Embassy of the United States

Important changes to educational standards required for Diversity Visa Applicants

In compliance with U.S. immigration regulations, U.S. Embassy Colombo has changed the educational standard required to qualify for the Diversity Visa.  Successful completion of 6 GCE O-level subjects is no longer sufficient to qualify.  Instead, successful completion of 3 GCE A-level subjects is required to qualify for the Diversity Visa. 

If you do not meet that standard, you may be able to qualify based upon your work experience.  Under the DV Lottery rules, you must have completed at least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training to perform. 

Please note that most of these kinds of jobs require the equivalent of a U.S. university degree.  Few people qualify for the DV based on their work experience alone.  Therefore, we recommend that you verify whether you can qualify based on your work experience before proceeding with your application

Diversity Visa Scammers Sending Fraudulent Emails and Letters

The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. All applicants should be familiar with information about DV scams provided by the Federal Trade Commission. Also, review the procedures for the DV program provided below, so that you know what to expect, when to expect it, and from whom.

Registration for 2014 Diversity Visa (“Green Card Lottery”) Program

The Diversity Visa Program allows people who were born in certain countries to apply for a chance to migrate to the United States legally. The Diversity Visa Lottery for 2014 is now closed.

Diversity Visa Program Notification

A computer will randomly select individuals from among all qualified entries. Starting May 1, 2013, you will be able to check the status of your DV-2014 entry by returning to http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. Entrant Status Check will be the sole means of informing you of your selection for DV-2014, providing instructions to you on how to proceed with your application, and notifying you of your appointment for your immigrant visa interview. Therefore, it is essential you retain your confirmation number. Applicants may check the status of their entry online http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/

Instructions for Diversity Visa Lottery Program 2014:

• English (pdf, 280 kb)
• Sinhala (pdf, 28 kb) 
• Tamil (pdf, 128 kb)

For further information on the Diversity Visa Program, please visit the State Department's Website.  

DV 2013 Program:

Entrants in the Diversity Visa 2013 program may now check the status of their entries through Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website through September 30, 2013. Review more about Entrant Status Check. DV 2013 Entrants: Please keep your confirmation number until at least September 2013, even if you were not selected on May 1, 2012. The Department of State may select more DV 2013 entries on October 22, 2012 at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4).

For All Successful DV 2013 Entrants: If you have been selected for further processing in the Diversity Visa program, after you receive instructions, you will need to demonstrate you are eligible for a diversity immigrant visa by successfully completing the next steps. When requested to do so by the Kentucky Consular Center, you will need to complete an immigrant visa application, submit required documents and forms to the Kentucky Consular Center. Please note that the Kentucky Consular Center will provide application information online ONLY through the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov.

Diversity Visa Program Fees & Interview Appointment Date

Selected program entrants will be provided further instructions along with their appointment date, including information on fees associated with immigration to the U.S.  The Diversity Visa application fee is currently $330 (Rs.44,600) per person.  The application fee is the only fee required and it is to be paid to the cashier at the U.S. Embassy at the time of the visa interview. This is the only fee for the Diversity Visa Program.

Please bring all the documents listed on DV Checklist for your visa interview. Applicants must schedule their medical appointments with one of the panel physicians. Medical forms are available with the panel physicians.