Important changes to consular service payment methods
U.S. Embassy Warsaw will accept cash payments for consular services only in Polish zloty. Cash payments in U.S. dollars will no longer be accepted. Immigrant visa applicants can pay fees at the Embassy cashier using Polish zloty in cash or a credit card.
Diversity Visa Issuance Updated Guidance
Effective immediately, the Department of State has paused all visa issuances to diversity immigrant visa applicants. More information at the link below.
DV-2026 Program
The online registration for the DV-2026 Program is closed. It began on October 2, 2024 and concluded on November 7, 2024. Submission of more than one entry for a person during the registration period disqualified all entries for that person. There is no fee for submitting an entry. Late entries are not accepted.
It is important that you submitted correct data in your application as outlined in the DV instructions. Discrepancies or mistakes in personal data on your original entry may result in the visa refusal later on. It is very important that you retained your unique confirmation number and have access to the e-mail address submitted with your entry.
Starting May 3, 2025, you will be able to check the status of your entry by returning to dvprogram.state.gov, clicking on Entrant Status Check, and entering your unique confirmation number and personal information. You must use Entrant Status Check to check if you have been selected for DV-2026 and, if selected, to view instructions on how to proceed with your application. The U.S. government will not inform you directly.
Please check the website of the Department of State for instructions and details.
Overview
The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa (DV) program, where 50,000 immigrant visas would be available in an annual program, starting in fiscal year 1995. The program 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 outlined in the Diversity Visa Process on the Department of State’s website. 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.
Please note that selection in the DV program does not mean getting an immigrant visa or a green card. DV applicants have to meet all the requirements for both the DV program and the U.S. immigrant visa to be eligible to obtain it.
Electronic entry in the annual DV program is free (there is no fee). To enter the DV program, you must be a native of one of the countries listed by the State Department. Persons born in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine and Russia qualify for the DV-2025 and DV-2026 programs.
OBLIGATORY REGISTRATION WITH USTRAVELDOCS.COM FOR ALL IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS
All Immigrant Visa (IV), Diversity Visa (DV), and Fiancé (K) visa applicants must register with ustraveldocs.com and choose a visa pick-up option before coming to the Embassy.
We will not be able to accept your visa applications and supporting documents without proof of your registration (we will need your Unique Identification number, or UID). For registration and selection of a passport and visa pick-up option, visit www.ustraveldocs.com/pl or call the information line at +48 22 307 1361 (in Europe) or (703) 988 7101 (in the United States). Passports and visas are returned by courier; applicants may choose either Premium Delivery (for an additional fee, paid directly to the courier upon delivery to your selected location in Poland) or, at no additional charge, in Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) location in Warsaw.
The Consular Section at U.S. Embassy Warsaw generally requires at least 3-5 business days to process a visa once it has been approved. During this time, the applicant’s passport must remain at the Consular Section. Please also be aware that technical and procedural concerns may require longer than the normal 3-5 days following interview to complete processing of the case. Applicants should plan accordingly when making travel plans. Please see which documents are required to pick up passports from an MBE location. DO NOT visit MBE until you are notified that they have your passport ready for pick-up.
We encourage applicants not to finalize travel plans until they receive their visa and documents from the Embassy. The visa packet is a sealed big envelope containing documents, with the visa information printout attached to it. Please do not open the visa packet.
Required documents for the interview
Please follow the link below to find out what documents you need to prepare for your interview at the embassy.
Visa Navigator
If you have additional questions or would like to contact us, please use our Navigator. It contains answers to frequently asked questions as well as contact information.
SCAM WARNING
If you receive an e-mail claiming that you have been selected in the Diversity Visa program, and requesting any action or payment from you, you should be aware that you are a victim of a scam.
The Embassy warns Polish citizens that such notifications are not legitimate. Please do not take any action or send any money.
For fraud warning details please check the State Department’s website.
Please note that Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) is no longer mailing a letter confirming that applicants were selected. Entrant Status Check is the sole means of informing you of your selection for the DV visa lottery program. The Entrant Status Check will also provide instruction on how to proceed with your application, and will notify you of your appointment for immigrant visa interview, so it is essential you retain your confirmation number.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you have lost your confirmation information, you will not be able to check your DV entry status. The State Department will not be able to resend the confirmation page information to you.