The Diversity Visa lottery remains a highly sought-after opportunity for foreign nationals to secure U.S. residency, so careful attention to the application process is crucial
The United States has officially opened the online registration process for the Fiscal Year 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery, giving foreign nationals the opportunity to apply for a green card. Interested applicants must submit their forms by noon EST on November 5, 2024. Up to 55,000 green cards will be made available this year through a random selection process.
The results of the 2026 DV lottery will be announced in May 2025, and successful entrants can start their green card application process from October 2, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
The DV lottery is open to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the United States. However, nationals from certain countries with high immigration numbers, including India, China, Brazil, Canada, and others, are not eligible to participate this year. Individuals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan remain eligible.
Selection and Results
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A computer-based system will randomly select the winners, with the results accessible from May 3, 2025, through the DV lottery website
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Applicants will have until September 30, 2026, to check their status and move forward with their green card process if selected
There are exceptions for those ineligible due to their country of birth. They may still qualify if their spouse is born in an eligible country or, in some cases, through a parent’s country of birth.
Applicants must hold at least a high school diploma or possess two years of relevant work experience within the last five years to qualify for the lottery.
Registration Process
To participate, applicants must submit their entries online through the official DV lottery website. The process includes filling out a form and uploading a recent digital photo. Each participant can include their spouse and children in their application. It’s essential to note that only one entry per person is allowed—multiple submissions will lead to disqualification.
The U.S. State Department urges applicants to follow instructions meticulously, as any errors or multiple entries will result in disqualification. Upon successful submission, applicants will receive a confirmation number, which they can use to check the status of their entry once results are released.
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