Can I win the Lottery?

May 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Question: I have heard a lot about the Diversity Lottery. Can you explain what that is?
Answer: Yes. The diversity lottery is very much what its name implies. It is a lottery that people enter in order to get picked by the United States and to become Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States. It makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Approximately 111,000 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an  immigrants visa. Since it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger figure should insure that all DV-2004 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2004 (October 1, 2003 until September 30, 2004).
Question: How exactly does it work?
Answer: Applicants registered for the DV-2004 program were selected at random from the approximately 7.3 million qualified entries received during the one-month application period that ran from Noon on October 7, 2002 through Noon on November 6, 2002. An additional 2.9 million applications were either received outside of the mail-in period or were disqualified for failing to properly follow directions. The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions, with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country.
Question: If someone is selected for the lottery, are there any qualifications that need to be presented?
Answer: During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years. Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly. Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested.
Question: Does someone from the Philippines qualify to enter the Diversity Lottery?
Answer: Unfortunately not. The Philippines has a high rate of immigration to the United States, and therefore, they will not qualify. However, spouses from qualifying countries can apply. Also, friends from other countries should take advantage of this program.
Question: When does the next Diversity Lottery begin?
Answer: They may try for the upcoming DV-2005 lottery if they wish. The exact dates for the mail-in period for the DV-2005 lottery program will be widely publicized during August 2003. Normally, the mail-in period is for one month beginning sometime in October.

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