Embassy of the United States

Press releases

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN IMMIGRATING TO THE UNITED STATES?

2011 Diversity Visa Lottery Now Open

October 5, 2009

Are you interested in immigrating to the United States?  The DV-2011 Lottery is open now and ends at 7:00pm South Africa time on November 30, 2009. To access the DV entry form, applicants should visit:

http://www.dvlottery.state.gov

The DV lottery is a U.S. congressionally mandated program which makes 50,000 permanent resident visas available each year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.  Africa and Europe typically receive about 80 percent of these visas.  In 2009, the program issued approximately 230 immigrant visas to South Africans citizens. 

Eligibility requirements for the DV program are simple, but strict.  Four key requirements are:

• Applicants have a high school diploma or two years of work experience;
• Applicants provide correct biographic data on their DV entry form;
• Applicants list their spouse and any children under the age of 21 years on their entry form; and
• Each applicant only applies once.

Entering the DV Lottery is free.  Applicants should beware of any website, advertisement or agent, which charges money.  The Department of State administers the DV lottery each year and strongly recommends that applicants apply on their own and on the official website.  Using an agent does NOT increase chances of winning the lottery. 
For detailed information about entry requirements, along with frequently asked questions about the DV lottery, please see the instructions for the DV-2011 Diversity Visa lottery website .
Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after 7pm, South African time, on November 30, 2009.

For further information or to request an interview with a consular officer, please contact press officer Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau   012-431-4217