Visa Lottery Update and Dates for Next Year Announced
Posted Jun 14, 2000

In a news release on May 31, 2000, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) reminded applicants who had been chosen through the DV-2000 Diversity Visa Lottery that their permanent residency process needs to be completed by September 30, 2000 -- the end of the current fiscal year.

As many readers of the MurthyBulletin are aware, an annual lottery provides an opportunity for persons from countries that do not have many immigrants to the U.S. to be randomly chosen to apply for their green cards. Countries such as India, China, Mexico, and Canada, whose nationals are well represented in the U.S. immigrant population, are not eligible to participate.

Every year, all visas available under the program must be issued before the fiscal year ends. Formerly, 55,000 permanent visas were available each year under the program. However, in 1997 Congress passed NACARA (the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act), which sets aside 5,000 of those visas for use by NACARA program applicants. Therefore, beginning with FY2000, there are 50,000 lottery visas available annually. (That may seem like a large number, but many more people apply!)

The DOS projects that the annual limit may be reached well in advance of September 30, 2000 for this fiscal year, and advises that any remaining paperwork needed to complete the adjustment of status or immigrant visa process be submitted immediately.

Further, on May 30, 2000, the DOS also announced the application period for the next lottery, known as DV-2002. Applications will be accepted between noon on October 2, 2000 and noon on November 1, 2000. Previously, applications were mailed to the National Visa Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. However, the Diversity Lottery applications will now be processed from the DOS’s new Kentucky Consular Center in Williamsburg, Kentucky.

The DOS plans to issue complete instructions for DV-2002 in August 2000. Those instructions will be available on the DOS’s informative website, http://travel.state.gov. In addition, written instructions can be obtained by the fax-on-demand method at 202-647-3000, while recorded information will be accessible by calling 202-331-7199. Again, this information is not expected to be available until August 2000. Persons outside the U.S. will be able to inquire at their local U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain instructions for DV-2002.

The Law Office of Sheela Murthy hopes that DV-2002 will provide a golden opportunity for those of you who may not have other options, to realize your dreams in this great country.