October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Guyana would like to help visa applicants and their families avoid scams when applying for visas to the United States. Some of the most common scams encountered by visa applicants are those in connection with Diversity Visa applications. Even if you are not entering the Diversity Visa lottery, the below guidance may help you apply for visas correctly.
A visa consultant suggested I put down some information on my application that isn’t completely true. Will it really help me get my visa?
No. It is important to meet the criteria for a visa, but it is just as important to be honest! Entering false information or submitting false documents may disqualify your entry or even keep you from ever going to the United States, no matter the visa category.
If possible, fill out the forms yourself. If you need help, make sure the person helping you is entering your true information. We do not work with visa consultants, and they cannot improve your chances of being selected.
How do I know if a website or email is from the U.S government?
Internet sites ending in the “.gov” are official government websites. To link directly to the more than 200 U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites, visit www.usembassy.gov. Visa information on official U.S. government websites ending in “.gov” is official and correct. Official U.S. government email addresses also end in “.gov,” and any visa-related correspondence coming from an address that does not end with “.gov” should be considered suspect.
Is immigration information on other websites official?
Many other non-governmental websites (e.g., addresses ending with “.com,” “.org” or “.net”) provide immigration and visa-related information and services. Regardless of the content of other websites, the Department of State does not endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material shown on these other websites. The information provided may not be correct or timely and should always be verified by consulting an official U.S. government source. Be cautious with individuals that claim to increase your chances of obtaining U.S. visas.
I received an email saying I won the Diversity Visa Lottery and could pay $50 to start the process, is this real?
While Diversity Visa (DV) applicants may receive an email from the U.S. government reminding them to check their status online through the DV Entrant Status Check, they will not receive a notification letter or email informing them that they are a successful DV entrant. Applicants can only find out if they were selected to continue with DV processing by checking their status online through the DV Entrant Status Check at https://dvprogram.state.gov.
How will I know the results of the Diversity Visa?
Diversity Visa program entrants must check the status of their lottery entry online at https://dvprogram.state.gov to find out if they were selected or not. The U.S. Department of State Kentucky Consular Center does not mail or email notifications to DV entrants informing them of their winning entries.
If I put more than one entry into the Diversity Visa program, does that improve my chances of winning?
Only submit one entry per eligible person. If you are entered more than once, you will be disqualified. Make sure your photo was taken in the last six months. Photos more than six months old will be disqualified.
I was told that being married or having children on my visa application improves my chances of being selected for a Diversity Visa. Is that true?
No. If you are selected to apply for a visa, do not add any person who is not legally your spouse or child to your visa application. Doing so may disqualify you and may keep you from ever going to the United States. If you are selected and have been pressured by a visa consultant to add people to your application who are not your legal family members, immediately inform the Consular Officer at your interview.
Where do I get official information on the Diversity Visa program and how do I check my status?
The only official information about the DV program is found on U.S. government websites ending in “.gov,” such as http://travel.state.gov or https://dvprogram.state.gov. The only official way to apply for the DV program is directly through the official U.S. Department of State website during the specified and limited registration period.
“Ask the Consul” is a monthly column from the U.S. Embassy answering questions about U.S. immigration law and visa issues. Detailed information about visas and travel can be viewed at https://gy.usembassy.gov/, https://ais.usvisa-info.com/ and https://travel.state.gov/. Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their own documents and avoid third-party advice. U.S. Consular rules change frequently, and non-US government advisors often provide inadequate or inaccurate information. Please contact our Visa Information Service Center on toll free numbers: 1-877-246-6788 or 703-988-5765 if you have general visa questions.
