Overview
All entries must be submitted electronically on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website during the specified registration period. No late entries or paper entries are accepted
** Please note that persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt are chargeable, respectively, to Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt. Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.
The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program, where 55,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual lottery. 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. 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. For more instructions on submitting an application for the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program watch this video with step-by-step guidance to help you submit an entry.
Checklist for Your Diversity Visa Interview
Below is a list of documents you are required to bring with you on the day of your immigrant visa interview. Please review all of them and ensure that you bring the required originals to avoid delays in the processing of your application. Note that it is also your responsibility to ensure that the online DS-260 application for each immigrant visa case accurately reflects all these items as well.
REGISTERING FOR COURIER
As soon as you were scheduled for your visa interview by the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC, you should arrange for document delivery only. To arrange for document delivery, you need to create a user profile on the following website: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/il/en/immigrant-visa#how-to-apply-for-immigrant-visa. Next, select the “Documents Delivery Registration” category from the drop menu. Registering for documents delivery will allow us to send you instructions and will allow you to track the delivery status of your documents, especially your immigrant visa when issued. Please note that you will not receive any documentation from our office if you do not register.
If you missed your appointment, you will need to request a new appointment through the following website: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/il/en/immigrant-visa#how-to-apply-for-immigrant-visa. Please use your existing profile and select the rescheduling based on your visa category.
More information regarding the courier can be found here https://www.ustraveldocs.com/il/en/collection-locations
VISA APPLICATION
Complete the visa application (Form DS-260) online for each immigrant visa applicant at https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx and print the confirmation page.
If you were born in Jerusalem, indicate the place of birth on the DS-260 form as “Jerusalem, Jerusalem.” If you were born in the West Bank, indicate the place of birth “Name of the village/city, West Bank.” For example: if you were born in Deir Debwan, Deir Debwan, Ramallah, West Bank.
PASSPORT
Each immigrant visa applicant should bring his/her current passport on the day of the visa interview. In order to receive a full-validity visa, the passport should have at least eight months remaining validity as of the day of issuance. Please double-check that the date of birth, place of birth, and spelling of all names on the online DS-260 application and your passport match exactly. Information that does not match could result in significant delays in the processing of your visa.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Bring your original birth certificate (or a certified copy from the issuing government authority) as well as the original birth certificate (or certified copy) for every person named in the application. You must also present birth certificates for all of your unmarried children under the age of 21, even if they do not wish to immigrate at this time. Each birth certificate must state the names of both parents and the date and place of birth. Please note that the mother’s maiden name, meaning her name prior to marriage, must be accurately listed on the birth certificate of the child.
If you or any person listed on the application legally changed a name, you must submit an original name change certificate for that person. If any of your children are deceased, please provide the year of death.
ADOPTION DOCUMENTS
If you or any of your children were adopted, bring a certified copy of the final adoption decree. We will also need an original name change certificate for any individual in the case who has had a name change after or due to an adoption.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE CERTIFICATES
If you are married, please bring your original marriage certificate or a certified copy issued by the issuing government authority. If you have been previously married, you must bring original proof of the legal termination of each previous marriage (e.g., death certificate of spouse, final decree of divorce or annulment). All original documents should be the exact same documents already submitted to KCC for your case.
POLICE CERTIFICATE
You are required to obtain a police certificate from the country or countries in which you have lived for six months or more after turning 16 years of age. These include the country of your nationality and the country of your current residence, as well as any other country in which you have been lived for more than one year or have been arrested for any reason. If you are unable to obtain a police certificate from a specific country, please contact our staff for advice.
If you are Israeli citizens or Jerusalem ID holders (laissez passer) you may request the Israeli Criminal Information Certificate to be sent directly to U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s Consular Section by applying at their nearest police station or online at http://auth.govforms.gov.il/mw/forms/criminaltrafficdocument@police.gov.il (Note: instructions are in Hebrew only).
Former residents of Israel may apply in person at an Israeli consular or diplomatic mission or online using the link above.
All Palestinian ID holders living in the West Bank and Gaza must obtain a Criminal Information Certificate from the Israeli DCO (Civil Liaison Office) in the place of their residence. You should also obtain a Palestinian Non-Conviction Certificate from the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Justice in the place of their residence. For more details on how to apply for the Palestinian Non-Conviction Certificate please visit the Ministry of Justice website at: http://www.moj.pna.ps/.
COURT AND PRISON RECORDS
If you have ever been arrested, detained, or convicted of a crime, you must obtain the original or a certified copy of each relevant, police, court, or prison record, even if the charges were ultimately dismissed or you were granted amnesty or pardoned. You must provide a certified English translation of each of these court and prison records. Please remember to ensure that your online DS-260 application includes each instance of arrest or conviction to avoid lengthy delays in the processing of your application(s).
MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS
If you served in the military, please bring your original military discharge or release certificate.
Israelis who served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) should obtain form 807 from the IDF, which is granted upon discharge to a soldier from mandatory service.
Israelis who were exempted from military service should bring a military exemption certificate (IDF form 830) or an exemption letter from the Israeli Defense Forces citing the reason why they were exempted.
You may apply for these forms online by visiting the following website: Apply forms
You may also order the forms by calling the IDF on the following number: 03-5691000 or FAX: 03-5699400. If you are not able to obtain IDF form 807, please bring an explanation or documentation from the IDF, in the form of an official letter, regarding your inability to obtain it.
PHOTOGRAPHS
You will need two identical (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch) photographs with a plain, light background taken within the last six months. The photographs should be taken with the applicant directly facing the camera and without glasses.
Head coverings are permitted; however, the photographs must clearly show the face of the applicant from the crown of the head (hairline) to the tip of the chin and from ear to ear.
For more details please see here.
EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Each diversity visa applicant is required to show that they are unlikely to become a “public charge” when in the United States, or primarily dependent on the U.S. Government for subsistence. To do this, you should be prepared to convincingly present evidence of independent resources to the consular officer on the day of your interview. These could include income, savings, investments, or evidence of other assets you may own. If the evidence you provide is not sufficient, you may be required by the officer to submit a signed I-134 Form by a sponsor, as well as evidence of the sponsor’s current financial circumstances.
REVIEW YOUR DV ENTRY INFORMATION BEFORE YOUR INTERVIEW
Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry.
Failure to have listed an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability* and failure to have listed an existing spouse or child at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery may result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable.
If you did not include a child who had already been born at the time of your DV entry, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered, you should still attend your scheduled interview. A consular officer will review your case and make a formal determination of your eligibility. You can review the eligibility requirements here online.
DIVERSITY VISA FEE
You must pay the non-refundable diversity visa fee to the consular cashier before you will be interviewed by a consular officer. The diversity visa fee is $330 U.S. dollars, or the equivalent in Israeli shekels at the current Embassy exchange rate. Payment at the U.S. Embassy must be made in cash or with U.S. credit cards. No bank checks or personal checks will be accepted
Payment at the Embassy must be made in cash or with U.S. credit cards. No bank checks or personal checks will be accepted.
MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS
You must schedule a medical exam with an approved physician ONLY after you are scheduled for a visa interview through NVC or U.S. Embassy Jerusalem’s Immigrant Visa Unit. Instructions on how to schedule a medical exam appointment with one of our panel physicians can be: please hyperlink this site here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/list-of-posts.html
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF CIVIL DOCUMENTS
You should provide a certified English translation of all documents that are not in English, Arabic or Hebrew.
CONTACTING US
Contact us to report a change of address, a change in your personal status (such as a marriage), the death of the petitioner or applicant, or the birth of a child. Email JerusalemIV@state.gov.
Please do not send us any documents unless you are specifically requested to do so. We look forward to seeing you soon.
The Interview
After you have completed the steps on the Diversity Visa Process, including the required immigrant visa application form (DS-260), and submit electronic copies for all the required documents for the your Diversity Visa for yourself and all accompanying family members in .jpeg or .pdf format tokccdvdocuments@state.gov, your case will be reviewed for completeness. Once your case becomes qualified for an interview, KCC will work with the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to schedule an interview appointment for you. The payment for the Visa application can be done on the day of your interview at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
You can click here to learn more about the interview process.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
On the day of your visa interview if you are missing documents/documentation is incomplete, processing of your case will be significantly delayed. Therefore, we strongly advise you to be fully prepared and make sure to have all the required documents with you on the day of your visa interview.
Case Status
At the end of your immigrant visa interview, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied.
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov.
If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers.
After The Interview
If your visa has been approved, your passport and visa will be returned to you within two weeks by the courier service you selected before your interview. Carefully review After the Interview to learn what to do when you receive your visa, as well as guidance on entering the United States, paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee, and other important information.