If the official Entrant Status Check says you were selected for further Diversity Visa processing, Form DS-260 is the online immigrant-visa application for you and each qualifying family member who will apply. Selection is not a visa, and submitting the form is not an approval. The highest-value preparation is to compare your original DV entry, identity records and current family situation before you press “Sign and Submit.”
This guide explains the DS-260 stage rather than repeating how to enter the lottery or check a result. It is written for international applicants, not one nationality. The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) can tell an applicant whether a form has been processed, but only a consular officer can decide visa eligibility. GlobalVisora is an independent information site and does not represent KCC or the U.S. government.
First confirm you have a real selection notice
Use the official Entrant Status Check result and its DV case number. An email saying you “won” or asking you to pay an agent is not a substitute. Our Entrant Status Check guide addresses the separate result-checking stage. Save the notice and make a private note of the full case number; you will need it for the online visa application. Do not share the number or date of birth in public comments or social-media groups.
Check the program year on the notice. Diversity Visas are tied to a fiscal year, and a selection cannot simply be carried over if processing is not completed by that year’s deadline. The State Department encourages selected entrants to complete DS-260 promptly, but “promptly” is not a reason to guess at material facts. If a record is missing or a family change is complicated, find the correct information rather than submitting a false answer just to enter the queue.
Who needs a separate DS-260?
The State Department’s DV-specific DS-260 instructions say the principal applicant and each family member applying for a DV must complete the form. A spouse or child included in the case does not simply borrow the principal applicant’s answers. Before starting, list each person who intends to immigrate and match their identity details to their own documents.
Do not confuse a family member who already existed when you first entered the lottery with one who became eligible afterward. The original entry generally needed to list an existing spouse and qualifying children under the applicable entry rules. A genuine marriage or new child after entry can be added to the visa case with relationship evidence. Adding a person later does not cure an omission from the original entry when that person should already have been listed. The State Department warns that an omitted existing family member, or a falsely listed one, may make the case ineligible.
Build a simple two-column comparison before submitting: “family on original entry” and “family now.” Note the date and document for any real change, such as a marriage or birth. This is an editorial self-audit, not a separate government form. It helps you spot whether the issue is a legitimate later event or a discrepancy needing careful advice.
Prepare facts, not just a passport scan
Form DS-260 collects more than a name and travel date. Gather the identity, address, education, work and family history needed to answer its actual questions truthfully. Compare names and dates with passports and civil records. If two genuine documents differ, do not silently invent a third version. Find out which record is correct and how to explain or correct the discrepancy through the issuer. The form should reflect your real history, not a story designed to look more likely to be approved.
The State Department’s DS-260 frequently asked questions say answers generally must be in English using English characters, unless the form specifically provides otherwise. Many fields are mandatory; an optional field can be left blank, and some fields have a “Does Not Apply” choice. Do not put “N/A” into a field that has a different instruction or invent an address to get past validation. Read each field as it appears in the live form.
Set aside uninterrupted time, but do not rush. The online form lets you save a partly completed application; it also times out after inactivity. Save after meaningful sections and sign out when you stop, particularly on a shared computer. If you use someone else’s device, clear any downloaded copies containing personal information and make sure you control the email account used for the case.
Understand the case-number validation detail
The State Department gives a precise instruction for the DS-260 “Sign and Submit” page: re-enter the DV case number without its leading zeros. Its example turns a number like 2023AF0000012345 into 2023AF12345. That instruction concerns this validation field; it does not mean your official case number has permanently changed or that you should edit the number shown in your selection notice. Keep the original notice intact and follow the form’s live prompt.
Before the final click, review each applicant’s form separately. Check names, birth dates, country of birth, marital status, children’s details, addresses and responses to security questions. This is not a “make everything match” exercise if a previous record was wrong. Accuracy and a truthful explanation matter more than superficial uniformity. If you are uncertain about a consequential answer, get competent immigration advice rather than having an agent choose the most convenient response.
What happens after submission?
Print or save the DS-260 confirmation page after submitting; the State Department says to bring it to the visa interview. Keep it with the original DV selection information, not mixed up with the entry confirmation number. KCC processing of the form is only one step. Interview scheduling also depends on visa-number availability and embassy capacity, and the interview is where a consular officer reviews eligibility and supporting documents.
If you discover an error after submission, do not assume the form can be reopened by pressing a browser back button. The official FAQ explains that a submitted DS-260 cannot be accessed again without assistance from KCC for DV cases or the relevant embassy or consulate. Contact the responsible office with your identifying case information through official channels and explain the correction. How to handle a change may depend on whether an interview is already scheduled. A third-party “unlock service” has no special authority.
The DV-specific instructions say that when contacting KCC, include your name, birth date and case number exactly as shown in Entrant Status Check. KCC receives inquiries by email, not mailed paper correspondence. Do not send original civil documents to a stranger claiming to be KCC. Keep a record of what you asked and any reply. A reply that a form is processed does not certify that your education, family relationship or other visa requirements have been met.
Do not confuse this form with the interview document packet
Submitting DS-260 is not the same as producing every original birth, marriage, police or education record. Those records are needed later according to the DV process and the assigned post’s checklist. Different applicants may need different civil records based on age, family and residence history. Prepare authentic documents, required translations and copies according to the current instructions; do not pay for a questionable certificate merely to make the online form appear complete.
Nor does filing DS-260 itself require an agent or guarantee an appointment. If you have a case number that is not yet eligible for scheduling, a completed application alone cannot create a visa number. If your case becomes interview-ready, follow the post’s instructions for medical examinations and fees. Do not purchase flights or quit employment because a submitted form displays a confirmation page.
The current visa-issuance limitation
As checked September 25, 2026, the State Department says DV applicants may continue submitting applications and attending interviews, but Diversity Visa issuance is paused program-wide. The notice describes no exceptions. This makes the difference between form submission, interview and actual visa issuance especially important. Policy may change, so check the current State Department news before taking an irreversible step; our DV Lottery overview explains the broader process without replacing that live official notice.
Last verified: September 25, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. The featured image is an AI-generated conceptual scene, not a view of the real CEAC form or a government office.