October 6, 2011

Diversity Visa Program - 2013 Accepting Applications

The online registration period for the Department of State 2013 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2013) started at www.dvlottery.state.gov on October 4, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and ends on Saturday, November 5, 2011, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4).

What is the Diversity Visa Program?
The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas (DVs) annually, drawn from random selection among applicants who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Applicants must be eligible to receive a visa by qualifying based on education, work, and other requirements. The law and regulations require that every DV entrant must have at least: A high school education or its equivalent; or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years' training or experience. The nationals of a number of countries, such as Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam are not eligible to apply.

More information on the DV-2013 program can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1322.html.