The U.S. Department of State has issued a notice on the Diversity Visa Lottery (“DV Lottery”) for fiscal year 2015. Under this program, citizens from certain countries are given a special opportunity to obtain legal permanent residence in the U.S., also known as a “green card.” Usually, green cards are available only to those with close family ties to U.S. citizens or permanent residents or to those with offers of employment in the U.S. However, under the DV Lottery, persons with no ties to the U.S. can become legal permanent residents based upon a system of random selection. This program is a meaningful departure from ordinary procedures and provides persons without U.S. sponsors a chance to pursue permanent status in the U.S.
The purpose of the DV Lottery is to ensure “diversity” in the immigrant population. For that purpose, the law authorizes the issuance of 50,000 immigrant visas to eligible applicants from countries that are less represented in the immigrant mix. These visas will be issued on a lottery basis to persons from selected countries that follow the filing procedure during the thirty-day application period. All countries are eligible to participate except Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
This year, the application period will be for thirty days, beginning on October 1, 2013 and ending on November 2, 2013. Again this year, no paper entries will be accepted. All entries must be submitted electronically to the following web address: www.dvlottery.state.gov. Additional information about the diversity visa lottery can be found online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html.
CONSUMER WARNING: There is no fee for submitting the initial application. PLEASE NOTE ALSO: There is no advantage to be gained by using any fee-based service or provider. Any promise of such advantage is false. Any look-alike website that charges fees for submitting an Application for the DV Lottery is engaged in fraud. The Department of State has issued a warning regarding Impostor or Fraudulent Websites relating to the Diversity Visa Lottery. This can be found online at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1749.html.
For additional information about the Diversity Visa Lottery, please contact us.