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IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING THE 2010 DIVERSITY LOTTERY PROGRAM (DV-2012)
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Due to a State Department computer programming problem, the results of the 2012 Diversity Lottery have been voided. They were not valid and were posted in error. The results were not valid because they did not represent a fair, random selection of entrants, as required by U.S. law.
If you checked the DV Lottery website during the first week in May and found a notice that you had been selected for further processing or a notice that you had not been selected, that notice has been rescinded and is no longer valid.
A new selection process has been conducted based on the original entries for the 2012 program.
If you submitted a qualified entry from October 5, 2010 to November 3, 2010, your entry remains in effect. It has been included in the new selection lottery. Your original confirmation number to check results is still valid.
The results of the new selection process are now available here.
Click
here to view a message from David T. Donahue, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Visa Services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was it necessary to invalidate the names that
were selected?
U.S. law requires
that Diversity Immigrant visas be made available through a strictly
random process. A State Department computer programming error resulted in a
selection that was not truly random.
Since the computer
programming error caused an outcome that was not random, the outcome
did not meet the requirements of the law, and would have been unfair
to many DV entrants.
Q: Is the 2012 Diversity Visa Program
cancelled?
No. The 2012
program will continue. The computer programming error has been
identified and corrected. The Department of State will run a new
selection using all the qualified entries (ones received between
October 5, 2010 and November 3, 2010) it received for the 2012
program.
Q: Do I have to submit a new application?
No. You may
not submit a new application. All qualified entries
received during the October 5 to November 3, 2010 registration period will be used.
Q: Will you open a new entry period?
No. New entries will not
be accepted.
Q: I checked the Entry Status Check website
after May 1 and it said I had been selected. Can I apply for a DV
visa?
No. Unfortunately
results previously posted were not valid because the
selection process was not fair or random. However, your entry will be included in the new lottery. The results of the new lottery are now available here.
Q: How can I check the results of the new
selection?
The new results
are now available here.
The original confirmation code you received when you registered is still valid
for use.
Q: Was the Department of State hacked?
Was my personal information at risk?
The State Department does not have any evidence
that this problem was caused by any intentional act. No
unauthorized party accessed data related to the DV
program. This appears to be
solely the result of a computer programming error.
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