DV registration for 2012 from tomorrow

THT ONLINE

KATHMANDU: With some major changes, the US government has opened the Diversity Visa programme for 2012 from Tuesday.

This year the popular programme will accept the online application for 30 days only—from October 5 to November 3.

The applicants who win the lottery will not receive a letter by mail or email; they instead must check the official Diversity Visa web site to see if they have been selected.

Also, the applicant photos must be uploaded at a resolution of 300 dpi or better.

After registering online, applicants will see a confirmation page that includes an Entry Status Check and instructions for checking the status of an entry.

Official notification from the U.S. Department of State will be done electronically between May 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011. Applicants must go online to www.dvlottery.state.gov with their Entry Status Check to learn whether they have been selected. Unlike previous years, lottery winners will not be notified by mail.

Diversity Visa lottery winners are not guaranteed a visa. Winners must meet certain qualifications. For a detailed description of the qualifications, go to http://www.dvlottery.state.gov.

If an applicant did not include his or her spouse and all unmarried children under age 21 on the submission form, the applicant will be disqualified from the Diversity Visa. Therefore, applicants who win the lottery but failed to include their family on their original submission are advised not to pay the non-refundable $819 processing fee or to appear for an interview.