Business Immigration Insights

The State Department has announced the registration period for the Congressionally mandated 2016 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery. The DV lottery allows nationals from certain countries to apply for immigrant visas ("green cards") outside of the normal immigrant visa process. Individuals already being sponsored for immigrant visas by family members or employers may participate as well. Requirements include being a national of an eligible country (although an applicant may qualify based on his or her spouse's nationality) and high school education or work experience. The online registration period begins on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, at noon EST, and ends on Monday, November 3, 2014, at noon EST. Complete eligibility requirements and filing instructions will be posted on October 1, 2014, at http://travel.state.gov/.