US Green Card Lottery open for applications

Friday, 5 October 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The U.S. Embassy in Colombo is pleased to announce that the 2014 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program, popularly known as the Green Card Lottery, will be accepting on-line applications starting on October 2, 2012. The Diversity Visa Lottery allows 50,000 randomly selected applicants an opportunity to legally live and work or study in the United States each year, so long as they are selected and are born in a qualifying country (Sri Lanka and the Maldives both qualify) and that they meet either an educational or work experience qualification.

In order to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery, please visit www.dvlottery.state.gov. For more information about the program, as well as detailed instructions in English, Sinhala and Tamil, please see the U.S. Embassy Colombo’s website at: srilanka.usembassy.gov/visas/diversity-visa-lottery-program.html.

The online application for the Diversity Visa Lottery is completely free. The lottery application period will be open from October 2, 2012 to November 3, 2012. Individuals wishing to participate in the visa lottery are strongly urged to apply early to avoid any possible delays. An applicant may only apply once; more than one entry will result in automatic disqualification.

Beginning approximately May 1, 2013, applicants may go online to www.dvlottery.state.gov to check the status of their application with their confirmation numbers. Winners will not be notified by either postal mail, e-mail, or telephone calls. The results of the applicants’ entry and the instructions on how to obtain an appointment will only be available through the website www.dvlottery.state.gov. Applicants who qualify will then have a one-year window in which they may immigrate to the United States.

The U.S. Government does not employ anyone outside of the U.S. Government to operate the visa lottery program. Any companies or intermediaries who offer assistance to prepare Diversity Visa applications do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government.