The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, or DV Lottery, is designed for citizens that are understated in terms of migrating to the United States. Every year, up to 55,000 immigrant visas are awarded through the DV Lottery program. The qualified visa applicants are determined via a random drawing from over 10-12 million people seeking to enter the United States every year worldwide.
In this blog, you will know everything about if you are eligible for the DV Lottery and how to apply for the same.
Am I Eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery Program?
Anyone can apply for DV Lottery. However, there are certain eligibility requirements one must fulfill. These are:
- The candidate must be a citizen of a nation that has low immigration rate to the US
- He/she must have graduated from high school or equivalent, or have eligible work experience
Learn more about the eligibility requirements for DV Lottery.
How to Apply for the Diversity Visa Program?
Discussed here are the steps to apply for the Diversity Visa Program:
- Apply: The Department of State only accepts electronic submission of applications via the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website. Only one entry for or by each person is allowed. The DV Lottery Program Instructions provide complete details of how to submit an entry electronically.
- Get confirmation: After completing and submitting the application, you will receive a unique confirmation number with your name. You must retain this confirmation number for future proceedings, such as checking your entry status, receiving further instructions, and scheduling a visa interview if you get selected.
- Complete DS-260 application if you are selected: Applicants can check the status of their entry on the E-DV website by providing their confirmation number. Selected candidates should complete the DS-260 application online to schedule an interview with the concerned U.S. consulate or embassy. If you are physically present in the US at the time of getting selected, then you might be eligible to adjust your visa status and receive permanent residence via the DV Lottery program. There are several benefits of being a green card holder in the United States.
- Validate your eligibility: Getting selected for the DV program does not mean you are eligible for the visa. You must confirm your qualifications as per the eligibility requirements discussed above.
- Submit all supporting documents: Before the interview is scheduled, you must submit scanned copies of all required documents. These include birth certificate, military records, court and prison records, police certificates, and photocopy of valid passport biographic data page. Personal and civil document requirements may vary from one country to another. You can get the information from your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy.
- Interview: Once the DS-260 is reviewed, you may receive an email notification stating that your interview has been scheduled. You can check the date, location, and time of the interview on the E-DV website using your confirmation number. Take a print out of this information and carry it to the interview. Make sure to take all required photographs and documentation with you to the interview.
- After the interview: At the end of the interview at the US consulate or embassy, the officer will notify whether your DV Lottery application is approved or not. If approved, you will be informed how and when the visa and passport will be returned. If denied, you will also be informed why you are ineligible for the visa.
After completing the interview and once approved, you will receive your passport with the diversity visa. You will also get a sealed immigrant packet that contains all documents you must present at the port of entry to US Customs and Border Protection. Make sure you do not open this packet. Before the visa expiry date mentioned on the visa, you must arrive in the United States and apply for admission. After receiving the immigrant visa, you must pay an immigrant fee to US Citizenship and Immigration Services. You must also carry x-rays and vaccination records when entering the United States under DV Lottery.
Need Support?
Onal Gallant Bayram&Amin PC is a law office specializing in Real Estate Law, Intellectual Property, Corporate and Business Law, Immigration Law, and the US Visa Processes. We deliver reliable advice on a large variety of subjects ranging from forming a corporation and buying a house in the US to trademark registration and Green Card applications (e.g., EB3 Visa or DV Lottery). With exceptional knowledge and insight into immigration law, our experienced lawyers at Onal Gallant Bayram&Amin are ready to help and respond to all of your inquiries.
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