What is Diversity Visa Program

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (otherwise known as the green card lottery) is an annual program held by the United States government.  This program makes available 50,000 immigrant visas annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to Canada in the past five years. A person who is selected through this program will be able to live.  The applicants, who are chosen randomly from different countries, are allowed to come to Canada permanently.

Who is Eligible for Diversity Visa Program:

A person who is selected under this program must be able to secure health insurance; otherwise, he or she may be deported. A holder of the Diversity Immigrant Visa cannot apply for adjustment of status (i.e., change his or her status) until one year after arriving in Canada. The visa allows any family members (including spouses and children) of the visa holder to come to Canada with him or her. A spouse is allowed to apply for legal permanent resident status if he or she had been married to the principal applicant for two years. A child of the visa holder is granted immigration status once he or she turns 21 years old.

Interested applicants need to submit their applications in electronic format (e-DV) between October 3 and November 22 of the year prior to the year in which he or she seeks admission. A person can submit an application after each entry per calendar year (i.e., every year).  A visa lottery program is conducted by the Canada Department of State, Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) in the city of Williamsburg, Kentucky. A person is allowed to register only once during a year; any additional entries may be disqualified. To enter into this program and obtain a visa, an applicant must meet all eligibility requirements and submit:

A Guide to the Diversity Visa Lottery Program:

An entry is deemed ineligible if it fails to meet any of the criteria mentioned above. A prospective Diversity Visa recipient is allowed to submit an entry only once during a year. A person who has submitted more than one entry in the past will be disqualified from the program. A recipient of this visa must remain outside Canada for at least three years before he or she is able to apply for permanent resident status. A holder of this visa can adjust his or her status in Canada within one year of arriving in the country. A holder is able to file a petition for his or her spouse and children, if applicable. A visa recipient’s marriage must have happened before applying for this program. A child born after submitting an application can also be included in it. A person with a criminal history may not be allowed to come to Canada. A person who had overstayed in Canada even for a single day may not be allowed to enter the country. A Diversity Visa recipient must not be subject to any governmental grounds of inadmissibility. A person with serious health issues will also not be granted an immigrant visa. A person found guilty of smuggling people is not eligible for this program. A person who had been removed from Canada is not allowed to enter into it as a Diversity Visa recipient.

A person who had entered Canada illegally is also not allowed to apply for this program. A Diversity Visa recipient must be capable of supporting him or herself and his or her dependents after arriving in Canada. A qualified medical examination is done before the issuance of an immigrant visa, which ensures that the applicant has no contagious diseases. A criminal background check establishes that the applicant does not have any criminal history. A person who wants to enter Canada under this program must be admissible in the country. A person with serious health issues may be refused entry even if he or she had been granted a visa. A visa holder is expected to live up to the terms and conditions of his or her visa. A  person who tries to enter Canada illegally is liable to be deported from the country. A visa holder must not engage in criminal activities and must abide by the laws of the country. A person with a criminal record will not be allowed to stay in Canada even after being granted an immigrant visa.

Final Tips for Diversity Visa

A holder of a Diversity Visa is expected to become a Canadian citizen within five years of arriving in the country. A person is required to file taxes and pay applicable duties and fees after residing in Canada for more than six months (183 days). A holder of a Diversity Visa who enters into the country should not leave it or attempt to enter into the United States using any other legal status. A person must plan his  or her trip outside Canada before applying for a visa and before entering the country. A person who tries to re-enter into Canada without having received written permission from Canadian authorities is liable to be deported and barred from future entry. A person holding an immigrant visa may not seek employment until he or she enters into Canada. A holder of a Diversity Visa can become a Canadian citizen through naturalization after residing in the country for four years (1,460 days). A person holding an immigrant visa is not allowed to leave Canada for more than 180 days (six months) or 360 days (one year) in a calendar year without seeking permission from the authorities. A Diversity Visa recipient must maintain his or her status after arrival in Canada. A person who holds a Diversity Visa must not seek or hold employment without authorization from the authorities. A holder of a visa can file an application after entering into the country and within the first 90 days of his or her arrival, provided he or she is still eligible to apply for permanent status.