2010 American Immigrant Visa Lottery Registration Begins

09/29/2008

The Embassy of the United States of America in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Department of State are pleased to announce the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2010).  The Diversity Visa program makes up to 55,000 permanent resident visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements.  Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. 

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 at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. Paper entries WILL NOT be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of registration period to enter. Heavy demands may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon EST on December 1, 2008.

There is no fee for entering the Diversity Visa Lottery. The Department of State does not endorse, recommend, or sponsor any information or material from outside entities. Registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery through the official, U.S. government website, www.dvlottery.state.gov, is free of charge and notification of winning entries will be sent by mail only.

Applicants will be selected at random from among all qualified entries.  Selected individuals will be notified by mail between May and July 2009 and will be provided instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S.  Those selected in the random drawing are NOT notified by email. Those individuals not selected will not receive any notification.

For detailed program information, eligibility requirements, and frequently asked questions about the DV lottery, please visit the Department of State’s Consular Affairs Website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html.