Diversity Visa Program DIY

Diversity Visa Program DIY

You probably know it better as the ‘Green Card Lottery’. The Diversity Visa is one of the most visible and durable signs of the United States’ commitment to having a population as ethnically diverse as possible. If you are from a country that is not very well represented in the United States ethnic mix and can meet a few other straightforward but strict conditions, you can enter the ‘Green Card Lottery’. If you win, you would be one of the 50,000 people selected at random every year to receive Green Cards and become permanent residents of the United States. The lottery’s goal is to select applicants mostly from countries that have had low numbers of immigrants to the US in the previous five years.

The Diversity Program visa was created by the Immigration Act of 1990, which was passed with broad support across the US political spectrum and signed by President George H. W. Bush.

The Immigration Act established the Diversity Visa in its current form as a permanent part of the US Immigration scenario. Every year, 50,000 immigrant visas are made available in an annual lottery. Each year’s lottery is identified by a short code consisting of the letters ‘DV’ followed by the year by which selected winners must enter the US. To enter the US in that year, you would need to have submitted your name to the lottery two years earlier.

Thus the Green Card lottery for the current year, 2021, is named DV-2023.

Who is eligible for the Diversity Visa?

Firstly, citizens of certain countries are automatically ineligible for the Diversity Visa. These are typically countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous five-year period. The list of eligible countries is reviewed and updated each year based on the record of the previous five years. For DV-2023 (the most recent lottery, with an online entry submission period in 2021), this list included Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible, and persons in the Gaza Strip are covered by Egypt.

If you are not from any of the currently ineligible countries, you only have to meet two simple requirements to be eligible for the Diversity Visa.

#1: You must be a native of a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. If you do not meet this requirement, you may still qualify if your spouse is a native of such a country. You can then claim your spouse’s country of birth as long as you are both applying together and will enter the United States simultaneously if you are found eligible and awarded a visa.

Alternatively, you could claim the country of birth of one of your parents as yours, provided that that country is eligible for the Diversity Visa program. Please note, however, that you cannot claim your parents’ eligible country of birth as yours if they happened to be living (temporarily or permanently) in the ineligible country where you were born. For example, let’s say your parents were born in France and Germany, both eligible countries. On the other hand, let’s say you were born in Canada, where your parents had relocated because your father had a short-term job there. In this case, your parents were not resident in their (eligible) country of birth when you were born, and you cannot claim their birth country as yours. It’s worth reading this paragraph a couple of times to understand this nuance.

#2: Each DV applicant must meet the education/work experience requirement of the DV program. This means having at least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education. Alternatively, you could become eligible by showing that within the last five-year period, you have worked at least two years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. A list of such eligible jobs is available online.

Which Diversity Visa is currently open for entries?

Under DV-2023, the current DV program, 50,000 Diversity Visas will be made available during the financial year 2023, which ends on September 30, 2023.

Dates for submission of Diversity Visa entries are yet to be announced but will likely be between October 1 and November 30, 2021. Each person will be allowed only one entry, to be submitted only online. A husband and wife may submit one application each, thus doubling their chances of being selected.

The DV-2023 lottery will be held around March-April 2022 and results will be available in May 2022.

Visa processing for the selected winners will start on 1 October 2022.

The DV-2023 Program will officially close on 30 September 2023 after the issue of all the immigrant visas that had been reserved under this program.

How many Diversity Visas are issued each year?

Up to 55,000 Diversity Visas are made available each year. Selection is done through a randomized process, which has earned the name Green Card Lottery.

Diversity Visas are allocated by region rather than country. There are six regions —

1. Africa
2. Asia
3. Europe (Turkey, Cyprus and countries of the former Soviet Union are allocated to Europe)
4. Latin America (Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America)
5. North America (consisting only of Canada and the Bahamas)
6. Oceania

It is worth taking a little time to understand how the United States allocated the DVs between the six regions. A region that has sent more than one-sixth of the total number of immigrants to the United States in the previous five years is considered a “high-admission region” (currently Latin America and Asia), while one that sent less than one-sixth is a “low-admission region” (currently North America, Europe, Africa and Oceania). The proportion of DVs given to regions in the low-admission group and the high-admissions group is decided using a mathematical formula and varies from year to year.

The DVs are divided between the regions in the low-admission group in proportion to their population, with the limitation that no one country may receive more than 7% of the total number of DVs. Since 55,000 DVs are issued each year, the maximum number of visas a single country may receive is capped at 3,850.

Historically, not all selectees eventually receive a visa — some do not apply; some are ruled out because of incomplete or erroneous paperwork during application; some are disqualified because they do not meet immigration requirements. To buffer against this, the lottery will select about 100,000 winners to ensure that all the visas will get issued. Since DVs are issued on a first-come-first-served basis, no interviews are conducted once the visa quota is exhausted even if there are other winners in the line. This means that inevitably some people who were selected may still not receive the visa and being quick and early at each stage of the process will pay dividends.

How do you apply for a Diversity Visa?

Applying for the Diversity Visa is not only free but relatively straightforward so that you can do it by yourself by following instructions on the Diversity Visa website. However, the process is strict and time-bound and if you make any errors within your application, such as uploading a photo that does not meet the criteria, your application will be rejected. Also, because the government service is free, they don’t provide any further support and will not let you know if or why your application was rejected.

STEP 1: APPLY ONLINE TO ENTER THE DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY

Submit your entry online electronically when the Electronic Diversity Visa website opens for receiving applications, as early as you can during the specified registration period. The window for submitting your online application usually starts in the first week of October until the closing date, the second week of November. Please note that the submission window can change from year to year.

You will have exactly 60 minutes to complete and submit your entry. If you do not complete the process in this period, your data will be deleted, and you will have to start the process again later.

Submitting more than one entry will disqualify you instantly. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries by the same individual.

Instructions for taking and uploading photos

As part of the application process, you will need to upload one photograph of yourself. If you are married or have any children under the age of 21 you will also need to upload photos of all family members.

The photo must conform to the specifications given below —

1. In color
2. In focus
3. Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and 35 mm) or 50 percent and 69 percent of the image’s total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
4. View the Photo Composition Template for more size requirement details.
5. Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance
6. Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
7. Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera with a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
8. Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
9. Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily.
10. Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
11. Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
12. Do not wear eyeglasses.
13. If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo.

If you are scanning an existing photo, make sure that in addition to meeting the digital image requirements, your existing photo is:

2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)

Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)

Use the Department of State’s free photo tool to:

Select a digital image stored on your computer

Resize and rotate it if necessary

Crop it to a square image of exactly 600 x 600 pixels

Taking photos of your baby or toddler:  Taking children’s pictures can be tricky at the best of times. When taking your baby’s or toddler’s photo for the Diversity Visa, make sure no one else is visible in the photo, and that your child is looking at the camera with his or her eyes open. Two professional tips for getting a good baby photo are —

Tip 1: Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby’s head is supported and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby’s face, especially if you take a picture from above with the baby lying down.

Tip 2: Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture of your child in the car seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is supported.

If you need instructions for filling your application in a language other than English, detailed instructions in multiple languages are available online.

Upon successful submission of your entry, you will see a confirmation screen with your name and your unique Confirmation Number. Print this confirmation screen for your record and make a secure note of your confirmation number because it is the only way you will be able to check the status of your entry. You will also use it to get further instructions or schedule a visa interview if you are selected.

STEP 2: CHECK YOUR ENTRANT STATUS

The Department of State will not notify you if you are selected. You should check your Entrant Status online yourself, starting around the first week of May. You will be asked to enter your Confirmation Number so keep that handy.

Please note that the Entrant Status Check is the only way to know if you have been selected or rejected for the Diversity Visa. If selected, you will be directed to a confirmation page where you will see further instructions, including information about fees connected with immigration to the US.

STEP 3: SUBMIT FORM DS-260

Being selected for the DV does not automatically mean you are admissible for immigration to the US. To verify if you are, you must go online and complete Form DS-260, also known as the Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application.

In this form, you will answer questions about yourself, your background and your purpose for immigrating to the US. Form DS-260 can be filled and submitted online. The process begins with entering your confirmation number in the field provided. It’s a good idea to look at a sample completed DS-260 form before filling it online.

Once you have successfully submitted Form DS-260, you will see a Confirmation Page. Please print a copy of this page, as you will need it at the consular visa interview. If the information in the DS-260 changes before the interview — maybe you got a new job or a child — just update the consular officer during the interview.

STEP 4: SUBMIT SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Once your Form DS-260 has been reviewed and processed, you will receive instructions regarding documents that you need to submit, including copies of birth certificates, prison and court records, police certificates and others. You will also receive guidance on alternatives in case any of these documents are not available. Please note that some of these requirements vary from country to country depending on agreements in force between the US and that country, so follow the instructions you receive carefully.

STEP 5: GO FOR YOUR MEDICAL CHECK-UP

Before you go for your interview, you and your family members included in your Diversity Visa application will need to undergo a medical examination and receive any required vaccinations from an authorized physician in the country where you will be interviewed. Your physician may give you a sealed medical exam envelope to carry with you to your visa interview. Do not open it as it will contain information meant only for the interviewing officer.

STEP 6: PREPARE FOR THE VISA INTERVIEW

You may receive an email once your completed DS-260 application has been reviewed informing you that an interview has been scheduled at the US Embassy or Consulate you selected on your DS-260 form. You will have to log in to the Entrant Status Check page again using your DV entry confirmation number to view the date, time and location of your interview. Print this information to take with you to your interview.

Read the instructions on the Entrant Status Check page and prepare for the interview carefully. Also, check if your local embassy or consulate has additional instructions for the interview. Incomplete preparation or missing documents may result in being denied the visa.

Please note that your interview will only be scheduled when and if a visa number becomes available for you. This is dependent on the number of DVs available each year and the number of DVs allocated by visa category and region of the world. The allocations are revised monthly as available visas are issued. You can check the most recent updated information by looking at the Visa Bulletin.

STEP 7: GO FOR THE VISA INTERVIEW

You will need to be present at the interview, as well as your spouse and children who are applying for a diversity immigrant visa. You will be asked to pay the DV application fee of $330 per applicant before the interview.

Documents you must carry to the interview

• Appointment information. This is printed from the Entrant Status Check page on the E-DV website.
• DS-260 confirmation page. You can print this from the Consular Electronic Application Center any time after you complete your DS-260 application.
• Passport(s) valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the US for you and each family member applying for a DV.
• Original documents or certified copies of civil documents submitted. These could include —

— Evidence of required education and work experience

— Certificate of marriage (or divorce)

— Birth certificates

— Court and criminal records

— Police certificates

STEP 8: AFTER THE INTERVIEW

You will be told right after the interview whether your DV application has been approved or denied. If it has been denied, you will also be told why.

If you have been approved for the DV, you will now be told the next steps and also when you may expect your passport and visa to be returned to you. At that time, you will see that your Diversity Visa has been placed on a page in your passport. Check it carefully right away and if you spot any errors, contact the embassy or consulate at once.

USCIS Immigrant Fee. Once you receive your visa, you are required to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before you travel to the US. More information is available on the USCIS website.

Vaccination Records. Make sure your child has received all the required vaccinations and carry medical documents as proof.

Sealed Immigrant Packet. You will be given a sealed packet with documents that you must present to US Customs and Border Protection upon your arrival in the United States. Do not open this sealed packet.

Remember that you must arrive and apply for admission into the US before the expiration date printed on your visa. A Diversity Visa is usually valid for up to six months from the date of issuance.

How much does a Diversity Visa cost?

Applying for the Diversity Visa is free and done entirely online. The only cost is the Diversity Visa fee of $330 per applicant which you will be required to pay before the interview. In addition, you may incur medical test costs as well as translation and photocopy costs.

Important tips for winning the Diversity Lottery

First things first: It’s free and easy: Applying for the Diversity Visa is not only free but also a remarkably straightforward process. The only way to apply for a Diversity Visa is online. There is no application fee and a successful outcome is not guaranteed since selection is done through a random process. Finally, the Department of State does not notify winners.

Beware of fraudsters: The Department of State explicitly warns applicants to get taken in by scammers and fraudsters, who often trick applicants into paying visa fees after claiming an affiliation with the Department of State. Some applicants have even received letters purporting to be from the Department of State. It goes without saying that you should be very careful with so-called visa agencies.

Any agency or individual making a claim that contradicts any of these facts may be a scammer and is best avoided. Several countries, including Ukraine, Ghana, Albania and Bangladesh have been identified as having suspicious operations around the Diversity Visa Program.

What can go wrong: Though the application process is easy to understand and straightforward, it is also known to be strict, unforgiving and rigorous. Not only do you have to complete the entire application within 60 minutes, but also a single error there could result in your being left out of the DV lottery. Also, the window for applying for the DV lottery is typically just about eight weeks spread over October and November. Some people simply forget about this and miss applying altogether.

Since the Department of State does not notify winners by email, you have to check the government website periodically to know if you were selected or not. Again, some people miss out because they simply did not check the website, even though they might have been selected.

It’s part of the plan: If you’re reading this, you know that your plan already includes this free do-it-yourself guide for applying to the Diversity Visa lottery, so you may need nothing more. However, if you request our help in checking your DV application and submitting it on your behalf after ensuring that it is 100% error-free, then your plan entitles you to a $25 discount on the application fee you pay for using the professional, paid, value-added immigration service.

Why some people choose a legitimate paid immigration service: In any random selection process, anticipating and eliminating problems and errors is a sure way to maximize your chances of success. For this reason, some people go the extra mile and hire a legitimate agency like www.usgreencardoffice.com to help them with their submission. Their goal is to minimize errors in submission, including human errors such as missing the application window or forgetting to check if you were selected.

US Green Card Office  is a legitimate service and you only pay a modest application fee to avail of it. In return, it offers you plans and benefits such as automatic submissions on your behalf over two years (in case you are not selected the first time around) and separate applications for husband and wife if you’re a couple, to double your chances of selection.

By using a paid service, you avoid being among the 65% that are disqualified each year because of errors in their application. To decide if the paid immigration service is for you, have a look at this comparison chart.

 

Should you choose to go for the paid service, remember to use your discount code XXXXXX to apply a $25 discount when you pay your application fee.

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