Entries for the lottery may be submitted electronically through Wednesday, November 3rd.
The Department of State administers the congressionally mandated program each year to provide immigrant visas to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
The winners will be eligible to legally live and work or study in the United States each year, provided that applicants are born in a qualifying country (Sri Lanka and the Maldives both qualify) and that they meet either an educational or work experience qualification.
For the 2012 Diversity Visa Lottery, 50,000 immigrant visas will be available.
To register for the lottery, applications must be submitted on line at www.dvlottery.state.gov. For more information about the program, as well as detailed instructions in English, Sinhala and Tamil, please see the U.S. Embassy Colombo's website at: srilanka.usembassy.gov/visas/diversity-visa-lottery-program.html.
The U. S. Department of State says while electronic registration has been in place for a number of years, this year the entire process is electronic, including notification of selected applicants. Applicants can go online to check the status of their registration.
Registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery is completely free. The Embassy urges the individuals wishing to participate in the visa lottery to apply early to avoid any possible delays.
An applicant can submit only one application; more than one entry will result in automatic disqualification.
The State Department says the lottery applicants may prepare and submit their own entries, or have others, who have Internet access, submit them on their behalf. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each person, and the entrant remains responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete.
After May 01, 2011, applicants can check their status online. The State Department says the Winners WILL NOT BE notified by postal mail, e-mail, or telephone calls. If they qualify, they will then have a one-year window in which they may immigrate to the United States.
The State Department warns the applicants not to fall pray for scams as the U.S. Government does not employ anyone outside of the U.S. Government to operate the visa lottery program and any one who offer assistance to prepare Diversity Visa applications do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government.
The State Department urges the applicants to beware of persons or companies making claims of affiliation with the U.S. Government or promising improved odds of selection. Use of any outside intermediary or assistance to prepare a DV entry is entirely at the applicant's discretion. Every entry received during the lottery registration period will have an equally random chance of being selected within its region, it says.
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