has not identified the credentials of many of us, and to think that they have considered us in the draw… Everything points out that only one hard drive was included in the lottery. It is desirable a fair play, that’s all what I ask.
May 4, 2017 at 16:10
Some of the not valid cases have been selected – so nothing unfair/fraud. Totally normal.
May 4, 2017 at 15:02
Worked this time but NOT SELECTED (x2)
May 4, 2017 at 15:10
I’am not selected to dvlottery 2018 is unfair because they have quota and the people who dosent have tecnical issues got their results fairly all other has not been selected.
May 4, 2017 at 16:04
There are people from the not valid group who are now selected – so there is nothing unfair at all.
May 4, 2017 at 15:33
Still not valid information ?
May 5, 2017 at 02:06
Hi Bits, the webpage still tells me that my info is not valid. I checked several times.
May 5, 2017 at 02:10
https://britsimonsays.com/faq/checking-esc-page-check-without-mistakes/
May 5, 2017 at 10:54
I am one of “Information entered not valid” group, and I am not selected
May 5, 2017 at 19:23
did they solve the issue ?
May 5, 2017 at 23:28
Yes