Press Releases 2003
Diversity Visa Program Registration Turns Electronic
19 August 2003The Department of State has announced a change in how applicants may
petition to participate in the 2005 Diversity Visa Lottery program.
Starting this year, all persons registering for an opportunity to apply
for a U.S. immigrant visa under the Diversity Lottery will have to do
so electronically through a designated Internet website. The Department
will no longer accept paper entries or mail-in requests for diversity
visa registration. The registration period will be from November 1 to
December 30, 2003.
The Department of State is implementing the
new electronic system in order to improve efficiency in the diversity
visa petition process and make the process less prone to fraud, thus
making it less vulnerable to use by persons who may pose a threat to
the security interests of the United States.
The Diversity Visa
Program is administered by the Department of State. Applicants from
eligible countries, as determined by the Department of Homeland
Security’s Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, petition the
Department of State for the opportunity to apply for one of 55,000
immigrant visas made available annually. Only those selected at random
and notified by the Department of State will then be eligible to apply
for an immigrant visa. Each year, approximately 6 million people
worldwide register to participate in the program. Previously, all
registrations were submitted by mail. Starting this year, only
electronic submissions will be accepted.
Persons submitting a
request for entry in the Diversity Visa Lottery will use a specially
designated website which will have a standard petition form that will
be filled out and sent electronically. They will also be required to
include digital photographs.
The Embassy will provide the media with details of the procedures as they become available, probably closer to mid-October.
For further information about our consular services, please refer to our website http://www.usinfo.pl.
For more information: Dick Custin, Public Affairs, (22) 504-2323
