The diversity visa program, popularly known as Green Card Lottery, has maintained the reputation of the US as a land of opportunity, where all are welcome.
The lottery is run by the US State Department, which randomly selects applicants from countries with very low historical rates of immigration into the US. The program for the year 2025 will still award 55,000 permanent resident visas to the lucky selected participants and their immediate family members.
Historical Context and Value of DV Program
This program was started with the Immigration Act of 1990 specifically to diversify the immigrant population into the U.S. Prior to this, the careful arrangement of family-sponsored and employment-based immigration left a very restricted set of source countries from which large-scale immigration came. The Green Card Lottery was especially intended to create avenues for persons from nations that had a historically smaller presence in the U.S.
Important Dates for the DV-2025 Program
Schedule of Registration
The application process for the DV-2025 program generally extends for about one month during the fall of 2023. Dates will be publicized by the Department of State. Nevertheless, candidates for the program should be prepared to submit their entries sometime between early October and early November 2023. Given the rather short window, preparation beforehand is essential for anyone interested in applying.
Results Announcement
Results for the DV-2025 lottery will start coming out in May 2024. All applicants will need to check their status online using their confirmation number from the application. No notification emails are sent, so applicants must keep their confirmation details safe.
Visa Interview Period
For persons chosen in the lottery, visa interviews will be held from October 2024 until September 2025. This 12-month period represents a window for consulate processing. If the processing is not done during this time, the right to obtain a diversity visa will be lost.
Requirements That One Must Meet:
Are You Eligible?
Essentially, the basis of eligibility under the DV lottery program is the country of birth. Citizens of countries that have forwarded over 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the last five years do not qualify for the application.
Educational or Work Experience Requirements
Apart from country eligibility, applicants also have to meet educational or work experience requirements.
Educational Requirement: A high school education or the equivalent, meaning successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education.
Work Experience Requirement: Two years of work experience in the last five years, in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database is used to qualify occupations.
Applicants must satisfy either of these requirements—there are no exceptions or waivers.
The Application Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing Your Information
Before beginning the application, gather all necessary information:
- Full name as it appears on your passport
- Date of birth
- Gender
- City and country of birth
- Country of eligibility (usually your country of birth)
- Recent photograph meeting specific requirements
- Current mailing address
- Country where you currently live
- Phone number (optional)
- Email address
- Highest level of education
- Current marital status
- Information about your spouse and children, if applicable
Photograph Requirements
Such requirements about the photograph are tougher and are among the most frequent causes of disqualifications.
The photo should
- Have been taken within the last six months
- Should be 600×600 pixels in dimension
- Colored
- Show one’s full face and looking straight at the camera.
- With a white or off-white background
- In normal street clothes (not in uniform or head coverings, unless for religious purposes).
- Between 240 KB and 600 KB in file size
Submitting Your Application
- Reach the Official Entry Form: Go to the official DV lottery site at dvprogram.state.gov during the application period.
- Fill in the Electronic Entry Form: Fill in all necessary field spaces providing accurate information. Be reminded that false information may be subject to disqualifications.
- Upload Your Photo: Ensure your digital photo meets all specifications prior to upload.
- Check Your Information: Carefully review every entry for an accuracy check before submission.
- Submit Your Entry: Submit your entry after verification and get your confirmation number.
- Keep Your Confirmation Number: This unique identifier is the only means to check the status, and it will not be recoverable if lost.
Your training is valid only up to October 2023. From May 2024 onward, you can find out if you were selected by going to the Entrant Status Check on the DV program website. Here you will need to enter your confirmation number, full name, and date of birth to access the results.
What’s more, the actual odds of being selected vary according to your region and country of eligibility. With millions of qualified entries per year and only 55,000 visas to distribute each year, the chance of selection statistically lies under 1%, but it varies based on region and country of eligibility.
What Happens After Selection?
The Meaning of Case Number
Upon selection, you will be assigned a case number that determines when you can move ahead with your application. Lower numbers are dealt with earlier on in the fiscal year, whereas higher numbers are faced with what could be a wait of several months.
Filing Form DS-260
Selected applicants are obliged to fill an online DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) in which extensive biographical information is collected and which must be filled with care.
Document Preparation
You’ll need to gather and prepare various documents, including:
- Birth certificates for all applicants
- Marriage certificates (if applicable)
- Police certificates from countries where you’ve resided
- Military records (if applicable)
- Medical examination results from an authorized physician
- Evidence of required education or work experience
- Proof of financial support
The Interview Process
The visa interview takes place at the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where you are living. During this interview: A consular officer will do verification of your information. You will be questioned by the consulate official behind your background and what your intentions are in traveling to the United States. Your fingerprints will be taken. The Diversity Visa fee of $330 per person (subject to change) will be charged.
Visa Issuance and Travel to the U.S.
If it is approved, your passport will be returned with a diversity immigrant visa valid for six months. You must enter the United States before the expiration of this visa and must also pay the Immigration Fee amounting to $220—or the amount prevailing at that time—to receive the physical Green Card.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Application Errors
- Submitting more than one entry per person (leads to automatic disqualification)
- Using photographs that don’t meet specifications
- Providing incorrect or inconsistent personal information
- Missing the application deadline
- Losing your confirmation number
Post-Selection Errors
- Delaying the submission of Form DS-260
- Failing to gather required documents promptly
- Not preparing adequately for the interview
- Missing scheduled appointments
- Providing inconsistent information during the process
Green Card – Benefits and Responsibilities
Benefits of Permanent Residency
- The right to live and work anywhere legally in the United States
- Educational opportunities and certain public benefits
- Ability to sponsor certain relatives for immigration
- Five years’ pathway to U.S. citizenship
- Protection under U.S. laws
Responsibilities and Obligations
- Abiding by all laws of the United States
- Beginning to file tax returns as a U.S. resident
- Registering with Selective Service, if male, between ages 18 and 25
- Maintaining primary residence in the U.S.
- Carrying your Green Card at all times
Special Circumstances and Exceptions
Derivative Benefits for Family Members
Your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 are eligible for derivative Green Cards, even if they were born in countries not eligible for the DV program.
Cross-Chargeability Opportunities
If your spouse was born in an eligible country and you were not, you may be entitled to charge the country of your spouse’s birth for eligibility.
Country of Eligibility Options
If you were born in an ineligible country, but your parents were not residents or nationals of that country at the time of your birth, you may claim your parent’s country of birth.
Legally Significant References
And Avoidable Scams
Official Information Resources
- U.S. Department of State travel.state.gov
- The official DV lottery website at dvprogram.state.gov
- U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide
Recognizing and Avoiding Fraud
- There is no official entry submission fee for the DV lottery
- No one will ever guarantee a selection in this lottery
- You will never be contacted by email by the U.S. government if you are chosen
- Follow only the official site: dvprogram.state.gov
- Beware of websites with similar names or that look official
DV-2025 Regional Distribution of Visas
Diversity visas are allocated according to geographical regions. The area with lower immigration rates to the United States shall be awarded a proportionally greater number of visas.
| Region | Approximate Visa Allocation |
|---|---|
| Africa | 44% |
| Asia | 15% |
| Europe | 35% |
| North America (Bahamas) | <1% |
| Oceania | 2% |
| South America, Central America, Caribbean | 4% |
FAQS:
Is there a fee in lottery card?
No fees at all for having an entry into Diversity Visa Program. You are fees after your selection and paid directly to the U.S. government.
Can I apply if already in the United States on another visa?
Yes, nonimmigrant persons working in the U.S. are free to apply for the DV lottery. If selected, one would probably be able to qualify for a status change without leaving the country.
What will happen if I am chosen, and my case number is very high?
Very high case numbers are processed towards the tail end of the fiscal year. Sadly, that means before the processing of all selectees occurs, the visa numbers may be entirely used up.
Can I submit my fiancé(e) in my application?
No. Only legally married spouses can be treated as derivatives. Marriages that take place after the selection will be recognize-zed by the proper documents.
How many times I can apply for a lottery?
You can submit the application only once each year during the time allotted for the draw. Previous chances do not affect future opportunities, if you enter the lottery unsuccessfully before.