The DV-2013 green card lottery (diversity visa lottery) winners were announced in May for the lottery that was held online from October to November in 2011. As we did last year we thought we do a general announcement post as well answer a couple of common questions we received over the past 12 months.

Fortunately there has been no issue as there was last year with Green Card Lottery Winners where the initial announced winners had to be recalled and there was ultimately a federal court challenge which was eventually dismissed

You should note that being selected as a winner does not guarantee you a green card as you must pass some additional criteria as well in the application process. The actual DV-2013 visas will be issued between the period of October 1, 2012, and September 30, 2013. Applicants must obtain the diversity visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year.

Unfortunately those who missed out on the green card and permanent residency will NOT receive any notification however you will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website. You must have kept the confirmation page information from when you entered the DV Lottery between October and December 2011.

As an example of what it looks like if you don’t win;

The results should be sent out to the lucky applicants with an official letter from the U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky. All notifications are by mail to your nominated address and you should note that there is NOT any email notification. It seems like already people have started receiving their winning letters so hopefully this will be the case for all of you that read this post and applied!

The notification letters will have additional instructions, including information about additional forms and other documentation required as well as immigrant visa application fees.

The Interviews for the DV-2013 visa lottery program begin from later Summer 2012 onwards and foreigners who applied overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center about 5 weeks before the scheduled appointment.

A couple of additional points to note.

1. Be patient with receiving the 2nd letter if you have received the first as sometime the mail is slow. The only people that you can contact that will give you any insightful information if you are a winner and received the first letter is the KCC.

2. Check the US government websites to see the current dates for your number if you are a winner

3. If you were a child on a winner’s application and since turned 21 after being 20 at the time of application, you are still eligible as your age is frozen. However you must take up the green card within a year as otherwise you will be ineligible

4. High School education or its equivalent as per the requirements of the primary applicant means the successful completion of a twelve year course of elementary/primary and secondary education in the U.S. or successful completion in another county of a formal course of elementary/primary and secondary education that is comparable to the US 12 year education system.

5. If you are currently residing in the US on another non-immigrant visa, you are able to adjust your status within the US if you are a winner

Also FYI, the Green Card Lottery (DV-2014) will begin in October 2012 for those wanting to enter this year with more information about this lottery due by September.

Good Luck

CJ