The U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as “green card lottery”) provides immigrant visas for persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Applicants are subject to a computer-generated random selection process, and natives of countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the last five years are ineligible to participate in this green card lottery. Applicants from eligible countries also must meet certain education or work experience requirements.
For the fiscal year 2014 program, natives of Guatemala are now eligible. Natives of the following countries are not eligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Entries must be submitted electronically beginning at noon (EDT) on October 2, 2012. The lottery closes at noon (EDT) on November 3, 2012. Applicants who are selected will be notified in the spring of 2013, and they will have to complete the immigrant visa process between Oct. 1, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014.
For detailed information about the 2014 Diversity Immigrant Visa program, including official instructions on how and where to apply, please click here.