How Do You Get a Green Card Through a Lottery?

The green card lottery (Diversity Immigrant Visa Program) makes available 50,000 permanent resident visas annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. To be eligible to participate in the green card lottery, you must meet (1) the education and training requirements (either a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform); and (2) you must be a native of a qualifying country.

Online registration for the DV-2019 program began on October 18, 2017 at 12:00 noon (EDT), and concluded on November 22, 2017 at 12:00 noon (EST). Based on the allocations of available visas in each region and country, individuals will be randomly selected by computer from among qualified entries. All DV-2019 entrants will be able to check the results starting May 15, 2018 and should keep their confirmation number through at least September 30, 2019. DV-2018 entrants have until September 30, 2018 to check the status of their entry.

Natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

If you need help applying for a diversity visa, call an immigration lawyer at Juras Law Firm, PLC in Scottsdale, AZ at 480-425-2009 to schedule a consultation, and we will help you!