How to register for the FY 2021 visa lottery?

In my column Migratory Consultation This week I am informing you that the registration period for the visa lottery is now open and explaining how you can participate in the next lottery drawing.

This is the column:

President Donald Trump's administration threatened to eliminate it, but the diversity visa program, better known as the "visa lottery," remains in effect and the registration period for foreigners to submit their applications is now open.

Through the program - and luck - eligible immigrants can gain permanent residency in the United States. 

Millions of people apply in the hope that their application will be selected when the lottery is held. But there are only 50,000 diversity visas available per year, leaving most entrants out.

Interested aliens have from October 2, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EDT until Tuesday, November 5, 2019 12:00 p.m. EDT to submit electronic forms for the visa lottery.

The registration deadline is for the fiscal year 2021 draw (covering October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021).

Who can participate in the 2021 visa lottery?

Diversity visas are highly coveted and there is a lot of competition for very few visas. Because of this, the U.S. government imposes restrictions on who can receive them based on the foreign national's origin. 

These visas are intended for foreign nationals who come from countries with a low rate of immigration to the United States. The government determines which countries are eligible and sometimes the list may change from year to year.

Among the countries eligible for the new enrollment period:

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

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

Being a native of one of the stipulated countries is only a requirement. 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 all the requirements necessary to obtain an immigrant visa. For example, you must have at least a high school education or two years of work experience in an occupation that has required training, in addition to being admissible to the country. If you do not meet all of the requirements, you will be denied a visa.

How to register?

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

The U.S. Department of State details the instructions for the fiscal year 2021 visa lottery on its website, which you can view by clicking here. click here.

You must follow all instructions to the letter and ensure that all information you provide is correct. If you do not comply with all registration requirements, your application will be disqualified.

The procedure is free of charge. Applications can only be submitted strictly within the registration period. They will not accept applications outside of the stipulated period: Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EDT until Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

If you wish to participate, submit the electronic form as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute, you may encounter problems if you have to wait until the last minute. an overload on the website due to high demand before closing. 

Do not submit more than one application 

By law, a foreign immigrant may submit only one application for the diversity visa lottery during each enrollment period. 

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

How to know who won the visa lottery?

The Government will publish the names of the foreigners selected through the lottery on the website dvlottery.state.gov as of Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

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 2021 to claim the visa and make the necessary arrangements. 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 is that if you are married or have children, they could also receive a visa and permanent residency if they meet all the requirements. 

If in doubt, consult an immigration attorney for proper advice.

Will the visa lottery be eliminated?

It is not known what will happen. There have been numerous efforts to eliminate it - by Republicans and Democrats. In 2013, for example, an attempt by the U.S. Senate, led by Democrats, failed. Currently, another legal bill in the Senate proposes cancellation of the program. If it were to become law within the next year, the FY 2021 visa lottery could be the last.