2015 US Green Card Lottery Program Starts Tomorrow

September 30, 2013

The U.S. Embassy Colombo today announced that the 2015 Diversity Visa Lottery Program, also known as the “Green Card Lottery,” will start accepting online applications from 9:30PM local Sri Lankan time on October 1, 2013, until 9:30PM on November 2, 2013.  The Diversity Visa Lottery is an annual program that allows randomly selected applicants who were born in qualifying countries – including Sri Lanka and Maldives – the opportunity to interview for an immigrant visa, and if they are qualified for immigrant visas, to become legal permanent residents of the United States.

If you are interested in finding out more about the program, including the qualifications and detailed instructions in Sinhala, Tamil and English, please go to the U.S. Embassy Colombo’s website at: www.srilanka.usembassy.gov/visas/diversity-visa-lottery-program.html.  To apply for the lottery, please go to www.dvlottery.state.gov.

A few suggestions to keep in mind:

·         The lottery application period is only open from October 1, 2013 to November 2, 2013;

·         The lottery is only open to people born in certain countries, including Sri Lanka and Maldives;

·         You may only apply once; multiple entries will result in disqualification;

·         You must meet either the educational or the work requirement qualification for the Diversity Visa program, so please make sure you qualify before applying;

·         After submitting the online application, you will receive a confirmation number, which you must keep in order to check if you have been selected for a visa interview.

The online application is completely free – there are no hidden costs.  Beware of scams and persons or companies making claims of affiliation with the U.S. Government, or those who promise improved odds of selection.  You do not need 3^rd party assistance to complete and submit an application.

Notifications and next steps

Beginning May 2014, applicants may go online to www.dvlottery.state.gov to see if they have been selected for a visainterview.  If selected, the interview will be with a U.S. Consular Officer, who will decide if you are eligible to receive a visa.

*US Embassy Press release 

Thomas Jefferson’s Quran: How Islam Shaped The Founders

September 30, 2013

What role did Islam have in shaping the Founders’ views on religion? A new book argues that to understand the debate over church and state, we need to look to their views on Muslims, writes R.B. Bernstein.

Read more