The Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the green card lottery, is a United States congressionally mandated visa program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. It requires the submission of an application with specific information in order to be eligible for the random selection process.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
There are a few basic requirements that all applicants must meet in order to be eligible for the diversity visa lottery:
- Be a native of a qualifying country – There are countries that do not qualify due to higher immigration rates to the US in recent years. See the DV program instructions for the list of eligible countries.
- Have a high school education or equivalent – At minimum, you must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Work experience can also qualify.
- Meet work experience requirements – You must have at least two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years.
Required Information on DV Lottery Application
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will have to provide the following information on your DV lottery application:
- Name – Provide your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport. If you have only one name, that is acceptable.
- Birth date – Provide your date of birth in DD-MM-YYYY format. This must match the date on your passport.
- City where you were born – Enter the name of the city where you were born, as it currently appears on maps and documents.
- Country where you were born – Select your country of birth from the dropdown menu.
- Country of eligibility – This may be different from your country of birth. Select the country whose natives qualify for the DV lottery.
- Photograph – Submit a recent photo that meets all the specifications. It must be less than 6 months old.
- Mailing address – Provide your mailing address where you can receive postal mail.
- Phone number – Enter your current phone number where you can be reached, if needed.
- Email address – Provide a valid email address that you have regular access to. This will be used to contact you regarding your application.
- Passport number – Enter your valid passport number, if available. If not, leave blank.
- Education – Select your highest level of education completed from the dropdown menu.
- Work experience – List your last two jobs, with position title, name of employer, and dates of employment.
- Spouse information – If married, provide your spouse’s full name, date of birth, city/country of birth, and gender.
- Children information – List name, date of birth, city/country of birth for all children under 21 years old, if any.
- DV lottery entry photo – Upload a digital photo that meets all the requirements. Photos that do not comply with specifications will lead to disqualification.
DV Lottery Entry Photo Requirements
The entry photograph submitted with your application has strict requirements in order to be accepted:
- Size – The image dimensions must be 600 pixels tall by 600 pixels wide.
- Image format – It must be in JPEG (.jpg) file format.
- Color – The photo must be in color (24-bit color depth). Black/white or 8-bit images will not be accepted.
- Head size – The head must be between 50% and 69% of the image’s total height.
- Background – A plain white or off-white background.
- No accessories – No hats, head coverings, sunglasses, headphones, wireless hands-free devices. Your ears must be visible.
- Expression – A neutral facial expression or natural smile. No unnatural expressions.
- Eyes – Must be open and looking at the camera. No red eye.
- Head coverings – Only for religious purposes. Must not obscure any facial features.
- Focus – Image must be sharp and properly focused. No motion blurs.
- Lighting – Proper lighting with no shadows on the face.
- No other people – You must be alone in the photo with no one else visible.
- No objects – No cameras, toys, sports equipment, or musical instruments.
The entry photo must have been taken within the last 6 months and reflect your current appearance. Failure to submit a photo that meets all the requirements will lead to an invalid entry.
Other Application Tips
Here are some other tips for submitting a complete and valid diversity visa application:
- Provide accurate information. False or inaccurate details will result in disqualification and visa refusal.
- Make sure your name and date of birth matches your passport exactly.
- Spell your name correctly using English characters. No local language characters.
- Choose your country of eligibility carefully based on the requirements.
- Double check that you meet the education or work experience requirements before applying.
- Make sure you meet all photograph requirements. Use photo editing software to adjust if needed.
- Only submit one entry per person during the registration period. Multiple entries are not allowed.
- Keep a digital copy of your complete application and photo for your records.
- Notify the KCC if your mailing address changes after you submit your entry.
- Respond promptly to any notification from the KCC requesting more information.
- Apply early during the DV lottery registration period. Do not wait until the last minute.
- Check the DV lottery website for latest instructions and updates before applying.
Spouse and Children Information
If you are married, you must include your spouse’s information on your DV lottery entry. Even if you are separated, your spouse must still be included unless you are legally divorced. Your spouse must be a living person and not deceased.
You must also list all living children under the age of 21 on your entry form, regardless of whether they are living with you or intend to immigrate to the US. Children who are already US citizens or permanent residents do not need to be listed.
The required information for your spouse and eligible children includes:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- City and country of birth
- Gender
Failure to fully disclose family relationships may make you ineligible and result in visa denial. Your spouse and children’s information should match what will later appear on their passport and other civil documents.
Education or Work Experience
To qualify for the green card lottery, you must meet the education or work experience requirements. There are two options:
Option 1: Education
You must have completed a high school education in the U.S. or a comparable foreign equivalent within the past five years. The types of diplomas and certificates that fulfill this include:
- U.S. high school diploma
- GED certificate or other state-authorized exam
- Foreign high school diploma or certificate, if credentials are accepted by the school system
- High school education in the U.S. as an exchange student
- Technical or vocational school degree beyond high school
College education also meets the education requirement but is not required. Degrees completed more than five years ago will not satisfy this requirement.
Option 2: Work Experience
The other option is having at least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. Qualifying work experience includes:
- Professional worker positions
- Skilled and unskilled labor jobs
- Clerical, sales, or service industry jobs
- Management roles
- Occupations requiring specialized training
Work as a housewife or househusband cannot be used to qualify. Job titles are not as important as the amount of preparation needed for the role. Part-time work and unpaid apprenticeships that provided training can also qualify.
Notification of Selection
After the lottery entry period closes, applicants are randomly selected by computer from among qualified entries. Selection does not guarantee you will receive a visa.
If you are selected, you will be notified by mail to the address you provided on your application. The notification letter will provide further instructions on next steps in the visa process. The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) administers the notification process.
Only 50,000 applicants are selected through the lottery each year. Due to the random nature of the draw, there is no way to improve your chances beyond submitting a valid entry.
You can login and check the status checker on the E-DV website to see if you have been selected, but all official notification will come via postal mail.
What Happens After Selection
Being selected in the diversity visa lottery does not guarantee you will receive a visa, as there are other steps required to obtain your green card:
- Submit a DS-260 immigrant visa application containing biographical details.
- Complete a visa interview at your nearest U.S. consulate when your number becomes current.
- Obtain required medical examination by authorized physician.
- Provide police certificates to demonstrate you have no criminal record.
- Prove you will not become a public charge dependent on government assistance.
- Pay required visa fees.
- Be approved by the consular officer for adjustment of status.
Entrants are selected at random but will be assigned a visa number based on geographic region. Due to annual visa quotas, your visa interview may not happen for several years after selection.
Even after being selected, about 30% of lottery winners fail to get their visas, usually due to problems at the interview stage such as incomplete documents, misrepresentation, or ineligibility.
Diversity Visa Processing Fees
There are no costs for submitting the initial lottery application, which must be done online. If selected, you will need to pay required visa processing fees including:
| Fee Type | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| DV Lottery Visa Fee | $330 |
| Biometric Services Fee | $85 |
| Medical Examination | Varies by doctor ($100-$300) |
You must pay the $330 diversity visa fee through the National Visa Center portal after submitting the DS-260 form. Other fees are paid directly to the medical provider and biometric service center.
Eligibility for Other Immigration Programs
Applying for the green card lottery does not prevent you from applying for other U.S. visa programs such as family-based immigration or employment-based visas. You can be in the DV lottery and also petitioned by a family member.
If you meet the requirements of multiple programs and are selected under both, the consular officer will give you the option to choose which visa you wish to pursue. You cannot obtain a green card through the DV lottery and another program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply if my country is not eligible?
Unfortunately, no. The diversity visa lottery has specific country eligibility requirements based on immigration levels over the past five years. Applicants must be born in an eligible country.
Do I have to submit my actual passport?
No, you only need to provide the passport number and details like expiration date if you already have one. You do not need to mail your physical passport.
What if I am in the U.S. on another visa like F-1?
You can still enter the lottery if you are physically present in the U.S. but were born in an eligible country. Your current visa status does not matter.
Can I pay to increase my chances of selection?
There is no way to increase your odds of being chosen. The selection is completely random. Beware of any requests asking for money to improve selection chances, as these are likely scams.
What if I’m married to a U.S. citizen?
You are still eligible for the diversity visa, but you may be better off applying for a green card through your spouse. Speak with an immigration attorney to determine the faster option.
Do I have to meet any income requirements?
There is no minimum income threshold, but you will need to provide evidence you will not become a public charge dependent on government assistance programs.
Conclusion
The diversity visa lottery offers a golden ticket for millions seeking a chance to immigrate to the United States. With only 50,000 green cards available each year, competition is fierce for the coveted prize.
Preparing a complete and valid entry is crucial to avoid being disqualified. Photograph specifications in particular trip up many applicants who are otherwise qualified. Applicants willing to learn the rules and follow them precisely give themselves the best shot at being selected for further processing.
Ultimately, a measure of luck in the randomized computer draw plays a big role as well. But there is no secret method to influence the odds beyond submitting a single entry with accurate details. Patience and persistence may pay off for applicants who enter year after year until their name is finally drawn.
