May 8 Finally Here!

The date of release of the DV Lottery results is probably the day of the program with the greatest excitement. This year, that day – Saturday, May 8, 2021 – has finally come. Entrants have waited ‘the longest’ to know whether their entries submitted to the DV Lottery last year October 7 to November 10 have been chosen “for further processing” in the DV 2022 program.

A number of things to know about the release:

1. It’s scheduled for 12:00 midday EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) – the time zone of those living on the East Coast of the United States, which corresponds to:

– 4:00 PM GMT (Western Europe and most of West Africa);

– 5:00 PM (Central Africa Time – Cameroon, but also Algeria, etc.);

– 6:00 PM (Southern Africa, Egypt, Sudan, etc.);

– 7:00 P.M. (Eastern Africa – Ethiopia, Kenya, etc.);

– 8:30 PM in Iran

– 9:45 PM in Katmandu, Nepal

– 2:00 AM on Sunday, May 9, in Sydney, Australia

– 4:45 AM on Sunday, May 9, in New Zealand

Etc.

So, don’t check your result when it’s 12:00 midday your local time unless you are in the EDT time zone (East Coast, USA; Eastern Canada, Haiti, etc.)

Note: All the times mentioned above are actually the same moment (when the results will be released), but in different parts of the world.

2. The official DV website for checking your result is https://dvprogram.state.gov. 

Once there, click on the CHECK STATUS button and on CONTINUE (on the next page), which will take you to the Entrant Information page. Follow the instructions there (provide relevant information) and finally click SUBMIT at the bottom of the page.

Be sure to enter information requested EXACTLY how it appears on your confirmation page to avoid you getting an error message.

And if you’ve lost your confirmation number, click on the FORGOT CONFIRMATION NUMBER link (above LAST/FAMILY NAME) on the entrant information page, to retrieve the number. You will need your last, first and middle names, your date of birth, as well as the email address your entered on your entry to succeed.

3. NORMAL Website Jams

Due to the influx of entrants wanting to know the outcome of their entries – all at the same time, generally, when the results have just been released, the website tends to be very slow and or unresponsive. Such a scenario does not mean that the results were canceled or postponed.

Wait and check back after a few hours, or even a day or two later. Your result will still be the same. Moreover, you’ve already done the greatest past of the ‘waiting’.

A piece of Advice

Most selectees are aware that the next step in the process – after being selected – is to fill out their DS-260. But my advice to you – if you’re selected – is to ONLY go about rejoicing – for now. Then CALM DOWN, and begin to seek out help, especially in the form of relevant information, before proceeding further. This will cost you much much less headache later.

Best of luck as you CHECK YOUR RESULT!