How do I know if I won the 2023 Visa Lottery?

In my Consulta Migratoria® column I answer the question of a reader who wants to know if he was selected in the 2023 visa lottery.

Each case is different and the answers vary depending on each person's immigration history.

Here I provide general answers to your questions. Please consult with an immigration attorney to receive personalized legal advice before starting any procedure.

Last year I registered for the 2023 visa lottery drawing. How can I find out the results of the lottery and what should I do if I have been selected for a visa? David B.

David, the lottery results have been published for the Fiscal Year 2023 Diversity Visa Program. The U.S. Department of State website has all the necessary information.

Where can I look up the results of the 2023 Visa Lottery?

Visit the website "DV Incoming Status Check"to determine if you are a lottery winner. Follow the instructions by clicking on the "Continue" button.

To see if you were selected, you will need the following information:

1. The Department of State issued you a confirmation number when you filed your application.

The confirmation number is 16 characters (alphanumeric); the first four characters represent the program year. For example, 20231Y8DZWY3DKV9.

2. Your last name as it appears on your visa lottery application.

3. The year you were born.

If you do not find your confirmation number, go to the "Verify Entrant". Enter your first and last name, date of birth and the email address you used to enter the lottery to validate your identity.

Results for fiscal year 2023 will only be available through September 30, 2022 on the "DV Entrant Status Check" website.

What should you do if you are selected?

If selected and eligible, you must apply for and acquire a diversity visa before the end of fiscal year 2023 (October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023). Visa lottery benefits cannot be carried over to the following year. No exceptions are made.

You may lose your eligibility for the diversity visa if you do not complete the visa lottery requirements within the stipulated time frame.

They will begin processing your case after you have completed all the steps on the DV Entrant Status Check web page. You must first apply for your diversity visa in writing, after which you will be interviewed by a representative of the federal government.

If you live outside the United States, you will be notified of your visa interview deadline at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country.

You will be summoned to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office if you plan to apply for a diversity visa within the United States.

Additional information for 2023 Visa Lottery Winners

1. Verify that you have correctly entered the visa lottery. Many people who are not eligible for the visa lottery enter the lottery, only to be rejected.

Individuals who do not have the required education or work experience, are not citizens of a lottery-qualified country, or do not include their spouse when married, for example, may not be eligible to participate in the lottery. visas.

If the federal government determines that someone did not follow the program enrollment guidelines or was ineligible but won the lottery, their application will be disqualified and the diversity visa will not be processed.

Winning the visa lottery does not guarantee approval for permanent residence. To be eligible for a diversity visa, you must meet all the standards set by U.S. immigration law. Being admissible to the country is one of those requirements.

3. Individuals who are currently or have been undocumented in the United States, have a criminal record, or have been arrested for immigration law violations should consult with an immigration attorney to ensure that they meet all requirements and are eligible to apply for a diversity visa.

4. If you are not eligible for a diversity visa, do not apply. It is a waste of time and money because the federal government does not reimburse the application fee if the applicant is not eligible.

David, before initiating any immigration process, consult with a licensed U.S. immigration attorney for proper advice.

For more information and immigration tips, visit my website at Immigration Today.

Send your questions to preguntas@consultamigratoria.com. Include detailed information about your situation to better answer your questions.

Nelson A. Castillo, Esq. is an immigration attorney and author of La Tarjeta Verde: Cómo Obtener la Residencia Permanente en los Estados Unidos (Green Card: How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the United States). He is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Westlake South Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. For information on how to consult with Dr. Castillo, click here. click here.

The purpose of this column is to provide general information. There can be no guarantee or prediction as to what will be the outcome of the information presented by Dr. Nelson A. Castillo. The information should not be taken as legal advice for any individual, case or situation. This column may be considered an advertisement under the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys in several states, including California and New York. Consult with an immigration attorney for personalized legal advice before beginning any immigration proceedings.