Diversity Visa Lottery Program

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Beginning February 1, 2013, USCIS will collect a $165.00 Immigrant Visa DHS Domestic Processing Fee (USCIS Immigrant Fee) from applicants who have been issued Immigrant Visas (IVs) or Diversity Visas (DVs).   You must submit the $165 U.S. Dollar payment online after receiving your visa package from the Department of State and before you depart for the United States.  Failure to pay the fee prior to travel will result in a delay of issuance of the applicant's Permanent Resident Card ("green card") until the fee is paid.  

Applicants will pay the fee by visiting  www.USCIS.gov/ImmigrantFee 

Important Notice for Diversity Visa (DV) 2013 Entrants:  

Successful entrants are encouraged to send in their required documents to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) immediately, so that an interview appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or consulate can be scheduled before the program ends.  In order for an appointment to be scheduled with either a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, entrants must first submit the Form DSP-122 and Form DS-230 to KCC.  Embassies and consulates only have a limited number of appointments each month, including September, for DV applicants, so it is vital that successful entrants mail these documents to KCC very soon.  

DV 2013 ends on September 30, 2013.  In addition, if all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued before that date, the program will end.  U.S. Embassies and Consulates only have six months left to issue visas to eligible applicants in the DV 2013 program.  Successful entrants should act now.  DV-2013 visas cannot be issued after September 30, 2013.  Participants are reminded to check the status of their DV entry through Entrant Status Check http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/, using the confirmation numbers they received when they initially submitted their applications.   

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Section Overview

Welcome to the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Athens, and thank you  for your interest in immigrating to the United States.
An immigrant visa is required of anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently, whether or not that person plans to seek employment in the United States. 

In most cases these individuals, referred to as "beneficiaries," are able to apply for residency in the United States because of their relationship with a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or employer.  The citizen, resident, or employer who files the petition for the beneficiary is the "petitioner.”

It is important to understand that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) USCIS handles the processing and approval of petitions in the United States, while U.S. Embassies or Consulates abroad interview beneficiaries to ensure that they qualify for resident status.  If a beneficiary qualifies, the Consular Section issues the immigrant visa.  The Immigrant Visa Unit also processes the cases of those selected through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

The information in this website is designed to help you understand the application process and to come to your pre-scheduled interview prepared.  Please read this information carefully to avoid misunderstanding or delays in the processing of your visa.

Currently we have hours when we are open to the public for general inquiries on Mondays and Fridays only, from 8.30 a.m.  to 12 noon.  For other inquiries, please visit the Contact Us section on this site.