DV Step-by-Step Entry Guide

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Who is this guide for?

This guide helps a user prepare a correct Diversity Visa entry and understand exactly what to list on the application. It follows the official DV-2026 instructions, qualification rules, and State Department photo rules.

Use this guide to prepare the entry fields, family listing, and required photos before entering data online.

Question 1

What is your country of chargeability route?

Choose the route you would use for the DV entry. The app will tell you what to list in the country field and what extra facts you must prove.

My own country of birth.Use your own country of birth if it is eligible. My spouse’s country of birth.This is only possible in the narrow spouse-chargeability scenario. One parent’s country of birth.This is only possible if both parent conditions are satisfied.

Question 2

If using a parent route, do both parent tests pass?

If you selected a parent’s country of birth, both of these conditions must be true before that route can work.

Were both parents not born in your country of birth?

Were both parents not legal residents there when you were born?

Temporary presence such as visiting, studying, or temporary work ordinarily does not make a parent resident.

Question 3

What is your marital situation at the time of entry?

The DV entry must reflect your legal status at the time you submit it. This determines whether a spouse must be listed.

Unmarried.No spouse is listed. Married and not legally separated.Your spouse must normally be listed even if not immigrating. Divorced, widowed, or legally separated.A former spouse is not listed as a current spouse.

Question 4

Do you have any children who must be listed?

You must list the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, and country of birth for all living, unmarried children under 21 who fit the official categories, regardless of whether they live with you or intend to immigrate with you.

Biological child.List if living, unmarried, and under 21. Legally adopted child.List if living, unmarried, and under 21. Current stepchild.List even if not living with you. Stepchild from a former marriage.List if the stepchild still fits the official listing rule used in the DV instructions. Your spouse’s child.List if living, unmarried, and under 21. None of these.No child appears to need listing.

Question 5

Are any children excluded from required listing?

Only narrow exceptions apply. This page helps the user understand who still must be listed even if they are not immigrating or not living with the entrant.

Already a U.S. citizen.Usually not required, though including them is not penalized. Already a lawful permanent resident.Usually not required, though including them is not penalized. Lives elsewhere / not immigrating.Still list if they otherwise qualify. Estranged or no contact.Still list if they otherwise qualify.

Question 6

Does the principal applicant meet the basic qualification rule?

Only the principal applicant must meet the education or qualifying work rule. Spouse or children cannot cure failure of the principal applicant.

Yes, by high school education or equivalent.This means successful completion of a formal course comparable to a U.S. high school education. Yes, by qualifying work experience.Two years in the last five years in a qualifying occupation. No or unsure.Do not assume vocational or non-equivalent study qualifies.

Question 6A

If using work experience, does the occupation meet the qualifying standard?

Use the work route only if the occupation meets the State Department and Department of Labor standard. The principal applicant must have two years of experience in the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience and is designated Job Zone 4 or 5 with an SVP of 7.0 or higher.

Yes, the occupation appears to qualify.The occupation was checked against the official standard. Not sure yet.The occupation still needs official checking. No, it does not appear to qualify.The work route should not be used.

Official tool: Check the occupation in O*NET Online and confirm Job Zone 4 or 5 and SVP 7.0 or higher.

Question 7

Do you know exactly what to list on the entry?

The DV entry requires specific fields. This page tells the user what information and photos to prepare before opening the official online form.

Principal entrant name, gender, birth date, city/town and country of birth.
Country of eligibility and the legal reason if using spouse or parent chargeability.
Mailing address, country where you live today, phone number if any, and email address.
Highest education achieved as of the day the entry is submitted.
Current marital status.
For spouse: full name, birth date, gender, city/town and country of birth, and an individual photo using the same technical specifications as the principal applicant photo.
For every child who must be listed: full name, birth date, gender, city/town and country of birth, and an individual photo using the same technical specifications as the principal applicant photo.

Do not guess or omit family details. The original entry and later immigrant visa forms must remain consistent unless a real life change happened after entry.

Question 8

Does your photo meet the official DV photo rules?

DV entry photos must meet the same standards as U.S. visa photos, and the DV digital file has extra technical rules.

Color photo, in focus, taken within the last 6 months.
Plain white or off-white background.
Full-face view, directly facing the camera, neutral expression, both eyes open.
No uniform except daily religious clothing; no prohibited head covering; no headphones.
Eyeglasses are generally not allowed in new visa photos except rare medical cases.
DV digital file must be JPEG, square, 600x600 pixels, and 240 KB or less.
Individual photos are required for each listed child, using the same technical specifications as the principal applicant photo.
The State Department photo tool crops the image to exactly 600x600 pixels but does not decide final acceptability.

Photo status

Official photo tool: Use the Department of State photo tool.

Finish

Your listing checklist

This guide is for preparing a correct entry and family list. The official submission, when the program is open, is made only through the State Department DV website.