Permanent Residency based on Diversity Program

The diversity program is an annual lottery that is run by the U.S. State Department. The program offers up to 50,000 immigrant visas (green cards) each year to randomly selected applicants from eligible countries. To be eligible for the lottery, the foreign national must :

• Be a native of a “low admission” country, as designated by the Attorney General; and
• Have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent as defined by law; or at least two years of training or experience in a skilled occupation ( one requiring at least that much training or experience), gained within five years of the date of application for a diversity visa.

Participation in the lottery program is done electronically by completing the Diversity Visa Entry forms on the the U.S. Department of State website: www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period. There are no filing fees associated with the forms. The registration period currently runs from November 5 of each year through January 7 of the following year.

Only selected applicants will be notified by mail and provided further instructions regarding immigration to the U.S. Their spouses and unmarried children under age 21 may apply for visas to accompany of follow to join them.

To immigrate to the U.S., selected applicants and their dependents (spouses and children under age 21) must meet all eligibility requirements under the U.S. immigration law. Therefore, it is very important for to consult with an experienced immigration attorney before applying for an immigrant visa.

DISCLAIMER: The information given in this website is intended as general information only and is not a substitute for the services of an immigration attorney in your specific case.