U.S. Department of State Announces 2018 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2018) Registration

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The U.S. Department of State has announced that online registration for the Fiscal Year 2018 Diversity Visa Program, also known as the Diversity Visa Lottery, will be open on October 4, 2016 and will close on November 7, 2016.  This program makes 50,000 permanent resident visas (green cards) available annually to natives of countries that are deemed to have low rates of immigration to the U.S.  In order to be eligible for the lottery, an individual must have been born in an eligible country, must have completed a least a high school education, or have at least two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.   If an individual was not born in an eligible country, they might be able to qualify through a spouse or parent born in an eligible country. (Subject to certain restrictions.)

People born in the following countries are not eligible for these diversity visas:  Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. (Individuals born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Northern Ireland and Taiwan are eligible.)

To view the Department of State announcement and for further instructions for the 2018 Diversity Visa program, visit the Department of State web-site.

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