Federal Register, Volume 72 Issue 193 (Friday, October 5, 2007)

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 193 (Friday, October 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57089-57096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19730]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 5952]

Bureau of Consular Affairs; Registration for the Diversity
Immigrant (DV-2009) Visa Program

Action: Notice of registration for the Diversity Immigrant Visa
Program.
This public notice provides information on how to apply for the DV-
2009 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)(I) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, (8 U.S.C. 1151, 1153,
and 1154(a)(1)(I)).

Instructions for the 2009 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2009)

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) that amended INA 203 provides for a class of immigrants
known as ``diversity immigrants.'' Section 203(c) of the INA provides a
maximum of up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DV) each fiscal year to be
made available 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. A
computer-generated random lottery drawing chooses selectees for
diversity visas. The visas 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 nationals of countries sending
more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the period of 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-2009, natives of the following countries are not eligible to
apply because the countries 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):

Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico,
Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, 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.
The Department of State implemented the electronic registration
system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the Diversity Visa
process more efficient and secure. The Department utilizes special
technology and other means to identify those who commit fraud for the
purposes of illegal immigration or who submit multiple entries.

Diversity Visa Registration Period

Entries for the DV-2009 Diversity Visa Lottery must be submitted
electronically between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4),
Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-
5) Sunday, December 2, 2007. Applicants may access the Electronic
Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV) at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov
during the registration period. Paper entries will not be accepted.
Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of
the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website
delays. No entries will be accepted after noon, EST, on December 2,
2007.

Requirements for Entry

To enter the DV lottery, you must be a native of one of the listed
countries. See ``List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Qualify.''
In most cases this means the country in which you were born. However,
there are two other ways you may be able to qualify. First, if you were
born in a country whose natives are ineligible but your spouse was born
in a country whose natives are eligible, you can claim your spouse's
country of birth provided both you and your spouse are on the selected
entry, are issued visas and enter the U.S. simultaneously. Second, if
you were born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but neither of
your parents was born there or resided there at the time of your birth,
you may claim nativity in one of your parents' country of birth if it
is a country whose natives qualify for the DV-2009 program.
To enter the lottery, you must meet either the education or work
experience requirement of the DV program. You 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. For more information about qualifying work
experience, see Frequently Asked Question 13.
If you cannot meet these requirements, you should NOT submit an
entry to the DV program.

Procedures for Submitting an Entry to DV-2009

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 between noon,
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 3, 2007 and
noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) Sunday, December 2, 2007.
All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE
entry for that individual is received, regardless of who submitted the
entry. You may prepare and submit your own entry, or have someone
submit the entry for you.
A successfully registered entry will result in the display of a
confirmation screen containing your name, date of birth, country of
chargeability, and a date/time stamp. You may print this confirmation
screen for your records using the print function of your web browser.
Paper entries will not be accepted.
Your entry will be disqualified if all required photographs are not
submitted. Recent photographs of the following people must be submitted
electronically with the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form: You; your
spouse; each unmarried child under 21 years of age, including all
natural children as well as all legally-adopted children and

[[Page 57090]]

stepchildren, even if a child no longer resides with you or you do not
intend for a child to immigrate under the DV program. You do not need
to submit a photo for a child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Legal
Permanent Resident.
Group or family photographs will not be accepted; there must be a
separate photograph for each family member. Failure to submit the
required photographs for your spouse and each child will result in an
incomplete entry to the E-DV system. The entry will not be accepted and
must be resubmitted. Failure to enter the correct photograph of each
individual in the case into the E-DV system will result in
disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visas in
the case at the time of the visa interview.
A digital photograph (image) of you, your spouse, and each child
must be submitted on-line with the E-DV 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.
Entries are subject to disqualification and visa refusal for cases
in which the photographs are not recent or have been manipulated or
fail to meet the specifications explained below.

Instructions for Submitting a Digital Photograph (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 of
the person 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; 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;
photographs of applicants with tribal or other headgear not
specifically religious in nature will not be accepted; photographs of
military, airline, or other personnel wearing hats will not be
accepted.
Colored photographs in 24-bit color depth are preferred to black
and white or gray scale pictures in 24-bit color depth. Photographs may
be down loaded from a camera into a file in the computer or they may be
scanned into a file in the computer. If you are using a scanner, the
settings must be for True Color or 24-bit color mode. Colored
photographs or black and white (or gray scale) must be scanned at this
setting for the requirements of the DV program. For black and white or
grey scale photographs scanned in 24-bit color mode, only three colors
or image bands are used, and the results will still be black, white and
gray. See additional scanning requirements below.

Technical Specifications

The submitted digital photograph must conform to the following
specifications or the system will automatically reject the E-DV 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 must be 24-bit color [Note: Colored photographs
are preferred, but black and white or grayscale photographs, if used,
must be scanned in 24-bit color mode]. Monochrome images (2-bit color
depth), 8-bit color or 8-bit grayscale 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; a color image is preferred, however, a black and white or
grayscale image may be used only with the 24-bit setting mode.
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 formant in Joint Photographic Experts
Group (JPEG) format; the 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. Note that black and
white or grayscale images must be used with 24-bit color depth.
Monochrome images (2-bit color depth), 8-bit color or 8-bit grayscale
will not be accepted.

Information required for the Electronic Entry

There is only one way to enter the DV-2009 lottery. You must submit
an Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form), which is
accessible only at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. Failure to complete
the form in its entirety will disqualify the entry. Those who submit
the E-DV entry will be asked to include the following information on
the E-DV 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 where you were born.
5. Country where you were born--The name of the country should be
that which is currently in use for the place where you were born.
6. Country of eligibility or chargeability for the DV Program--Your
country of eligibility will normally be the same as your country of
birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where you live. If
you were born in a country that is not eligible for the DV program,
please review the instructions to see if there is another option for
country of chargeability available for you. For additional information
on chargeability, please review ``Frequently Asked Question
1'' of these instructions.
7. Entry photograph(s)--See the technical information on photograph
specifications. Make sure you include photographs of your spouse and
all your children, if applicable. See: Frequently Asked Question
11.
8. Mailing address--In care of, address line 1, address line 2,
city/town, district/country/province/state, postal code/zip code,
country.
9. Country where you live today.
10. Phone number (optional).
11. E-mail address (optional).
12. What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of
today?
You must indicate which one of the following represents your own
highest level of educational achievement: (1) Primary school only, (2)
High school, no degree, (3) High school degree, (4) Vocational school,
(5) Some university courses, (6) University degree, (7) Some graduate
level courses, (8) Master degree, (9) Some doctorate level courses, and
(10) Doctorate degree.
13. Marital status--Unmarried, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Legally
Separated
14. Number of children: Entries must include the name, date and
place of

[[Page 57091]]

birth of your spouse and all natural children, as well as all legally-
adopted children and stepchildren, who are unmarried and under the age
of 21 (do not include children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal
Permanent Residents), even if you 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 are not eligible for the
diversity visa. Failure to list all children, who are eligible, will
result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of
all visas in the case at the time of the visa interview. See:
Frequently Asked Question 11.
15. Spouse information--Name, date of birth, gender, city/town of
birth, country of birth, photograph. Failure to list your spouse will
result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of
all visas in the case at the time of the visa interview.
16. Children information--Name, Date of Birth, Gender, City/Town of
Birth, Country of Birth, and Photograph: Include all children declared
in question 14 above.

Selection of Applicants

The computer will select at random individuals from among all
qualified entries. They will be notified by mail between May and July
2008 and will be provided further instructions, including information
on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Those selected in the
random drawing are not notified by e-mail. Those individuals not
selected will not receive any notification. U.S. embassies and
consulates will not be able to provide a list of successful entrants.
Spouses and unmarried children under age 21 of successful entrants may
also apply for visas to accompany or follow to join the principal
applicant. DV-2009 visas will be issued between October 1, 2008 and
September 30, 2009.
Processing of entries and issuance of diversity visas to successful
individuals and their eligible family members must occur by midnight on
September 30, 2009. 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 principal applicant in
their case in the U.S. after this date.
In order to receive a Diversity Visa to immigrate to the United
States, those chosen in the random drawing must meet all eligibility
requirements under U.S. law. These requirements may significantly
increase the level of scrutiny required and time necessary for
processing of applicants for natives of some countries listed in this
notice, including, but not limited to, countries identified as state
sponsors of terrorism.

Important Notice

No fee is charged for the electronic lottery entry in 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 entries 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 entrant'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 E-DV Registration

1. What Do the Terms ``Eligibility'', ``Native'' and ``Chargeability''
Mean? Are There Any Situations in Which Persons Who Were Not Born in a
Qualifying Country May Apply?

Your country of eligibility will normally be the same as your
country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where
you live. ``Native'' ordinarily means someone born in a particular
country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or
nationality. 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 you were born in a
country that is not eligible for this year's DV program, you may claim
chargeability to the country where your derivative spouse was born, but
you will not be issued a DV-1 unless your spouse is also eligible for
and issued a DV-2, and both of you must enter the United States
together with the diversity visas. In a similar manner, a minor
dependent child can be ``charged'' to a parent's country of birth.
Finally, if you were born in a country not eligible to participate
in this year's DV program, you can be ``charged'' to the country of
birth of either of your parents as long as neither parent was a
resident of the ineligible country at the time of the your 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, studying in the country temporarily, or stationed in the
country for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or
government. If you claim alternate chargeability, you must indicate
such information on the E-DV electronic online entry form, question
6. Please be aware that listing an incorrect country of
eligibility or chargeability (i.e. one to which you cannot establish a
valid claim) may disqualify your entry.

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

All DV-2009 lottery entries must be submitted electronically at
www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. No paper
entries will be accepted.
Several questions and options for answers have been added to DV-
2009 to gather additional information, including: ``What is the name of
the country where you live today? And ``What is the highest level of
education you have achieved, as of today?'' You must choose one of the
ten options indicating the highest level of education you have
achieved: (1) Primary school only, (2) High school, no degree, (3) High
school degree, (4) Vocational school, (5) Some university courses, (6)
University degree, (7) Some graduate level courses, (8) Master degree,
(9) Some doctorate level courses, and (10) Doctorate degree. ``Legally
Separated'' replaces the term ``Separated'' used in previous DV
programs as an option under the question ``What is your marital
status?'' Legal separation means that a court has formally declared
that you and your spouse are legally separated. Legal separation means
that your spouse would not be eligible to immigrate as your derivative.

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

Signatures are not required on the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry
Form. Recent and individual photographs of you, your spouse and all
children under 21 years of age are required. Family or group
photographs are not accepted.

[[Page 57092]]

Refer to information on the photograph requirements located 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 period of the previous five
years. Each year, the USCIS adds the family and employment immigrant
admission figures for the previous five years in order to identify the
countries whose natives will be ineligible for the annual diversity
lottery. Because there is a separate determination made before each
annual E-DV entry period, the list of countries whose natives are not
eligible may change from one year to the next.

5. What Is the Numerical Limit for DV-2009?

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-1999, and for as long as necessary, up to
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 by up to 5,000 diversity visas began with DV-2000 and is likely
to remain in effect through the DV-2009 program.

6. What Are the Regional Diversity Visa (DV) Limits for DV-2009?

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-2009 Program Be Accepted?

The DV-2009 entry period will run through the registration period.
Each year millions of people apply for the program during the
registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous
amount of work in selecting and processing successful individuals.
Holding the entry period during October, November, and December will
ensure that selectees are notified in a timely manner, and gives both
the visa applicants and our embassies and consulates time to prepare
and complete cases for visa issuance. You 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 Sunday, December 2, 2007.

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 United States or from abroad.

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

Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during
each registration period. Individuals 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 who
submit multiple entries during the registration period. People
submitting more than one entry will be disqualified and an electronic
record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State.
Individuals 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 E-DV Entry?

On your entry you must list your spouse (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 21 years of
age, 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 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. 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 those who were
family members 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 I Submit My Own Entry, or May Someone Act on My Behalf?

You may prepare and submit your own entry, or have someone submit
the entry for you. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the
individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend,
relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each
person and the entrant remains responsible for insuring that
information in the entry is correct and complete. 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 entrant 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 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.
What Occupations qualify for the Diversity Visa Program? The

[[Page 57093]]

Department of Labor (DOL) O*Net Online Database groups job experience
into five ``job zones.'' While many occupations are listed on the DOL
Web site, only certain specified occupations qualify for the Diversity
Visa Program. To qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of your work
experience, you must, within the past five years, have two years of
experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5,
classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or
higher.
How Do I Find the Qualifying Occupations on the Department of Labor
Web site? Qualifying DV Occupations are shown on the Department of
Labor O*Net Online Database. Follow these steps to find out if your
occupation qualifies: Select ``Find Occupations'' and then select a
specific ``Job Family.'' For example, select Architecture and
Engineering and click ``GO.'' Then click on the link for the specific
Occupation. Following the same example, click Aerospace Engineers.
After selecting a specific Occupation link, select the tab ``Job Zone''
to find out the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational
Preparation (SVP) rating range.

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
entrant 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 selected
to be visa applicants are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a
U.S. consular office, or until those qualifying to change status in the
United States apply at a domestic USCIS office.

Important Note: Notifications to those selected in the random
lottery are not sent by e-mail. Should you receive an e-mail
notification about your E-DV selection, be aware that the message is
not legitimate.

15. May Selectees Adjust Their Status With USCIS?

Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under
the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected individuals who are
physically present in the United States may apply to the 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, 2009, since on that date
registrations for the DV-2009 program expire. No visa numbers for the
DV-2009 program will be available after midnight on September 30, 2009
under any circumstances.

16. Will Entrants Who Are Not Selected Be Informed?

No, entrants 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 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 five to seven months from the end of the registration
period should assume that his/her application has not been selected.

17. How Many Individuals Will Be Selected?

There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2009, 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 for the DV-2009 program will begin
in October 2008. 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
2009. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to
act promptly on their cases. Random selection by the Kentucky Consular
Center computer as a selectee does not automatically guarantee that you
will receive a visa.

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

There is no fee for submitting an electronic lottery entry. DV
applicants must pay all required visa fees at the time of visa
application directly to the consular cashier at the embassy or
consulate. Details of required diversity visa and immigration visa
application fees will be included with the instructions sent by the
Kentucky Consular Center to applicants who are selected.

20. Do DV Applicants Receive Waivers of Any Grounds of Visa
Ineligibility or Receive Special Processing for a Waiver Application?

No. Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for
immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There
are neither special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa
ineligibility other than those ordinarily provided in the Act nor
special processing for waiver requests.

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.

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

Persons selected in the DV-2009 lottery are entitled to apply for
visa issuance only during fiscal year 2009, from October 1, 2008
through September 30, 2009. Applicants must obtain the DV visa or
adjust status by the end of the fiscal year. 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-2009. Also, spouses and children who derive
status from a DV-2009 registration can only obtain visas in the DV
category between October 2008 and September 2009. Applicants who apply

[[Page 57094]]

overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular
Center four to six weeks before the scheduled appointment.

23. If an E-DV Selectee Dies, What Happens to the DV Case?

The death of an individual selected in the lottery results in
automatic revocation of the DV case. Any eligible spouse and/or
children are no longer entitled to the DV visa, for that entry.

24. When Will E-DV Online Be Available?

Online entry will be available during the registration period
beginning at noon EDT (GMT-4) on October 3, 2007 and ending at noon EST
(GMT-5) on December 2, 2007.

25. 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.

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

Yes, this can be done as long as the photograph meets the
photograph requirements in the instructions, and the photograph is
electronically submitted with, and at the same time the E-DV online
entry is submitted. The applicants must already have the scanned
photograph file when they submit the entry on-line. The photograph
cannot be submitted separate from the online application. Only one on-
line entry can be submitted for each person. Multiple submissions will
disqualify the entry for that person for DV-2009. The entire entry
(photograph and application together) can be submitted electronically
from the United States or from overseas.

27. 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 permit up to sixty (60) minutes between
the 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 already received 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 that holds the
child's photograph. If the filled in Form Part Two is sent by the
applicant and received by the E-DV website within sixty (60) minutes,
there is no problem. However, if the Form Part Two is received after
sixty (60) minutes have elapsed, then the applicant will be informed
that he or she must start the entire entry over from the beginning. The
DV-2009 instructions explain clearly and completely what information is
required 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.

28. 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
problem can be fixed by the applicant, and the Form Part One or Two is
re-sent within sixty (60) minutes, 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.

29. 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
website immediately. However, 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.

30. How Will I Know if the Notification of Selection That I Have
Received Is Authentic? How Can I Confirm That I Have in Fact Been
Chosen in the Random DV Lottery?

After the individuals have been selected at random from among all
qualified entries through the State Department E-DV lottery computer
program, they will not be notified by e-mail. Those selected will be
notified only by letter through the mail between May and July 2008 at
the addresses listed on their E-DV entry. Only the randomly selected
individuals will be notified. Persons not selected will not receive any
notification. U.S. embassies and consulates will not be able to provide
a list of those selected to continue the visa process.
Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will send the letters notifying
those selected. These letters will contain instructions for the visa
application process. The instructions say the selected applicants will
pay all diversity and immigrant visa fees in person only at the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate at the time of the visa application. The Consular
Cashier or Consular Officer immediately gives the visa applicant a U.S.
Government receipt for payment. You should never send money for DV fees
through the mail, through Western Union, or any other delivery service.
The E-DV lottery entries are made on the Internet, on the official
U.S. Government E-DV Web site at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov. KCC
sends only letters to the selected applicants. KCC, consular offices,
or the U.S. Government have never sent e-mails to

[[Page 57095]]

notify selected individuals, and there are no plans to use e-mail for
this purpose for the DV-2009 program.
The Department of State, Visa Services advises the public that only
internet sites including the ``.gov'' indicator are official government
Web sites. Many other non-governmental Web sites (e.g., using the
suffixes ``.com'' or ``.org'' or ``.net'') provide legitimate and
useful immigration and visa related information and services.
Regardless of the content of non-governmental Web sites, the Department
of State does not endorse, recommend or sponsor any information or
material shown at these other Web sites.
Some Web sites may try to mislead customers and members of the
public into thinking they are official Web sites and may contact you by
e-mail to lure you to their offers. These Web sites may attempt to
require you to pay for services such as forms and information about
immigration procedures, which are otherwise free on the Department of
State Visa Services website, or overseas through the Embassy Consular
Section Web sites. Additionally, these other Web sites may require you
to pay for services you will not receive, often including diversity
immigration application and visa fees in an effort to outright steal
your money. Once you send money in one of these scams, you will never
see it again. Also, you should be wary of sending any personal
information that might be used for identity fraud/theft to these Web
sites.

31. How Do I Report Internet Fraud or Unsolicited E-mail?

If you wish to file a complaint about Internet fraud, please see
the econsumer.gov Web site, hosted by the Federal Trade Commission,
which is a joint effort of consumer protection agencies from 17 nations
at http://www.econsumer.gov/english/ or go to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center or IC3. To file a
complaint about unsolicited e-mail, contact the Department of Justice
Contact Us page.

32. If I Am Successful in Obtaining a Visa Through the DV Program Will
the U.S. Government Assist With My Airfare to the U.S., Provide
Assistance To Locate Housing and Employment, Provide Healthcare or
Provide Any Subsidies Until I Am Fully Settled?

No, applicants who obtain a DV visa are not provided any type of
assistance such as airfare, housing assistance, or subsidies. If you
are selected to apply for a DV visa, before you can be issued a visa,
you will be required to provide evidence that you will not become a
public charge in the U.S. This evidence may be in the form of a
combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support, Form I-
134 from a relative or friend residing in the U.S. and/or an offer of
employment from an employer in the U.S.

List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible for DV-2009

The lists below show the countries whose natives are eligible for
DV-2009 within each geographic region for this diversity program. The
countries whose natives are not eligible for the DV-2009 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 are not
eligible 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, 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.

List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible for DV-2009

Asia

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

Natives of the following Asian countries are not eligible 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.

List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible for DV-2009

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, Montenegro, Netherlands (including components and dependent
areas overseas), Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal (including
components and dependent areas overseas), Romania;
San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vatican City.

Natives of the following European countries are not eligible for
this year's diversity program: Great Britain, Poland 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.

List of Countries by Region Whose Natives Are Eligible for DV-2009

North America

The Bahamas

In North America, natives of Canada and Mexico are not eligible 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),
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
Vanuatu.

[[Page 57096]]

South America, Central America, And The Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa
Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana;
Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,
Uruguay, Venezuela.

Countries in this region whose natives are not eligible for this
year's diversity program:

Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, and Peru.

Dated: September 28, 2007.
Maura Harty,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E7-19730 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P