The U.S. Embassy in Asmara does not process Immigrant Visas. All Immigrant Visas for Eritreans  are handled at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa or Nairobi.

The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program, where 55,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual lottery, starting in fiscal year 1995. The lottery aims to diversify the immigrant population in the United States, by selecting applicants mostly from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States in the previous five years.

To apply for a diversity visa, follow the steps on the Diversity Visa Process on usvisas.state.gov.  Once you have completed those steps, review the instructions given to you by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), along with the information presented on this website, for further guidance and instructions.

The 2024 Diversity Visa

 

• The DV-2024 program registration period will run from noon EDT on October 5, 2022, through noon EST on November 8, 2022.
• The Department will conduct the DV-2024 program entirely electronically, including electronic entry.  We will not accept paper entries.  The Department website for the submission of E-DV entries is dvprogram.state.gov.
• Registered entries that comply with form submission instructions will result in display of a confirmation screen page that contains the entrant’s name and confirmation number, which the entrant should print.  The confirmation screen page will provide information the entrant must use to check the status of their entry electronically through the Entrant Status Check available at dvprogram.state.gov.  Only entrants who have their confirmation information will be able to check their Entrant Status and, if selected, receive application instructions and notification of their IV interview appointment.  A link on the ESC page will allow entrants to retrieve their confirmation number by entering their email address, last name, and year of birth.
• Entrants may prepare and submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry for them.  Whether the individual submits an entry directly, or an attorney, friend, relative, etc. provides assistance, only one entry may be submitted in the name of each individual, and the entrant remains responsible for ensuring that the information is correct and complete.  All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the ESC available at dvprogram.state.gov beginning May 6, 2023.
• Neither consular sections nor KCC may release confirmation numbers to the public or confirm whether or not an entrant has been selected.  The only means by which an entrant may confirm selection and obtain appointment information is through the ESC.
• The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period.  Submission of more than one entry for a person will disqualify all entries for that person.
• Entrants must submit a photo taken within the last six months that is compliant with specifications published in the DV-2024 Instructions.  Entries that include the same photo submitted with a previous year’s entry or that do not meet specifications will render the entrant ineligible for a DV.
• In prior years, the Department asked applicants to provide information from a valid, unexpired passport at the time of DV entry.  Entrants are no longer required to have a valid passport at the time of submitting their DV entry.
• Please refer to the DV-2024 Instructions at usvisas.state.gov/dv/instructions  for complete program rules and answers to Frequently Asked Questions from entrants.