US issues instructions for diversity visa lottery

The State Department has issued instructions for persons who wish to apply for the annual U.S. Diversity Visa lottery program, which will take place in November and December.

Starting this year, applicants will have to fill out an electronic form on a designated Internet web site and will have to supply a digital (electronic) photograph. The Department will no longer accept paper entries or mail-in requests.

The web site -- www.dvlottery.state.gov -- can be accessed between Saturday, November 1, 2003, and Tuesday, December 30, 2003.

Under the program, persons from eligible countries can register for the chance to apply for an immigrant visa. Those selected at random and notified by the State Department are eligible to apply for one of 55,000 immigrant visas made available annually. (Note: 5,000 of these visas are designated for use under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act of 1997.)

Natives of certain countries are not eligible to apply for the lottery program because those countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the previous five years.