DV-2010 Green Card Lottery Online Entry Begins on October 2, 2008
The DV-2010 Lottery online entry begins at Noon EDT on October 2, 2008, and ends at Noon EST on December 1, 2008. Information and instructions for the DV-2009 lottery will appear soon on the DOS website. Please check this web page at a later time for Diversity Visa information updates.
We will post the complete instructions once they become available. One of the most common issues that clients face when trying to apply from inside the US, is their legal status.
Can one apply for the Lottery if they are illegally residing in the US? Being illegal and being a visa lottery winner presents MAJOR problems. Unless you are eligible to adjust your status in the United States, under Section 245(i) of the law.
However, if you have been unlawfully present in the United States for more than 180 days since April 1st, 1997, you may be subject to either the three or ten year bars to returning to the United States. However, whether or not you are unlawfully present is a very complex subject. For example, if you entered the country without inspection, or you overstayed the date on your Form I-94, in most cases, you would be considered unlawfully present. However, if you were admitted to the US as a student or an exchange visitor (for duration of status), you probably have not accumulated any unlawful presence, and it would be safe to go abroad to claim your immigrant visa. More on the diversity lottery after October 2, 2008.