The United States Embassy in Monrovia has stressed the need for Diversity Lottery Visa (DV) applicants to avoid dishonesty in the ongoing 2026 DV application process.
During an awareness and interactive community engagement with media practitioners and students of the University of Liberia on Monday, October 28, 2024, Leslie Ells and Ariem Starovoyt, Consulate Officers of the Embassy, said lot of Liberians dishonestly applied in previous DVs process by placing in different information from the realities.
The US Embassy officials said a high school diploma is a major requirement but presenting a West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) is not compulsory as it only serves as a backup to the fact that the applicant is a high school graduate and has the ability to read and write.
They said this is because it is difficult to secure a job in the United States if one cannot read and write.
The US officials said there is no age requirement to apply for the DV beyond the legal age of 18 and above, and names, whether traditional or western, have no impact on the process once the applicant is a Liberian citizen.
“The requirement for the DV program is to list all immediate family members’ names; we want you to bring your spouse, your children because it’s easier and cheaper, but when you get to the US before filing for your family is costly; if you play with them and they don’t travel with you it’s okay, but it’s better if they do,” they said.
According to them, the biggest reason people get denied is because they lie about simple things when applying.
Starovoyt: “When you come to me and you cannot be honest with me about something simple like ‘are you married, what’s your name, how can I trust you that you have good intentions to move to the United States?”
The US officials said the purpose of the DV program is to diversify the United States “but also, we want you guys to go to America to buy our products, work hard to make money,” saying intent of the meeting was to educate the Liberian populace on what to do and expect when applying for the program.
According to the US website, up to 55,000 immigrants can enter the United States each year from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Also speaking during the awareness engagement, Prof. Sekou Konneh, Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Liberia, commended the US Embassy for the initiative and thanked the participants for taking up their time to be part of the program as part of the learning process.
He said some of the information provided by the US officials, Liberians are not aware of them, or have had misinformation, but the training has made it clear for everyone.
According to Prof. Konneh, the more dishonest people are, it will have negative implications on other Liberians, calling on students and citizens in general to be honest at all times during the application process.
The awareness and interactive community engagement was centered on DV and other visa services, and Liberians from diverse backgrounds had the opportunity to post direct questions to the US Consulates.
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
