Immigrants Can Enroll For US 2016 Lottery Under Diversity Visa Program

27 Oct 2014

A program named as Diversity Visa Program has been designed to encourage immigration diversity, which has been renewed for 2016. The 2016 lottery is now open for applications, where 50,000 diversity visas are accessible.

The program has been shaped to provide opportunities for the people from various nations with low immigration rates, who seek permanent residence status in the US.

The Diversity Visa Program was formed as part of the 1990 Immigration Act and the Congress endorsed it in 1995.

Catherine Wadhwani, associate with immigration law practice of Fox Rothschild said that nations possessing high immigration rates to US—i.e. the nations who have sent over 50,000 immigrants to the United States during the past five years are excluded from the lottery of Diversity Visa Program such as Brazil, Mexico and China. Migrants from those nations can still follow the regular channels to apply for green cards.

Wadhwani also explained that if applicants win the lottery, they should still undergo the regular green card process, which includes the mandatory criminal check and confirmation of other documents.

Ms. Wadhwani added that the State Department chooses more lottery winners than the available green cards, so all the selected winners are not guaranteed with a green card issuance.

It is significant to note that while it may befits applicants to maintain an attorney if they have queries regarding the process, any assurances related to the speed up of visa applications are counterfeit. She added that no one is in a position to enhance the possibility of being selected, once the visa application has been submitted.

All the applications under diversity visa program are closed at noon on 3 November. Application process will be done completely through online and each applicant receives a unique ID number.

Winners of the lottery would be able to know their status by visiting State Department website during the starting of May 2015, along with instructions on how to continue.

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