US Embassy?in?Colombo announces 2019 Green Card Lottery

The US Embassy?in?Colombo today announced?the start of?the 2019?Diversity Visa Lottery Program, also?known as the ?Green Card? Lottery.

?The program?will?be open for online registration?from October?3, 2017 to November 7, 2017.? The Diversity Visa Lottery allows randomly selected applicants the opportunity to interview for an immigrant visa and?become legal permanent residents of the United States.??

The program is the ?2019? lottery because applicants enter in 2017, interview in 2018, and?if selected and approved?receive Green Cards in 2019.??

The lottery application?entry?period is open from October?3, 2017?to November?7, 2017.?The lottery is open to?those born in?qualifying countries ? both Sri Lanka and Maldives qualify.?Applicants can only apply once; multiple entries will result in disqualification.?Applicants must meet?all?qualifications for the Diversity Visa?Lottery.?Applicants should keep the application confirmation number??received after applying.?There is no cost to register for the Diversity Visa Lottery.?

The US Embassy in Colombo warned applicants to beware of scams,?of?persons or companies making claims of affiliation with the U.S. Government,?andof?those who promise improved odds of selection.??No?third?party assistance?is needed to?complete and submit an application.

The only way to apply is online at?www.dvlottery.state.gov.?Beginning?in early?May 2018, applicants can go online to?the Entrant Status Check page on?www.dvlottery.state.gov?to see if they have been selected for?the Diversity Visa program.??Those selected will be asked to submit additional information and will be notified when they are selected for an interview.

The in-person?interview will be with a U.S. Consular Officer, who will decide if?the applicant?is?eligible to receive?the?visa ??documents required?will include medical?and police clearance?and payment of?visa fees?at the Embassy. (Colombo Gazette)