Client Alert

Immigration News: Department of State Announces Electronic Filing Procedure for 2010 Diversity Visa Lottery

October 02, 2008

The Immigration Practice Group

The State Department has released information on how to apply for immigrant visas under the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program for fiscal year 2010. As with last years diversity lottery program, applicants for the 2010 DV lottery must apply electronically through the website http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. The registration period begins at noon (EST) on October 2, 2008 and continues until noon (EST) on December 1, 2008. Only one application per person may be submitted during the registration period. Multiple applications will disqualify the applicant. Applicants will be selected strictly in random order from among all those who submit requests during the registration period. Successful applicants will be notified between May and July 2009.

As in previous years, there are strict guidelines as to the entry procedure. As part of the electronic filing process, applicants must submit with the application a digital photograph of the applicant, his/her spouse, and each child under 21 years of age. There are specific requirements for the digital photographs. Applications without the required digital photographs will be disqualified.

Only individuals from designated countries may apply under the lottery. Furthermore, each applicant must have at least a high school education (or its equivalent) or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.

While Paul Hastings would be pleased to assist you in entering the lottery, we believe that the assistance of legal counsel is not necessary.

Additional information regarding procedures and requirements for the lottery are available on the internet at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/sept/110467.htm.