The Diversity Visa lottery is an important part of the United States immigration system. It is designed to encourage diversity among individuals immigrating to the U.S. The United States Department of State manages the lottery system and visas are distributed by the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). If you are wondering if you qualify for the lottery or need legal assistance during the process, contact a green card immigration lawyer in NYC for more information.
What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
The Diversity Visa Lottery is a program that awards immigrant visas to foreign individuals seeking permanent residence in the United States. Commonly referred to as the Green Card Lottery, this program gives out up to 55,000 green cards each year.
The individuals who are granted these visas are chosen randomly through a lottery system. The program was created to promote diversity among the immigrants coming to the U.S. The point of the system is to select individuals who come from countries with low rates of immigration into the United States. By winning the lottery these individuals are given a chance to obtain a green card which comes with permanent residency.
Who is Eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery?
Below are the eligibility criteria to qualify for a spot in the Diversity Visa Lottery. Individuals must:
- Be a citizen of a country with a low immigration rate into the U.S.
- Have graduated from high school or an equivalent education level
- Have qualifying work experience
If you check the above boxes you may be able to enter your name in the Green Card lottery. Each year the Department of State publishes a list of eligible countries.
It is important to understand that winning the lottery does not necessarily guarantee that you will be given a visa. If selected, you must still meet all visa requirements and go through the interview process before the USCIS can make their decision.
How Do You Apply?
It is important to be prepared to apply for the Green Card Lottery as registration is far in advance and no applications can be submitted late.
The entry period for the DV Lottery is generally two years before the lottery and takes place in the fall. For example, for the 2025 DV Lottery, the registration period began on October 4, 2023, and ended on November 7, 2023.
During the registration period, submit an entry online on the Diversity Visa Program website. The application is simple but does not become available until the entry period.
If you have been selected through the lottery, you must confirm your qualifications and submit your immigrant visa application including supporting documentation. You will typically need your birth certificate, court records, prison records, military records, educational certificates, photos of yourself, biometric information, and more.
Watch out for fraud or scams. You may receive emails or come across websites posing as U.S. immigration officials. The online application process is free and there is no need to submit payment information when applying for the lottery.
