Hello Everyone - DV Visa Expired!

[WFB75 0]

Hello Everyone Very helpful site btw.

I won the DV Lottery and was awarded the visa after a successful interview in Sydney, Australia and it was issued on 5th June 2013.

I foolishly thought I could activate the visa when I was next to go to the US which was in March 2014 - 8 months after issue.

I have received notification that I have forfeited my Visa as I did not enter the US by October 1 2013.

Is there anything I can do about this or is it done and dusted

Disappointed.

Wayne.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

I would imagine there's no do-overs when it comes to the DVs.

[Cathi 5,621]

There is nothing you can do, sorry.

[TBoneTX 43,399]

*** Thread moved from Introducing Our Members forum to Diversity Lottery Visas forum. ***

[Hypnos 6,576]

No.

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

Hello Everyone Very helpful site btw.

I won the DV Lottery and was awarded the visa after a successful interview in Sydney, Australia and it was issued on 5th June 2013.

I foolishly thought I could activate the visa when I was next to go to the US which was in March 2014 - 8 months after issue.

I have received notification that I have forfeited my Visa as I did not enter the US by October 1 2013.

Is there anything I can do about this or is it done and dusted

Disappointed.

Wayne.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do.

Your visa expiry date seems to have been particularly short - were you on AP? But irrespective, the longest you will get is a 6-month validity so you would have missed that anyway.

I am interested to see that they have notified you the visa has been forfeited...so they do keep proper track of whether people enter after they get their visas or not...

Edited January 5, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[Hypnos 6,576]

By law, a diversity visa must be used by the end of the fiscal year in which the entrant won; that date is 30th September in any given year. If you haven't either used your visa to enter the US, or had your AoS approved if you were already in the US and simply filed for adjustment instead, you forfeit your right to live in the US.

[SusieQQQ 11,585]

By law, a diversity visa must be used by the end of the fiscal year in which the entrant won; that date is 30th September in any given year. If you haven't either used your visa to enter the US, or had your AoS approved if you were already in the US and simply filed for adjustment instead, you forfeit your right to live in the US.

That is incorrect. The visa must be ISSUED by the end of the fiscal year, but it can be used until the expiry date on the visa, which is usually 6 months from date of issue but can be shorter.

We have just (a week ago) successfully entered on a DV2013 visa, before the visa expired but after the end of the DV2013 year.

Edited January 5, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

Once the visa year has closed there is no longer any available actions related to issuing or reissuing DV visas. The year end at the end of Sept. It was on you as the recipiant to notice the effective dates on the visa and react accordingly. You are free to enter the lottery again next year assuming you are still eligible and try your luck again.

[Hypnos 6,576]

I stand corrected.

[WFB75 0]

Hello guys, thank you for all your informative and helpful responses, appreciated. Looks like I will have to enter again... Good luck to everyone going through the visa process. W.

[mias 1]

Hello, yes I also only had a short time (2 weeks) to get my DV 2013 visa activated and endorsed. However I had no idea that I was to pay the ELIS

fee for the green card processing. No instruction form was given to me at the US consulate IV in Sydney, as is suggested. After waiting almost 6 months, I have

only just paid the ELIS fee (thanks to this great JV site) and now still waiting for the hard copy green card to come in the mail. good luck all.

[Hypnos 6,576]

I believe you have a year to pay it from PoE (they recommend to pay it before you leave for the US, but the only bad thing that happens if you don't is that you fail to receive your green card); you'll likely receive yours within the next 60 days.