Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Registration

2014 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV – 2014)

The E-DV (Diversity Visa Lottery) system will be open for applications beginning noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on October 2, 2012 (Wednesday, 4.00am: Oct 3, 2012 in Fiji Time)., and ending at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 3, 2012 (Sunday, 5.00am : Nov 4, 2012 Fiji Time). Entrants for DV lottery are encouraged to apply early.  No entries will be accepted after noon EDT on November 3, 2012.

There is no fee to enter the Diversity Visa Lottery.  The DV-2014 lottery will be conducted entirely electronically, including electronic entry.  Paper entries are not accepted. The Department of State has established a dedicated website for the submission of E-DV entries.  After an entrant has completed the electronic entry form they will be given a confirmation number.  All entrants must print and keep their unique confirmation number.

Beginning May 1, 2013, entrants will enter their DV-2014 entry confirmation number into the Entrant Status check, available at DVLottery website, to find out whether their entry was selected or not. This is the ONLY way the Department of State will notify an entrant that they have “won the visa lottery”.  Only those entrants who have their confirmation information will be able to check their Entrant Status and if selected, they will receive application instructions and notification of their Immigrant Visa interview appointment. For DV-2014, the Department is also including a link on the Entry Status Check page that will allow entrants to retrieve their confirmation number by entering their e-mail address, last name, and year of birth.

It is very important for entrants to keep a personal record of their unique confirmation number until at least June 30, 2013.  This is the only way to check whether an entry has been selected and to obtain visa application and appointment information, if selected.  The unique confirmation number protects DV entrants against fraud, malfeasance, and problems with the mail. 

Entrants may prepare and submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry on their behalf. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., ONLY ONE entry must be submitted in the name of each individual, and the person entering the lottery remains responsible for ensuring that the information is correct and complete. Regardless of who submitted the entry, if more than ONE entry for an individual is received, all entries made for that individual will be disqualified.

To enter the Diversity Visa program and be awarded an Immigrant Visa to the United States, you must meet either the education or work experience requirement of the DV program. You must have either a high school education or its equivalent, known as Form Six or School Leaving Certificate in the Pacific Region; 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.  Not all occupations qualify.  The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work experience. For further details, please refer to our general travel.state.gov website.

There are NO COSTS or FEES to register for the DV program but once your entry has been selected and you have been informed of your Immigrant Visa interview appointment, you will be required to pay the non-refundable Diversity Visa fees on the day of the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Suva. You will be asked to pay the non-refundable DV fees ONLY on the day of your interview.  Other costs, such as fees for medical exams, for obtaining police reports, and for your eventual travel to the United States etc. will be born entirely by the Diversity Lottery winners and their qualifying family members.  Costs associated with qualifying for the visas, such as medical exams and police reports, will be explained to you directly by the Department of State or U.S. Embassy in Suva, after you win the lottery.

Important Notice: The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase and reporting of fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters pose as the U.S. government, and attempt to extract payment or favor from DV applicants. The U.S. Government employs no outside consultants or private services to operate the DV program.  Any intermediaries or others who offer assistance to prepare DV casework for applicants do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government.  Use of any outside intermediary or assistance for the DV application is entirely at the applicant’s discretion.

Polokalama Diversity Immigrant  Visa  ki he 2014 (DV – 2014)

Ko e lulu E-DV (Diversity Visa Lottery) ‘e kamata fakava ‘a e tohi  kole kotoa ‘i he  Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) ‘aho 2 Okatopa, 2012 (Pulelulu, 4.00am: Okatopa 3, 2012 taimi ‘a Fisi ni), pea ‘e ‘osi ki he ho’ata (EDT) Novema 3, 2012 (Sapate, 5.00am: Novema 4, 2012 taimi ‘a Fisi). Ko e kau tohi kole kotoa ki he lulu DV ‘oku fiema’u ke mou tohi  kole mai kei taimi. ‘E ‘ikai tali e ngaahi tohi kole kotoa pe ‘e tomui   mai he ho’ata EDT Novema 3, 2012.

‘Oku ikai ha totongi ki he lulu Diversity Visa. Ko e lulu DV-2014 ‘e fakahoko fakaelekitonika kotoa kau ai ‘a ho’o tohi kole. Ko e tohi kole mai ‘i ha founga faitohi ‘oku ‘ikai ke tali ‘eni. ‘Oku ‘osi hanga ‘e he Department of State ‘o fokotu’u ha uepisaiti ke fakahu mai ki ai ‘a ho’o tohi kole  E-DV. ‘I he ‘osi ko ia ‘a ho’o fakafonu ho’o foomu ‘i he founga faka-elekitonika ‘e pau leva ke ‘oatu ‘a  e fika ke fakapapau’i atu ‘a ho’o tohi kole. Fakatokanga’i ange  kuo pau ke ke hanga ‘o paaki mo tauhi ‘a ho’o fika fakamo’oni kuo ‘oatu.

‘I he ‘aho 1 Me, 2013, ko kinautolu kotoa pe na’e tohi kole mai ke nau hanga ‘o fakahuu  ‘e nau fika fakamo’oni DV-2014 he uepisaite [Entrant Status] pea te nau lava ai pe ‘o tala pe ne nau monu’ia pe ‘ikai ‘i he lulu. Ko e founga pe eni ‘e taha ‘oku fakaha ai ‘e he Department of State ki he kau tohi kole pe ‘oku nau “ma’u faingamalie he lulu kole ngofua nofo fonua”. Ko kinautolu pe na’e tohi kole pea ma’u ‘enau ngaahi fakamatala ke fakapapau’i ‘enau kau mai ‘e lava kenau vakai ki he ‘enau ola [Entrant Status] pea kapau na’e fili koe, teke ma’u leva ‘a e ngaahi tohi fakahinohino  ki he fakataha mo faka’eke’eke ki he kole visa nofo fonua.  ‘I he lulu DV-2014, ‘e hanga ‘e he Department of State ‘o fakakau e halanga ki he uepisaiti ke ke vakai’i ai ho tu’unga ‘i he lulu [Entry Status Check] pea ke lava ai pe ‘o ma’u e ‘u fakamatala fekau’aki mo ho fika fakamo’oni ‘i hao fakahu ho tu’asila ‘i-meili, fakaiku, mo e ta’u fa’ele’i.
 
‘Oku fu’u mahu’inga ‘aupito ki he kau tohi kole ke nau tauhi ‘a e ngaahi lekooti tautaha kau ai  ‘a  e fika fakamo’oni ki ho kau he lulu ke a’u ki he ‘aho 30 Sune, 2013. Ko e founga pe ‘eni ‘e taha te ke lava ai ‘o vakai pe ‘oku ke kau he faingamalie ni ke ma’u ha’o ngofua folau mo e ngaahi fakamatala ki ho taimi faka’eke’eke ‘o kapau te ke kau he faingamalie ni. Ko ho fika fakamo’oni ko ia ‘oku ‘oatu ke fakapapau’i ho’o kau he faingalie ni ‘oku ne hanga ‘o malu’i koe mei he ngaahi founga kaakaa, ngaue ta’efakalao, pea pehe ki he ngaahi palopalema fe’ave’aki meili.

‘E malava ke teuteu’i mo fakahu ho tohi kole ‘e koe pe ko ha taha. ‘E tatau ai pe kapau teke fakahuu mai ‘a ho tohi kole pe na’e tokoni’i koe ‘e ha taha fakalao, kaungame’a, pe famili etc., ko e tohi kole pe ‘e TAHA   ki he tokotaha ‘e fakahuu mai  ‘i he hingoa ‘o e tokotaha tohi kole pea ko e tokotaha ko e ‘oku ne fakahuu e lulu ke ne tokanga’i mo fakafonu ke kakato e ngaahi fiema’u kotoa . ‘E tatau ai pe pe ko hai ‘oku ne fakahuu e tohi kole, kapau ‘e toutou fakahuu ha tohi kole ‘a ha tokotaha, ‘e malava ke fakata’eaonga’i e tohi kole ‘a e tokotaha ko ‘eni.

Ko ete kau ko ia ki he polokalama lulu Diversity Visa pea mo ‘ete monu’ia ‘o ma’u  ha visa nofo fonua ‘i ‘Amelika, kuo pau ke ke ma’u e tu’unga fakaako pe taukei ngaue ‘oku fiema’u ‘e he polokalama lulu DV. Kuo pau ke mahino na’e lava ho ako faka-haisikulu pe ko ha polokalama tatau ‘o hange ko e Foomu 6 pe ko e sivi Setifikeiti Ako Tutuku ‘a  e Pasiki; pe ta’u ‘e ua taukei ngaue ‘i loto he ta’u ‘e nima ne toki ‘osi ‘i ha fa’ahinga ngaue nae pau ke ‘i ai ha fakataukei ngaue ne fiema’u. He ‘ikai ke kau noa’ia ha fa’ahinga ngaue pe. ‘E ngaue’aki e tanaki’anga fakamatala ‘a e Department of States [he O*Net Online] ke tala mei ai e fa’ahinga taukei ngaue ‘oku tali. Fekau’aki mo ha fakaikiiki, kataki ‘o vakai ki he uepisaiti E-DV:

‘Oku ‘ikai ha fa’ahinga TOTONGI lesisita  ‘i he polokalama DV ka ‘i he’ete huu pe ‘o kau pea fili kita he polokalama ni ‘e pau leva ke fakahaa atu kia koe ‘a ho’o kau ki he faingamalie ma’u visa nofo fonua pea mo e taimi talanoa mo faka’eke’eke, ‘aia ‘e fiema’u leva ke ke totongi ‘e faka’eke’eke ai koe ‘a e pa’anga e Diversity Visa ‘i he ‘ofisi ‘Amipasitoa ‘Amelika ‘i Suva; fakatokanga’i ange he ‘ikai lava ‘a e pa’anga ni ‘o toe fakafoki atu. ‘E fiema’u koe ke ke totongi ‘a e mahu’inga ko ia ‘o e DV pea ‘ikai foki toe lava fakafoki mai e pa’anga ko ‘eni ‘i he ‘aho ko ia ‘oku fai ai  ‘a e faka’eke’eke. Ko e ngaahi totongi makehe, hange ko e totongi ki he sivi mou’i lelei, ma’u e polisi lekooti, pea mo e totongi ko ia ‘a ho’o folau ki ‘Amelika, ‘e fai kotoa ia ‘e he tokotaha  ‘oku ne ma’u e faingamalie ‘i he lulu DV ‘o kau fakataha atu mo e memipa he famili ‘oku lave monu he faingamalie. Ko e kotoa e fakaikiiki mo e fakamatala fakau’aki mo e ngaahi fakamole ‘e ‘oatu ia kiate koe ‘e he Department of States pe ko e ‘ofisi e ‘Amipasitoa ‘Amelika ‘i Suva hili e mahino kuo ke kau he faingamalie ikuna he lulu.

Fanongonongo Mahu’inga: Mei he Department of State, ‘Ofisi ki he Ngaahi Ngaue Faka-visa, ‘oku nau fie fakahaa heni ki he taha kotoa ‘a e fakautuutu ko ia e ngaahi ‘i-meili founga kaakaa mo e ngaahi tohi kaakaa ‘oku ‘ave ki he kakai na’a nau tohi kole ki he polokalama Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) faingamalie ki he lulu nofo fonua. Ko kinautolu ko ia ‘oku nau fai e ngaue pango ni  ‘a hono ‘ave holo e ngaahi ‘i-meili kaakaa mo e ngaahi tohi kaakaa pea nau tala ko kinautolu mei he Pule’anga ‘Amelika  ‘oku nau feinga ke ma’u ha pa’anga pe ha faingamalie makehe mei he tokotaha kole ngofua nofo fonua (DV).  ‘Oku ikai ke fakangofua ‘e he Pule’anga ‘Amelika ha taha ngaue mei tu’a pea ha sevesi taautaha ke ne fakahoko ha ngaue ki he polokalama DV. Ka ‘i ai ha taha ‘oku ne feinga tu’u vaha’a ngaue ‘i he polokalamani mo e tokotaha kole ngofua nofo fonua (DV) pe ha fa’ahinga taha pe ‘oku ne tu’uaki ha fa’ahinga tokoni pe ki he tokotaha kole ki he faingamalie ni, oku ‘ataa pe ka ‘oku ikai ke ‘i he malumalu ia ‘o e Pule’anga ‘Amelika. Ko hono faka’aonga’i ko ia e ngaahi kakai tu’u vaha’a ni pe ha fa’ahinga tokoni  ki he tohi kole  ki he DV ko e me’a fa’iteliha pe ia ‘e tokotaha kole ki he faingamalie ni.

Education and Work Standards For the Kingdom of Tonga

According to the instructions for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, an applicant MUST have EITHER a high school education or its equivalent, defined in the U.S. 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.  U.S. Department of Labor definitions will apply.  If a person does not meet these requirements, he/she should NOT submit an entry to the DV program.  Without exception applicants not meeting these requirements will be denied visas at the time of interview.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:

For Tonga, the principal applicant must have one of the following qualifications:
Required Certificates, Diplomas, and Degree

∙ New Zealand University Entrance Examination (showing at least four subjects passed and 200 or more marks accumulated)

∙ Higher School Certificate (Victoria, Australia, showing at least four subjects graded ˝D˝ or better with 12 units accumulated)

∙ New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate (showing at least five subjects passed graded 7 or better on a 1 [high] to 9 [low] scale)

∙ New Zealand University Bursaries or Entrance Scholarship papers (at least four subjects)

∙ Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate (showing at least four subjects passed, including English with a Grade 5 or better, with an aggregate of 17 or less).  

∙ Diploma from Nuku’alofa Atenisi Institute (graded D or better)

∙ Teaching Diploma

**No degree equivalent programs are available in Tonga

WORK REQUIREMENTS:

To qualify by virtue of work the principal applicant must have two years of experience in the last five years in an occupation defined by U.S. Department of Labor as qualifying for the DV Program.  The Department of Labor (DOL) O*Net Online Database groups job experience into five “job zones.”  While many occupations are listed on the DOL Website, only certain specified occupations qualify for the Diversity Visa Program.  To qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of work experience, the principal applicant must, within the past five years, have two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher.  The SVP estimate is the amount of time determined by the Department of Labor to be required to learn the techniques, acquire information and develop the skills needed for average performance of a job as it is described by the O*Net OnLine.   Vocational preparation includes time spent in vocational education programs, apprentice training, in-plant or on-the-job training and essential training and experience received in other jobs.

To find out if your occupation qualifies, go to the above DOL O*Net Online website: Select “Find Occupations” and then select a specific “Job Family”. (For example, select Architecture and Engineering and click “GO”.  Then click on the link for the specific Occupation (For example, Aerospace Engineers).  After selecting a specific Occupation link, select the tab “Job Zone” to find out the designated Job Zone number and SVP rating range.

DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY
 A Consular Officer will only make an assessment of your eligibility after your nonrefundable fees are paid.   Therefore, we suggest that you make a personal assessment of your qualifications before applying for your diversity visa.  All applicants must either meet the education or work requirements in order to be issued a visa.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact the Embassy in Suva, Fiji. The U.S. Embassy in Suva is closed on both U.S. and Fiji holidays. This is an official source of U.S. Government information on the Web. Inclusion of Non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents