1. In DV terms, what does Eligibility, Native, and Chargeability mean?
Your country of birth determines your eligibility. “Native” refers to a person born in a particular country, immaterial of his or her current country of residence. In immigration language, “native” can also mean one who is entitled to be “charged” to another country than the one in which he or she was born. If you are not eligible to participate in the DV lottery program through the country you were born, you may claim chargeability to the country where your spouse was born.
However, note that if selected, both you and your spouse have to go to the US. Your minor dependent child can also be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth. In addition, you can also be “charged” to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible country at the time you were born.
2. Which countries are not eligible for the DV program?
The main intention of having this green card lottery program is to provide immigration opportunities for persons from countries other than the countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the US. Countries that sent 50,000 persons to the US in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa classifications in the past five years do not qualify for the current year’s DV lottery program.
3. What is the numerical limit for DV?
A maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas are created every year. However, 5000 out of the 55,000 are reserved for use under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) program.
4. What are the education and work experience requirements?
You should have at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation that needs at least two years’ training or experience.
5. Can I apply if I am in the US?
Yes, you can either be in the US or in another country, and you can submit the application while being in the US or from abroad.
6. Can a husband and wife each submit separate applications ?
Yes, a husband and a wife can each submit one entry if both fulfill the eligibility requirements. If one of them is selected, the spouse is entitled to derivative status.
7. Should I sign the application and send any photographs?
You need not sign the application. However, you are required to send your photographs. You have to submit individual photographs of you, your spouse and your children under 21 years of age. As mentioned, it has to be individual photographs, so avoid sending family or group photographs.
8. Do I need to list all my family members in the application?
List information about your spouse and all unmarried children under 21 years of age. You need not include your children if they are already US citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. If you are legally divorced, you need not list details of your former spouse. As you have listed your family members on your application, it is not mandatory that they travel with you. They can stay behind.
9. Can some one else file on my behalf ?
Yes. You can have some one else prepare and submit the application on your behalf. However, it is important to remember that regardless of who submits, only ONE application should be submitted in the name of any person.
10. What is the selection process?
All the entries received will be assigned a separate number at the Kentucky Consular Center. Then a computer will randomly select from all the entries received for each geographic region. All the applications stand an equal chance of being selected.
11. How will the results be declared?
The only way to check the results is through the E-DV website. You will be given a confirmation number at the time of filing your application. The confirmation number should be kept safely until you check the results. You can check if you are selected or not on the dv lottery site.
