Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2006)

Instructions Issued by the Department of State

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program which is administered by the U.S. Department of State, makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The visas are distributed among six geographic regions with the greater number awarded to regions with lower rates of immigration to the U.S. and none going to countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years.

Natives of the following countries are not eligible for DV-2006: Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in Hong Kong, SAR, Macau and Taiwan are eligible.

Eligibility Requirements

An applicant must:

• Be a native of a country whose natives are eligible. In most cases this is determined by the applicant’s place of birth. However, if an applicant was born in an ineligible country but his/her spouse was born in a country whose natives are eligible, such person can claim the spouse’s country of birth provided both applicant and spouse enter the U.S. simultaneously. Additionally, if a person was born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but neither of his/her parents was born there or resided there at the time of his/her birth, such person may claim nativity in one of the parents’ country of birth, if it is a country whose natives qualify for the DV-2006 Program.

And either:

• Have a high school education or its equivalent. This means successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education.

Or:

• Have two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work experience.

How to Apply

The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa (EDV) Entry Forms submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period between 12:00 pm EST on November 5, 2004 and ending at 12:00 pm EST on January 7, 2005.

Only ONE entry for each applicant will be accepted regardless of who submitted the entry. Paper entries will not be accepted.

A digital photo of each applicant, his/her spouse, and children must be submitted online with the EVD Entry Form. The entry will be disqualified if all required photos are not submitted. The image can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner. (Refer to attached photo instructions.)

An electronic photograph of each child under 21 years of age, including all natural children as well as all legally-adopted children and stepchildren (except a child who is married, or who is already a U.S. citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident) must be submitted with the EDV Entry Form, even if a child no longer resides with the applicant or is not intending to immigrate under the DV program. Failure to list all children and submit a digital photo or each child will disqualify the entry.

Applicants will be asked to submit the following information on the EDV Entry Form:

1. FULL NAME – Last/Family Name, First Name, Middle Name

2. DATE OF BIRTH – Day, Month, Year

3. GENDER – Male or Female

4. CITY/TOWN OF BIRTH

5. COUNTRY OF BIRTH – The name of the country should be that which is currently in use for the applicant where the applicant was born.

6. APPLICANT PHOTOGRAPH – See Information on Photo Specifications.

7. MAILING ADDRESS – Address, City/Town, District/County/Province/State, Postal Code/Zip Code, Country

8. PHONE NUMBER (optional)

9. E-MAIL ADDRESS (optional)

10. COUNTRY OF ELIGIBILITY IF THE APPLICANT’S NATIVE COUNTRY IS DIFFERENT FROM COUNTRY OF BIRTH – If the applicant is claiming nativity in a country other than his/her place of birth, this information must be indicated on the entry.

11. MARITAL STATUS – Unmarried, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Legally Separated

12. NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE UNMARRIED AND UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE – Except children that are either U.S. legal permanent residents or American citizens.

13. SPOUSE INFORMATION – Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country of Birth, Photograph.

14. CHILDREN INFORMATION - Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of Birth, Country of Birth, Photograph.

NOTE: Entries must include the name, date and place of birth of the applicant’s spouse and all natural children, as well as all legally-adopted children and stepchildren, who are unmarried and under the age of 21 (except children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents), even if you are no longer legally married to the child’s parent, and even if the spouse or child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you. Note that married children and children over 21 years or older will not qualify for the diversity visa. Failure to list all children will result in your disqualification for the visa.

Applicants may copy and paste the following link to their browser and enter “search” to access the DV-2006 application form or point the cursor to the link and hit Ctrl+Click. This application form is linked directly to the Department of State.

http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/application.aspx

Confirmation of Entry

Entries that have been successfully registered will receive electronic confirmation showing the applicant’s name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a date/time stamp. The applicant may print this confirmation for his/her records.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected at random by computer from among all qualified entries.

Notification of Successful Applicants

Those selected will be notified by mail between May and July 2005 and will be provided further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Persons not selected will not receive any notification.

DV-2006 visas will be issued between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006. Processing of entries and issuance of immigrant visas to successful applicants and their eligible family members MUST occur by midnight on September 30, 2006. Under no circumstances can diversity visas be issued or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members obtain diversity visas to follow to join the applicant in the U.S. after this date.

Additional Information

Interested individuals may contact Greenberg Traurig Business Immigration Group or the U.S. Department of State Information line at (202) 331-7199. Applicants overseas may contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for instructions. Information is also available at http://travel.state.gov.