DIVERSITY LOTTERY IS OUT!

The annual Diversity Visa Lottery (DV lottery), otherwise known as the Green Card Lottery, is out! The DV lottery is a US government program through the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State that makes 55,000 Permanent Resident cards available every year to persons from “low admission regions” or “underrepresented countries,” those that have been less represented in employment and family-based preference categories in the United States. The program is open to all who meet two basic eligibility requirements. The Program makes Permanent Resident Cards available to the winners, authorizing the winners and their families to live, study and work in the United States of America as permanent residents. The Green Card Lottery program is a United States congressionally-mandated program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

To be eligible for the DV lottery, the applicant must satisfy two requirements: First, the applicant must be from a designated “low admission region.” The designated low admission regions are Africa, Asia, Europe, North America (excluding Mexico), Oceania (that is, Australia and neighboring islands), and South America (including Mexico and the Caribbean). Second, the applicant must have either a high school diploma (or foreign equivalent that would allow admission to a U.S. university) or, within five years of applying, at least two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.
HOW TO APPLY
DV lottery applications must be submitted online through the electronic filing system at https://dvlottery.state.gov; applications will not be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service. The entry submission period for DV-2017 (the current DV lottery) is from 12:00PM EDT on October 1, 2015 to 12:00PM EST on November 3, 2015. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only. After reading the instructions, scroll down and click on “Begin Entry” to enter the DV Lottery.
It is important to note that applicants may only submit one application; if more than application is submitted, all of the applications will be void.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Because the DV lottery is, indeed, a lottery, good luck is key factor in being selected. There are, however, several factors that can be controlled to maximize the chances of winning a green card through the lottery, including the timing of the application and precise preparation of the applications. We can help ensure that everything is filed correctly and timely. If you would like to apply for the diversity lottery, contact us!