[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2862-2863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1224]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2320]
Bureau of Consular Affairs; Registration for the Diversity
Immigrant (DV-97) Visa Program
ACTION: Notice of registration for the third year of the Diversity
Immigrant Visa Program.
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This public notice provides information on the application
procedures for the 55,000 immigrant visas to be made available in the
DV category during Fiscal Year 1997. This notice is issued pursuant to
22 CFR 42.33 which implements sections 201(a)(3), 201(e), 203(c) and
204(a)(1)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, (8
U.S.C. 1151, 1153, and 1154). The Department published regulations
related to this Notice in the Federal Register on January 22, 1996. [61
FR 1523.]
Information on the Application Procedures for the 55,000 Immigrant
Visas To Be Made Available in the DV Category During Fiscal Year 1997.
Sections 201(a)(3), 201(e), 203(c) and 204(a)(1)(G) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, taken together establish,
effective for Fiscal Year 1997 and thereafter, an annual numerical
limitation of 55,000 for diversity immigrant visas to persons from
countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States. The
DV-97 registration mail-in period will last one month and will be held
from February 12, 1996 to March 12, 1996. This will give those
eligible, both in the United States and overseas, ample time to mail in
an entry.
How Are the Visas Being Apportioned?
The visas will be apportioned among six geographic regions. A
greater number of visas will go to those regions that have lower
immigration rates. There is, however, a limit of seven percent or 3,850
on the use of visas by natives of any one foreign state. The regions
along with their Fiscal Year 1997 allotments are:
Africa: (20,623) Includes all countries on the continent of Africa
and adjacent islands.
Asia: (7,187) Extends from Israel to all North Pacific Islands,
including Indonesia.
Europe: (23,910) Extends from Greenland to Russia and includes all
countries of the former Soviet Union.
North America: (8) Includes only one qualified country this year,
The Bahamas.
Oceania: (817) Includes Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
and all countries and islands in the South Pacific.
South America: (2,455) Includes Central America, Mexico and the
Caribbean countries.
Who Is Eligible?
Individuals born in countries that have significant numbers of
immigrants to the United States are considered ``high admission'' and
are not eligible for the program. ``High admission'' countries are
defined as those from which the United States has received 50,000 or
more immigrants during the last five years in the immediate relative,
or family or employment preference categories. For 1997, ``high
admission'' countries are:
China (mainland and Taiwan),
India,
The Philippines,
Vietnam,
South Korea,
United Kingdom and dependent territories (except Hong Kong and Northern
Ireland),
Canada,
Mexico,
Jamaica,
El Salvador,
Colombia, and
The Dominican Republic.
Natives of Hong Kong and Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for
this year's lottery.
What are the Requirements?
In addition to being born in a qualifying country, applicants must
have either a high school education or its equivalent, or within the
past five years have two years of work experience in an occupation that
requires at least two years of training or experience.
There is no initial application fee or special application form to
enter. The entry must be typed or clearly printed in the English
alphabet on a sheet of plain paper, MUST BE SIGNED BY THE APPLICANT,
and should include the following:
1. Applicant's Full Name:
Last Name, First Name and Middle Name
(Underline Last Name/Surname/Family Name)
Example: Public, George Quincy.
2. Applicant's Date and Place of Birth:
Date of birth: Day, Month, Year
Example: 15 November 1961
Place of birth: City/Town, District/County/Province, Country
Example: Munich, Bavaria, Germany
3. Name, Date and Place of Birth of Applicant's Spouse and Minor
Children, if any:
The spouse and child(ren) of an applicant who is registered for DV-
97 status are automatically entitled to the same status. To obtain a
visa on the basis of this derivative status, a child must be under 21
years of age and unmarried. NOTE: DO NOT list parents as they are not
entitled to derivative status.
4. Applicant's Mailing Address, and phone number, if possible:
The mailing address must be clear and complete, since it will be to
that address that the notification letter for the persons who are
registered will be sent. A telephone number is optional.
5. Applicant's Native Country if Different from Country of Birth
6. Applicant's Signature is Required on the Application
7. A Recent 1\1/2\ Inch by 1\1/2\ Inch Photograph of the Applicant:
The applicant's name must be printed across the back of the photograph.
This information must be sent by regular mail to one of six postal
[[Page 2863]]
addresses in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Applicants must use the correct
postal zip code designated for their native region (see addresses
below). Entries must be mailed in a regular letter or business-size
envelope with the applicant's native country, full name, mailing
address, and country of residence typed or clearly printed in the
English alphabet in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope.
Postcards are not acceptable.
Only one entry for each applicant may be submitted during the
registration period. Duplicate or multiple entries will disqualify
individuals from registration for this program. Entries received before
or after the specified registration dates regardless of when they are
postmarked and entries sent to an address other than one of those
indicated below are void. All mail received during the registration
period will be individually numbered and entries will be selected at
random by computer regardless of time of receipt during the mail-in
period.
Where Should Entries Be Sent?
Note Carefully the Importance of Using the Correct Postal ZIP Code
for Each Region.
Asia: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH 00210,
USA.
South America: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH
00211, USA.
Europe: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH 00212,
USA.
Africa: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH 00213,
USA.
Oceania: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH 00214,
USA.
North America: DV-97 Program, National Visa Center, Portsmouth, NH
00215, USA.
Is It Necessary To Use an Outside Attorney or Consultant?
The decision to hire an attorney or consultant is entirely up to
the applicant. Procedures for entering the Diversity Lottery can be
completed without assistance following simple instructions. However, if
applicants prefer to use outside assistance, that is their choice.
There are many legitimate attorneys and immigration consultants
assisting applicants for reasonable fees, or in some cases for free.
Unfortunately, there are other persons who are charging exorbitant
rates and making unrealistic claims. The selection of winners is made
at random and no outside service can improve an applicant's chances of
being chosen or guarantee an entry will win. Any service that claims it
can improve an applicant's odds would be promising something it cannot
deliver.
Persons who think they have been cheated by a U.S. company or
consultant in connection with the Diversity Visa Lottery may wish to
contact their local consumer affairs office or the National Fraud
Information Center at 1-800-876-7060. The U.S. Department of State has
no authority to investigate complaints against businesses in the United
States.
How Will Winners Be Notified?
Only successful registrants will be notified by mail at the address
listed on their entry. The notifications will be sent to the winners no
later than July 1, 1996 along with instructions on how to apply for an
immigrant visa. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements under
U.S. law to be issued a visa.
Being selected as a winner in the DV Lottery does not automatically
guarantee being issued a visa because the number of applications
selected is greater than the number of immigrant visas available. Those
selected will, therefore, need to act on their immigrant visa
applications quickly. Once the total 55,000 visas have been issued, the
DV Program for Fiscal Year 1997 will end.
A visa lottery hotline has been set up to provide additional
information on the DV-97 Program. The 24-hour number is (202) 663-1600.
Printed information will also be available by FAX by dialing (202) 647-
3000 (Code 1103) from a FAX phone, or may be obtained from U.S.
Embassies and Consulates overseas.
Dated: January 17, 1996.
Mary A. Ryan,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-1224 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
