GREEN CARD LOTTERY
2010 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM (DV-2010)
Important Notes:
- Entries for the DV-2010 Diversity Visa Lottery must be submitted electronically between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Thursday, October 2, 2008 and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) Monday, December 1, 2008.
- Applicants may access the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV) at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov.
- Paper entries will not be accepted.
- No entries will be accepted after noon, EST, on December 1, 2008.
Who is eligible and what are the requirements?
To enter the DV lottery, a person must be a native of one of the listed countries (see DV 2010 Country List document). In most cases this means the country in which the person was born. However, there are two other ways someone may be able to qualify.
First, if a person was born in a country whose natives are ineligible but their spouse was born in a country whose natives are eligible, that person can claim their spouse's country of birth provided both are on the selected entry, are issued visas and enter the U.S. simultaneously.
Second, if a person was born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but neither of their parents were born there or resided there at the time of his/her birth, that person may claim nativity in one of their parents' country of birth if it is a country whose natives qualify for the DV-2010 program.
To enter the lottery, a person must meet either the education or work experience requirement of the DV program. A person must have either a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR, two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform.
If a person cannot meet either of these requirements, they are not eligible to submit an entry to the DV program.
Procedures for Submitting an Entry to DV-2010
The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Forms submitted electronically at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Thursday, October 2, 2008 and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) Monday, December 1, 2008.
All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE entry for that individual is received, regardless of who submitted the entry. A person may prepare and submit their own entry, or have someone submit the entry for them.
A successfully registered entry will result in the display of a confirmation screen containing their name and a unique confirmation number, which can be printed. Starting July 1, 2009, a person can check the status of their entry by returning to the Web site and entering the confirmation number and personal information.
For more detailed information about the DV 2010 process you can refer callers to the Department of State website at
http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/T1026V-DV-2010bulletin(3).pdf
How do I begin the application process?
It is highly recommended you make sure your digital photo(s) meet all the
requirements (see questions below) before you attempt to fill out the application.
Once you have done all the necessary preparation, you can click this link
to begin the online application:
http://www.dvlottery.state.gov
How do I know my digital photo(s) meet the requirements?
Like passport photos, there are strict requirements for the composition,
format and size of the photos you upload as part of the application. See
the following website for tips and examples of proper composition:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/composition_checklist.html
If your digital photos meet the composition requirements, you can
use this "photo check" to make sure they also meet the format
(JPEG) and size requirements (640x480 for digital photos or 600x600
for scanned photos):
http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/photo.aspx
My digital photo(s) do not meet the requirements. Can I fix it at the library?
Yes. If you only need to change the format or size, or remove (“crop”)
extra space around the sides, and if you feel comfortable following the instructions
below, you can make an appointment and do this on a library computer:
Fixing a digital photo using the library's computers [PDF]
If you require more assistance with your digital photos, it is highly recommended
you visit the library at the locations and times listed below, where more
help can be provided.
I do not have digital photos. Can the library help me?
Yes. There are three library branches that can take a digital
photo of you. The Bronx Library Center can also scan an existing
photo onto a disk. This service is only available during limited
hours, as listed below.
The Bronx:
Bronx Library Center
Digital photos and scanning available.
(718) 579-4244
310 East Kingsbridge Road, 10458
Monday, November 3, 1 pm - 4 pm
Friday, November 14, 4 pm - 8 pm
Monday, November 17, 1 pm - 5 pm
Wednesday, November 19, 10 am - 1 pm
Manhattan:
Mid - Manhattan Library
Digital photos only; no scanner available.
(212) 340-0863
455 Fifth Avenue( at 40th Street)
New York, NY 10016
4th floor, Computer Classroom
Saturday, November 8, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturday, November 15, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturday, November 22, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Saturday, November 29, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Staten Island:
St. George Library Center
Digital photos only; no scanner available.
(718) 442-8560
5 Central Avenue [near Borough Hall]
Staten Island, NY 10301
Saturday, October 25, 2:30 pm - 5 pm
Saturday, November 1, 2:30 pm - 5 pm
Saturday, November 8, 2:30 pm - 5 pm
