Queens Library has partnered with the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs to facilitate the process for immigrants wanting to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV-2014). Customers wishing to fill out the application at the library should sign-up for a one hour PC, if available. The application (composed of three parts) may require more than 30 minutes to complete. General instructions are available at:  https://www.dvlottery.state.gov.

The Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs has provided additional help to guide applicants in the process.

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State under the guidelines set by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Act makes available up to 55,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Eligible applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing.

LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2014

LIST OF COUNTRIES/AREAS BY REGION WHOSE NATIVES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DV-2014

The list below shows the countries whose natives are eligible for DV-2014, grouped by geographic region. Dependent areas overseas are included within the region of the governing country. The countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV-2014 program were identified by USCIS, according to the formula in Section 203(c) of the INA. The countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV program (because they are the principal source countries of Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based immigration or “high-admission” countries) are noted after the respective regional lists.

AFRICA

Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.
ASIA

Natives of the following Asia Region countries are not eligible for this year’s diversity program:
Bangladesh, China (mainland-born), India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. Hong Kong S.A.R. (Asia), Macau S.A.R. (Europe), and Taiwan (Asia) do qualify and are listed here.
Persons born in the areas administered prior to June 1967 by Israel, Jordan, and Syria are chargeable, respectively, to Israel, Jordan, and Syria. Persons born in the Gaza Strip are chargeable to Egypt; persons born in the West Bank are chargeable to Jordan; persons born in the Golan Heights are chargeable to Syria.
EUROPE

Natives of the following European countries are not eligible for this year’s DV program: Great Britain (United Kingdom). Great Britain (United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands. Note that for purposes of the diversity program only, Northern Ireland is treated separately; Northern Ireland does qualify and is listed among the qualifying areas. Macau S.A.R. does qualify and is listed above.

NORTH AMERICA

In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico are not eligible for this year’s diversity program.
OCEANIA

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this year’s diversity program:
Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru

Application Guidelines

• Must meet the education or training requirement (high school education or its equivalent or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform).
•     Must be electronically submitted (no paper applications accepted) at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/application.aspx
•     ENTRIES FOR THE DV-2014 DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY BETWEEN 12 NOON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 AND 12 NOON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012.
•     Only one application submitted per person (person will be disqualified if more than one application is received)
•     Must submit individual digital photo(s) online. Use photo validator to see if photo meets guidelines. (http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/photo.aspx)

Applicants for the DIVERSITY VISA (GREEN CARD) LOTTERY who need special assistance to scan photos will be able to go to the following Queens Library locations in the fall of 2012:

Mondays 3:00 pm-8:00 pm
October 15, 22, 29
Thursdays 2:00 pm- 7:00 pm
October 4, 11, 18, 25, November 1

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide a photo that meets visa program guidelines. Detailed information is available at the following website:

• U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery (includes application instructions as well as application form) https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/

  Additional assistance is available from

• 311, the City’s 24-hour service information line to request names of immigration service providers or file a complaint regarding potential scams. Operators at 311 can speak 171 languages and are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Queens Library computers are available for applicants' use at all locations during regular opening hours.