The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, also known as the green card lottery, is a program run by the U.S. State Department that makes 50,000 permanent resident visas available annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. There are specific requirements that applicants must meet in order to qualify for the DV lottery.
Basic Eligibility Requirements
There are a few basic requirements that all DV lottery applicants must meet in order to qualify:
- Native of an eligible country – The applicant must be a native of a country that is eligible for the DV lottery. Most countries are eligible, but there are some exclusions.
- High school education or equivalent – The applicant must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. A GED certificate or equivalent work experience may be accepted.
- Recent photograph – The applicant must submit a digital photo that meets the specifications listed in the application instructions.
Beyond these baseline criteria, there are additional requirements related to nationality, criminal history, and other factors.
Nationality Requirements
An applicant’s nationality or country of birth is a key factor in determining DV lottery eligibility. There are a few important nationality requirements:
- Nativity vs. citizenship – Eligibility is based on the applicant’s country of birth or nativity, not citizenship. Those born in ineligible countries do not qualify.
- Dual nationality – Applicants can claim nativity in the country of birth of either parent if they have dual nationality.
- Stateless persons – Stateless individuals born in an eligible country may apply based on country of residence.
- Ineligible countries – Persons born in the following countries are not eligible: Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom, Vietnam.
In most cases, the applicant’s country of birth listed on their passport or birth certificate will determine eligibility based on nationality.
Criminal History
Applicants must meet certain criminal history requirements to qualify for the lottery. Any of the following will make an applicant ineligible:
- Felony conviction – A felony conviction for any offense committed in the U.S. or abroad.
- Two or more misdemeanors – Two or more misdemeanor crimes committed in the U.S.
- Certain legal violations – Violation of U.S. immigration law or election law.
- Danger to U.S. security – Acts of terrorism, espionage, genocide, or participation in Nazi persecution.
Minor traffic violations are not disqualifying, but any major traffic violation like driving under the influence would make the applicant ineligible. Applicants must list all prior arrests and convictions on their DV lottery application.
Education and Work Experience
While a high school diploma or equivalent is the minimum education requirement, higher levels of education or work experience can help improve an applicant’s chances of being selected. Advanced degrees, professional certifications, and specialized work skills may give the applicant an advantage.
However, education and work experience are not mandatory. The DV lottery is designed to provide immigration opportunities to persons of all backgrounds.
Other Disqualifying Factors
There are a few other factors that will make an applicant ineligible for the diversity visa lottery:
- Prior U.S. immigrant/non-immigrant status – Anyone who currently has or previously had any U.S. temporary or permanent resident status.
- Prior DV lottery – Anyone selected in the DV lottery in the past 5 years.
- Dual applications – If immediate family members submit more than one DV lottery application.
- Invalid or missing information – Failure to fully complete the application or provide required documentation.
Applicants must provide complete and accurate information on their lottery registration. Any missing details or inconsistent data may lead to disqualification.
Eligibility Factors for Spouses and Children
Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age may derive status from a DV lottery winner. But they must also meet all eligibility requirements on their own. The principal applicant’s eligibility does not automatically extend to dependents.
Both spouse and children must prove they are admissible to the United States and will not be a public charge. The children must be unmarried and under 21 at the time the DV lottery application is submitted.
Verifying Eligibility Before Applying
Those interested in the DV lottery are strongly encouraged to check their eligibility using the official instructions before registering. Applicants should verify the following:
- Confirm country of birth – Use birth certificate to verify eligibility based on country of nativity.
- Review criminal record – Ensure any arrests or convictions do not trigger ineligibility.
- Check education level – Confirm high school diploma or equivalent minimum education.
- Photograph meets specs – Review photo guidelines and use the correct size and format.
Taking these steps first will help avoid problems with the application and increase one’s chances of qualifying for the diversity visa lottery.
The DV Lottery Registration Period
Registrations for the DV lottery are only accepted during specific registration periods each year. The dates are announced through the U.S. Department of State’s visa lottery website dvprogram.state.gov.
Typically, the registration period opens in early October and runs for 30-60 days. However, the dates can vary year to year. For DV-2023, the registration period ran from October 6, 2021 to November 9, 2021.
The registration is free to submit. But applicants must register and submit all required information and documents electronically during the specified window of time to qualify.
Submitting a Complete and Accurate Entry
Successfully registering for the lottery is just the first step. Applicants must also submit a complete and accurate entry to avoid losing their chance to win a green card. Here are some tips:
- Follow all photo requirements – Use the correct size and background, and upload a recent photo.
- Provide complete biographical data – Include all names, birthdates, passport numbers, contact information, etc.
- Double check eligibility answers – Confirm all yes/no questions related to eligibility are answered correctly.
- List dependents accurately – Make sure information provided matches spouse/children documentation.
- Keep confirmation number – Save the confirmation number to check lottery status later.
Submitting an incomplete or inaccurate application, even accidentally, can lead to disqualification. Entrants should carefully review their entire entry before submitting it.
Requirement to Meet Education/Work Experience
While a high school education or equivalent is the minimum requirement to qualify for the lottery, applicants who want to improve their chances may want to highlight more advanced education or work skills.
Some ways applicants can showcase education/work experience include:
- University degrees
- Vocational training certificates
- Specialized licenses
- Years of managerial, professional, or technical work
- Experience in high demand fields like healthcare, sciences, engineering, etc.
Including this information is optional, but may give some applicants a competitive edge. However, a basic high school level education still meets the minimum eligibility requirements.
Criminal Acts that Make Applicants Ineligible
Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify someone from the DV lottery. However, certain criminal acts will trigger ineligibility. These include:
- Felonies
- Two or more misdemeanors
- Drug trafficking offenses
- Human trafficking crimes
- Money laundering
- Prostitution related crimes
- Smuggling
- Fraud/misrepresentation on immigration forms
- Unlawful voting in U.S. elections
- Persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group
- Acts of genocide or torture
Even if the crimes were committed outside the United States, they can still make the applicant inadmissible under U.S. immigration law. All arrests and convictions must be disclosed on the visa lottery application.
Probability of Being Selected
Even if an applicant meets all the eligibility requirements, selection is not guaranteed. Only around 50,000 applicants are randomly chosen each year through the computer-generated lottery system. The chances of being picked depend on the total number of entries received for that year’s DV lottery.
For example, the DV-2022 lottery received over 11 million qualified entries for the 55,000 available Diversity Visas. This made the odds of selection around 0.5% or 1 in 200. The more applicants there are, the lower the odds of being chosen.
There is no way to improve one’s chances beyond submitting only one entry per person and ensuring all eligibility requirements are met. Pure luck determines who gets drawn from the random computer lottery selection.
Following Selection in the DV Lottery
Applicants who are selected in the DV lottery are notified through the State Department’s Entrant Status Check website. Selection just means the applicant is eligible to apply for a diversity visa.
Being picked does not guarantee a visa will be issued. The selectee must still complete the formal visa application process, including submitting documents and attending an interview at their local U.S. consular office when an appointment becomes available.
Visas are issued to lottery winners on a first come, first served basis until the annual numerical limit is reached. Selectees should complete their visa application as soon as possible once notified.
Application Process After Selection
Those chosen in the diversity visa lottery must still complete the formal visa application process. The steps include:
- Submit DS-260 visa application form – Provides biographical and eligibility information.
- Gather civil documents – Birth certificate, marriage certificate, police certificates, etc.
- Pay required fees – Applicable visa processing and medical exam fees.
- Complete medical exam – Must be done by an approved doctor.
- Attend visa interview – Schedule and attend visa appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
- Obtain visa – If approved, the visa will be issued after the interview.
- Travel to U.S. – Enter the U.S. as a permanent resident within 6 months of medical exams.
Visa processing times vary so it is important for selectees to complete their visa applications promptly. Visas are issued in the order applications are received.
Following U.S. Arrival as a Permanent Resident
Once diversity visa recipients arrive in the United States, they are considered lawful permanent residents. They receive a stamp or sticker in their passport evidencing permanent resident status.
New diversity visa immigrants should complete a few steps to fully activate their status:
- Receive Form I-551 (Green Card) – The official permanent resident card typically arrives within 3 months.
- Apply for a Social Security Number – Allows holder to work legally.
- Consider health insurance options – U.S. permanent residents can purchase private health plans.
- Notify USCIS of address changes – USCIS Form AR-11 must be filed each time the new immigrant moves.
Permanent residents under the diversity visa program enjoy all the same privileges, rights, and responsibilities as other green card holders. This includes the right to live and work in the United States permanently.
Conclusion
The DV lottery program offers a unique opportunity for persons from around the world to immigrate legally to the United States and obtain permanent resident status. But interested applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements related to country of birth, education, and criminal history to qualify.
Eligible applicants who are randomly selected in the lottery must still complete the visa application process successfully in order to be issued a diversity visa. The entire process requires time and careful attention to all rules and details.
Persons who obtain a green card through the diversity visa lottery then have the chance to live and work permanently in the United States as lawful permanent residents.