DOS Cable on 2006 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

O 281554Z SEP 04
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS IMMEDIATE SPECIAL EMBASSY PROGRAM
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD

UNCLAS STATE 209118

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS, CMGT
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE 2006 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA
PROGRAM (DV-2006)

1. The formal public announcement of the Diversity Visa 2006 lottery will be made in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, September 28, 2004. Posts may access an English version of the DV-2006 Instructions bulletin from the CA Intranet site under the Visa Office links page http://intranet.ca.state.gov/vo/diversity/diversitylinkspage.htm.

2. No major changes to the program have been made. The Department will once again conduct the lottery electronically; paper entries are no longer accepted. There are no changes to the list of countries whose natives are eligible to participate.

3. Posts should strongly encourage DV lottery entrants to apply early. Last year system delays caused by extreme demand in the final days of the registration period resulted in the failure of some applicants to be successfully registered for the program. While we have upgraded the system significantly for DV-06, overwhelming demand on the system could cause delays. It is important to stress that no entries will be accepted after noon EST on January 7, 2005, regardless of whether there are system delays during the registration period.

4. Posts may translate the DV bulletin locally, provided that the translation is accurate and that the layout of the translated bulletin looks as much like that of the English version is possible. No Department approval is required for translations, though posts are requested to forward a copy of the translation to (CA/VO/F/P) to be posted on the CA Intranet. All versions of the bulletin will be made available to download from the CA Intranet as soon as completed.

5. Key data:
-- The DV-2006 lottery registration period will run from noon EST on November 5, 2004 until noon EST January 7, 2005.
-- The DV-2006 lottery will for the second year be conducted entirely by electronic means. Paper entries are no longer accepted. The Department has established a dedicated website for the submission of DV entries, www.dvlottery.state.gov.