Q: What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. The visas, however, are distributed among six geographic regions with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to citizens of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years. Within each region, no one country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.
Q: What is the procedure to apply for USA Lottery Visa?
The lottery usually occurs between October-December each year. The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Forms submitted electronically at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ during this three month registration period.
Q: Which countries qualify for visa lotteries?
Check for the upcoming lottery instructions which will list the countries that qualify on page 16 of: DV Lottery
Q: How and when will I find out if I won?
A computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. When an entry has been selected, the applicant will be sent a notification letter by the Kentucky Consular Center. Applicants are generally notified between May and July of the year following the year of entry into the lottery.
Q: After I win what happens?
There are 50,000 DV visas available for the Diversity Visa lottery, but more than that number of individuals will be selected. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected by the Kentucky Consular Center to ensure that all of the available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases.
Q: What can the Margolis Law Firm do for me?
The Margolis Law Firm will guide you through every step of the DV lottery process. If you decide to apply, The Margolis Law Firm will complete all appropriate forms on behalf of you and your family and ensure that the proper information: fees (if any) and photographs are submitted in a timely fashion. If you win the lottery, The Margolis Law Firm can then assist with the immigrant visa application process.