Roundtable on Diversity Visas Aims to Make Program, Processes More Transparent (10/25/07)

U.S. Embassy hosted a roundtable to inform local media about the Diversity Visa Program.  Consular Chief Paul Cantrell and Vice Consul Chuka Asike explained the instructions for entering the popular visa lottery program (Please see http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/), and answered journalists’ questions.  The consular officers stressed that there is no fee to enter the program.  Winners of the lottery pay a non-refundable application fee at the time they apply for visas, after they are notified to come to the Consular Section for their interview.

Mr. Cantrell and Mr. Asike urged DV applicants to carefully read the criteria for entering the DV program, and to ensure that their information is accurately entered in the on-line entry process.  Lottery winners can be disqualified because of inaccurate information, if they do not meet program requirements, or if they have submitted fraudulent information.  The consular officers warned applicants to avoid fraudulent marriage schemes and false documents.  Authentic school certificates from any year are acceptable.  Finally, Mr. Cantrell reminded lottery winners not to abandon their studies or employment or to make travel preparations until the entire DV process has been completed and they have a visa in hand.

Mr. Cantrell and Mr. Asike noted that Ethiopian nationals are one of the largest groups of Diversity Visas recipients in Africa and that DV policy and fees are uniform for citizens of all countries participating in the DV program.  They referred all Ethiopian citizens interested in the Diversity Visas to http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/, the only official source of information on the program.