Visa Lottery
Background & Eligibility
The Congressionally mandated Diversity Visa Program makes available 50,000 diversity visas (DV) annually. Recipients are selected randomly from a pool of applicants who meet strict eligibility requirements. The standards for qualification are simple, but strictly enforced. An applicant must be:
- From a country selected by the DV Program for its low rate of immigration to the U.S.,
- Must demonstrate either a sufficient level of education or two years of qualifying work experience, and
- Must meet all other eligibility criteria for an immigrant visa to the U.S.
Please click here for a more detailed explanation of the DV eligibility requirements.
Fraud Warning
There have been instances of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. Government sites. Some companies posing as the U.S. Government have sought money in order to "complete" lottery entry forms. Please click here to learn more.
How to Apply
The Department of State uses an electronic application system to make the DV process efficient and secure. Those who submit entries may check their status online to determine if the entries were selected. You can access the system and make your application by clicking here.
The DV application process is very strict and making a simple mistake can disqualify an applicant. Here are some important things to keep in mind:
- If the photograph in your DV application does not meet the requirements, your entry will be disqualified.
- Applicants may apply only once per lottery. If it is discovered that an applicant submitted more than one entry, they will be disqualified.
- You must list your spouse and all unmarried children under 21 years-old on your application. If you do not, you will be disqualified.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the DV program application process, you can contact us or call the Department of State directly at (606) 526-7500.