[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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