United States Starts Accepting Applications for 2019 Diversity Visa ProgramAt 1600 hours Universal Time on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017, the United States will begin accepting applications for the 2019 Diversity Visa Program. Applications will be accepted until 1600 hours Universal Time on Tuesday, November 7th, 2017. Through this program, the United States Government makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas to citizens of countries that traditionally have a low rate of immigration to the United States. \n\nThe United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, immigrants from every corner of the world have contributed to life in the United States. Without this diversity, we would not be the nation that we are today. \n\nHistorically, though, not all nations and ethnic groups are well represented in our country. The Diversity Visa Program specifically permits entries from countries with a historically lower level of immigration to the United States. This year, citizens from the following countries are not eligible to participate in the program based on their historically higher level of immigrantion to the United States: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, mainland China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except for Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.\n\nEntries for the Diversity Visa Program are accepted online only, no exceptions. Those who are interested in entering the DV program should go to dvlottery.state.gov and read the instructions, beginning with the qualification requirements. The entry process takes about 15 minutes to complete. \n\nAll winners are chosen by a random drawing. It is very important that entrants save their unique confirmation number. In May of next year, you can begin checking the status of your entry on the website but you can only check using your confirmation number. Successful entrants are not notified by email of the status of their E-DV online entry. Any email claiming to notify entrants they have been selected for the DV program is not legitimate. Entrants can only access information on their application through the online Entrant Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov.\n\nThe law allows only one entry per person during the registration period. Entrants who submit more than one entry will be disqualified. Those selected in the DV program may apply for immigrant visas (IVs). \n\nEntry into the DV program is free, so please keep in mind that anyone asking for money to better your chances of winning is running a scam. \n\nGood luck! That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government.