Diversity Visa Program for Irish Citizens

Eligibility Criteria for the Diversity Visa

To qualify for the DV, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a national of a country that sent less than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over a five year period.
• The qualifying countries vary on a yearly basis. For example, less than 30,000 Irish emigrated to the U.S. from 2016-2020, so Ireland qualified for the DV in 2021. If you’re interested in moving to the U.S., this visa is made for you.

NB: If you’re not a national of a qualifying country like Ireland, but your spouse is, you can apply using your spouse’s country of origin.

• Have completed at least a high school education (comparable to that in the U.S.) or have at least two years working experience within the past five years in a profession that requires at least two years of professional training – the U.S. department of Labor determines which professions are eligible.
• Be up to 18 years, having met the educational or work experience requirement
• Have a valid passport
• Not constitute a criminal, terrorist or health threat to the American State.

NB: If you qualify for other visa types such as the family preference visa, you can still apply for the DV.

Applying for the Diversity Visa

The following steps are involved in applying for the diversity visa:

1. Submit Online Entry: Once registration is opened, you must submit an online entry on the Electronic-DV website. You will be required to fill out a form that inquires about certain personal details.

• “Country of birth” on this form means the country you were born in regardless of where your parents originate.
• “Country of eligibility” on this form means the country that confers you eligibility – this can include; your parent’s country of origin, your country of birth or your spouse’s country of birth/origin.
• You must fill the name of your spouse and all of your children under 21 years. If selected for the DV Program, your spouse and children will alos qualify to be LPRs in the U.S. Even if they won’t travel with you, you must still fill their names on this form.

Upon successfully submitting your application, you’ll be provided a confirmation number which must be kept safely.

NB: You must not duplicate your application as that will lead to your disqualification by the system. However, your spouse can submit a different application separate from yours.

2. Selection and Status Confirmation: As described, applicants are selected at random via computer program following the distribution formula.

If selected, you’ll not be notified via mail, but have to log into the E-DV site to check your selection status using ENTRANT STATUS CHECK.

NB: Being selected doesn’t automatically qualify you for a visa. You have to meet the requirements to be granted a visa.

3. Submission of Visa Application and Supporting Documents: Once selected, you’ll be given a date to start your visa application. You have to act fast to ensure that you can obtain your visa before the end of the fiscal year in which you were selected.

You’ll process your visa application through the U.S. embassy in Ireland or that in wherever you reside at the time of selection. You must first fill and the form DS-260 on the National Visa Center (NVC) website and print the confirmation page after you submit.

When filling the Form DS-260, you must disclose and provide proof of any changes to your status between the time you filled the entry form and the time you’re filling the form DS-260. Such changes could include; change in marital status, birth of a child, a child turning 21 etc.

Every close relative (spouse and kids) that intend to travel with you must fill separate DS-260 forms.

After submitting, the form DS-260 is received and processed by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC). The KCC will then reach out to you requesting that you and your dependents submit scanned copies of supporting documents including;

• Birth/baptismal certificate
• Court and prison records
• Police records
• Military certificate (if applicable)
• Photocopy of passport biographic data page

Do you have to interview to receive the Diversity Visa?

Interview Process: After you’ve submitted all supporting documents, an interview will be scheduled at the U.S. embassy in your resident country.

You’ll be required to log into the E-DV site and print out an appointment confirmation slip which you will present at the embassy.

You’re required to prepare thoroughly for your interview and pay the stipulated DV fee of $330.

You must present to the interview with your dependents, bringing along original copies of all supporting documents and some additional documents including;

• Form DS-260 submission confirmation page
• Evidence of required education
• Passport valid for at least six months after your planned entry into the US.
• Two passport photographs
• Medical examination results
• Appointment confirmation slip

You and your dependents will be interviewed by a consular officer at the embassy, who’ll assess your responses and then decide if to approve or deny your visa.

If denied, you will be informed of the reasons for denial.

If approved, you will be informed on how and when you’ll receive your visa.

What happens if your visa is approved?

Travel to the US: Once approved, your visa will be placed on a page in your passport.

After receiving the immigrant visa and before travelling to the U.S., you must pay the USCIS immigrant fee unless you will not be issued a green card.

You have to select a suitable ate to travel to the U.S. This date must be before the expiration of your visa, which is usually 6 months from the time of issue.

Before travelling, the embassy will offer you a sealed pack containing documents which must only be opened by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon your arrival in the U.S.

You can be deported immediately if you open the pack.