Apart from the non-immigrant visa and immigrant visa, there is an additional way to move into the USA, Canada, Uk, and Australia permanently.
This is through the visa lottery.
This visa allows people from different countries with low immigration rates to be randomly selected and get permanent resident status.
This visa allows women, men, and their families to be able to become permanent residents in the USA, Canada, UK, and Australia.
An example of a visa lottery is the Diversity Visa Lottery, which provides 55,000 immigrant visas to the United States annually.
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Notice: Nigerians born here in Nigeria to Nigerian parents that live here are no longer eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery.
If you have been looking for a way to apply for the USA, Australia, Canada, and UK visa lottery, this article addresses it all.
To get the visa lottery you must first apply for it.
To be eligible to apply for the visa lottery, applicants must meet certain criteria:
- You must be from one of the countries allowed to apply.
- You must be above 18 years.
- You must have completed high school and have a high school certificate.
- You must have 2 years of experience in the last five years in an occupation that falls into the U.S Department of Labour requirements.
If you do not meet the above requirements, then you are ineligible and will not be selected.
Applications for visa lottery are done around the same time every year and are done for the next two years.
Steps for Visa Lottery Application
1. Submit an entry
There is a limited period you can apply for a lottery visa each year.
To participate in the lottery is free of charge. Eligible persons can register for it on the lottery website.
This is the online form that asks questions about the background and information of the applicant.
No entries or paper entries brought in late are accepted. If you submit more than one entry you are automatically disqualified.
To fill out this form, there is no need for a visa agent or consultant, you would have to fill it out yourself so it would be correct and you will be able to store your unique confirmation number safely.
2. Applicant selection
When you submit the form, you will get a confirmation screen and number.
The confirmation number is very important because it will be used to check your status if you have been selected.
Applicants who are not selected will be notified through the Entrance Status Checker.
If you lose this number, you won’t be able to get it back even if you were selected.
You will also need the confirmation number to obtain other instructions or to get the schedule for the visa interview if you are selected.
Every year, the Department of State conducts a random selection of visa lottery applicants based on the allocation available for each country or region.
It takes the U.S state department about 6-7 months to go through the applications and post results.
If your entry is selected, you will be provided information on fees connected to migration.
If you are selected, then you must start applying for a lottery visa.
Also, fill and submit Form DS-260 online to schedule an interview appointment and print the confirmation page.
It is important to remember that the selection will not guarantee you a visa.
3. Confirm qualifications
The lottery visa requires the applicant to have a high school certificate or two years of qualifying work experience.
It is also required that you provide a valid international passport and passport number with exemptions to stateless individuals, nationals of a communist-controlled environment, and beneficiaries of individual waivers.
Make sure you meet the requirements given before the application and processing of the visa.
Be careful while filling out your forms because any error you make can automatically render you ineligible for the lottery visa.
4. Submit documents
You must have all your supporting documents ready before the interview is scheduled.
You must submit original documents written in English. Documents include:
- Valid international passport
- Two professional photos
- Proof of education and employment record
- Birth certificate
- Court, Prison and Police record
- Marriage certificate or proof of divorce
- Military record if applicable
If documents require English translation, you must obtain a certified translation to be submitted during your interview.
You must also go through a medical exam which means getting the necessary vaccine and filling out medical forms.
When your medical exam is completed, if you are given a medical envelope then you must bring it sealed to the interview.
Your completed form DS-260 will be accessible in the embassy or consulate for the interview. So you would not need to fill out a new application.
Payments are applied to another part of the process, such as medical exam fees and local government fees to obtain certified copies of the record.
5. Interview
Before the visa interview, each applicant must pay the visa fee and it is nonrefundable.
The country’s government will contact you with your interview schedule.
You must be available for the interview at the scheduled date and time.
You will only be scheduled for a visa interview if there is a visa number available for you.
Visa number allocations are determined by the Immigration and Nationality Act which determines the number of visa lottery available each year.
You will need to be fully prepared for the interview, failure can lead to delay or denial of the visa application.
If you didn’t pay the visa fee before the interview, then you will need to pay it there before speaking with a consular officer.
At the interview, you must be with these documents:
- Your appointment letter is on the lottery visa website where you saw your confirmed status.
- Your Form DS-260 confirmation letter
- International passport and professional photo
- Medical examination form
- And other supporting documents
During the interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions which will determine whether you are fit to receive the lottery visa or not.
This decision will be made when you’re done with the interview or you will be notified later.
There are many reasons why not everyone who applies for a visa is found eligible so for that reason do not make arrangements such as selling your properties, resigning from jobs, saying farewell until you have received your immigrant visa.
6. After the interview
If your visa is denied, you will be informed why you were ineligible and not qualified.
In some situations, there is no sufficient information to process your application or you may have some missing supporting documents.
If your visa is approved, you will be informed on when and how to get your passport.
Your lottery visa will be stamped on a page on your passport and you can start making travel arrangements.
Properly review the printed information to make sure there are no errors. If there are any errors, consult the embassy or consulate immediately.
You will also receive a sealed packet containing documents you will present to the Custom and Border Protection officials at the port of entry into the country. Do not open the sealed packet given to you.
A lottery visa is usually valid for up to six months after the date of issuance.
If you are admitted into the country, you will enter as a permanent lawful resident and will be allowed to work and live in the country.
While going to the airport, do not forget your international passport and other necessary documents.
Have a wonderful trip and study abroad.