U.S announces this year’s registration as the last for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery

Few days after announcing the opening of the registration period for the 2018 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, also known as the “Green Card Lottery”, The U.S. Department of State has said that this year’s marks the end of the program.

In a statement signed by the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, this year’s will also record the highest winners as 200,000 people would be selected to migrate to the United States.

The statement further encouraged registrants to be governed by the program’s principles in order to stand greater chances of winning in this last batch.

John Kerry went on to give guidance to interested persons on how to successfully register for the program.

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 the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon EDT on November 7, 2016, the statement said.

Applicants are reminded that there is no cost to enter, that multiple entries result in automatic disqualification, and that they should retain their entry confirmation page with their unique confirmation number.

The annual DV program makes immigrant visas available to persons meeting simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-generated, random lottery drawing chooses selectees for visa interviews. The Diversity Visa Program requires the principal applicant to have a high school education, or its equivalent, or two years of qualifying work experience as defined under provisions of U.S. law. Entrants may prepare and submit their own entries or have someone submit the entry for them.

Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly or with assistance, only one entry may be submitted in the name of each individual. The person entering the DV lottery is responsible for ensuring that the information provided is correct and complete.