The Law Office Of Maria K. Davari
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program commonly known as the green card lottery, is a government lottery program for obtaining U.S. Permanent Residence (green card). The program makes 50,000 visas available every year to applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States and with specific education qualifications. It provides an inexpensive and relatively simple path to a green card, without needing sponsorship from a U.S. employer or family.
Natives of an eligible country who have a high school education or two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience, are eligible to enter the lottery.
Eligibility can be also claimed based on your spouse eligibility, as well as based on the country of birth of one of your parents if it is a country whose natives are eligible for the current program.
With the exception of Cuba, which is not eligible for DV-2026, there were no changes in eligibility from the previous year.
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For the DV – 2026 program, the following countries are not eligible to apply due to high rates of immigration to the United States:
Bangladesh • Brazil • Canada • The People’s Republic of China (including mainland and Hong Kong born) • Colombia • Cuba • Dominican Republic • El Salvador • Haiti • Honduras • India • Jamaica • Mexico • Nigeria • Pakistan • Philippines • Republic of Korea (South Korea) • Venezuela • Vietnam • Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Every year the U.S. Department of State Electronic Diversity announces the period when entry can be submitted. The entry period usually opens in October of the current year and remains open for about a month. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period. In years past, the last week of the registration period saw heavy demand on the application website, causing website delays. Therefore, submitting your application as early as possible is encouraged.
The only way to enter the lottery is by filling the electronic application at: https://dvprogram.state.gov/
Each applicant can submit only one application.
Paper entries are not accepted. Online applications are free, but visa processing fees may apply if selected.
The English language version of the Diversity Visa Program Instructions is the only official version. Unofficial translations in additional languages will be added to the webpage as they become available.
You can download the official pdf instructions from here:
For DV-2026 you can check the status of your entry starting noon (EDT) on May 3, 2025. You will need the confirmation number of your entry, your last/family name, and the year of your birth.
For DV-2025 entries you have until September 30, 2025 to check the status of your entry.
500 Capitol Mall, Suite 2350,
Sacramento, CA 95814
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