October 4, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Diversity Visa (DV) Program – 2025
On September 30, 2023, The Department of State announced the beginning of the Diversity Visa 2025 Program (DV-2025).
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas (DVs) each year, drawn by random selection among all entries, to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements and who are from countries and areas with low rates of recent immigration to the United States.
Applicants can access the electronic DV entry form (E-DV) at the official E-DV website, https://dvprogram.state.gov/, during the registration period, which is open from 7:00 PM Bulgarian time on October 4, 2023, to 7:00 PM Bulgarian time on November 7, 2023.
The Department accepts entries ONLY through the E-DV site, which has complete instructions. There is no fee to enter. However, those selected and scheduled for an interview must pay the application fee prior to appearing for their official application before a consular officer. All entrants must print and retain their online confirmation page after completing their DV entries so that they will be able to check their entry status.
It is very important for entrants to keep a record of their unique confirmation number for the submission of their DV entry until at least September 30, 2025.
Beginning May 4, 2024, DV-2025 entrants will be able to use their unique confirmation number provided at registration to check the online Entrant Status Check at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ to see if their entry was selected. Entrant Status Check will inform successful entrants how to apply for DVs for themselves and their eligible family members. The Department also will confirm visa interview appointments through Entrant Status Check.
All entrants must enroll with a photo taken within the last six months. Entries submitted with old photos, including the same photo from a previous DV year, may render the entrant ineligible for a DV.
The law allows only one primary entry per person during the registration period. Submission of more than one primary entry for a person will disqualify all entries for that person. Spouses may both enter as primary entrants and list each other as eligible family members.
Successful entrants are not notified by email of the status of their E-DV online entry. Any email, letter or telephone call claiming to notify entrants they have been selected for the DV program is fraudulent.
Those selected in the DV program may apply for immigrant visas (IVs), if a visa interview is available. Selectee notification information will be available on Entrant Status Check beginning May 4, 2024, and will provide successful entrants with further instructions, including information about immigrant visa application fees.
Being randomly chosen as a selectee does not guarantee that you will receive a visa interview or a visa. Selection merely means that the person may be eligible to participate in the DV program.
Because it is likely that some of the first 55,000 persons selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 55,000 entries will be selected. This means there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. When all the 55,000 diversity visas are issued, the program will end for the year.
DV applicants must pay all application fees and costs, including those for medical examinations, for themselves and qualifying family members. Immigrants under the DV program also must prove they will be able to support themselves in the United States — that is, that they are not likely to become a public charge. Immigration under the DV program does not entitle the immigrant or family members to any financial or resettlement assistance in the United States.
The instructions for the DV 2025 program are posted in both English and Bulgarian on the Embassy’s website: bg.usembassy.gov.
If you have any additional questions after reading the instructions, please send us an email at iv_sofia@state.gov.
