What Education Documents Do You Need for the Diversity Visa?
The education requirements for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DIVP) are administered by the United States Department of State (DOS) and Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and by Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990. The DIVP allows up to 55,000 Diversity Visas to be given each year to immigrants from specified countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. After an application is received and all requirements are found to be met, including educational requirements, a computerized random drawing of lottery entries chooses the 55,000 who receive the visas.
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The Educational Requirements
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A high school diploma or its equivalent is required for the Diversity Visa.
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Applicants to the DIVP must have "at least a high school diploma or its equivalent," or within the past five years the applicant must have worked for two years at a job which required two years or more of training or experience. A "high school diploma or its equivalent" signifies a 12-year U.S. education from grade school to high school, or completion of a comparable formal high school education from another country. The visa regulations specify that only formal education will be accepted: Online courses, correspondence courses and equivalency certificates such as the GED are not accepted.
Educational Documents Required
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Only official documentation of a formal high school education will be accepted.
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Documented proof of successful completion of a high school-level formal education will be required a the consular office at the time of the visa interview. On the application you will be asked to indicate your highest level of education with choices ranging from primary school only to doctorate degrees, but the DOS warns that no Diversity Visas will be granted with less than the minimum educational standards so if you do not have a formal high school education or equivalent, the DOS advises not to apply for this visa.
Training In Lieu of Education
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Skilled, trained workers can substitute work training and experience for the Diverity Visa education requirement.
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If you do not have the required education for the Diversity Visa you can try to meet the training requirements. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) determines which work experience will qualify for Diversity Visa status, and a list of job titles with detailed job descriptions is available online at the DOL website. This allows applicants to find descriptions that fit skills, training and job experience. Only jobs in Zone 4 and 5 will be accepted with a classification of 7.0 or higher on the Specific Vocational Preparation scale.
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