Straight Talk about the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Program

By Robert Farquhar, Chief, Consular Section        

American Embassy, Kathmandu

December 22, 2006.

The U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery is a popular but poorly understood program in Nepal.  As Chief if the American Embassy Consular Section, I hope all Nepali citizens interested in applying for a visa will take the time to read this important information. 

The Diversity Visa Program began in 1986 through a special act of the U.S. Congress.  It is designed to increase diversity in the US immigrant population by providing nationals of countries that have had low immigration rates an opportunity to apply for a visa. 

My officers and I live in Nepal and have benefited from the warmth and hospitality of the Nepali people.  We are keenly aware of the cost incurred by those who apply for U.S. visas and what this means to the average Nepali citizen.  None of my officers like disappointing someone by refusing their visa, but we are charged with following U.S. law and regulations.  It is for this reason that I hope everyone will take the time to read the instructions before they pay the application fee.  The application fee is established by Congress in U.S. law and is non-refundable once paid.

Here are some basic facts about Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery visas:

• All information and forms for all types of American visas, including Diversity Visa immigrant visas, are freely available to everyone, through the internet and from the Consular Section
• The DV program has two parts, the lottery (through which applicants submit their information electronically) and the immigrant visa application.
• Diversity Visa Lottery winners do not win a visa, they win the chance to apply for an immigrant visa
• Diversity Visa immigrant visa applicants must have 12 years of formal education (sitting for private exams without classroom work is not the equivalent).
• You MUST list your spouse and all of your children on your original DV application or you will be disqualified: there are no exceptions to this rule

The requirements for an immigrant visa are not hard to understand, and everyone who wins the DV lottery receives detailed instructions in English and Nepali.  DV winners get this information before they pay the fee and before they apply for an immigrant visa.  Information is also available on the Embassy's website (http://nepal.usembassy.gov), and the Consular Section of the American Embassy in Nepal is available to answer questions.  People who fail to receive their visas do so because they fail to read or follow the instructions (for example, they fail to include all eligible family members in their lottery submission); they fail to qualify (they do not have a "plus-two" or qualifying work experience); or they provide fraudulent documents in an attempt to appear qualified when they are not. 

The United States government does not employ outside consultants to facilitate visas.  Consultants who claim to be able to improve your chances of qualifying for a visa are misrepresenting themselves.  The Embassy works closely with the Nepal Police to investigate and prosecute both consultants and applicants who provide fraudulent documentation to the Embassy. 

There is nothing more disappointing for me and my team than when we must refuse a DV applicant because he or she did not read and follow the program's rules.  Please take the time to carefully read the instructions before applying for a visa and paying your hard-earned money.  This is a very important step in your life and it is your responsibility to understand the rules.  The American Embassy has issued over 7,500 DV immigrant visas since 2000 and it is a great pleasure for my officers and I to say, "Congratulations and welcome to the United States!" to the people who have followed the instructions and qualified for a visa.

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