The number of US immigration visas available to Irish citizens is unlikely to increase this year despite the exodus of returning emigrants.
The US visa centre in New Hampshire this month began notifying people who have been accepted under the latest Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (DV) programme. Up to 3,850 visas are available to Ireland this year under the scheme.
A similar lottery programme is expected to be introduced by the US embassy before the end of the year. Under the DV-2000 programme, Irish-born people will be able to apply for an immigrant visa which gives them the right to live and work in the US. Successful applicants will need a pass Leaving Certificate and two years work experience within the last five years in a skilled occupation as defined by the US Department of Labour. They do not have to have an offer of employment but must be capable of supporting themselves in the US.
New legislation was introduced in January increasing the penalties for people who have lived or worked in the US illegally.
It specifies that people who have stayed in the US 180 days beyond the expiration date of their visa can be banned for up to three years. Anyone who overstayed for one year or more could be banned for as long as 10 years.
