Diversity Visa 2022 registration opens Wednesday

The State Department will open registration for the Diversity Visa 2022 lottery on Wednesday. Up to 55,000 diversity immigrant visas will be available to countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.

Key Points:

• Registration begins Oct. 7, 2020, at noon EDT and closes Nov. 10, 2020, at noon EST.
• Applicants must register online by submitting the diversity visa entry form that will be available at the State Department’s e-DV website. Paper applications are not accepted. Entries are limited to one per person and multiple entries will render the entrant ineligible.
• The State Department urges applicants not to wait until the final week to register because heavy demand may cause website delays.
• Lottery winners will be selected at random. Registrants will be given a confirmation number they may use to check whether they have been selected starting May 8, 2021 on the E-DV website.

Additional Information:

• This year, individuals born in the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Individuals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
• The State Department’s complete instructions are available here.

BAL Analysis: Those interested in registering for the DV-2022 lottery should prepare to do so early in the registration period. Individuals should beware of scams that frequently target DV lottery registrants. Registrants are reminded that the registration process is free and that the only way to enter the lottery and obtain lottery results is via the State Department’s E-DV website.

The presidential proclamation of June 22, 2020, currently bars the entry of many new immigrants, including new diversity visa recipients. While the State Department is proceeding with the program, if the ban remains in effect, it may be used as a basis to either deny lottery visa applications or to deny entry to the U.S.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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