Green Card Lottery (Diversity Program)

Each year there is a new application period, usually occurring in late winter or early spring. Registrations submitted one year are never held over to the next so reapplication will be necessary each year.

Diversity-based visas are generally unavailable for those coming from countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years. Currently, the following countries are not qualified for the lottery: Canada, China (mainland and Macau), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, the UK (except northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam (Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible). People from all other countries may apply.

General requirements to apply for the lottery include: you must be 18 years old or older and you must have at least your country's equivalent of a US high school diploma or two years' work experience in a job which requires two years of training. You can enter from wherever you are living, including the US and you do not have to speak or write English to apply. You do, however, need to show that you can work and/or support yourself. Further, you cannot be a criminal, mentally disturbed, or a threat to the US' national interest. One good thing is that you can enter the Green Card Lottery even if you have an immigration petition pending, such as a relative or employer's petition. Simply entering the Green Card lottery does not affect current or past petitions.

Before each year's lottery drawing, the Department of State will publish explicit instructions on how to apply in press releases and the Federal Register. Instructions are usually posted in August. The registration period for this year is from November 1 through December 30.

There is no fee for entering the diversity visa lottery. If you win, you must pay a fee for an immigrant visa and a separate visa lottery surcharge.

Only the winners will be notified by mail at the addresses listed on their applications. Winners will be sent instructions and information on fees. Being selected as a winner in the diversity visa lottery does not automatically guarantee that you will be issued a visa, even if you are qualified. The number of entries selected is greater than the number of immigrant visas available, because not everyone selected will be qualified for the visa or will choose to complete the processing. Once all 50,000 visas have been issued, the diversity visa program for the year will end.

For additional information, feel free to contact Mr. Newcomb. His office is able to aid in processing the applications for $50.00 plus any incurred expenses. Just call or e-mail the office to ask for more details on how the office can assist you in preparing and sending your packet.