The 2011 Diversity Visa Lottery is now open. The diversity lottery allows for foreign nationals to register for a “lottery” that allows up to 55,000 foreign nationals to gain entry into the United States. Virtually anyone can apply, however, this year foreign nationals from the following countries are not eligible: BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, ECUADOR, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PERU, PHILIPPINES, POLAND, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.
If you are interested, register early…the government warns that the website might crash as the deadline nears.