INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT SERVICES

Diversity Visa Lottery Program (DV-2006) 10/27/2004

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The Diversity Visa Lottery Program is administered by the Department of State. Applicants from eligible countries petition the Department of State for the opportunity to apply for one of 55,000 immigrant visas made available annually. Only those selected at random and notified by the Department of State will then be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa. Each year, approximately 6 million people worldwide register to participate in the program.

All persons registering for an opportunity to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa under the diversity lottery will have to do so electronically through a designated Internet website. Paper entries or mail-in requests are not accepted. The new electronic system was implemented last year in order to improve efficiency in the diversity visa petition process and make the process less prone to fraud.

For information regarding eligibility and instructions for applying, please go to the State Department website.

Applications must be submitted between Friday, November 5, 2004, and Friday, January 7, 2005.

Please note that a great deal of fraudulent emails and websites offer to help with your application, but you can ONLY apply directly through the State Department website.

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