Green Card Lottery

What is this visa?

The Green Card Lottery, officially known as the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, is a U.S. government program that makes 50,000 immigrant visas available every year to people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. The program is designed to promote diversity in the U.S. by providing opportunities to people from different parts of the world.

• How does it work?

  • Anyone can apply for the DV Lottery if they are from an eligible country
  • Applicants submit an online entry form, usually once a year, during a specific registration period
  • Winners are selected randomly through a computerized drawing process

• Example situations:

  • A person from a country with limited immigration to the U.S., such as many African, Asian, or European countries, applies for the lottery and wins a Green Card
  • Someone who has the required educational background or work experience (as defined by the U.S. government) can also apply

• Duration:

  • If you win the lottery, you are eligible to apply for a Green Card (permanent residency) and can live and work in the U.S. permanently
  • After winning, you must go through the application process, attend an interview, and provide various documents before being granted a Green Card

• Estimated processing time:

  • Regular processing: 12–18 months after the lottery results are announced
  • The lottery typically opens for applications in the fall (October-November), and winners are notified by the spring of the following year

• Note:

  • Winners of the lottery must act quickly, as they are given a limited time frame (usually until September 30 of the fiscal year) to complete the process and receive the Green Card
  • Not all lottery winners will be granted a visa. You must meet eligibility requirements, undergo security checks, and be ready for an interview at the U.S. embassy
  • Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent, or two years of work experience in the last five years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience