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Immigration News

DV-2022 Green Card Lottery Entry Status Check Opens on Saturday, May 8th at noon (EDT)

Applicants who submitted an entry under the Diversity Visa 2022 green card lottery (DV-2022) can check the status of their application online starting on Saturday, May 8, 2021, at noon (EDT). The DV-2022 entry period opened on October 7, 2020, and closed on November 10, 2020. Only confirmation information for entries submitted during this period are valid for checking your status.

All DV-2022 applicants must check their status online, and will not receive a notification letter or e-mail from the U.S. government. Diversity Visa Entry Status Check will only be provided through the Department of State secure online site. Until September 30, 2022, entrants are able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website at https://dvprogram.state.gov/. Entrants need to use their own confirmation page information from the time of their entry to check the status to find out if their Diversity Visa Lottery entry was or was not selected. Entrants will need to enter their last name, year of birth and confirmation number from the receipt.

The Department of State advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to potential Diversity Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants.

Please keep your confirmation number until at least September 30, 2022, even if you are not selected on May 8, 2021. The Department of State may select more DV-2022 entries on October 1, 2021 or thereafter.

Entrants who have lost their confirmation number can enter further identifying details on the official website to retrieve it by clicking the “Forgot Confirmation Number” link.

All lottery applicants who were assisted at our office would have received a copy of their application confirmation page with their confirmation number. Please contact our office if you need the information again.

Selected entrants must confirm their qualifications, submit their immigrant visa and alien registration application, prepare supporting documents, and have a consular interview. Visa number allocations are determined by the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act which determines the number of diversity immigrant visas available each year. Selected entrants will only be scheduled for an interview when and if there is a visa number available. Before being interviewed, each applicant must pay the Diversity Visa Lottery fee of $330 per person which is not refundable. For more detailed information, including steps to take to prepare for the consulate interview, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/if-you-are-selected.html.

It is expected that the next application period for the DV Lottery will be between October and November this year. Official dates, rules and eligible countries should be announced by late September. For more information, go to the official US State Department website at https://dvprogram.state.gov/. You may also contact our office in the early fall for more information and assistance to complete another application. Be aware that the application for the DV lottery is free and you do not need to pay anyone to enter.

President’s Proclamation Extending and Expanding the Immigration Ban

On June 22, 2020, the White House announced an extension and expansion of the Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19, which was originally announced on April 22, 2020 and restricted the issuance of and entry on immigrant visas. The new proclamation expands the restrictions to certain non-immigrant work visa categories. The original proclamation was immediately extended to December 31, 2020.

Also note that the European Union (EU) has extended restrictions on nonessential travel for residents of the United States with some exceptions. EU citizens and residents are excluded from the ban. The restrictions also do not apply to travel to Ireland or the United Kingdom.

  • The new proclamation is effective from June 24, 2020 until at least December 31, 2020.
  • The proclamations only apply to individuals applying for new immigrant or nonimmigrant visas from overseas at U.S. consular posts.
  • Individuals with valid visas in one of the suspended classifications as of June 24th are not subject to the proclamation, regardless of previous entry.
  • It does not immediately impact any nonimmigrant workers already in the U.S.

The new proclamation ONLY restricts the issuance of the following nonimmigrant visas:

  • H-1B visa for specialty occupation workers;
  • H-2B seasonal or temporary non-agricultural workers (other than food workers);
  • H-4 dependent spouses and children of H-1B/H-2B visa holders;
  • J-1  exchange visitors participating as an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program;
  • L-1 intracompany transfer (including L-1A executives and L-1B specialized knowledge workers).

The following are also excluded:

  • Lawful permanent residents (green card holders);
  • Spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens;
  • Workers providing essential services for the U.S. food supply chain;
  • Canadians entering as H, L or J nonimmigrants are exempt from the Presidential Proclamation;
  • Anyone whose entry is determined by the State Department or the Department of Homeland Security to be in the national interest may be exempted under the proclamation, including:

o   Individuals critical to the defense, law enforcement, diplomacy, or national security of the United States;

o   Those involved with the provision of medical care to individuals who have contracted COVID-19 and are currently hospitalized or with the provision of medical research at United States facilities to help the United States combat COVID-19;

o   Anyone necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States.

It should be noted that, at this time, there are other travel bans restricting entry into the U.S. by foreign nationals.  The most notable is the travel suspension on inbound travel from Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Schengen area of Europe as well as several other countries around the world. Additionally, all U.S. Embassies and Consulates are currently closed for routine visa applications.