2018 Diversity Visa Lottery – NOW OPEN 10/04/2016 to 11/07/2016

The Department of State administers the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program annually. Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2018, 50,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available.

There is no cost to register for the DV program. Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a diversity visa.
The Department of State (DOS) determine selectees through a randomized computer drawing. The DOS distributes diversity visas among six geographic regions and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.

Natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply for DV-2018 because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the U.S. in the previous five years:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, 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.

Changes in eligibility this year: Ecuador is eligible for DV-2018.

The registration period is October 4, 2016 to November 7, 2016.

Entries for the DV-2018 Diversity Visa program may be submitted electronically during the designated application period. No paper entries are accepted. If more than one entry is submitted the applicant will be disqualified. The instructions for the 2018 Diversity Visa Lottery is located on the DOS website: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/instructions.html

Be aware that fraudulent websites are posing as official U.S. government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. government have sought money in order to “complete” DV entry forms. There is no charge to download and complete the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form.

ENTRANT STATUS CHECK — The Department of State does NOT notify successful DV applicants by letter or email. To determine if your application was chosen for the DV-2018, check at this link: http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/ on or after May 1, 2017.

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