06-11-2011, 07:59 AM
As a DV winner, I can assure you that applying for the Lottery won't affect your chances, and this is simply because the consular staff will neither know you did nor ask you about it (and You will not tell them about it! 
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However, if you are notified as a potential winner, you'll receive a form called "Immigrant Visa form request" ( something of the kind) and not "Non-Immigrant visa request" like it is the case when you apply for B, F,J. etc... visas. Form the moment you send that form to the USCIS, you show your interest in staying for good in the USA (it's called "immigrant intent"), and only at that moment this could be a huge problem for your later visa applications, because tourist visa, student visa, etc.. are not dual intent
read this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_intent
)However, if you are notified as a potential winner, you'll receive a form called "Immigrant Visa form request" ( something of the kind) and not "Non-Immigrant visa request" like it is the case when you apply for B, F,J. etc... visas. Form the moment you send that form to the USCIS, you show your interest in staying for good in the USA (it's called "immigrant intent"), and only at that moment this could be a huge problem for your later visa applications, because tourist visa, student visa, etc.. are not dual intent
read this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_intent