June 1, 2001 - Recently, the Kentucky Consular Center of the Immigration and Naturalization Service registered and notified the winners of the 2002 diversity lottery (DV-2002). Each year the Immigration and Naturalization Act authorizes the release of 50,000 permanent residency visas to foreign nationals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Assuming not all winners will follow up on the opportunity, this year approximately 90,000 applicants from a pool of 10 million qualified entries were randomly selected and notified of the opportunity to become permanent residents of the United States.

Applicants who have not received notification yet were not selected as winners this year. Those winners wishing to benefit from DV-2002 should act quickly to fill out the permanent residency application by following the instructions in the notification letter. Once the 50,000 spots have been filled, the DV-2002 program will end and selected applicants who do not receive a visa by September 30, 2002 will gain no further benefit from DV-2002. Winners must be prepared to document they hold a high school degree or its equivalent, or that they have at least two years of work experience in the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. Winners legally living in the United States who would like to adjust status to permanent resident must contact the INS for information on the requirements and procedures to be followed.

If you would like to apply for the 2003 diversity lottery, instructions on entry are scheduled for release in late July or August 2001. The mail-in period for the lottery will be held between October 1, 2001 and October 31, 2001.

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