YEREVAN.- - The Department of State announces the opening of the registration period for the DV-2014 Diversity Visa lottery, US Consul in Armenia George Lynn told reporters on Tuesday.

Entries must be submitted electronically from October 2 to November 3. Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period.

“Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter as the heavy demand may affect the website,” he said urging the applicants not to seek for payable consultations to fill in the form.

“You must fill in the application by yourself. There are samples in Armenian as well,” he emphasized.

The diplomat also warned the applicants against responding to e-mails telling about their victory in a lottery and a request to send money for the services.

“The U.S. Embassy is not sending announcements electronically,” he said adding that each applicant will receive a registration number later to be able to check information in the database.

The visas are distributed among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the period of the past five years.

It is important to note that winning the lottery is not a guarantee that you will receive a visa - winners must be interviewed and qualify for a visa. 

Nearly 1,500 winners from Armenia were registered during the 2013 lottery.