How to register for the 2023 visa lottery?

In this week's Consulta Migratoria® column, I explain what the 2023 visa lottery consists of and who can enter the lottery.

One of the ways to obtain permanent residency in the United States is through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.

Each year, the U.S. Department of State holds a lottery for these visas, commonly referred to as the visa lottery. These visas are given to persons from countries that have a low rate of immigration to the United States and who meet certain requirements.

By fiscal year 2023, there will be up to 55,000 diversity immigrant visas available. The State Department distributes these visas among six geographic regions, and no country may receive more than seven percent of the available diversity immigrant visas in any one year.

When does the 2023 Visa Lottery registration deadline begin?

The U.S. Department of State announced the new registration deadline for the FY 2023 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery, which runs from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.

Interested persons may submit their applications electronically beginning Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EDT through 12:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, November 9, 2021.

Who can participate in the 2023 visa lottery?

There are strict restrictions on who can receive a diversity immigrant visa based on the foreign national's origin.

These visas are intended for individuals from countries with a low rate of immigration to the United States. The government determines which countries are eligible. The list may change from year to year.

Individuals from the following countries are among those eligible to register for the FY 2023 visa lottery:

Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain and Uruguay.

From Latin America, are not Eligible individuals from Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Venezuela.

Being a native of one of the eligible countries is only one of the requirements. The foreigner must also be eligible. Just because you "win" the lottery does not mean that you will automatically get a visa.

When submitting your application, you must meet a number of requirements, including having at least a high school education or two years of work experience in an occupation that required training. In addition, the person must be admissible to the country. If you do not comply with all the requirements, the Government will deny the visa.

How to register for the 2023 visa lottery?

To participate in the lottery, an electronic application must be submitted on the following web site dvprogram.state.gov.

All instructions for the FY 2023 visa lottery are available on the U.S. Department of State website, which you can view by clicking here. click here.

You must follow the instructions exactly and confirm that all information is correct. If you do not meet all registration requirements, your application will be disqualified.

The procedure is free. Applications can only be submitted strictly within the registration period.

If you wish to participate, I recommend that you submit the electronic form as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute, problems may arise. Generally, there is a high demand before the close of the registration period and this could lead to an overload on the website. If that happens, you may not be able to submit your application in time.

Prohibited to submit multiple applications

The law stipulates that only one application per person may be submitted for the diversity immigrant visa lottery during each registration period.

The State Department uses sophisticated technology that can detect if someone has made multiple entries. If they detect that someone submitted multiple forms to increase their chances of winning a visa, they will eliminate them from the lottery.

How to find out who won the 2023 visa lottery?

The government will publish the names of the foreigners selected through the FY2023 visa lottery on the following website dvprogram.state.gov as of Tuesday, May 8, 2022.

It is the responsibility of each applicant to verify whether he/she has been selected. You will need to log in to the website with the confirmation number you received when you completed the online visa lottery application.

If your name is on the short list, you have a limited period of time during fiscal year 2023 to claim the diversity immigrant visa and complete the appropriate paperwork. If you miss the deadline, you lose your visa eligibility.

Beware of fraudulent notifications!

If you receive an e-mail saying you won and you are asked for money, it is most likely a scam. Report it immediately to the authorities.

A great benefit of winning the visa lottery is that if you are married or have children, they could also receive a visa and permanent residency on a derivative basis if they meet all the requirements.

If in doubt, consult with a licensed U.S. immigration attorney for appropriate advice.

For more information and immigration tips, visit my website at Immigration Today.

Send your questions to preguntas@consultamigratoria.com. Include detailed information about your situation to better answer your questions.

Nelson A. Castillo, Esq. is an immigration attorney and author of La Tarjeta Verde: Cómo Obtener la Residencia Permanente en los Estados Unidos (Green Card: How to Obtain Permanent Residence in the United States). He is a former President of the Hispanic National Bar Association and the Westlake South Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. For information on how to consult with Dr. Castillo, click here. click here.

The purpose of this column is to provide general information. There can be no guarantee or prediction as to what will be the outcome of the information presented by Dr. Nelson A. Castillo. The information should not be taken as legal advice for any individual, case or situation. This column may be considered an advertisement under the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys in several states, including California and New York. Consult with an immigration attorney for personalized legal advice before beginning any immigration proceedings.