The diversity visa program allows up to 50,000 lottery winners from many countries a path to permanent residency in the U.S. each year. The program receives about 14 million applications annually. Passport Rule for Diversity Visa Applicants promulgated in 2019, required applicants to possess a valid passport just to enter the lottery for a chance to receive a visa to immigrate to the United States through the DV Program. This new rule disqualified more than %50 of the applicants and it brought major harm to Diversity Visa selectees.
This Trump-era rule has been sued. Recently, the Court vacated the rule and found the federal rule that it violates public notice and comment requirement. The court’s decision is effective June 10, 2022.
Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq.
Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
