The DV Lottery is among the year’s most anticipated programs for people wishing to start a new life in the US. Roughly 20 million people from eligible countries across the globe take their chance at winning the Green Card. Are you looking to try your luck with this year’s lottery? Hold up; like most things too good to be true, there are a few traps laid out throughout the program to narrow down the candidate pool. And you’d be surprised by how often they work. So, before applying this year, here are 5 common mistakes you should know that always get DV Lottery applicants screened out of the running.
#1 Providing Incorrect Biodata
This is perhaps the most common mistake that people end up making simply because of the excitement of applying for the program. Most applicants end up misspelling their names, writing the wrong date of birth, or providing their country of residence instead of the country of birth (if both are different). So, for example, your date of birth is 18th August 1993 but you accidentally jumble up the numbers and write 18th August 1939, you won’t be given a chance to undo your mistake. Any one of these errors is enough to get you disqualified. If you’re someone who dislikes filling tedious forms and patience is not your middle name, you should consider having an experienced third-party help you out so there’s very little chance of error.
#2 Falling for Fraudulent Websites and Services
Because of how popular the DV Lottery Program is, it’s no stranger to fraud. Signing up on fake websites is among the biggest reasons a lot of people never make it. DV Lottery email scams have become rampant, asking people to enter the program by clicking on a link, visiting a page, and/or paying a fee. These are obviously cons for two standout reasons: (a) the official application must be filled out on the government’s website “dvprogram.state.gov” and (b) the program officials would never contact you. Even if your name ends up on the lottery, you’d have to check the results via “Entrant Status Check” by entering your confirmation number here.
#3 Not Following the Photo Requirements
A lot of applicants are unaware of the precise photo requirements of the program and end up getting disqualified for something so seemingly mundane. There is, in fact, a very long list of particulars to be followed while taking your picture for the lottery. The photo should be:
- Colored,
- Taken in the last 6 months,
- Under or equal to 240 kB in file size
- In .jpg format
- Exactly 600×600 pixels in dimension (equal height and width)
You can view the complete list of requirements by visiting the official webpage.
#4 False Listing of Spouse and Children
Another very common mistake that DV Lottery applicants make is listing the wrong number of children. As a rule, you must include all your natural, adopted, and step-children under the age of 21 regardless of whether they live with you presently or plan to immigrate with you or not. Moreover, you must list your correct marital status as it is at the time of filling the application. So, for example, if you plan on getting divorced before the DV Lottery but are still married while filling the application, you need to write “married.” Similarly, if you’re separated but not legally so, you still need to mention your spouse in your application.
#5 Duplicate Forms
Last but not least, there is the looming issue of duplicate forms. Some do it by mistake, not knowing the rules of the program, while some do it simply because they think they’re helping their chances. Well, we’ve got some bad news; you’re not. You might be selected by the program at first, but they run a thorough check on your application details afterward. Any duplicate entry is always found out at this point, resulting in immediate disqualification. In case you’re hoping to correct a mistake you made by sending in another application, don’t do it. It’s best to take your chances in the interview and try to explain your error there.
Choose Dream of USA
All immigration dreams begin with Dream of USA — a private consultancy with expert advisors at your disposal no matter where you are in the world! Employ their professional consultancy services today and ensure your chances of a successful entry in this year’s DV Lottery! They can help you achieve your dream of living, working, and studying in the US permanently.