2006 Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Launches Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for 2008

October 13, 2006

The U.S. Department of State announces the launching of the Diversity Visa lottery program for 2008, starting October 4, 2006, and ending December 3, 2006.  This program is also commonly called the “Green Card Lottery.”  The DV-2008 lottery will be conducted entirely by electronic means and, as every year, this lottery is free of charge for interested applicants. 

Applicants from eligible countries petition the Department of State for the opportunity to apply for one of the 55,000 immigrant visas made available annually.  Only those selected at random and notified by the U.S. Department of State will then be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa to the United States.  Each year, approximately 6 million people worldwide register to participate in the program.  Persons who wish to apply for the diversity visa lottery should go to www.dvlottery.state.gov where they will find the standard petition form.  The form must be filled out and sent electronically.  Applicants must also include digital photographs.

The U.S. Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Forms (applications) submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period that began October 4, 2006, and will end at 12:00 pm EST (GMT-5) on December 3, 2006.  Paper applications will not be accepted.  The information is available on the Embassy’s web site: http://moldova.usembassy.gov  

The Diversity Visa program was established by the United States Congress in 1990 to ensure that people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States would have a chance to immigrate and achieve the American dream.  During the last round, 273 Moldovans were selected through the visa lottery and had the opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa to the United States.

Important note:  The Embassy does not provide any consultations on the DV program, and does not provide any information about the DV program by phone or through the mail.  No fee is charged to enter the annual DV program.  The U.S. Government employs no outside consultants or private mail services to operate the DV program.  Any intermediaries who offer assistance to prepare DV casework for applicants do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government.