Diversity Lottery 2005 "Winner" Letters Issued Posted Aug 06, 2004 ©MurthyDotCom The U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced in late July 2004, that the Kentucky Consular Center has registered and notified the Diversity Visa Lottery Winners for 2005 (DV-2005). The lottery program provides 50,000 immigrant visa numbers to those from selected countries with relatively lower rates of U.S. immigration. Persons who applied for DV-2005 but did not win are not notified. The winners were selected at random from more than 9.5 million qualified entries. ©MurthyDotCom Follow Directions and Respond Promptly ©MurthyDotCom Approximately 100,000 applicants received DV-2005 "winner" letters. Therefore, simply receiving a letter does not guarantee that the winner will receive a green card since only 50,000 visa numbers are available for this coming fiscal year (October 1, 2004 until September 30, 2005). Those who receive the letters must follow the directions carefully. Anyone with questions on the timing of a filing should contact a qualified immigration attorney. ©MurthyDotCom Winners Must Complete the Process by September 30, 2005 ©MurthyDotCom As mentioned above, the DV-2005 program starts on October 1, 2004 and will end on the last day of September 2005. Both the winner and any derivative family members must have their "green cards" approved or have entered the U.S. as permanent residents on or before September 30, 2005, to benefit from winning DV-2005. It is possible to adjust status if in the U.S. or consular process if abroad. Not all winners are allowed to apply on October 1, 2004, as the date of filing is determined by when the numbers appear in the DOS Visa Bulletin. The instructions will explain the exact dates that one may file based on the DV status. ©MurthyDotCom Although some critics have questioned the continuing need for the "lottery" program, the program has been continued and there are no plans to terminate it in the near future. The lottery program provides immigration benefits for many. It is best to keep all possible options open, however, and not rely exclusively upon the lottery, even after receipt of a "winner" letter. The letter does not afford one any legal status, nor do any of the winners have guarantees that they may obtain permanent resident status in the U.S. merely by having obtained the letter. © The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C.
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