Hi journeyer-ga,
Every year the USA gives away about 50,000 immigrant visas (the type
of visa that gives you and your family (including children and
unmarried sons and daughters under age 21) a green card).
You can find the official government page explaining the Diversity
Visa Lottery here:
http://travel.state.gov/dv2005.html
The following are excerpts from the above site. (There is no copyright
on things produced by the Federal Government - feel free to copy and
print the information from the State Department website at will.)
It's easy to apply, and everyone in your family (including your
children if they have graduated high school already but are still
under age 21) can submit their own entry to increase the chances of
being selected. Caveat: their nationality must be on the list of
'acceptable' countries. Some countries are not allowed to participate.
Applicants will be selected at random by computer from among all
qualified entries. Those selected will be notified by mail between May
and July 2004 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-2005 visas will be issued between October 1,
2004 and September 30, 2005.
There is only one way to enter the DV-2005 lottery. Applicants must
submit an Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (EDV Entry Form), which
is accessible only at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING AN ENTRY TO DV-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.
The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic
Diversity Visa Entry Forms submitted electronically at
http://www.dvlottery.state.gov during the 60 day registration period
beginning November 1, 2003.
The Department of State will send DV lottery entrants an electronic
confirmation notice upon receipt of a completed EDV Entry Form.
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, excepting 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.
Each applicant, his/her spouse, and each child will therefore need a
computer file containing his/her digital photo (image) which will 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.
If the submitted digital images do not conform to the following
specifications, the system will automatically reject the EDV Entry
Form and notify the sender.
The image must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
format.
The image must be either in color or grayscale; monochrome images
(2-bit color depth) will not be accepted.
If a new digital photograph is taken, it must have a resolution of 320
pixels wide by 240 pixels high, and a color depth of either 24-bit
color, 8-bit color, or 8-bit grayscale.
If a photographic print is scanned, the print must be 2 inches by 2
inches (50mm x 50mm) square. It must be scanned at a resolution of 150
dots per inch (dpi) and with a color depth of either 24-bit color,
8-bit color, or 8-bit grayscale.
The maximum image size accepted will be sixty-two thousand five
hundred (62,500) bytes.
If the submitted digital images do not conform to the following
specifications, the entry will be disqualified:
Applicant, spouse, or child must be directly facing the camera; the
head of the person being photographed should not be tilted up, down or
to the side, and should cover about 50% of the area of the photo.
The photo should be taken with the person being photographed in front
of a neutral, light-colored background. Photos taken with very dark or
patterned, busy backgrounds will not be accepted.
Photos in which the face of the person being photographed is not in
focus will not be accepted.
Photos in which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or
other paraphernalia which detracts 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 are not
acceptable. Photos of military, airline or other personnel wearing
hats will not be accepted.
Please ensure that you VERY CAREFULLY read the directions on official
site:
http://travel.state.gov/dv2005.html
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information, and are not intended to substitute for informed
professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal,
investment, accounting, or other professional advice.
Thanks,
Legolas-ga
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