[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