Diversity visa program is the comprehensive agenda to issue 55,000 green cards to the residents of those countries which show very low rates of immigration to the US. The applications diversity visa program for the year 2009 was open from 3rd October 2007 to 2nd December 2007.

After the closing date, the applicants for the diversity visa program are selected through a random computer generated drawing. Once selected through this program, you gain the right to work and live permanently in the US. You can also bring your spouse and any unmarried children less than 21 years of age to the US under this program.

Though there is no age limit, yet you have to be a native of the country that show low migration rates. The USCIS or the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services have a list of qualifying countries. In case you hail from an ineligible country but your spouse comes from a qualifying country, then you can use your spouse’ country as long as both of you apply for the visa simultaneously.

Again, if you come from an ineligible country but your parents belong to the list of qualifying countries, then you can show your parents’ nativity to get the diversity visa. Apart from this, you must either have a high school diploma or an equivalent defined as successful completion of a 12 year course of elementary and secondary education OR you must have an experience of at least 2 years in a field of work in the past 5 years that requires at least two years of training to perform.

You can file the application only electronically with no application fees. The applications are processed at the Kentucky Consular Center which on selection will notify you by mail (not e mail). Paper entries are not accepted and further more than one entry per person is strictly prohibited. Most of the applications are rejected due to the incompleteness that the applicants leave in the forms.

A general misconception is that the diversity visa lottery grants you the green card. But you have to submit other documents and immigration forms to get the permanent resident status.

The FTC or Federal Trade Commission also warns the applicants against the fraudulent websites which pose as government sites and charge money for the application form and other related stuff. You can contact the State Department’ Visa Services for further details.