Understanding Diversity Visa Case Number

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Understanding DV Lottery Case Number

 

Perhaps the second most important piece of information included in a Diversity Visa selectee’s letter of selection – after the clause “you have randomly been selected” – is their case number. So what in essence is case number? How is it determined? What is its importance? . . . among others, are questions this article provides answers to. Let’s begin by explaining what a Diversity Visa case number actually is.

What is case number in DV Lottery, and how is it determined?

Diversity Visa case numbers actually come about during the selection process. Entries submitted during the DV Lottery are first grouped according to region. Then during the selection process,  the entries in each group (region) are randomly assigned consecutive numbers by a computer system.

Said numbers remain ‘attached’ to the entries up to the end of the selection process. Entrants who end up not being selected in the process never get to know their assigned number.

Those on the other hand who are eventually selected get to ‘discover’ their assigned number in their letter of selection. It is this ‘assigned number’ from the selection process which eventually becomes – and is henceforth referred to as – the Diversity visa selectee’s case number.

The Result?

This reality generally results in nonconsecutive case numbers in each region. For example, in a given region, you may have the initial case numbers to be 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 18, 20, etc. Meaning the missing numbers are actually the case numbers of entries which happened to not have been selected.

This indicates that having a case number like 20 from our example above does not mean that there are 19 cases before yours. Usually, there are far fewer cases than that. How many cases there are before your case depends on the number of entries with case numbers lower than yours that were actually selected during the selection process.  If during the selection process for example, 12 cases with case numbers lower than yours were selected (the rest not being selected), then there will be 12 cases before yours after the results are published. 

Regional Case Numbering Systems

It is worth noting that a case number system exists by region, with each regional numbering system different from the other, owing largely to the number of entrants the regions provide during the Lottery. The higher the number of entrants a region usually provides, the more extensive its case number range; and vice-versa.

For example, the Africa region which usually provides the highest number of entrants to the DV Lottery (see chart) has the most extensive case number range (extending up to more than 80,000 in some years). And North America (comprising only one country) which accounts for the lowest number of entrants every year has the least extensive case number range (the highest being low double digits); etc.

Case Number Length and Comparaison

The case number range of a region determines the length of the highest case number in that region. The highest case numbers in regions with less extensive number range comprise few digits, while those in regions with more extensive ranges comprise more digits – not counting the initial zeros. That is why the highest case numbers from regions such as Africa, Europe and Asia are longer than those from North America, South America and Oceania.

It must also be noted that case numbers can only be ‘compared’ within the same region and not across regions. What is considered a low case number in one region may be a high one in another region; and vice-versa.

Case Number Composition

Just by observing, you’ll realize that a case number comprises four parts.  The first four digits are the program/visa year. That is, the fiscal year in which the selectee is eligible to apply for a Diversity Visa. Those four digits are followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the selectee’s region, then a number of zeros introduced to ensure that the case number has the same number of digits as others (8 digits); and finally the actual case number.

An example is 2021AF00007506, where 2021 is the visa year; AF is abbreviation for the Africa region; then the ‘intervening’ zeros; and 7506 is the selectee’s actual case number.

Note: When signing the DS-260 to submit it, the applicant is requird to enter his/her case number without the preceeding zeros. Failure to follow said instruction leads to an error message, thus preventing the form from being submitted.

Importance of Case Number

A selectee’s case number dictates at what time in the program year that selectee is supposed to be interviewed. It is paramount in knowing the chances he/she has when it comes to getting scheduled for an interview. Case numbers contribute more to the fate of Diversity Visa cases than does personal effort.

It is true that an individual has duties and responsibilities as a Diversity Visa applicant, but the fact remains that an applicant with a low case number stands a better chance of being interviewed than another with a high case number. All because interviews begin with the lowest case numbers and end with high ones in each region.

Case Number and DS-260 Submission

That is why unlike what is generally believed, an immediate submission of one’s DS-260 upon being selected is not the key to getting an early DV interview. But understanding the position of one’s case number in his/her region and knowing how to act accordingly always work in the best interest of an applicant’s Diversity Visa case.

SUGGESTED: To have an idea of the position of your case number, the chances you have of being interviewed, as well as the most-likely time of the program/fiscal year when you’ll be interviewed, READ THIS ARTICLE.  

149 thoughts on “Understanding Diversity Visa Case Number

  1. Hi!
    I wanna know for consular applicants. What’s the role of NVC cause i read on many sites that the applicant has to scan and email ds 260 and other docs to nvc and sometimes, submitting ds260 to kcc and supporting docs to kcc.
    I’m completely confused, could someone make these two things explicit for me?

    1. Hi Ibrahim:
      There’s no need to be confused. KCC processes DIVERSITY VISA applications/deals with DIVERSITY VISA applicants; NVC processes all OTHER TYPES of US Immigrant Visa applications/deals with all OTHER TYPES of US Immigrant Visa applicants. That’s the difference.

  2. FYI – my case number is 2023AF33xxx and my interview just got scheduled for 16 Feb 2023 in my home country.

    To my surprise, KCC did not request any documents prior to scheduling the interview

    1. Under normal circumstances, your chances should be poor to fair depending on the highest EU case number which we will get to know soon. However, considering how the cut-offs are being established, your chances could be much higher.

  3. Hi brothers and sisters. I won DV 2023 with case number AF 81XX. according to the bulletin, cut off for africa for December is 9000. Up till now I have not received any notification. Is it normal??

    1. My CN 2023AS12832, DS filled on 1 Aug 2022 and is now current for interview. Will I receive Interview??

  4. I have entered wrong information on my application last name i wrote my first name and surname was entered as middle name what should i do?

  5. My wife was pregnant when she applied for a 2024 Dv lottery. Now she has giving birth, how do I add the baby details?
    Thank you

  6. How do I get my CASE number for 2024 DV lottery applicant, although I have the confirmation number but don’t know if I’ve mistakenly lost the CASE number.

  7. Hello Brethren I applied for the 2024 DV lottery. I have my confirmation number but no case number. Is this normal?
    Thank you

  8. Hi, great work with your articles.. very detailed explanations
    I wanted to ask if the case number letters example “AF” is developed based on where I am from .. or where I live? ie. Country of birth or Country of residence.

  9. My 2023 case number for Africa is 2023AF000003XX. Even though I have a very low case number, not scheduled for an interview till now. is it normal?

  10. Dear Trodvies,
    My 2023 case number for Europe is 2023EU00023XXX. Is this considered a high number for Europe? And my case would not be reviewed till the end of 2022? Thank you!

      1. Thank you so much! And if I am in USA and will be doing Adjustment of status, would I still need to wait for my case number to become active to send the application?

        1. Not necessarily. There’s what’s referred to as “early filing” which gives you the possibility of sending your application two months earlier.

        2. Hi, do you mean filing I485 before your case number becomes active? I am also selected in the DV2023 lottery and in USA. I will be doing AOS too, just wanted to check as my case number is still not active if I can proceed and submit I485

          1. No, that’s not what I meant.

            I was speaking about the DS-260 submission. It’s optional for AOS cases. But you could submit it – if you chose to – before your case number becomes current. That’s what I meant.

            However, if you choose to proceed straight with submitting your AOS package, then you have to wait until the VB showing when your case number will become current is published. By then, you can submit it.

            And to answer your original question: YES, you’ll still get the chance to adjust your status if your CN gets current in January.

  11. Hello. I used an agent to enter the lottery. I don’t have their email address to check myself but they showed me a letter which says that I have been selected. How do I check a case number is real?

    1. You don’t need the agent’s email address to check. Didn’t they give you your (entry submission) confirmation information when they entered you in the Lottery? If they didn’t, then whether the case number is real or not, you’re now at their mercy. And if you were really selected, they will have demands – especially financial – you must meet before they turn your confirmation info over to you – unfortunately.

  12. Hello. i was selected for the dv 2023 program, my case number 2023AF60*** do i stand a chance of getting called up for visa interview?

    1. 60XXX is usually a high case number in the AF Region. But for now, we do not know the highest case numbers and can therefore not situate yours to predict your chances.

  13. Hello Sir, when filling my ds260 form, the email address i used was different from the email i initially used when i was applying for dv lottery 2023. I wish to ask which of the email address will the kcc use to send me notifications on required documents and interview?

  14. What would be a good “case number” for Italy? How do I know if i’m in a good position?

      1. Hi, Thanks for your supporting guidelines. I won the DV lottery 2023 with case no 2023AS00013***. Should I consider an interview or not in this case no.? Please guide me

              1. Hello,

                My case number is 23023AS19XXX and I am still waiting for an interview but nothing has been scheduled. Do you think I will get an opportunity to have an interview?

                1. Hi: You do have a chance of being interviewed; your interview will largely depend on how fast your embassy is interviewing Diversity Visa cases after your case number becomes current.

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