US opens registration for the 2016 Diversity Visa Program
What you need to know:
- The program commonly known as the “green card" lottery opened Wednesday and is scheduled to close on November 3, 2014.
- Kenyans wishing to submit entries must do so electronically during this registration period using the electronic Diversity Visa entry form.
TEXAS
Registration for the 2016 United States Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the "green card" lottery, has opened.
The program opened Wednesday and is scheduled to close on November 3, 2014, the US Department of State said.
Kenyans wishing to submit entries must do so electronically during the registration period.
Applicants who submit paper entries will be rejected. All applicants are encouraged to print and retain their online confirmation page after completing their Diversity Visa entries to enable them to check their entry status.
“We strongly encourage applicants not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after November 3,” the State Department said.
IMMIGRANT VISAS
Entrants selected during the draw will receive instructions on how to proceed. They can then go ahead and apply for immigrant visas for themselves and their eligible family members.
A number of countries, however, will not be eligible to apply for this year’s program as they have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the last five years.
They include Brazil, Nigeria, South Korea, the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Ecuador and Mexico.
The Diversity Visa Program was on the chopping block last year when the US Senate passed a Bill aimed at reforming the US immigration system.
However, the US House of Representatives did not take up the Bill and it stalled, maintaining the visa program.
