If you are interested in applying for the Diversity Visa Lottery program now is the perfect time. Online registration for fiscal year 2026 is now open until Tuesday November 5th at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.
In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains everything you need to know about your eligibility for the Diversity Visa lottery, how to apply, and useful tips for how to maximize your chances at selection.
Want to know more? Just keep on watching
Overview
What is the Diversity Visa Lottery program?
Every year, the U.S. government makes available up to 55,000 immigrant visas as part of its Diversity Visa Lottery program (also known as the green card lottery). This program is meant to offer green cards to individuals who are from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to promote diversity.
To participate in the program, you must meet the DV lottery requirements and submit a free online registration during the registration period running from now until Tuesday November 5th at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time.
Winners for the DV lottery for FY 2026 are expected to be announced starting May 3, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Participants can check whether they have been selected on the DOS Website by selecting DV Entrant Status Check.
Entrant Status Check is the ONLY means used by the Department of State to notify selectees of their selection. The Department of State will not mail notification letters or notify selectees by email.
DO NOT BE SCAMMED: There is NO FEE to complete the online registration.
Who is Not Eligible?
Not every country is eligible to participate in the Diversity Visa lottery. For instance, countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Mainland China, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, etc. are NOT eligible to participate.
Who is Eligible?
You are eligible to participate in the Diversity Visa Lottery program if you meet the following requirements.
Requirement #1: You must be a native of a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to enter.
Click here for the complete list of countries eligible (p. 30 to 35).
If you are not a native of a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, there are two other ways you might be able to qualify.
- Is your spouse a native of a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States? If yes, you can claim your spouse’s country of birth – provided that you and your spouse are named on the selected entry, are found eligible and issued diversity visas, and enter the United States at the same time.
- Are you a native of a country that does not have historically low rates of immigration to the United States, and neither of your parents were born in or legally resident in your native country at the time of your birth? If both of those statements are true, you may claim the country of birth of one of your parents, if it is a country whose natives are eligible for the DV-2026 program
Requirement #2: Each DV applicant must meet the education/work experience requirement of the DV program by having either:
- at least a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education
OR
- two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience.
Requirement #3: You cannot have a criminal record.
DO NOT submit an entry to the DV program unless you meet these requirements. Please also be aware that the submission of more than one entry will disqualify you for a diversity visa.
How do I enter the DV-2024 lottery?
Eligible applicants may submit their Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form (E-DV Entry Form or DS-5501), online at www.dvprogram.state.gov from now until Tuesday November 5th at 12 noon Eastern Daylight Time.
The State Department will not accept incomplete entries or entries sent by any other means. There is no cost to submit the online entry form.
After you submit a complete entry, you will see a confirmation screen containing your name and a unique confirmation number. Print this confirmation screen for your records. You will need it later in the process to confirm whether you have been selected.
How will I know if I am selected?
All DV entrants must go to the Entrant Status Check using the unique confirmation number saved from their online entry registration to find out whether their entry has been selected in the DV program.
The Entrant Status Check will be available on the E-DV website at dvprogram.state.gov from May 3, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
If your entry is selected, you will be directed to a confirmation page providing further instructions, including information about fees connected with immigration to the United States.
Please note that even if you have been selected in the DV lottery, there must be an immigrant visa number immediately available to you at the time of applying for your immigrant visa or adjustment of status.
Foreign nationals selected in the FY 2026 lottery are eligible to file their green card applications starting October 1, 2025 and should do so as soon as possible to ensure a visa is issued.
Can I apply if I am inside of the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa?
Absolutely! Even if you are already inside of the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, you can still apply for the Diversity Visa lottery if you meet the requirements.
If I register for the DV lottery, will this show immigrant intent?
No. Registering for the Diversity Visa lottery will not demonstrate immigrant intent and will not have any negative repercussions on your nonimmigrant visa status.
What are you waiting for? Apply today!
Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-569-1768 or call 619-819-9204.
Helpful Links
- Apply here
- Diversity Visa Instructions
- Steps in the Diversity Visa Process
- Instructions for the FY 2026 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
- Entrant Status Check
- October Visa Bulletin
- Adjustment of Status Filing Dates from Visa Bulletin
- USCIS Processing Times
- USCIS Announces End of COVID-Related Flexibilities
- Immigrant Visa Backlog Report
- ImmigrationLawyerBlog
- ImmigrationU Membership
- Success stories
- Youtube channel
JOIN OUR NEW FACEBOOK GROUP
Need more immigration updates? We have created a new facebook group to address the impact of the new executive order and other changing developments related to COVID-19. Follow us there.
For other COVID 19 related immigration updates please visit our Immigration and COVID-19 Resource Center here.