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The
results are in for 2004 - Click Here.
DV-2005 GREEN CARD LOTTERY
The new regulations regarding the latest Green Card lottery have
just been announced. The two big changes from
DV-2004 are the exclusion of
Russian nationals from the program and the switch to an
all-electronic filing system via the Internet.
What is the "Green
Card" Lottery?
The U.S. Congress has authorized the allotment of 50,000
immigrant visas in the DV-2005 category during Fiscal Year 2003
(which runs from October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004). The
application period will begin Saturday, November 1, 2003.
Entries are for the first time this year submitted
electronically. Applicants can submit their applications at
www.dvlottery.state.gov. Please
note: The DV website will not be live until 1 November, 2003.
Paper entries are no longer accepted. Applicants can
submit their forms themselves or they have a representative such
as a lawyer submit the application on their behalf.
Who is eligible to apply?
The list of eligible applicants is the same as
DV-2004 except for the addition of Russia.
If otherwise qualified, a husband and a wife may each submit one
lottery application. If either is selected in the lottery, the
other would be entitled to derivative status, (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.
Digital Photo
requirements
Group or family photos will not be accepted; there must be a
separate photo for each family member.
If the submitted digital images do not conform to the following
specifications, the system will automatically reject the Entry
Form and notify the sender.
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The image
must be in the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
format.
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The image
must be either in color or grayscale; monochrome images
(2-bit color depth) will not be accepted.
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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.
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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.
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The maximum
image size accepted will be sixty-two thousand five hundred
(62,500) bytes.
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If the
submitted digital images do not conform to the following
specifications, the entry will be disqualified:
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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.
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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.
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Photos in
which the face of the person being photographed is not in
focus will not be accepted.
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Photos in
which the person being photographed is wearing sunglasses or
other paraphernalia which detracts from the face will not be
accepted.
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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.
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What if
someone else submits my application?
The good news is that an original signature is no longer
necessary so it will be easier to have other people submit an
application on your behalf. Note, however, that if more than one
application is submitted for an applicant, the applicant will be
disqualified.
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