GREEN CARD LOTTERY

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THE 2017 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM

REGISTRATION DATES – October 1, 2015 - November 3, 2015.

Q. What is a Diversity Immigrant Visa?

A. The Department of State annually administers the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. It is a lottery program and the winners receive a United States Permanent Resident Card (green card)

Under section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), a class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants" from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States are eligible to apply for a diversity visa.

Diversity visas are distributed among six geographic regions and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas (DVs) in any one year.

Q. How many visas are available?

A. 50,000 DVs will be available for For Fiscal-Year 2017. The entry period to apply for the DV-2017 is from October 1, 2015 to November 3, 2015..

Q. What countries are eligible or ineligible?

A. Those born in any territory that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years are not eligible to receive a diversity visa. So, any individual born in countries whose natives qualify may be eligible to enter.

For DV-2017, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:

(In Alphabetical Order)

- 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

- Vietnam

Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

Q. I was born in an ineligible country, but my spouse was born in a country whose natives are eligible. Am I eligible to apply?

A. You can claim your spouse's country of birth, provided that both you and your spouse are named on the selected entry, are issued diversity visas, and enter the United States simultaneously. Of course, your spouse has to be selected.

Q. I was born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but my parents were born in an eligible country. Am I eligible to apply?

A. Yes, you may claim the country of birth of one of your parents if it is a country whose natives are eligible for the DV-2017 program.

Q. Are there there any other requirements?

A. Each DV applicant must meet education/work experience requirement of the DV program by having either:

1) At least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education;

OR

2) Two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform.

Q. Can I submit more than one entry?

A. The law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals with more than one entry will be disqualified.

Q. Is there a minimum age to apply for the DV program?

A. There is no minimum age to apply for the DV program. However, the requirement of a high school education or work experience will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.

Q. I am in the United States. May I apply for DV?

A. Yes. The entry may be submitted from anywhere.

Q. Can my spouse and I submit separate entries?

A. Yes. Each spouse may submit an applicationy. If either one is selected, the other is entitled to apply as a derivative dependent.

Q. How will I know if I am selected or not?

A. Once you submit your entry, you should receive the confirmation notice immediately, including a confirmation number that you must record and keep. You must use your confirmation number to access the Entrant Status Check available on the website at www.dvlottery.state.gov starting May 3, 2016, through September 30, 2017. Entrant Status Check is the sole means by which you will be notified if you are selected. Please keep your number until at least September 30, 2017.