Embassy Bamako Reaches Out to Malian Public On Diversity Visas

On October 24, 2007, Embassy Bamako Consul Rebekah Drame and other members of the Consular staff hosted a roundtable for Malian journalists to explain the Visa Lottery process as it applies to Malian citizens. During her presentation, Ms. Drame advised that applicants should be aware that there was only one official site for the diversity visa lottery registration (www.dvlottery.state.gov/) and that there was no fee to apply for the visa. The Malian journalists agreed that this information was critical for Malians to know so as to avoid being taken in by unscrupulous individuals who were charging Malians for the application and/or pretending to be partner organizations to the United States government.