New Changes to Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form
The Department of State submitted request to make the following changes to the electronic diversity visa entry form which will be available to diversity visa program for 2024 fiscal, DV2024.
An obvious change to the CURRENT eDV form is the absence of the Passport requirement.
In February this year, a federal district court vacated the regulation by Department of State which required entrants to submit a valid and unexpired passport information.
The agency had not followed the rulemaking process of 30 to 60 days for comments before making the changes according the the court hearing.
Subsequently, Department of State removed the passport requirement in response to this judgment.
[CURRENT]
#1. Last/ Family Name First Name Middle Name
This current version allowed applicants to check the box last name unknown, first name unknown, and middle name unknown.
[PROPOSED CHANGES] Require Last Name on all entries
Last/ Family Name First Name Middle Name
[CURRENT]
#13. What is your current marital status?
- Unmarried
- Married and my spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- Married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- Divorced
- Widowed
- Legally Separated
Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remain married but live apart, following a court order. If you and your spouse are legally separated, your spouse will
not be able to immigrate with you through the Diversity Visa program; however, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the
Diversity Visa. Failure to list your eligible spouse is grounds for disqualification. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, do not list him/her in your
entry.
[PROPOSED CHANGES] Revise language in question #13 regarding legal separation and allow optional spouse entry.
#13. What is your current marital status?
- Unmarried
- Married and my spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- Married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- Divorced
- Widowed
- Legally Separated
- Enter Spouse Information
Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remain married but live apart, following a court order. If you and your spouse are legally separated, your spouse will not be
able to immigrate with you through the Diversity Visa program. You will not be penalized if you choose to enter the name of a spouse from whom you are legally separated.
If you are not legally separated by a court order, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the Diversity Visa. Failure to list your
eligible spouse is grounds for disqualification.
If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, do not list him/her in your entry
Overall, these changes have resulted in few questions on the form. There are 14 questions now instead of 15.
Not all entrants will have to answer all the questions, only those that are applicable. Check out my video explanation of these changes.
