Registration for the 2014 Diversity Visa lottery (DV-2014) will begin at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 and will close at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Saturday, November 3, 2012.  Applicants must submit entries electronically during this registration period on the State Department website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. Paper entries will not be accepted.  We strongly encourage applicants not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter as heavy traffic on the website could cause delays and technical issues.  No entries will be accepted after noon, EDT on November 3, 2012.

The congressionally mandated Diversity Visa Program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States who meet strict eligibility requirements.  During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of at least a high school education or its equivalent, or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.

For DV-2014, nationals of Guatemala are now eligible to enter the program.

For DV-2014, nationals of the following countries are not eligible to apply because these countries sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. within the past five years:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

A “national” generally means a person born in a particular country, regardless of that person’s citizenship or where that person is currently residing.  Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible to apply.

For DV-2014, the State Department will once again notify selected applicants electronically.  Beginning May 1, 2013, applicants will be able to use their unique confirmation numbers provided at the time of registration to check the status of their applications online.  Lottery winners will also receive instructions for applying for immigrant visas for themselves and eligible family members, as well as confirmation of visa interview appointments at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.

DV-2014 instructions can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html.