The Department has announced that registration for the 2009 Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery will begin at noon on October 3, 2007. Persons seeking to enter the lottery program must register online through the designated Internet website during the registration period. The website for registering for the 2009 DV Lottery, www.dvlottery.state.gov, will be available from noon October 3, 2007 through noon December 2, 2007.

In response to demand, the Department tripled the number of servers hosting the registration website this year. In addition, persons submitting entries to the 2009 lottery will receive a notice of receipt now containing their name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a time/date stamp when information has been properly registered at www.dvlottery.state.gov.

The Department continues to encourage persons who wish to enter the 2009 Diversity Visa Lottery to submit their information early in the two-month registration period.

There is no fee charged for entering the Diversity Visa Lottery. The Department of State does not endorse, recommend or sponsor any information or material from outside entities. The Department is aware that websites and email have masqueraded as official Diversity Visa Lottery facilitators. Registration for the Diversity Visa Lottery through the official, U.S. government website, www.dvlottery.state.gov is free of charge and notification of winning entries are sent by mail only.

The 2009 Diversity Visa Lottery marks the third year that electronic registration is required. Paper entries and mail-in requests for Diversity Visa Lottery registration are not accepted.