United States•North AmericaDiversity Immigrant Visa (DV Lottery)
At a Glance
Processing Time
~540 days
Application Fee
330 USD
Stay Duration
Indefinite
Renewable
No
Job Offer
Not Required
Dependents
Allowed
PR Pathway
Available
This visa can lead to permanent residency — the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.Remote Work
Not Required
Overview
Annual lottery program providing up to 55,000 immigrant visas to persons from countries with low immigration rates to the US.
The Diversity Visa Program makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available annually to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Selection is by random lottery among all qualified entries. Winners must meet education or work experience requirements.
Annual Visa Allocation
55,000 visas per year
Up to 5,000 visas are reserved for use under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).
Lottery system applies when oversubscribed
Check Your Eligibility
Take our quick assessment to see how well you match this visa and get personalized tips
Requirements
Personal
Criminal Record Policy
case_by_case
Education
High School or higher
Professional
Experience
2+ years
Excluded Nationalities
Citizens of the following countries are not eligible: BD, BR, CA, CN, CO, CU, DO, SV, HT, HN, HK, IN, JM, MX, NG, PK, PH, KR, VE, VN
Documentation
Applicant Documents
Valid passport
Passport photos
Digital, specific format
Educational credentials
High school diploma or equivalent
Medical examination
Police certificates
Financial support evidence
Track your documents or upload them for AI-powered review
Advantages
- Free to enter lottery
- Direct path to green card
- No employer sponsorship needed
- Includes family members
- Path to citizenship
Considerations
- Random selection - low odds
- Strict deadlines
- Many countries excluded
- Must act quickly if selected
- No guarantee of selection
Application Process
Submit DV entry
During annual registration period (October-November)
Check selection status
Results announced in May
Submit DS-260
If selected
Pay fees
Processing fees
Medical exam
Required health examination
Attend interview
At US Embassy or Consulate
Receive immigrant visa
Must enter US before Sept 30
Application Forms
Electronic DV Entry Form
Form DS-260
Form ID: DS-260
Ready to Apply?
Check your eligibility first to see how well you match this visa
