Won the lottery, but submitted the wrong photo when I applied

[luckyguy 0]

Hi everyone!

I have a rather odd question, and if this ever happened to anyone before, please let me know how it worked out for you. Here goes:

When I applied for the lottery in october, I remember that I might have uploaded my wife's photo instead of mine, or my photo instead of my wife's. I'm not sure, and it's definitely not one of those things that could help me in any way, like allowing me to register twice (so there shouldn't be any suspicion I did it on purpose).

Did this ever happen to anyone, and if so, did they get the visa ?

If it helps: I've already visited the US a few times, and the embassy already has plenty of photos with me and my wife, so they won't have any problems verifying our identity.

Thanks a lot!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Hi everyone!

I have a rather odd question, and if this ever happened to anyone before, please let me know how it worked out for you. Here goes:

When I applied for the lottery in october, I remember that I might have uploaded my wife's photo instead of mine, or my photo instead of my wife's. I'm not sure, and it's definitely not one of those things that could help me in any way, like allowing me to register twice (so there shouldn't be any suspicion I did it on purpose).

Did this ever happen to anyone, and if so, did they get the visa ?

If it helps: I've already visited the US a few times, and the embassy already has plenty of photos with me and my wife, so they won't have any problems verifying our identity.

Thanks a lot!

It may not be something that would allow you multiple entries but it is a method that could be used to fraudulently get someone who otherwise would be refused a green card (for example via identity theft). They use facial recognition software and clearly the new photos you submit would not match the entry ones, and the same would be the case when you go for your interview (they run the photos you need to bring to the interview through the software while you are there too). I've not heard of this 'mistaken' photo happening before but I am afraid that on the face of what you've said, if you did (it's curious that you are not sure, or why you would have submitted with the wrong photos) then I am pretty certain it would lead to disqualification. You may however want to call KCC to see if there is any way you can check the photos or what you can do about it if you did swop them.

Edited May 7, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[luckyguy 0]

Thank you.

I'm too afraid you are correct - it's likely that a mistake like this would lead to disqualification. There are pros and cons to that alternative.

As for why I'm not sure: this is the 4th year I've applied to the lottery, and I've also filled 3 other forms for US visas in the past. Each time, after everything was filled in, there was a "review & submit" step where you could verify everything. This time though, that step wasn't there. I selected the photo, clicked "submit", and was greeted with a "your application has been submitted" message.

To make matters worse, my wife's photo was right next to mine in the selection (they were both named "lottery_**.jpg", with small icons and fonts), and right then and there I had a feeling I mis-clicked and picked the wrong one.

It's stupid, I know.

I called KCC, they said they can't tell me anything about my case, which is strange since they require the case number to call. I also sent them an email, and I received a generic, non-case-specific reply about how the DS-260 form will be available after May 19. This is again strange, since they clearly say "This email address, KCCDV@state.gov is for case-specific Diversity Visa inquires only."

So, right now, I'm stuck. I guess we'll go ahead, pay the fee and prepare everything and will go to the interview, and find out there in May next year (our case is EU 23000 something).

Thanks for your opinion though! It's helpful to hear what someone else thinks!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

If you've already received a response to your email, it will be a generic autoreply, which are usually phrased to deal with the most popular question of the moment! If you haven't received a specific reply after about a week, I'd suggest re-sending it, probably best to do so after 19 May.

[sumranbi 12]

They select 125,000 people for 55000 lots... So most likely disqualify. My Secretary had given up her children for adoption so she technically isn't the mother but she was dsqualified as she didn't state them on her entry...

[luckyguy 0]

If you've already received a response to your email, it will be a generic autoreply, which are usually phrased to deal with the most popular question of the moment! If you haven't received a specific reply after about a week, I'd suggest re-sending it, probably best to do so after 19 May.

I actually sent them that email almost a week ago and they replied 2 days later. I sent them another one today, asking simply to confirm that the primary applicant's photo is of a male, nothing more. Fingers crossed.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

They select 125,000 people for 55000 lots... So most likely disqualify. My Secretary had given up her children for adoption so she technically isn't the mother but she was dsqualified as she didn't state them on her entry...

Actually it is not that most are disqualified, but that most do not follow up a win.

I'm sorry for your secretary, but the instructions as I recall are very clear that you need to name all living children even if you do not live with them. They are clear that both natural children and adopted children must be named. Even if she gave them up for adoption they are still her natural children. I understand that even a child given up for adoption would have a claim as a derivative, this is why they must be named. Out of curiosity, did your secretary mention this in the interview or did they find out through the background check?

Edited May 8, 2014 by SusieQQQ

[Buckyball 22]

This will most likely end in a denial of the visa.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

This will most likely end in a denial of the visa.

Agree...but he doesn't know if the photo is wrong or not! Hopefully can find out before all the time, effort and money involved in the application potentially goes to waste...

[Buckyball 22]

They won't tell him anything about his file.

[luckyguy 0]

They won't tell him anything about his file.

just out of curiosity: why do they keep asking for the Case Number and registration key then ? That's what boggles me..

[Buckyball 22]

just out of curiosity: why do they keep asking for the Case Number and registration key then ? That's what boggles me..

They need something to find your case. From what I remeber that they wrote to someone is that they basically have no full access to any file and only can add things.

[Sm1smom 252]

just out of curiosity: why do they keep asking for the Case Number and registration key then ? That's what boggles me..

KCC typically sends out 2 types of responses to each enquiry they receive: a generated auto response sent immediately following the submission of the email enquiry and a generic response sent a couple of weeks later. I've never known or heard of KCC giving case specific answers to questions asked. So I doubt if they will ever confirm the picture attached to your application.

They ask for case details to serve as some sort of protection for the applicant, to ensure someone else with maybe just the selectee's name or the selectee's CN isn't trying to use that partial information they have to gain additional information about the selectee and end up showing up as the selectee.

They also ask for case details to ensure they pull up the right case file to update whatever new information the selectee is providing them with. All your email correspondence will be added to your case file before it gets forwarded to the applicable embassy for interview.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

They won't tell him anything about his file.

Disagree. I emailed KCC specifically to ask them if everything was ok with our documents as I was a bit concerned about one of the photos we had sent them, and they confirmed that all was in order. That is not refusing to tell anything about the file....

[Nanossa 0]

Luckyguy ..you take the dv visa or no