Electronic Diversity Visa Program – What is Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery and how to register. The Green card Lottery, or Diversity Visa (DV) Program, is a US government program that grants immigrant visas to people from countries that have a low level of immigration to the United States. Each year, people from eligible countries can apply to participate in this lottery, and the winners get the opportunity to move to the United States and become permanent residents.
The winners of this lottery get a green card, which gives them the right to live and work in the United States. Entry into the lottery is free, but there are specific eligibility criteria, such as educational levels or work experience.
Purpose of USA Electronic Diversity Visa Program
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Purpose: The program aims to diversify the immigrant population by offering up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually. This initiative was established by the Immigration Act of 1990.
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Eligibility: To be eligible, an applicant must be from a country eligible for the program, which excludes countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the past five years. Applicants must also have at least a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience.
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Registration Process: The registration for the DV-2026 program is set to open from October 2, 2024, to November 5, 2024. There’s no fee to apply, and applications must be submitted online during this window. Applicants receive a unique confirmation number which is crucial for checking the status of their entry later.
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Selection Process: Winners are selected through a random computer drawing. Being selected does not guarantee a visa; it’s an opportunity to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa. Selected entrants must then go through the standard visa application process, which includes background checks, an interview, and medical examinations.
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Visa Allocation: The visas are distributed among six geographic regions with adjustments based on the number of immigrants each region has sent to the U.S. in the previous five years. This ensures that countries with lower immigration rates have a higher chance of their nationals winning.
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Recent Changes and Notes:
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There was a pause in the program due to fraudulent activities, where a large number of applicants claimed the same sponsors, but this did not affect the entry of those not involved in the fraud.
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The program has been subject to political and security discussions, particularly around its vetting processes, but it remains operational as part of U.S. immigration policy aimed at cultural diversity.
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Application Tips: Applicants are advised to apply themselves rather than through third parties to avoid scams. Keeping the confirmation number safe is essential for future reference regarding the application status.
When to Apply Green card Lottery
The entry period for the DV-2025 Diversity Visa Program was between October 4, 2023 and November 7, 2023. Entries are not being accepted at this time.
This year the application for Green Card Lottery will begin October 5, 2024
Find out if you are eligible for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery and how to register
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes immigrant visas available to citizens of countries with low immigration rates. Find out if you qualify and how to apply.
The program is also known as the DV Lottery and the Green Card Lottery. It makes a limited number of immigrant visas available every year to people meeting certain eligibility requirements. These include:
Learn more about your eligibility for the DV Lottery:
- To see the most recent eligible countries, see the list beginning on page 30 of the 2025 DV Lottery instructions.
- Find out about education, employment, and passport requirements for DV Lottery eligibility.