ISO November E-Newsletter
1. What is the Diversity Visa Lottery Program?
The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program makes 50,000 legal permanent resident ("green
card") visas available each year to nationals of countries which the U.S. considers
to be under-represented in U.S. immigration. Anyone who is not from an excluded
country can apply, whether they are currently residing outside the U.S. or inside
the U.S. (but see questions 5 and 6 below.)
2. What countries are excluded from this year’s DV lottery?
This year the U.S. has excluded: Canada, mainland China (nationals
of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan can apply), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador,
Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea,
United Kingdom (including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands,
Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands. Nationals
of Northern Ireland can apply) and Vietnam. If you are a "native" of any of these
countries, you cannot apply for the diversity visa lottery. Generally, a person
is considered a "native" of the country in which he or she was born. There are some
exceptions to this rule, so if you are not certain if you qualify, you should contact
an attorney.
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3. What are the requirements to qualify?
To qualify, an applicant must come from an eligible country, have either a high
school diploma, or two years of work experience within the last five years in an
occupation that requires at least two years of training and be otherwise admissible.
4. How will I know if I won?
This year the U.S. has excluded: Canada, mainland China (nationals of Hong Kong,
Macau, and Taiwan can apply), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti,
India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United
Kingdom (including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland
Islands, Gibraltar, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands. Nationals of
Northern Ireland can apply) and Vietnam. If you are a "native" of any of these countries,
you cannot apply for the diversity visa lottery. Generally, a person is considered
a "native" of the country in which he or she was born. There are some exceptions
to this rule, so if you are not certain if you qualify, you should contact an attorney.
5. How do I apply?
This year the Department of State (DOS) is using a new system. In the past, entrants
submitted their applications on paper. This year DOS will only accept applications
that are electronically filed at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov along with digital
photographs.
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. How much does the application cost?
This year the U.S. has excluded: Canada, mainland China (nationals of Hong Kong,
Macau, and Taiwan can apply), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti,
India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United
Kingdom (including Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland
Islands, Gibraltar, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands. Nationals of
Northern Ireland can apply) and Vietnam. If you are a "native" of any of these countries,
you cannot apply for the diversity visa lottery. Generally, a person is considered
a "native" of the country in which he or she was born. There are some exceptions
to this rule, so if you are not certain if you qualify, you should contact an attorney.
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7. When is the registration period?
Registration for the 2007 DV lottery will be available from noon October 5, 2005
through noon December 4, 2005.
8. Can I submit more than one application
No, anyone who submits more than one application will automatically be disqualified.
Like last year the Department of State (DOS) requires all applications be submitted
electronically. The electronic submission system will make it much easier for DOS
to catch people who submit multiple entries. In addition, this year persons submitting
entries to the 2007 DV lottery will receive a notice of receipt now containing their
name, date of birth, country of origin, and a time/date stamp when information has
been properly registered.
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9. What information will I have to give with
my entry?
- FULL NAME - Last/Family Name, First Name, Middle name
- DATE OF BIRTH - Day, Month, Year
- GENDER - Male or Female
- CITY/TOWN OF BIRTH
- COUNTRY OF BIRTH - The name of the country should be that which is currently
in use for the place where the applicant was born.
- APPLICANT PHOTOGRAPH - Click here for more information.
- MAILING ADDRESS - Address, City/Town, District/Country/Province/State, Postal
Code/Zip Code, Country
- PHONE NUMBER (optional)
- E-MAIL ADDRESS (optional)
- COUNTRY OF ELIGIBILITY IF THE APPLICANT’S NATIVE COUNTRY IS DIFFERENT FROM
COUNTRY OF BIRTH - If the applicant is claiming nativity in a country other
than his/her place of birth, this information must be submitted on the entry. If
an applicant is claiming nativity through spouse or parent, please indicate this
on the entry.
- MARRIAGE STATUS – Unmarried, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Legally Separated
- NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE UNMARRIED AND UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE – Except
children that are either U.S. legal permanent residents or American citizens.
- SPOUSE INFORMATION - Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country
of Birth, Photograph
- CHILDREN INFORMATION - Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country
of Birth, Photograph
Good luck
ISO Customer Care Team
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