Registration date, which countries can apply and what you need to know

(CNN Spanish) — The US State Department this week is opening a call for proposals for the Diversity Visa Program for Immigrants, also known as the ‘Visa Lottery’, for 2024.

The program benefits more than 55,000 people from countries with low levels of immigration to the United States and is a pathway to legal citizenship in the United States.

Here’s what you need to know about how to apply for the 2024 “Visa Lottery” program.

What is ‘Visa Lottery’?

Officially invited Diversity Immigrant Visa ProgramThe program issues a visa or green card to 55,000 people a year, which grants its holder permanent residency in the United States and, in the future, will allow these individuals to obtain U.S. citizenship.

How does it work?

People from certain countries with low enough immigration to the United States can apply for visas at certain times each year. Most lottery winners live outside the United States, but some are in the country legally on other types of visas.

According to a formula established by law, countries with more than 50,000 native-born immigrants to the United States in the past five years are ineligible.

Visas are further distributed by region: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The scheme is run by the State Department.

Even if people are randomly selected for visas, they must still meet the same security and eligibility requirements that all immigrants must meet to get their visas.

Registration date for 2024

For the 2024 program, registration opens Wednesday at 12:00 PM ET. October 5, 2022 until Tuesday afternoon November 8, 2022.

Entries must be made through the Department of State website dvprogram.state.gov.

The State Department recommends that each person complete the form themselves and not through agents or consultants; Also, if someone helps you sign up, they suggest you stay.

The State Department does not charge a fee to enroll in this program. Once you have filled the form, you must have the unique confirmation number and save the registration confirmation page as it is necessary to check the status of the application.

From May 6, 2023 you can check your registration status on the page dvprogram.state.gov With a unique confirmation number and your personal information.

Which countries are eligible to apply for Diversity Visa Program?

Countries eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa Program are countries with fewer than 50,000 native-born immigrants to the United States in the past five years.

Across the American continent Can applyAmong others, citizens:

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Chili
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• Guatemala
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Uruguay

See the full list Countries that can apply for the scheme.

For the period 2024 They don’t deserve it Citizens:

• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Canada
• China (including Hong Kong)
• Colombia
• Dominican Republic
• Savior
• Haiti
• Honduras
• India
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• South Korea
• Citizens of the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland and its Dependent Territories
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

What requirements do I need to meet?

Specifically, beneficiaries of the diversity visa program must have at least } high school education or equivalent education and at least two years of training or experience in a job requiring experience within five years of joining. Date of request. They should also be allowed into the US. America has impermissible ties to terrorism.

The process also includes an in-person interview.

“In order to immigrate, those selected by DV must be admitted to the United States,” states the State Department information brochure for applicants.

Form DS-260, which is an online alien registration and immigrant visa application, and the consular agent who will interview you in person will ask questions about your eligibility to immigrate under U.S. law. The questions include topics related to crime and security.

See more information Official page of the Department of State and the Visa Diversity Program.

Some Common Mistakes While Registering

• Do not apply if you do not have the minimum educational level to do so
• Do not complete the process more than once, the system is very sophisticated and will disqualify you if it detects that you have made more than one request.
• Double-check that you have written your names, surnames and personal data correctly. Don’t pay anyone who promises you amazing results in the process.
• When you enter to fill out the form, do it immediately and you are not allowed to save the information to continue later. You have only 60 minutes to fill the information.
• Enroll all of your immediate family, spouse, and children under 21, even if they don’t live with you or plan to travel with you to the United States.
• If you are single and going to the interview stage, don’t marry anyone to give you a visa.
• Do not send photos older than six months.

For more common mistakes, click here.