Scheduling an appointment

After you have completed the steps on the Diversity Visa Process web site, including submission of the required immigrant visa application form (DS-260), you will receive an email from the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) advising you that an interview has been scheduled. The e-mail will instruct you to log onto the Entrant Status Check on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website, using your DV entry confirmation number, to view the date, time and location of your interview.

It is very important that you do not miss your assigned appointment date.  Visas are allocated by month, if you do not come to your interview in the month you are scheduled, you may not be able to receive a visa–even if you are qualified. The end of the DV year is September 30th.  At this point, all appointment slots will have been taken, and we will be unable to reschedule any applicants for any reason.

If you need to reschedule your appointment, you must contact the Cotonou consular section at IVCotonou@state.gov. If you have had the medical exam, but are waiting for the results, you do NOT need to reschedule. Please still come at the right time, and let the consular staff know what you are missing. For fastest service, please include your name and your case number (If you have it) in the subject line of your e-mail.

The actual interview

The applicant must bring all supporting documents on the day of the interview and must pay the fee before the interview.

The applicant will be interviewed by a commissioned consular officer. Applicants from Benin must have at least a Baccalaureate diploma or a “Diplôme de Technique Industriel” (DTI).  Applicants who do not have qualifying diplomas may demonstrate two years working in the past five years in an occupation requiring two years of training or experience.  These are jobs in zones 4 or 5 with an SVP of 7 and above.

You can learn more about the interview process on usvisas.state.gov.