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Employers of foreign nationals should take note that
registration for the Fiscal Year 2014 Diversity Visa
("DV") Lottery opened at noon (EDT) on October 2, 2012,
and will remain open until noon (EDT) on November 3, 2012. The DV
Program is an alternate path for foreign nationals who meet the
Program's eligibility requirements to obtain permanent
residence in the United States. Each fiscal year, the U.S.
Department of State makes 50,000 immigrant visas ("green
cards") available to a class of immigrants known as
"diversity immigrants" through a computer-generated
lottery selection.
Who Is Eligible to Enter the FY 2014
Lottery?
Persons from countries with historically low rates of
immigration to the United States may register for the DV Lottery.
Employees born in one of the following countries are
not eligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China
(mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru,
Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland)
and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Employees born in any country not listed above, as well as in Hong
Kong, Macau and Taiwan, are eligible to register.
In addition, employees who were born in one of the ineligible
countries listed above may still be able to register, provided
that, if married, the employee's spouse was born in a country
whose natives are eligible, and in some circumstances, through a
parent's country of birth.
In addition to being eligible to enter based on country of birth,
an employee must meet either the education or work experience
requirement as listed on the official DV Lottery website.
How Does an Employee Register for the
Lottery?
An employee (not the employer) must submit an online E-DV entry
form and a digital photo through the Department of State's
official lottery website at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the
registration period. The employee should register early and make
sure his/her photo meets the required specifications as shown on
the website. Lottery applicants are permitted to submit only one
entry per person. All entries by an individual will be disqualified
if more than one entry is submitted. Once an employee successfully
registers electronically, a confirmation screen will appear on
his/her computer containing his/her name and confirmation number.
The employee must print this screen for his/her records and save
the confirmation number.
How Does an Employee Learn if He/She Has Been Selected
as a Lottery Winner?
An employee may check the status of his/her entry starting May
1, 2013, on the official DV Lottery website indicated above by
clicking on Entrant Status Check and entering his/her unique
confirmation number and personal information. This is the only
method of notification of a winning entry selection; the Department
of State will not send letters or e-mails or make calls to the
selected lottery winners.
Protect Yourself from Lottery
Fraud
There is no cost or charge by the Department of State for
employees to register for the DV Lottery. The U.S. government does
not employ any outside consultants or private services to operate
the Program. The only authorized website where employees can
officially register to participate in the DV Program is www.dvlottery.state.gov. Accordingly,
employers and employees should be very wary of any other deceptive
lottery websites claiming to have State Department authorization,
or any e-mails or letters that claim to be from the State
Department. As stated above, the State Department does not send
letters or e-mails and the official lottery website is the only
legitimate place to submit a registration or to learn about lottery
results.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
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