Sep 26, 2007
Department of State Posts Instructions for DV-2009 

The Department of State has posted instructions for the 2009 Diversity Lottery program (DV-2009) on its website. The program, which provides up to 55,000 Diversity Visas each year to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S., will begin accepting applications at noon EST Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and will stop accepting applications at noon EST Sunday, December 2, 2007. Applicants should use the online registration form, available at www.dvlottery.state.gov to apply for the visa program.

To be eligible for the DV-2009 program, you must be a native of an eligible country and you must meet the education or work experience requirement of the program (either a high school education or its equivalent or two years work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years or training or experience to conduct).

The following is a list of ineligible countries for DV-2009:

Brazil, Canada, China (Mainland-Born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (with the exception of Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Please note that individuals born in Hong Kong Sar, Macau Sar And Taiwan are eligible to participate in DV-2009.