Jump to:

Green Card /Diversity Lottery

Printer-friendly version

Overview

Each year, the Diversity Lottery (DV) Program makes 55,000 immigrant visas available through a lottery to people who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Of such visas, 5,000 are allocated for use under NACARA beginning with DV '99. The State Department (DOS) holds the lottery every year, and randomly selects approximately 110,000 applicants from all qualified entries. The DOS selects the approximately 110,000 applications since many will not complete the visa process. However once 55,000 are issued or the fiscal year ends, the DV program is closed.

If you receive a visa through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program you will be authorized to live and work permanently in the United States. You will also be allowed to bring your spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 to the United States.

Who is Eligible to Enter the Diversity Visa Lottery?

You or your spouse must be a native of a country that is eligible to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery. You may also be eligible to apply if your parent was born in a country that is eligible to participate. (The State Department will publish the names of countries that are eligible to participate before each year's lottery.)

You must have a high school diploma or the equivalent, defined in the United States as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR you must have two years of work experience within the last five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.
 

How Do I Apply?

Before each year's lottery drawing, the Department of State will publish explicit instructions on how to apply in press releases and the Federal Register. Please watch the State Department Website for more information on the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. Instructions are usually posted in August, and the registration period is typically held in October each year.
 

Please See The Following Links For More Information

 

Am I eligible to register for DV lottery

Hi,

My mother was born in Malaysia, she has her birth certificate to prove that,and father was born in India. I would like to know whether a person will be eligible for DV lottery if either one(father or mother) of his/her parents was born in a country which is eligible for DV lottery.

Regards,
Reji

Question

I want to apply for Green Card DV Lottery, but my husband has received some promises to be switched from H1B to Green Card through Employer. Can you please tell me if there is any overlap and potential problems in this sense? Thanks in advance!

Green card through several categories

The law permits you to apply for green card simultaneously through as many categories as you like.

Note: We practice US immigration law with sharp focus on employment/business immigration and complex immigration matters and related federal court litigation. I know a lot about my area of practice, but I do not know everything. Use common sense.

Question about lottery

Dear Sir or Madam,
Me and my Wife are disabled person. We have problem in our leg.
We have good job experiences in engineering and management.
We love to immigrate to USA. We want to register in lottery visa program.
Our question is: "Can our disability make problem for us to receiving green card?"
sincerely yours
Mehrdad Karami

Question about lottery

Mr. Karami, we do not take on DV (lottery) cases, because in most of these a lawyer is not needed. As far as I know, because your disability does not prevent you from working, I see no problem with the lottery application. Good luck!

Note: We practice US immigration law with sharp focus on employment/business immigration and complex immigration matters and related federal court litigation. I know a lot about my area of practice, but I do not know everything. Use common sense.

Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Cards
Common Topics
Professions