The Diversity Visa Program, better known as the “Visa Lottery,” with which the United States government offers the possibility of migrating with permanent residence to some 55,000 foreigners each year, opened this Wednesday, October 2, with a registration period which will last until November 5.
Among the new features this year is the exclusion of Cuba from the list of countries whose citizens can apply due to the strong migration registered in the last five years. Mexico, Venezuela, Haiti, Colombia, among others, were also left out.
What does it consist of?
It is an annual program run by the Department of State and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows foreign citizens to participate in a lottery that selects participants at random to legally immigrate to the United States.
The winner and their immediate family members can obtain permanent residency and five years later would be eligible to apply for US citizenship.
Why the 2026 Program?
Although the draw will be held until May 2025, after the closing of the current registration period that ends on November 5, the winners will be able to move to the United States until 2026, once the consular interview stages have been completed and the documents shown. additional requests that require the immigration authority of the US government.
Which Latin American countries are excluded and which can participate?
Among the Latin American countries that cannot participate in the draw are: Cuba, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela.
The rest of the countries in the region are not excluded, so their citizens can apply if they meet the eligibility requirements.
What are the main requirements?
To be eligible for the lottery, the applicant must have completed secondary or high school education, have at least two years’ experience in a qualified occupation, and have no criminal record. It is not required to speak English.
How to register to participate in the draw?
The applicant must complete the registration process for free through the official website of the Department of State for the program by entering the link dvprogram.state.gov and fill out the DS-5501 forms following the instructions and steps to complete the process.
What happens after being eligible in the lottery?
After the draw is held on May 3, the US authority will not communicate with those eligible by any means; It is the participant’s responsibility to verify if they have been eligible by entering the website where they registered and using the confirmation number of their case provided at the time of completing the drawing process.
If you are eligible, you must complete other additional steps such as filling out the DS-260 form and attend an appointment at the US embassy of the country where you have participated for an interview with consular agents who will evaluate the candidate’s eligibility to obtain a visa to move to the US before September 2026.
How much financial solvency must applicants have?
Participants must demonstrate that they have the resources or work skills so that they will not require government assistance for their support, this can be done by showing their income and assets or investments, as well as evidence of owning any real estate.
If you cannot present this evidence, the US authority allows you to present a letter of support from a relative residing in the US with legal status who agrees to support you financially if necessary. This step is done by completing the form I-134.
What do experts recommend to go through the process and not be a victim of scams?
The only way to apply is through the official website of the Department of State; Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions detailed in the official and free call.
Fill out the form yourself or with the help of someone you trust to ensure that the information provided is correct with your own email address. Don’t forget to answer each question accurately.
Do not forget to save the application page and the registration confirmation number, which will be essential to later verify the result of the draw.
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