This may be the last chance to participate in the lottery.  Not the Powerball Lottery that recently topped $700,000,000, but the Diversity Lottery that will provide 50,000 immigrant visas in fiscal year 2019.  The Diversity Lottery (DV) is for immigrants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the US.

Although the proposed RAISE Act would eliminate the DV program, at least for now it is still alive and well.  On September 7, 2017, the Department of State announced that beginning noon EST (GMT-4) on Tuesday October 3, 2017 people from qualifying countries may apply online to be lucky.  Natives of Brazil, China, Colombia, Mexico, Nigeria and Viet Nam and other nations may NOT apply as their historic rate of immigration has not been low.  Natives of all other countries may apply electronically and only electronically at the Department of States lottery portal: dvlottery.state.gov.  Beyond having been born in an eligible country, the applicant must meet a rather modest education/work experience requirement. As with any other application to the government there are other details.  A full description can be found at: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/diversity-visa/instructions.html

 Lottery applications are accepted until November 7, 2017 at noon EST (GMT-5) . Starting May 1, 2018 results will be available.  The application process is FREE and it is a true lottery.

 Applying for the lottery is not interpreted as “immigrant intent”. Those who are lucky may proceed to apply for permanent residency based on being a DV immigrant. So, you have to play to win…