US Govt Opens Visa Lottery Application
The United States has commenced the registration process for the Diversity Visa Program for the fiscal year 2025 with applications accepted till November 7, 2023, but Nigeria remains on the list of countries ineligible to apply.
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This also applies to 17 other countries which have been excluded for the past couple of years.
Nairametrics learnt that the aim of the DV program is to offer a special chance for individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
For the FY2025 program, individuals from countries who have sent more than 50,000 of their nationals to the United States in the past five years are ineligible to apply.
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According to a statement from the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria, Nigerians were no longer eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery but for those born outside of Nigeria or have parents born outside of Nigeria. In other words, those who were born in Nigeria to Nigerian parents are not eligible.
About the DV program
The US Diversity Visa Program (DV Program) is a yearly lottery system that offers individuals from countries with limited immigration rates to the United States the chance to secure a green card.
Annually, the US State Department allocates 55,000 diversity visas (DVs) divided among six geographic regions.
Ineligible countries
The excluded countries are:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada,
- China (including mainland and Hong Kong)
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea (South Korea)
- Venezuela, and
- Vietnam
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Consequently, candidates from other countries can seek to participate in the US Diversity Visa Program as long as they meet the eligibility conditions.
Other options for Nigerians U.S. government
U.S government states clearly that to apply; one must be born in an eligible country regardless of present country of residence. This move has left many Nigerians seeking to apply for the U.S. immigrant lottery visas with limited options. Two options are available for those in Nigeria still wishing to apply, provided certain conditions are met.
The first option allows applicants to claim chargeability to the country of birth of their derivative spouse, assuming that the spouse was born in an eligible country. Under this scenario, eligibility is contingent upon the spouse being eligible for and issued an immigrant visa.
Furthermore, the applicant and their spouse must enter the United States using their Diversity Visas (D.V.s). This provision extends to minor dependent children, who can be “charged” to a parent’s country of birth. The second option permits individuals to be “charged” to the country of birth of either of their parents, as long as neither parent was born in or was a resident of the applicant’s country of birth at the time of their delivery.
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The document added: “Applicants who choose to claim alternate chargeability through either of these options must provide a detailed explanation on the E-DV Entry Form, particularly in question 6.
“It’s crucial to ensure accurate information is provided, as listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability, to which a valid claim cannot be established, will result in ineligibility for a Diversity Visa.” To apply, if qualified, use this link.
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