STILL THE SAME OLD DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY (now open for filing online for the 2020 allocation of 50,000 immigrant visas)
YES, the Diversity Visa Lottery is alive and well. MOST foreign nationals can file from October 3, 2018 through November 6, 2018 so long as they have completed the equivalent of a US high school education or have worked for at least two years within the last five years in a qualifying occupation.
The diversity visa lottery was established by the US Congress almost 30 years ago to increase the number of persons who could immigrate to the United States from countries with historically low rates of immigration. Individuals born in the following countries are NOT eligible for the 2020 lottery:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Phillipines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Note that persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.
To apply and to get more information about qualification, go to www.dvlottery.state.gov. Multiple entries will disqualify you!!
Failure to list all your dependents could mean you will not be issued an immigrant visa, if you are chosen for a diversity visa.
Should you apply this year? YES, as it could be the last year of the diversity visa lottery depending on what Congress does in 2019 in terms of immigration legislation.