What Is a Diversity Visa
A Diversity Visa (DV) is an Immigrant Visa category that allocates 55,000 green cards annually to nationals of countries with low immigration rates to the United States. The Department of State administers this program, officially called the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, under the Immigration Act of 1990.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Diversity Visa, you must be a national of a country that has sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the previous five years. Currently, about 50 countries are ineligible each fiscal year, including major immigration sources like Mexico, China, India, and the Philippines.
You also need a high school education or equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training. The Department of State publishes the complete list of ineligible countries each October when the new fiscal year lottery begins.
The DV Lottery Process
The DV lottery operates in phases. During the registration period, typically in October, eligible nationals submit applications online through the State Department's official website. The fee is $0, but a visa processing fee applies later if selected. The computer system randomly selects approximately 125,000 names to create the actual visa pool, accounting for expected refusals and inadmissibility.
Winners are notified through the Notification of Immigrant Visa Application (NL-485), and you receive a case number. The State Department assigns cases to the National Visa Center (NVC) for interview scheduling. This typically occurs six to twelve months after the initial selection, depending on visa availability and your country's administrative processing requirements.
Application Steps
- Register during the official lottery period with your passport and photograph
- Receive your case number if selected as a winner
- Complete Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) or Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Application) for consular processing
- Submit required supporting documents, including birth certificate, medical examination (Form I-693), and police clearance certificates
- Attend visa interview at a US embassy or consulate
- Receive approval and travel to the US for entry as a permanent resident
Adjustment of Status vs. Consular Processing
If you are already in the US, you can pursue adjustment of status using Form I-485 filed with USCIS. If you are abroad, you undergo consular processing at a US embassy or consulate using Form DS-260. Both paths lead to the same outcome, a green card, but the timeline and procedures differ. Consular processing typically takes longer due to visa availability based on your country of chargeability.
Common Questions
- What happens if I don't attend my visa interview? You forfeit your selection immediately and cannot apply for subsequent years using that same case number. The visa becomes unavailable for your use.
- Can I sponsor family members through a DV visa? Only your immediate family (spouse and unmarried children under 21) can be included in your DV application if they apply before you become a permanent resident. They cannot independently use the diversity visa program.
- Are there any country-specific processing delays? Yes. Countries like Nigeria, Ukraine, and Pakistan sometimes experience extended administrative processing due to security background check requirements, adding three to six months beyond standard timelines.