Diversity Visa Lottery Program

Fredrikson & Byron's Immigration Group offers complete services in all areas of immigration law, with special emphasis on business, arts and family immigration. The lawyers in the Immigration Group are experienced practitioners, many of whom speak frequently at national and international conferences in their areas of expertise as well as volunteer their time for various immigrant organizations. All of the individuals currently working in the Immigration Group share a common philosophy of wanting to provide the best, most personal representation available. Members of the Immigration and International Groups are fluent in written and spoken English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Each year, the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV) Program makes 55,000 immigrant visas available through a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The State Department (DOS) holds the lottery every year, and randomly selects approximately 110,000 applicants from all qualified entries.

Entries for the DV-2009 Diversity Visa lottery must be submitted electronically between noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 3, 2007, and noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-4), Sunday December 2, 2007. Additional information and instructions are expected to be posted shortly at http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1318.html, which has a link to the previous instructions for reference purposes. Paper entries will not be accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter. Heavy demand may result in website delays. No entries will be accepted after noon EST on December 2, 2007.

We are, of course, available to assist in preparing your lottery application and to represent lottery winners in obtaining permanent residence. You can reach us by telephone at (612) 492-7648, or by e-mail at the addresses below:

Laura Danielson
Loan Huynh
Debra Schneider