• Navigating in the AES Web Site
• The Welcome Page
• Entering the Authentication Code

Moving Between Pages

While in the AES Web site, do not use your Internet browser's Forward and Back buttons to navigate between pages. The browser's cache (temporarily stored Web pages and documents) does not refresh, so using your browser's navigation buttons may display outdated information. Use the buttons provided on the Web site to ensure you are viewing updated information.

When you log on to www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period, you will see the Welcome Page for AES.

You can click the following links:

DV-YYYY Instructions: This link opens a separate Internet browser window containing detailed instructions for the current DV lottery year, including who is eligible to enter the lottery, a list of all the information you will need in order to complete the Entry Form, how to properly compose the required photographs for submission, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions. To avoid having your entry disqualified, read and follow these instructions carefully.

Photo Tool: Prior to filling out the Entry Form, use this link to check that the photographs you intend to submit with your entry will be accepted by the system. You cannot submit your photographs via this link; this is only to verify that your photographs are valid.

Begin Entry: This link will open the Authentication Code page. You will have to successfully enter the code in order to access the Entry Form.

Check Status: This link will take you to the ESC Web site where lottery applicants can check to see whether their entry was selected for further processing. The instructions include guidelines for which DV lottery years may check their status, and the date range they may check their status.

Completing the Authentication Code Page

You must enter the code you see on this page to submit your Entry Form.

To enter the displayed code:

1. In the text field, enter the characters you see displayed and click Submit.
2. If you are having trouble reading the characters, do one of the following:
   
   Click Refresh to display a new code. Enter the characters in the text field and click Submit.
   
   Click Speaker to hear an audio clip of the characters. Enter the characters in the text field and click Submit.
   

When you click Submit after entering the correct characters, the online Entry Form will open, via a secure connection, by which you will submit your application and photographs. You will have up to 60 minutes to submit your Entry Form from the time you click Begin Entry. You cannot fill out the form offline, and you cannot fill out only part of the form and complete the rest later. For this reason, it is very important that prior to clicking this link, you do the following: (1) read the DV Entry Instructions and gather all the information you will need, and (2) use the Photo Tool to verify that your photographs will be accepted.
To enter the displayed code:

1. Click Cancel Entry.
   The Confirm Cancellation page is displayed.
2. Click Confirm Cancellation to discard your Entry Form. The information you filled out will not be saved. If you decide to enter the DV lottery later, you will have to fill out the Entry Form again.

• Using the Photo Tool
• Submitting Photo on Part One - Entrant Information
• Submitting Photos on Part Two - Derivatives

Check That Photographs Meet All Requirements

You must submit photographs of:

• You
• Your spouse
• Each unmarried child under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, including all natural children as well as all legally adopted children and stepchildren, even if a child no longer resides with you or you do not intend for a child to immigrate under the DV program.

To validate that a photograph meets all technical requirements:

• From the Welcome Page, click Photo Tool. The Photo Requirements web page is displayed, describing the photo requirements and providing a Photo Cropping Tool.

Help: Detailed instructions about the technical requirements for photographs can be found by clicking Photo Tool on the Welcome Page and scrolling down.

Submitting Photographs: You will submit only one photograph for the primary Entrant on Part One - Entrant Information. Photographs of your spouse and children, if any, will be submitted on Part Two - Derivatives once you have completed Part One.

To select a photograph to submit:

1. Under the Entrant Photograph section, click on the Choose New Photo button to open the Choose File to Upload window.
   
   
   
   Note: You can only upload photos using the Choose New Photo button; you cannot manually type in the file path.
2. Navigate to the location on your computer where the photograph is stored.
3. Select the photograph file name and click Open. The textbox will populate with the file path to the selected photo, and a preview of the selected photo will display below the textbox.
   
   
   

Help: Detailed instructions about the technical requirements for photographs can be found by clicking Photo Tool on the Welcome Page and scrolling down.

Submitting Photographs: You will submit separate photographs for your spouse and for each child on Part Two - Derivatives. There will be separate fields for each child based on the number you entered in the Number of Children field on Part One - Entrant Information.
To select a photograph to submit:

1. Under the Entrant Photograph section (Spouse, Child #1, etc.), click on the Choose New Photo button to open the Choose File to Upload window.
   
   
   
   Note: You can only upload photos using the Choose New Photo button; you cannot manually type in the file path.
2. Navigate to the location on your computer where the photograph is stored.
3. Select the photograph file name and click Open. The textbox will populate with the file path to the selected photo, and a preview of the selected photo will display below the textbox.
   
   
   

• Completing the Entry Form for the Primary Entrant
• Completing the Entry Form for Derivatives

Begin Entry

Help: Below are a few basic tips for completing the Entry Form. For a blank sample of Part One - Entrant Information, click here or scroll down. For detailed instructions on each form field, click here or scroll down.
The Entry Form: Click Begin Entry on the Welcome Page to start filling out the Entry Form. The form is divided into two parts. Part One - Entrant Information gathers information about only the primary Entrant (the eligible person applying to the DV lottery). Part Two - Derivatives gathers information about derivatives (your spouse and children), if any. You must complete Part One before filling out Part Two. The Entry Form only supports U.S. keyboard characters.
Entry Form Links: The Entry Form contains links to the Country of Eligibility list, the Photo Tool, and the Qualified Occupations list. All of these links will open in new windows. This allows you to seek additional information without losing your place on the Entry Form.
Completing Part One: Once you have filled out all information on Part One - Entrant Information, click Continue. One of the following will happen:

• If you have derivatives, Part Two - Derivatives will open for you to complete.
• If you have no derivatives, the completed Entry Form will be displayed for you to review. Go to Submitting a Completed Entry Form for details.

Below is a blank sample of the Entry Form Part One - Entrant Information.

To complete Part One - Entrant Information, fill out the fields as follows:

1. Name
   
   • Last/Family Name: Type your last or family name in the field. You must enter a last/family name. If you don't have one, you may need to move your first name or middle name to the last/family name field. 'NLN' and 'LNU' are not accepted.
   • First Name: Type your first name in the field. If you don't have one, select the No First Name check box.
   • Middle Name: Type your middle name in the field. If you don't have one, select the No Middle Name check box.
   Note: You must fill out the last/family name field. Each name field takes a maximum of 33 characters.
2. Gender: Select either Male or Female.
3. Birth Date
   
   • Day: Type in the day of birth.
   • Month: Type in the month of birth.
   • Year: Type in the year of birth. The principal Entrant must be at least 13 years old at the time of your electronic entry.
4. City Where You Were Born: Type the city where you were born. Do not enter the district, county, province, or state, even if that is all you know about where you were born. If you don't know the actual city where you were born, select the Birth City Unknown check box.
5. Country Where You Were Born: Click the arrow to open the list of countries, and click the correct country to populate the field.
   
   Note: If the name of your birth country has changed, select the name by which the country is currently known.
6. Country of Eligibility for the DV Program: The majority of Entrants are eligible to enter the DV lottery program based on the country where they were born. Were you born in a country whose natives are eligible for the current DV lottery year?
   
   
   • Yes: You don't have to make any changes. Yes is selected by default.
   • No: Select No. Then click the arrow to open the list of countries, and click the correct country of eligibility to populate the field.
   Note: Select the Explanation of Country of Eligibility link on the Entry Form to learn about the special circumstances in which you can be eligible to enter the DV lottery based on a country other than the one in which you were born.
7. Entrant Photograph: Click Choose New Photo to open the Choose File to Upload window, and navigate to the location on your computer where your photograph is stored.
   Next, click Open to populate the textbox with the file path and display a preview of the selected photograph. If you need to replace the selected photo, click Choose New Photo again and select a new photo file.
   
   Note: Once the file path to your photograph appears in the textbox and the photo you selected displays, you can proceed to the next question. Once you click Continue at the bottom of the Entry Form, the photo will be uploaded to your form.
8. Mailing Address
   
   • In Care Of: If someone other than yourself, such as a relative or lawyer, will be receiving mail for you, enter their name here. You may leave this field blank.
   • Address Line 1: Type the first line of your address here. This field is required.
   • Address Line 2: Type additional address information, such as an apartment number, here. You may leave this field blank.
   • City/Town: Type the city or town of the address in this field. This field is required.
   • District/County/Province/State: Enter the appropriate information for your address. This field is required.
   • Postal Code/Zip Code: Type the postal or zip code here. If the address does not require this information, select the No Postal Code/Zip Code check box.
   • Country: Click the arrow to open the list of countries, and select the correct country to populate the field. This field is required.
9. Country Where You Live Today: Click the arrow to open the list of countries, and select the correct country to populate the field.
   
   Note: Where you live today does not affect your eligibility for the DV lottery program.
10. Phone Number: You may type a phone number here where you may be contacted. This field may be left blank.
11. E-Mail Address: Type an e-mail address here by which you may be contacted. This address will be used in the future if you are selected and you respond through the ESC Web site. Please note that email addresses containing spaces are not accepted.
    
    • E-Mail Address: Type the e-mail address here.
    • Confirm E-Mail Address: Type the same e-mail address here to confirm that it was entered correctly. You cannot copy and paste your address from the first field; you must retype it.
12. What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today?: Select the level of education that is the best match for you.
13. What is your current marital status?: Select your marital status. If you are Legally Separated, you can choose to include your spouse by selecting the Enter Spouse Information check box.
14. Number of Children: If you have any biological children, legally adopted children, or stepchildren less than 21 years old at the time of your electronic entry, you must enter a number here, even if only some, or none, of them would be immigrating with you. If you have no children, you may leave this field blank.
    
    Note: If you are currently pregnant or in the process of adopting a child, do not count that child. If you are selected and you have a child that was born or adopted after you entered the lottery, you will be able to add them to your application at that point. You may list a maximum of 20 children.
15. Click Continue. One of the following will happen:
    
    • If you have derivatives, Part Two - Derivatives will open for you to complete.
    • If you have no derivatives, the completed Entry Form will be displayed for you to review. Go to Submitting a Completed Entry Form for details.

Finish Entry

Help: Below are a few basic tips for completing the Entry Form. For a blank sample of Part Two - Derivatives, click here or scroll down. For detailed instructions on each form field, click here or scroll down.
The Entry Form: If you indicate that you have a spouse or children on Part One - Entrant Information, clicking Continue on Part One will open Part Two - Derivatives. The form will include entries for each child, based on the number you entered in the Number of Children field on Part One.
Note: You will have up to 60 minutes to submit your Entry Form from the time you click Begin Entry. You cannot fill out the form offline, and you cannot fill out only part of the form and complete the rest later. For this reason, it is very important that prior to clicking this link, you do the following: (1) read the DV Entry Instructions and gather all the information you will need, and (2) use the Photo Tool to verify that your photographs will be accepted.
Entry Form Links: Part Two contains a link to the Photo Tool. This link will open in a new window to ensure that you won't lose your place on the Entry Form.
Editing Part One: If you need to return to Part One to edit or change any information, you must click Go Back to Part 1. Do not use your Internet browser's Back button or you will lose your information.
Completing Part Two: Once you have filled out all information on Part Two - Derivatives, click Continue. The entire completed Entry Form displays for you to review. Go to Submitting a Completed Entry Form for details.
Below is a blank sample of the Entry Form Part Two - Derivatives.

To complete Part Two - Derivatives, fill out the fields as follows:
13. Spouse Name

• Last/Family Name: Type your spouse's last or family name in the field. You must enter a last/family name for your spouse. If they don't have one, you may need to move your spouse's first name or middle name to the last/family name field. 'NLN' and 'LNU' are not accepted.
• First Name: Type your spouse's first name in the field. If they don't have one, select the No First Name check box.
• Middle Name: Type your spouse's middle name in the field. If they don't have one, select the No Middle Name check box.

13d. Birth Date

• Day: Type in the day of birth.
• Month: Type in the month of birth.
• Year: Type in the year of birth. The spouse must be at least 13 years old at the time of your electronic entry.

13e. Gender: Select either Male or Female.
13f. City Where Spouse Was Born: Type the city where your spouse was born. Do not enter the district, county, province, or state, even if that is all you know about where they were born. If you don't know the actual city where your spouse was born, select the Birth City Unknown check box.
13g. Country Where Spouse Was Born: Click the arrow to open the list of countries, and click the correct country to populate the field.

13h. Spouse Photograph: Click Choose New Photo to open the Choose File to Upload window, and navigate to the location on your computer where the photograph is stored.
Next, click Open to populate the textbox with the file path and display a preview of the selected photograph. If you need to replace the selected photo, click Choose New Photo again and select a new photo file.

14. Child #1 Name

• Last/Family Name: Type your child's last or family name in the field. You must enter a last/family name for your child. If they don't have one, you may need to move your child's first name or middle name to the last/family name field. 'NLN' and 'LNU' are not accepted.
• First Name: Type your child's first name in the field. If they don't have one, select the No First Name check box.
• Middle Name: Type your child's middle name in the field. If they don't have one, select the No Middle Name check box.

14d. Birth Date

• Day: Type in the day of birth.
• Month: Type in the month of birth.
• Year: Type in the year of birth. The child must be less than 21 years old at the time of your electronic entry. You cannot type a future date of birth.

14e. Gender: Select either Male or Female.
14f. City Where Child Was Born: Type the city where your child was born. Do not enter the district, county, province, or state, even if that is all you know about where they were born. If you don't know the actual city where your child was born, select the Birth City Unknown check box.
14g. Country Where Child Was Born: Click the arrow to open the list of countries, and click the correct country to populate the field.
14h. Child Photograph: Click Choose New Photo to open the Choose File to Upload window, and navigate to the location on your computer where the photograph is stored.
Next, click Open to populate the textbox with the file path and display a preview of the selected photograph. If you need to replace the selected photo, click Choose New Photo again and select a new photo file.

15. Click Continue. The entire completed Entry Form displays for you to review. Go to Submitting a Completed Entry Form for details.

• Submitting a Completed Entry Form
• The Submission Confirmation Page

Enter the DV Lottery

Once you have completed Part One - Entrant Information if you have no spouse or children, and Part Two - Derivatives if you have a spouse or children, click Submit to preview the entire completed form.

To submit your entry to the DV lottery:

1. Review the completed Entry Form.
2. Do one of the following:
   
   
   • If you need to make changes, click Go Back to Part 1 to edit the Entrant Information form, or click Go Back to Part 2 to edit the Derivatives form, as appropriate. Do not use your Internet browser's Back button.
   • If you don't want to submit your entry at this time, click Cancel the Entry. The information you filled out will not be saved. If you decide to enter the DV lottery later, you will have to fill out the Entry Form again.
   • If you are ready to submit your Entry Form, first print the form for your records using your Internet browser's Print icon. Then click Continue.

Verifying That Your Entry Was Received

Once your Entry Form has been successfully submitted to the DV lottery, you will see the Submission Confirmation: Entry Received page.

Note: This page includes vital information that you must save so you can later check the status of your Entry Form. Either print this page using your Internet browser's Print icon or make a note of the information for your records.

Entrant Name: The name of the primary Entrant, arranged by Last/Family Name, First Name Middle Name.

Confirmation Number: You must keep your Confirmation Number in order to check the status of your Entry after the lottery selection process has been completed.

Year of Birth: Birth year of the primary Entrant.

Digital Signature: This series of numbers and letters is automatically generated after you click the final Continue to submit your entry. You will need this signature only in the event that a dispute arises over your Entry Form.

For more information about Diversity visas:

1. Go to: travel.state.gov
2. Click Visas
3. Click Diversity Visa