All applications received will be separated into one of six geographic regions and individually numbered. After the end of the application period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the mail received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first letter randomly selected will be the first case registered, the second letter selected the second registration, etc.

All entries received will have an equal chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the applicant will be sent a notification letter by the US State Department, which will provide visa application instructions. The US State Department will continue to process the case until those who are selected are instructed to appear for their visa interviews at a U.S. consular office or until those able to do so apply at an INS office in the United States for change of status.

No, the law allows only one entry for each person during each registration period; applicants who submit more than one entry per registration period will be disqualified.

Even though you have submitted applications for previous registration periods, you can still apply for the current registration period.

However, a husband and wife may each submit separate applications but pay only one processing fee (this includes husband, wife and children, if any). Choosing a Family Package doubles your chances of being selected a winner in the lottery. If you are applying for the Family Package, each spouse must meet the lottery eligibility requirements. Two separate applications should be completed, one for each spouse. One application should be signed by one spouse,and the other application should be signed by the other spouse. Each application must include the other spouse and all unmarried children under 21 years of age. Both applications should be mailed to us in one envelope, with two passport size photographs for each family member, and the processing fee.

You must list your spouse, and all children who are unmarried and under the age of 21. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/her. However,if you are formally divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. For customary marriages, the important date is the date of the original marriage ceremony, not the date on which the marriage is registered.

You must list ALL your unmarried children under age 21, whether they are your natural children, your spouse's children by a previous marriage, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country. Even children in the above categories not currently living with you must be listed on the entry.

The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they later must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application forms whom you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. (This only applies to persons who were dependents at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date.) Listing ineligible persons (a brother or sister, a child over 21, a child living with you but not formally adopted, etc.) on your entry will not disqualify the entry, but it will not make such persons eligible for a visa.

Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your family. Therefore choosing the Family Package doubles your chances of winning.