What is the Diversity Visa Lottery
Program?
Each year, 50,000 immigrant visas are made available through
a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the
United States. None of these visas are available for people who come from countries
that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five
years. The State Department's National Visa Center holds the lottery every year,
and chooses winners randomly from all qualified entries. Anyone who is selected
under this lottery will be given the opportunity to apply for permanent residence.
If permanent residence is granted, then the individual will be authorized to live
and work permanently in the United States. You will also be allowed to bring your
spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 to the United States.
Who
is Eligible to Enter the Diversity Visa Lottery?
You
or your spouse must be a native of a country that is eligible to participate in
the Diversity Visa Lottery. You may also be eligible to apply if your parent was
born in a country that is eligible to participate. (The State Department will
publish the names of countries that are eligible to participate before each year's
lottery.)
You must have a high school diploma
or the equivalent, defined in the United States as successful completion of a
12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR you must have two years
of work experience within the last five years in an occupation that requires at
least two years of training or experience to perform.
How
Do I Apply?,
Before each year's lottery drawing, the Department of
State will publish explicit instructions on how to apply in press releases and
the Federal Register.
Please follow all directions exactly. Millions of applicants are rejected each
year for failure to follow the directions. Please watch the State
Department Website for more information on the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.
Instructions are usually posted in August, and the registration period is usually
held in October each year.
How Much Does the Lottery Cost?
There is no fee for entering the diversity visa lottery. If you
win, you must pay a fee for an immigrant visa and a separate visa
lottery surcharge. If you employ Inkorpa to apply for the Lottery,
there will be a charge of $100.
How
Can I Find Out If I Won?
Only the winners will be notified by mail
at the addresses listed on their applications. Winners will be sent instructions
and information on fees. Being selected as a winner in the diversity visa lottery
does not automatically guarantee that you will be issued a visa, even if you are
qualified. The number of entries selected is greater than the number of immigrant
visas available, because not everyone selected will be qualified for the visa
or will choose to complete the processing. Once all 50,000 visas have been issued,
the diversity visa program for the year will end.
How Can I Find Out
More Information?Please watch the State
Department Website for more information on the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.
You may also call the State Department's Visa Lottery Information Center at 1-900-884-8840
for more information. Please note: There is a charge for each call. You may also
contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. A listing of U.S. Embassies and
Consulates can be found at the State Department
Website.
Content provided by the US
Department of State
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