2011 "Diversity Visa" Lottery Registration Period Open until November 30, 2009

The Department of State ("DOS") opened the registration period for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for Fiscal Year 2011 (DV-2011) on October 2, 2009. The Diversity Visa program makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas ("green cards") annually. DOS randomly selects winners from a pool of persons who register and meet certain eligibility requirements and are from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the period of the past five years are not eligible. This year, individuals born in Brazil, Canada, China (mainland) 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 participate. The program requires that every entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have, within the past five years, two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years' training or experience. For more information regarding who is eligible to register please see the DOS website.

Entries must be submitted online. Paper entries are not acceptable. All successful entrants will be notified by mail, but entrants who retain their online confirmation page will be able to check their entry status via the internet.

DOS has announced that during the first week of the 2011 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, applicants from around the world have already submitted over 900,000 entries--a 63 percent increase over the same period last year. More than 13 million entries are expected before the registration period ends on November 30, 2009.