Diversity Lottery 2015 is Open!

The U.S. Department of State has opened entries for the Diversity Lottery 2015 (DV-2015). Online registration for the Diversity Lottery will be accepted until Saturday, November 2, 2013, at noon EDT.

The Diversity Lottery allows nationals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to apply through a lottery process to potentially be selected for a diversity immigrant visa (to ultimately become a permanent resident of the United States). Those selected in the lottery process must meet strict, but simple, eligibility requirements.

For FY2015, 50,000 diversity visas will be made available. Natives of the following countries are NOT eligible to apply for the 2015 Diversity Lottery: 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. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

All entries must be submitted via the Department of State's online system; paper submissions are not accepted. Only one entry may be submitted per person. Spouses may submit separate entries (if one spouse is selected, the other is entitled to derivative status). There is no cost to register for the Diversity Lottery.

Beginning May 1, 2014, applicants will be able to check to see if they were selected in the lottery process (details provided upon registration). Selection does not mean that an individual will become a permanent resident. An individual must meet all qualifications for permanent residence, and a visa number must be available to the applicant. Those selected can begin submitting applications for permanent residence beginning October 1, 2014 (if a visa number for the individual is available).

Even individuals who are pursuing other employment-based or family-based permanent residence processes in the United States, may register for the DV-2015 program.

Instructions and the full announcement from the Department of State are available at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html. The entry system can be accessed at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/.

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