Diversity Visa Lottery

I received a large envelope from the Kentucky Consular Center asking for additional information about my family. Does this mean I am a winner?

Applicants who receive this kind of packet from the Kentucky Consular Center have been pre- selected as possible winners of the DV lottery program. Applicants who pass the pre-selection stage will be notified by the Kentucky Consular Center with the date of their interview appointment at the U.S. Interests Section.

I received a letter from the Kentucky Consular Center with the date of my interview appointment at the U.S. Interests Section but I will not be able to be in Havana on that date. Can I change my appointment?

Yes. Please contact the Consular Information Unit at 834-4400, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to reschedule your interview appointment.

I was selected to participate in the DV program. Does this mean I’m getting a visa?

Applicants selected to participate in this program are not guaranteed an immigrant visa to travel to the United States. This selection constitutes an opportunity to be interviewed at the U.S. Interests Section by a consular officer to determine an applicant’s eligibility for an immigrant visa. If eligible, the applicant will be issued an immigrant visa.

What is the cost of a DV visa?

Applicants are charged a nonrefundable fee of $718 convertible pesos per person to be interviewed by a consular officer. There is no charge for issuance a DV visa.

I was issued a visa by the U.S. Interests Section but I have not been granted my exit permit from the Cuban authorities. Do I lose my visa?

Applicants can apply for a renewal of their visa only within the fiscal year they were selected as DV winners. Applicants will be required to pay $718 CUC per person.

I was issued a DV visa years ago by the U.S. Interests Section but I was not able to travel because the Cuban government had not granted my exit permit? Can I apply for a renewal?

Beneficiaries of an immigrant visa under the DV program must be adjudicated and issued during the fiscal year they were selected as winners for the program. Current regulations do not allow us to renew a visa outside of the fiscal year it was issued.

I was notified by the Kentucky Consular Center that I was a winner of this lottery. Why was I denied at the time of my interview?

Under the guidelines of the DV program, failure to complete the electronic entry form in its entirety results in the automatic disqualification of the applicant's entry. The guidelines of the DV program specifically state that all entries must include the name, date and place of birth of the applicant's spouse and all natural children, as well as all legally-adopted children and stepchildren, who are unmarried and under the age of 21 (except children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents), even if the applicant is no longer legally married to the child's parent, and even if the spouse or child does not currently reside with the applicant and/or will not immigrate with the applicant. If applicants fail to include their spouse or children’s name on the original DV entry form, the visa for the principal applicant will be refused at the time of the interview.

Additionally, applicants who do not meet the education or work requirement will disqualify at the time of the interview.

I was denied at my interview. Can I get my money back?

By law, consular officers must first interview applicants to determine if they qualify for the program. The nonrefundable consular fee of $718 CUC covers the cost of this interview.

If your inquiry regards a consular matter that is not covered in this page, please send the Consular Information Unit a brief message using the following form.