[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65012-65018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24940]



[[Page 65012]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 4888]


Bureau of Consular Affairs; Registration for the Diversity 
Immigrant (DV-2006) Visa Program

ACTION: Notice of Registration for the Diversity Immigrant Visa 
Program.

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    This public notice provides information on how to apply for the DV 
2006 Program. This notice is issued pursuant to 22 CFR 42.33(b)(3) 
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(a)(1)(G)).

Instructions for the 2006 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2006)

    The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is 
administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and 
conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. 
L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants 
known as ``diversity immigrants'' (DV immigrants). The Act makes 
available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually to persons from 
countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
    The annual DV program makes permanent residence visas available to 
persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. 
Applicants for Diversity Visas are chosen by a computer-generated 
random lottery drawing. The visas, however, are distributed among six 
geographic regions with a greater number of visas going to regions with 
lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to citizens of 
countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past 
five years. Within each region, no one country may receive more than 
seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.
    For DV-2006, natives of the following countries are not eligible to 
apply because they sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the 
U.S. in the previous five years (the term ``country'' in this notice 
includes countries, economies and other jurisdictions explicitly listed 
in this notice): Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican 
Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, 
Philippines, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern 
Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in 
Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Application Submission Dates

    Entries for the DV-2006 Diversity Visa Lottery must be submitted 
electronically between noon (EST) on Friday, November 5, 2004 and noon 
(EST) on Friday, January 7, 2005. Applicants may access the electronic 
Diversity Visa entry form at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov during the 
registration period beginning noon November 5, 2004. Paper entries will 
not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to not wait until 
the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may 
result in delays. No entries will be accepted after noon (EST) on 
January 7, 2005.

Requirements for Entry

    Applicant must be a native of one of the countries listed. See 
``List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Qualify.''
    In most cases this means the country in which the applicant was 
born. However, there are two other ways a person may be able to 
qualify. First, if a person was born in a county whose natives are 
ineligible but his/her spouse was born in a country whose natives are 
eligible, such person can claim the spouse's country of birth provided 
both the applicant and spouse are issued visas and enter the U.S. 
simultaneously. Second, if a person was born in a country whose natives 
are ineligible, but neither of his/her parents was born there or 
resided there at the time of his/her birth, such person may claim 
nativity in one of the parents' country of birth if it is a country 
whose natives qualify for the DV-2006 program.
    Applicants must meet either the education OR training requirement 
of the DV program.
    An applicant must have EITHER a high school education or its 
equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of 
elementary and secondary education; 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. The U.S. Department of 
Labor's O*Net OnLine database will be used to determine qualifying work 
experience.
    If the applicant cannot meet these requirements, he/she should NOT 
submit an entry to the DV program.

Procedures for Submitting an Entry to DV-2006

    The Department of State will ONLY accept completed Electronic 
Diversity Visa Entry Forms submitted electronically at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period beginning at 12 
pm EST (GMT-5) on November 5, 2004 and ending at 12 pm EST (GMT-5) on 
January 7, 2005.
    All entries by an applicant will be disqualified if more than ONE 
entry for the applicant is received, regardless of who submitted the 
entry. Applicants may prepare and submit their own entries, or have 
someone submit the entry for them.
    Successfully registered entries will result in the display of a 
confirmation screen containing the applicant's name, date of birth, 
country of chargeability, and a date/time stamp. The applicant may 
print this confirmation screen for his/her records using the print 
function of their web browser.
    Paper entries will not be accepted.
    The entry will be disqualified if all required photos are not 
submitted. Recent photographs of the applicant and his/her spouse and 
each child under 21 years of age, including all natural children as 
well as all legally-adopted and stepchildren (except a child who is 
already a U.S. citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident), even if a child 
no longer resides with the applicant or is not intended to immigrate 
under the DV program, must be submitted electronically with the 
Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. Group or family photos will not 
be accepted; there must be a separate photo for each family member.
    A digital photo (image) of each applicant, his/her spouse, and 
children must be submitted on-line with the EDV Entry Form. The image 
file can be produced either by taking a new digital photograph or by 
scanning a photographic print with a digital scanner.

Instructions for Submitting a Digital Photo (Image)

    The image file must adhere to the following compositional 
specifications and technical specifications and can be produced in one 
of the following ways: taking a new digital image; or using a digital 
scanner to scan a submitted photograph.

Compositional Specifications

    The submitted digital image must conform to the following 
compositional specifications or the entry will be disqualified. The 
person being photographed must directly face the camera. The head of 
the person should not be tilted up, down, or to the side. The head 
should cover about 50% of the area of the photo. The photograph should 
be taken with the person in front of a neutral, light-colored 
background.

[[Page 65013]]

Dark or patterned backgrounds are not acceptable. The photo must be in 
focus. Photos in which the person being photographed is wearing 
sunglasses or other items that detract from the face will not be 
accepted. Photos of applicants wearing head coverings or hats are only 
acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not obscure any 
portion of the face of the applicant. Photos of applicants with tribal 
or other headgear not specifically religious in nature will not be 
accepted. Photos of military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats 
will not be accepted.

Technical Specifications

    The submitted digital photograph must conform to the following 
technical specifications or the system will automatically reject the 
EDV Entry Form and notify the sender.
    When taking a new digital image: the image file format must be in 
the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format; it must have a 
maximum image file size of sixty-two thousand five hundred (62,500) 
bytes; the image resolution must be 320 pixels high by 240 pixels wide; 
the image color depth 24-bit color, or 8-bit color, or 8-bit grayscale. 
[Note: Monochrome images (2-bit color depth) will not be accepted.]
    Before a photographic print is scanned it must meet the following 
specifications: the print size must be 2 inches by 2 inches (50mm x 
50mm) square; the print color image must be either in color or 
grayscale.
    The photographic print must also meet the compositional 
specifications. If the photographic print meets the print size, print 
color and compositional specifications, scan the print using the 
following scanner specifications: scanner resolution must be 150 dots 
per inch (dpi); the image file in Joint Photographic Experts Group 
(JPEG) format; maximum image file size will be sixty-two thousand five 
hundred (62,500) bytes; the image resolution at 300 by 300 pixels; the 
image color depth 24-bit color or 8-bit color or 8-bit grayscale. 
[Note: Monochrome images (2-bit color depth) will not be accepted.]

Information Required for the Electronic Entry

    There is only one way to enter the DV-2006 lottery. Applicants must 
submit an Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (EDV Entry Form), which 
is accessible only at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. Failure to 
complete the form in its entirety will disqualify the applicant's 
entry. Applicants will be asked to submit the following information on 
the EDV Entry Form.
    1. Full Name--Last/Family Name, First Name, Middle Name.
    2. Date of Birth--Day, Month, Year.
    3. Gender--Male or Female.
    4. City/Town of Birth.
    5. Country of Birth--The name of the country should be that which 
is currently in use for the place where the applicant was born.
    6. Applicant Photograph--(See information in this notice on photo 
specifications).
    7. Mailing Address--Address, City/Town, District/Country/Province/
State, Postal Code/Zip Code, Country.
    8. Phone Number (optional).
    9. E-mail Address (optional).
    10. Country of Eligibility if the Applicant's Native Country is 
Different from Country of Birth--If the applicant is claiming nativity 
in a country other than his/her place of birth, this information must 
be indicated on the entry.
    11. Marriage Status--Unmarried, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Legally 
Separated.
    12. Number of Children that are Unmarried and Under 21 Years of 
Age--Except children that are either U.S. legal permanent residents or 
American citizens.
    13. Spouse Information--Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of 
Birth, Country of Birth, Photograph.
    14. Children Information--Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of 
Birth, Country of Birth, Photograph.

    Note: Entries must include the name, date and place of birth of 
the applicant's spouse and all natural children, as well as all 
legally-adopted and stepchildren, who are unmarried and under the 
age of 21 (except children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal 
Permanent Residents), even if they are no longer legally married to 
the child's parent, and even if the spouse or child does not 
currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you. Note 
that married children and children 21 years or older will not 
qualify for the diversity visa. Failure to list all children will 
result in your disqualification for the visa. (See question 11 on 
the list of Frequently Asked Questions.)

Selection of Applicants

    Applicants will be selected at random by computer from among all 
qualified entries. Those selected will be notified by mail between May 
and July 2005 and will be provided further instructions, including 
information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Persons not 
selected will not receive any notification. U.S. embassies and 
consulates will not be able to provide a list of successful applicants. 
Spouses and unmarried children under age 21 of successful applicants 
may also apply for visas to accompany or follow to join the principal 
applicant. DV-2006 visas will be issued between October 1, 2005 and 
September 30, 2006.
    In order to actually receive a visa, applicants selected in the 
random drawing must meet all eligibility requirements under U.S. law. 
Processing of entries and issuance of diversity visas to successful 
applicants and their eligible family members must occur by midnight on 
September 30, 2006. Under no circumstances can diversity visas be 
issued or adjustments approved after this date, nor can family members 
obtain diversity visas to follow to join the applicant in the U.S. 
after this date.

Important Notice

    No fee is charged to enter the annual DV program. The U.S. 
Government employs no outside consultants or private services to 
operate the DV program. Any intermediaries or others who offer 
assistance to prepare DV casework for applicants do so without the 
authority or consent of the U.S. Government. Use of any outside 
intermediary or assistance to prepare a DV entry is entirely at the 
applicant's discretion.
    A qualified entry submitted electronically directly by an applicant 
has an equal chance of being selected by the computer at the Kentucky 
Consular Center as does an entry submitted electronically through a 
paid intermediary who completes the entry for the applicant. Every 
entry received during the lottery registration period will have an 
equal random chance of being selected within its region. However, 
receipt of more than one entry per person will disqualify the person 
from registration, regardless of the source of the entry.

Frequently Asked Questions About DV Registration

1. What Does the Term ``Native'' Mean? Are There Any Situations in 
Which Persons Who Were Not Born in a Qualifying Country May Apply?

    ``Native'' ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, 
regardless of the individual's current country of residence or 
nationality. But for immigration purposes ``native'' can also mean 
someone who is entitled to be ``charged'' to a country other than the 
one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section 202(b) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act.
    For example, if a principal applicant was born in a country that is 
not eligible for this year's DV program, he or she may claim 
``chargeability'' to the country where his/her derivative spouse was 
born, but he/she will not be issued

[[Page 65014]]

a DV-1 unless the spouse is also eligible for and issued a DV-2, and 
both must enter the U.S. together on the DVs. In a similar manner, a 
minor dependent child can be ``charged'' to a parent's country of 
birth. Finally, any applicant born in a country ineligible for this 
year's DV program can be ``charged'' to the country of birth of either 
parent as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible 
country at the time of the applicant's birth. In general, people are 
not considered residents of a country in which they were not born or 
legally naturalized if they are only visiting the country temporarily 
or stationed in the country for business or professional reasons on 
behalf of a company or government. An applicant who claims alternate 
chargeability must indicate such information on the application for 
registration.

2. Are There Any Changes or New Requirements in the Application 
Procedures for This Diversity Visa Registration?

    All DV-2006 lottery entries must be submitted electronically at 
http://www.dvlottery.state.gov between 12 pm (EST) Friday, November 5, 
2004 and 12 pm (EST) Friday, January 7, 2005. No paper entries will be 
accepted.
    The Department of State implemented an electronic registration 
system for last year's lottery in order to make the Diversity Visa 
process more efficient and secure. The Department utilizes special 
technology and other means to identify applicants who commit fraud for 
the purposes of illegal immigration or who submit multiple entries.
    The DV-2006 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program registration period 
will run from noon Eastern Standard Time November 5, 2004 through noon 
Eastern Standard Time January 7, 2005.

3. Are Signatures and Photographs Required for Each Family Member, or 
Only for the Principal Applicant?

    Signatures are not required on the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry 
Form. Recent and individual photos of the applicant, his/her spouse and 
all children under 21 years of age are required. Family or group photos 
are not accepted. Check the information on the photo requirements 
included in this notice.

4. Why Do Natives of Certain Countries Not Qualify for the Diversity 
Program?

    Diversity visas are intended to provide an immigration opportunity 
for persons from countries other than the countries that send large 
numbers of immigrants to the U.S. The law states that no diversity 
visas shall be provided for natives of ``high admission'' countries. 
The law defines this to mean countries from which a total of 50,000 
persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories 
immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each 
year, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adds the 
family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five 
years in order to identify the countries whose natives must be excluded 
from the annual diversity lottery. Because there is a separate 
determination made before each annual DV entry period, the list of 
countries whose natives do not qualify may change from one year to the 
next.

5. What Is the Numerical Limit for DV-2006?

    By law, the U.S. diversity immigration program makes available a 
maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to eligible 
persons. However, the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief 
Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that 
beginning as early as DV-99, and for as long as necessary, 5,000 of the 
55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for 
use under the NACARA program. The actual reduction of the limit to 
50,000 began with DV-2000 and remains in effect for the DV-2006 
program.

6. What Are the Regional Diversity Visa (DV) Limits for DV-2006?

    The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines 
the DV regional limits for each year according to a formula specified 
in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Once 
the USCIS has completed the calculations, the regional visa limits will 
be announced.

7. When Will Entries for the DV-2006 Program Be Accepted?

    The DV-2006 entry period will begin on noon EST Friday, November 5, 
2004 and will last for 63 days through noon EST Friday, January 7, 
2005. Each year millions apply for the program during the registration 
period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous amount of 
work in selecting and processing successful applicants. Holding the 
entry period during November and December will ensure successful 
applicants are notified in a timely manner, and will give both them and 
our embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete entries for 
visa issuance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to enter early in the 
registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period 
may slow the system down. No entries whatsoever will be accepted after 
noon EST Friday, January 7, 2005.

8. May Persons Who Are in the U.S. Apply for the Program?

    Yes, an applicant may be in the U.S. or in another country, and the 
entry may be submitted from the U.S. or from abroad.

9. Is Each Applicant Limited to Only One Entry During the Annual DV 
Registration Period?

    Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during 
each registration period; applicants for whom more than one entry is 
submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State will employ 
sophisticated technology and other means to identify individuals that 
submit multiple entries during the registration period. Applicants 
submitting more than one entry will be disqualified and an electronic 
record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State. 
Applicants may apply for the program each year during the regular 
registration period.

10. May a Husband and a Wife Each Submit a Separate Entry?

    Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry, if each meets 
the eligibility requirements. If either were selected, the other would 
be entitled to derivative status.

11. What Family Members Must I Include on My DV Entry?

    On your entry you must list your spouse, that is, husband or wife, 
and all unmarried children under 21 years of age, with the exception of 
children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. 
You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/
her, unless you are legally separated (i.e. there is a written 
agreement recognized by a court or a court order.) If you are legally 
separated or divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. You 
must list ALL your children who are unmarried and under the age of 21 
years, whether they are your natural children, your spouse's children, 
or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of 
your country, unless such a child is already a U.S. citizen or Legal 
Permanent Resident. List all children under 21 years of age even if 
they no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to 
immigrate under the DV program.
    The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not 
mean that they later must travel with you.

[[Page 65015]]

They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible 
dependent on your visa application forms that you failed to include on 
your original entry, your case will be disqualified. (This only applies 
to persons who were dependents at the time the original application was 
submitted, not those acquired at a later date.) Your spouse may still 
submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, 
as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your 
family. See question 10 above.

12. Must Each Applicant Submit His/Her Own Entry, or May Someone Act on 
Behalf of an Applicant?

    Applicants may prepare and submit their own entries, or have 
someone submit the entry for them. Regardless of whether an entry is 
submitted by the applicant directly, or assistance is provided by an 
attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in 
the name of each person. If the entry is selected, the notification 
letter will be sent only to the mailing address provided on the entry.

13. What Are the Requirements for Education or Work Experience?

    The law and regulations require that every applicant must have at 
least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past 
five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation 
requiring at least two years training or experience. A ``high school 
education or equivalent'' is defined as successful completion of a 
twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United 
States or successful completion in another country of a formal course 
of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school 
education in the United States. Documentary proof of education or work 
experience should not be submitted with the lottery entry, but must be 
presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. To 
determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the 
Department of Labor's O*Net OnLine database will be used.

14. How Will Successful Entrants Be Selected?

    At the Kentucky Consular Center, all entries received from each 
region will be individually numbered. After the end of the registration 
period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the 
entries received for each geographic region. Within each region, the 
first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered, the 
second entry selected the second registration, etc. All entries 
received during the registration period will have an equal chance of 
being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the 
applicant will be sent a notification letter by the Kentucky Consular 
Center, which will provide visa application instructions. The Kentucky 
Consular Center will continue to process the case until those who are 
selected are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. 
consular office, or until those able to do so apply at a USCIS office 
in the United States for change of status.

15. May Winning Applicants Adjust Their Status With USCIS?

    Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under 
the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected applicants who are 
physically present in the United States may apply to the U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for adjustment of status 
to permanent resident. Applicants must ensure that USCIS can complete 
action on their cases, including processing of any overseas 
derivatives, before September 30, 2006, since on that date 
registrations for the DV-2006 program expire. No visa numbers for the 
DV-2006 program will be available after midnight on September 30, 2006 
under any circumstances.

16. Will Applicants Who Are Not Selected Be Informed?

    No, applicants who are not selected will receive no response to 
their entry. Only those who are selected will be informed. All 
notification letters are sent within about five to seven months from 
the end of the application period to the address indicated on the 
entry. Since there is no notification provided to those not selected, 
anyone who does not receive a letter about five to seven months from 
the end of the registration period should assume that his/her 
application has not been selected.

17. How Many Applicants Will Be Selected?

    There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2006, but more than that 
number of individuals will be selected. Because it is likely that some 
of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas 
or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will 
be selected by the Kentucky Consular Center to ensure that all of the 
available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there will 
not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially 
selected. All applicants who are selected will be informed promptly of 
their place on the list. Interviews with those selected will begin in 
early October 2005. The Kentucky Consular Center will send appointment 
letters to selected applicants four to six weeks before the scheduled 
interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month 
visas will be issued, visa number availability permitting, to those 
applicants who are ready for issuance during that month. Once all of 
the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program for the year will 
end. In principle, visa numbers could be finished before September 
2006. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to 
act promptly on their cases. Random selection by the Kentucky Consular 
Center computer does not automatically guarantee that you will receive 
a visa.

18. Is There a Minimum Age for Applicants To Apply for the DV Program?

    There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the 
requirement of a high school education or work experience for each 
principal applicant at the time of application will effectively 
disqualify most persons who are under age 18.

19. Are There Any Fees for the DV Program?

    There is no fee for submitting an entry. A special DV case 
processing fee will be payable later by persons whose entries are 
actually selected and processed at a U.S. consular section for this 
year's program. DV applicants, like other immigrant visa applicants, 
must also pay the regular visa fees at the time of visa application. 
Details of required fees will be included with the instructions sent by 
the Kentucky Consular Center to applicants who are selected.

20. Are DV Applicants Specially Entitled To Apply for a Waiver of Any 
of the Grounds of Visa Ineligibility?

    No. Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for 
immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There 
are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa 
ineligibility other than those ordinarily provided in the Act.

21. May Persons Who Are Already Registered for an Immigrant Visa in 
Another Category Apply for the DV Program?

    Yes, such persons may apply for the DV program.

[[Page 65016]]

22. How Long Do Applicants Who Are Selected Remain Entitled To Apply 
for Visas in the DV Category?

    Persons selected in the DV-2006 lottery are entitled to apply for 
visa issuance only during fiscal year 2006, i.e., from October 2005 
through September 2006. Applicants must obtain the DV visa or adjust 
status by the end of the Fiscal Year (September 30, 2006). There is no 
carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are 
selected but who do not obtain visas during FY-2006. Also, spouses and 
children who derive status from a DV-2006 registration can only obtain 
visas in the DV category between October 2005 and September 2006. 
Applicants who apply overseas will receive an appointment letter from 
the Kentucky Consular Center four to six weeks before the scheduled 
appointment.

23. When Will E-DV Online Be Available?

    Online entry will become available at 12 pm EST (GMT-5) on November 
5, 2004 and will end at 12 pm EST (GMT-5) on January 7, 2005.

24. Will I Be Able To Download and Save the E-DV Entry Form to a 
Microsoft Word Program (or Other Suitable Program) and Then Fill It 
Out?

    No, you will not be able to save the form into another program for 
completion and submission later. The E-DV Entry Form is a Web form 
only. This makes it more ``universal'' than a proprietary word 
processor format. Additionally, it does require that the information be 
filled in and submitted while on-line.

25. If I Don't Have Access to a Scanner, Can I Send Photos to My 
Relative in the U.S. to Scan the Photos, Save the Photos to a Diskette, 
and Then Mail the Diskette Back to Me to Apply?

    Yes, this can be done as long as the photo meets the photo 
requirements in the instructions, and the photo is electronically 
submitted with, and at the same time the E-DV online entry is 
submitted. The applicant must already have the scanned photo file when 
they submit the entry on-line. The photo cannot be submitted separate 
from the online application. Only one on-line entry by or for each 
person can be submitted. Multiple submissions will disqualify the entry 
for that person for DV-2006. The entire entry (photo and application 
together) can be submitted electronically from the United States.

26. Can I Save the Form On-Line So That I Can Fill Out Part and Then 
Come Back Later and Complete the Remainder?

    No, this cannot be done. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be 
completed and submitted at one time. However, because the form is in 
two parts, and because of possible network interruptions and delays, 
the E-DV system is designed to handle up to sixty (60) minutes between 
downloading of the form and when the entry is received at the E-DV Web 
site after being submitted online. If more than sixty minutes elapses, 
and the entry has not been electronically received, the information 
received so far is discarded. This is done so that there is no 
possibility that a full entry could accidentally be interpreted as a 
duplicate of a previous partial entry. For example, suppose an 
applicant with a wife and child sends a filled in E-DV Entry Form Part 
One and then receives Form Part Two, but there is a delay before 
sending Part Two because of trouble finding the file which holds the 
child's photograph. If the filled in Form Part Two is sent by the 
applicant and received by the E-DV Web site within sixty (60) minutes 
then there is no problem, but if the Form Part Two is received after 
sixty (60) minutes has elapsed then the applicant will be informed that 
they need to start over for the entire entry. The DV-2006 instructions 
explain clearly and completely what information needs to be gathered to 
fill in the form. This way you can be fully prepared, making sure you 
have all of the information needed, before you start to complete the 
form on-line.

27. If the Submitted Digital Images Do Not Conform to the 
Specifications, the Procedures State That the System Will Automatically 
Reject the E-DV Entry Form and Notify the Sender. Does This Mean I Will 
Be Able to Re-Submit My Entry?

    Yes, the entry can be resubmitted. Since the entry was 
automatically rejected it was not actually considered as submitted to 
the E-DV Web site. It does not count as a submitted E-DV entry, and no 
confirmation notice of receipt is sent. If there are problems with the 
digital photograph sent because it does not conform to the 
requirements, it is automatically rejected by the E-DV Web site. 
However, the amount of time it takes the rejection message to reach the 
sender is unpredictable due to the nature of the Internet. If the 
problems can be fixed by the applicant, and the Form Part One or Two 
re-sent within sixty (60) minutes then there is no problem. Otherwise 
the submission process will have to be started over. An applicant can 
try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a 
complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent.

28. Will the Electronic Confirmation Notice That the Completed E-DV 
Entry Form Has Been Received Through the Online System Be Sent 
Immediately After Submission?

    The response from the E-DV Web site which contains confirmation of 
the receipt of an acceptable E-DV Entry Form is sent by the E-DV Web 
site immediately, but how long it takes the response to reach the 
sender is unpredictable due to the nature of the Internet. If many 
minutes have elapsed since pressing the ``Submit'' button there is no 
harm in pressing the ``Submit'' button a second time. The E-DV system 
will not be confused by a situation where the ``Submit'' button is hit 
a second time because no confirmation response has been received. An 
applicant can try to submit an application as many times as is 
necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation 
notice sent.

List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Qualify

    The lists below show the countries whose natives are QUALIFIED 
within each geographic region for this diversity program. The 
determination of countries within each region is based on information 
provided by the Geographer of the Department of State. The countries 
whose natives do not qualify for the DV-2006 program were identified by 
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) according to the 
formula in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
Dependent areas overseas are included within the region of the 
governing country. The countries whose natives do NOT qualify for this 
diversity 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

Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde

[[Page 65017]]

Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia, The
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Asia

Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Burma
Cambodia
East Timor
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordon
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Nepal
North Korea
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Sri Lanka
Syria
Taiwan
Thailand
Unite Arab Emirates
Yemen

    Natives of the following Asian countries do not qualify for this 
year's diversity program: China [mainland-born], India, Pakistan, South 
Korea, Philippines, and Vietnam. The Hong Kong S.A.R. and Taiwan do 
qualify and are listed above. Macau S.A.R. also qualifies and is listed 
below.

Europe

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Estonia
Finland
France (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau Special Administrative Region
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Netherlands (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Northern Ireland
Norway
Poland
Portugal (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Romania
San Marino
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tajikistan
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vatican City

    Natives of the following European countries do not qualify for this 
year's diversity program: Great Britain and Russia. Great Britain 
(United Kingdom) includes the following dependent areas: Anguilla, 
Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, 
Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, 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.

North America

The Bahamas

    In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico do not qualify for 
this year's diversity program.

Oceania

Australia (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Federated States of
Nauru
New Zealand (including components and dependent areas overseas)
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

South America, Central America, and the Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Ecuador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay

[[Page 65018]]

Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
Venezuela

    Countries in this region whose natives do not qualify for this 
year's diversity program: Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, 
Haiti, Jamaica, and Mexico.

    Dated: October 28, 2004.
Maura Harty,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 04-24940 Filed 11-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P