There is only one way to participate in the DV program. You must submit the DS 5501, the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form), which is only accessible online at the EDV website dvprogram.state.gov. Failure to complete the form in its entirety will disqualify the entry. All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE entry for that individual is received, regardless of who submitted the entry.

The registration period for participation in the DV program is announced on our website every September.

How to register:

• Visit the U.S. Government website dvprogram.state.gov
• Fill out the application form.
• A successfully registered entry will result in a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number.

You should print this confirmation screen and ensure that you retain your confirmation number!

Note! Before submitting your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form), please see the instructions.  

Entrant status check

Entrants in the Diversity Visa program may check the status of their entries through the Entrant Status check on the E-DV website dvprogram.state.gov beginning on May 1 of the year following the year of entry submission.

Important notice: If you have lost your confirmation information, you will not be able to check your DV entry status.  We will not be able to resend the confirmation page information to you.

All diversity visa (DV) applicants must submit the electronic DS-260 “Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application”.  The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will no longer collect the DS-230 and DSP-122.

Obtain the documents listed below and follow these procedures. It is strongly recommended that you begin this process early.

List of Documents for DV Applicants

DV applicants, their spouses, and their children must bring to their interviews the following documents, wherever applicable. Documents in English, Ukrainian or Russian do not need to be translated. You should submit a translation for every document which is done in a language other than English, Ukrainian or Russian. When copies are required, simple Xerox copies are meant; notarization of copies is not required.

• Passport registered with TMM courier service for delivery. IMPORTANT! Each passport should have separate registration.
• Two photographs 5×5 cm taken in the last six months cropped and signed in English (first and last name).
• Medical examination.
• Internal Ukrainian passport or Ukrainian ID Card.
• Birth certificate and a copy.
• Marriage certificate(s) or name change certificate(s) and copies. IMPORTANT: Please, bring original and two copies of marriage certificate if you are married.
• Divorce certificate(s) and copies.
• Death certificate(s) and copies.
• “FULL” Police certificate(s) (“ПОВНА” довідка про несудимість) listing all names ever used, including maiden and married names. Applicants aged 16 years and older must submit a police certificate from the country of nationality and the country of residence at the time of visa application, if the applicant has resided there for 6 months or more. You will need one for each country where you have lived for 12 months or more while 16 years old or older. Originals only. Include court and police records if ever arrested, detained or convicted of a crime (even if expunged) as well as translations.
• Military records and a copy.
• Adoption decree and a copy.
• The custody status of all applicants’ children will be reviewed. Applicants need to bring all documents related to the birth, adoption, and parental rights including permission to travel of the other parent is not accompanying them. The Ukrainian government has certain requirements for children under 16 years old traveling outside of Ukraine. You may contact the Ukrainian Border Control to find out more about the requirements applicable to your specific situation.
• Certificates, diplomas and/or other graduation documents with supplements from all educational institutions attended by the primary (winning) applicant, or evidence that the applicant has qualifying work experience – originals and copies.
• All documents explaining extended stays in the U.S., including deportation documentation – originals only.
• Evidence that you will not become a public charge in the United States. This evidence may be in the form of a combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from a relative or friend residing in the United States, and/or an offer of employment from an employer in the United States – originals only.
• Diversity visa fee $330 that should be paid at the Embassy only prior to the interview.

Medical Exam

Before your interview, diversity visa applicants will need to have completed the required medical exam, including required vaccinations.  You will need to schedule your medical exam appointment.  Review the medical exam guidelines (PDF 139 KB)  for a list of required Panel Physicians in Ukraine and instructions.

Interview Preparation

You should prepare thoroughly and carefully for your interview. Failure to be fully prepared for your interview at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy can result in delay or denial of the visa.  It is important that you follow any additional instructions provided in Step 3 and on the Interview Preparation – Embassy Guidelines webpage.

Rescheduling visa appointments: 

We recommend that all DV winners use the Entrant Status Check page at www.dvprogram.state.gov to find their appointment date and come to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv fully prepared for the scheduled interview. While we will try to reschedule DV interviews, we cannot guarantee that rescheduling will be possible in every case and strongly encourage people to make their appointments.

Required Documentation

At your interview you must bring the following;

• Passport(s) valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the U.S. for you and each family member applying for a visa.
• Original documents or certified copies of all applicable civil documents listed in the Step 3 instructions.

Fee Payment

The only DV Program fee is $330 and should be paid for every applicant during your interview at the Consular section.

How to Contact Kentucky Consular Center

If you need to contact the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) you must always refer to your name and case number exactly as they appear on your original Selectee Letter.  Your case number should be clearly written in the upper right hand corner of ALL documents and correspondence sent to the KCC.

The KCC telephone number is 606-526-7500 (7:30am until 4:00pm EST), or send an E-mail inquiry to KCCDV@state.gov.

All individuals issued immigrant and diversity visas overseas must pay a $220.00 USCIS Immigrant Fee before traveling to the United States.  This USCIS website has more details on the fee, including contact information for USCIS, if there are further questions.  Please also see our FAQ page.

Each traveler must have his or her own visa, IV packet and a valid passport.  These documents should be hand-carried to the port of entry (POE), not packed in luggage.  Travelers benefiting from derivative classification may not precede the primary beneficiary in requesting admission to the U.S.

At the port of entry, DHS inspector will open the IV packet and verify that required documentation is present, collect the fingerprints and then decide whether to admit the individual to the United States.  On admission to the United States, the traveler becomes a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR).  LPR status is initially demonstrated by an entry stamp, together with the used IV in the immigrant’s passport.  The Alien Registration Card, once issued, is the individual’s more permanent proof of LPR status.