The State Department began accepting visa lottery registration on Thursday, October 1, 2015, at 12:00pm. Registration runs through Tuesday, November 3, 2015, at 12:00pm, Eastern Daylight Time. The Diversity Lottery Program provides an opportunity for foreign nationals to become permanent residents regardless of whether they have existing relatives or an employer willing to sponsor them. The lottery is a success when it comes to facilitating the movement of diverse people around the globe. This program will award 55,000 visas available to successful applicants.
If you meet the following eligibility requirements and wish to obtain permanent residency in the United States, you are welcome to apply before the deadline.
Every foreign national hailing from the following six geographic regions: Africa; Asia; Europe; North America; Oceania; and South America‚ Central America, and the Caribbean may apply for this program.
The qualifications are as followed: (1) a foreign national must claim nativity or country of birth in an eligible country and (2) meet certain education or work experience requirements.
The purpose of the program is to diversify and encourage immigration from countries that send lower numbers of immigrants to the United States.
Persons born in the following countries are not eligible to apply at this time:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. This list is unchanged from last year. Persons born in Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR), and Taiwan are eligible.
Official notifications of selection will be made through Entrant Status Check, available starting May 3, 2016, at the diversity lottery site. Applicants who apply may check the following website for status information : http://www.usadiversitylottery.com/requiremnts.html
Successful applicants may enter the United States beginning January, 2017 if all requirements are met and all immigration forms are submitted by the required deadline following an interview.
Please note that the Department of State does not send selectee notifications or letters by regular postal mail or by e-mail. Any e-mail notification or mailed letter stating that you have been selected to receive a DV does not come from the Department of State and is not legitimate. Any e-mail communication you receive from the Department of State will direct you to review Entrant Status Check for new information about your application.
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