DV Visas: Diversity Visa lottery

The U.S. government issues 55,000 immigrant visas every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, known to some as the green card lottery. Applicants are selected in a random drawing. If selected, the principal beneficiary, his/her spouse, and all unmarried children under 21 years of age will have a chance to apply for DV immigrant visas to the United States.

To qualify as a diversity immigrant applicant, the following requirements must be met: 

• The beneficiary must be a native of, or chargeable to, a country that is eligible for the diversity program; and
• The beneficiary must have a high school education or equivalent; or
• The beneficiary must have, within the previous five years, at least two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years of training.