Washington, DC (BBN)- The United States has declared 19 countries including Bangladesh ineligible for the upcoming Diversity Visa (DVs) 2013 program.
“Nationals of countries who have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the past five years are not eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa program,” a State Department announcement said.
The 18 other countries are: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan, however, are eligible for the programme, according to the announcement.
The Department of State implemented the electronic registration system beginning with DV-2005 in order to make the DV process more efficient and secure.
The Department utilizes special technology and other means to identify those who commit fraud for the purposes of illegal immigration or those who submit multiple entries.
The annual DV program makes visas available to persons meeting simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-generated, random drawing chooses selectees for DVs.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Sept11-6:58 pm (BST)