Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

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DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT

VISA PROGRAM

PERMANENT RESIDENCE THROUGH THE

VISA LOTTERY FOR 2014 (For Applications Submitted Between October 2, 2012 and November 3, 2012)

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Welcome to ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc., "Your Immigration Link to the World". The information contained in this

iKit is the most accurate, up-to-date information available, and will allow the average person to find out about new

changes in the immigration laws, so that they can prepare and file their own immigration case without the need of

spending hundreds, and even thousands of dollars, on attorneys' fees. *Terms of use and disclaimer.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

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NOTE

THIS PRODUCT PREVIEW FOR THE iKITTM

HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO SHOW SELECTED

PAGES AND DOES NOT REPRESENT THE

iKITTM

IN ITS ENTIRETY.

THIS iKITTM

HAS 26 PAGES IN TOTAL,

TOGETHER WITH LINKS TO ALL OF THE

REQUIRED IMMIGRATION FORMS, STATUTES,

AND REGULATIONS, AND CONTAINS LINE-

BY-LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION

OF ALL OF THE REQUIRED FORMS.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I – DV-2014 OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 4

A. DIVERSITY VISA BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................ 4 B. WHO MAY FILE? ................................................................................................................................................. 4 C. REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 5

1. APPLICANT CATEGORIES .................................................................................................................................... 5 2. EDUCATION / WORK EXPERIENCE ....................................................................................................................... 5

D. PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING AN ENTRY TO DV-2014 ................................................................................................ 6 1. ELECTRONIC ENTRY ............................................................................................................................................... 6 2. PHOTOGRAPHS .................................................................................................................................................... 6

SECTION II – ELIGIBLE AND EXCLUDED COUNTRIES .............................................................................................. 10

A. ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES ........................................................................................................................................... 10 1. AFRICA ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 2. ASIA ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 3. EUROPE ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 4. NORTH AMERICA ............................................................................................................................................... 11 5. OCEANIA .......................................................................................................................................................... 11 6. SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN ....................................................................................... 11 B. EXCLUDED / INELIGIBLE COUNTRIES ....................................................................................................................... 11

SECTION III – COMPLETING THE ENTRY FORM ..................................................................................................... 12

A. GENERAL TIPS .................................................................................................................................................... 12 B. LINE-BY-LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORM DS-5501 (MANDATORY FORM) ..................................................................... 12

SECTION IV – AFTER FILING .................................................................................................................................. 15

SECTION V – SAMPLE EMPLOYMENT REFERENCE LETTER ..................................................................................... 16

SECTION VI – FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .................................................................................................... 17

SECTION VII – CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 27

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

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SECTION I – DV-2014 OVERVIEW

A. DIVERSITY VISA BACKGROUND

The diversity visa program, more commonly known as the Visa Lottery, takes place once

a year. This program provides for the issuance of 55,000 permanent resident visas on a

lottery style basis, and is available to persons from most of the countries of the world.

The Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in

November 1997 stipulates that beginning with DV-1999, and for as long as necessary,

5,000 of the annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the

NACARA program. Therefore, the 2014 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2014)

will have only 50,000 allocated diversity visas available.

While the chance of being selected is not great, for those whose names are selected, it is

the easiest and fastest way to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Unlike the past, separate applications for the spouse and children to increase the chances

of being selected are no longer allowed. Entries for the DV-2014 must be submitted

electronically (paper applications are not accepted) between noon, Eastern Daylight

Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Tuesday, October 2, 2012, and noon, Eastern Daylight Time

(EDT) (GMT-4), Saturday, November 3, 2012.

An alien is eligible to compete for consideration for visa issuance during a fiscal year

only if he or she is a native of a low-admission foreign state, as determined by the

Attorney General, for the fiscal year in question.

In addition, each applicant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or,

within the five years preceding the date of application for a visa, has two years of work

experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience.

Only ONE entry form may be submitted by or for each applicant during the registration

period. Submission of more than one entry will disqualify the person. Signatures

are not required on the E-DV Entry Form. Any alien eligible for consideration shall

file his or her petition with the Department of State according to the instructions in the

application notice.

For the Official Instructions for the DV-2014 from the US Department of State, click the

following link http://travel.state.gov/pdf/DV_2014_Instructions.pdf.

B. WHO MAY FILE?

As long as you meet the requirements for DV-2014, you may submit your entry from the

United States or from abroad. There is no fee for submitting an electronic lottery

entry.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

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SECTION III – COMPLETING THE ENTRY FORM

There is only one way to complete the necessary form. You must submit the DS-5501,

the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form), which is only available online

Paper versions are not accepted. Make sure you do not skip any questions deliberately or by

accident.

A. GENERAL TIPS

1. INTERNET EXPLORER – The web-based diversity visa application is only

supported by Internet Explorer version 6.0 or 7.0.

2. 60 MINUTES – You only have sixty (60) minutes between the web-based

form’s download and when the entry is received at the E-DV website. If

more than sixty minutes elapse and the entry has not been electronically

received, your application is discarded. Therefore, it is highly

recommended that you practice filling out the form and read the line-by-line

instructions prior to downloading the form.

3. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS – Since you have limited time, make sure you

correctly save all digital photographs of you, your spouse, and/or all

child(ren) according to the photograph specifications before downloading

your DS-5501 form.

4. Entry Form Types – There are two types of forms, the “Standard Entry” and

the “SSL Entry.” The Secure Socket Layer (“SSL”) entry encrypts the data

you enter to provide security from potential fraud, internet hackers, etc. The

main and noticeable difference is that the connection is slower.

B. LINE-BY-LINE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FORM DS-5501 (MANDATORY FORM)

Use these line-by-line instructions to help you complete your DS-5501 efficiently,

accurately, and within the sixty (60) minute deadline.

Part 1 – Primary Entrant

● Item 1 – Name

– Type your Last/Family Name, Fist Name, Middle Name. [Example: Jackson,

Michael]

– If you do not have a middle name, click the checkbox that will indicate so.

● Item 2 – Date of Birth

– From the drop-down list, click on the Day and Month of your birthday.

– Enter a four-digit birth year between 1881 and 1997 in the text box on the right.

● Item 3 – Gender

– Select Male or Female.

Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (Permanent Residence through the Visa Lottery for 2014df)

© 2000–2012, ImmigrationLinks.com, Inc. P a g e | 27

SECTION VII – CONCLUSION

If you have followed all of the instructions in this iKit you will have peace of mind

knowing that you have correctly submitted your application for DV-2014. You have been able

to prepare your entire application at a fraction of the cost for an immigration attorney had s/he

worked on your case full time.

It has been our pleasure to assist you with your case. If at any time you feel that you

need to consult with one of the immigration law attorneys from this office, you can call us at

(407) 833-8951 to schedule a telephone consultation. Furthermore, we hope that you will

continue to visit our website at www.ImmigrationLinks.com for any information you need

regarding US Immigration Law.