If you entered the green card lottery from Oct. 3 to Oct. 10, you should probably re-apply. All entries submitted to the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the green card lottery, during that period were deleted from their system. This was due to a technical glitch, reports VOA.
Diversity Visas (DVs)
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows those known as “diversity immigrants,” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. A limited number of visas are available each fiscal year. Visas are distributed among six geographic regions and no single country gets more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year. (Source) Those born in any territory that has sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years are not eligible to receive a diversity visa. (Source)
For example, residents of Taiwan, Guatemala and Poland are eligible for this type of visa.
Entries submitted from October 3-10 aren’t valid, so re-submission won’t count as a duplicate entry. The technical issue is resolved, and the new entry period runs from noon on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017 until noon Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday Nov. 22, 2017. (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs)
According to USCIS, most lottery winners reside outside the United States and immigrate through consular processing and issuance of an immigrant visa. To learn more about the application process, visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Website.
Be careful: Don’t be a victim of an immigration scam or fraud. If you need help during the application process, contact an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized organization.
