The 2024 U.S. DV Lottery Registration Is Now Open From October 5th to November 8th

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has released its instructions for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Lottery Program (DV-2024) registration opened on October 5, 2022 at 12:00 pm (EST) and entrants will have until 12:00 pm (EST) on November 8th to register online. Applicants must register and provide digital photographs online at the State Department’s official DV lottery website. The DOS will only accept entries made on the electronic diversity entry form which will be available during the registration period. There is no cost to register.

Process

Of the total number of green cards that will be issued for FY2024, the DOS will select 55,000 green cards numbers by random selection from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. There are a few basic selection requirements for qualifications of Applicants, who are chosen by a computer-generated random lottery drawing. At minimum, entrants must hold a high school education (or equivalent) or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years. Beginning in May 2023, results of the DV lottery will be available and applicants can check the status of their registration online to see if they have been selected for the lottery, via Entry Status Check. The Entry Status Check is the only manner that selectees will be notified and provided with instructions on the procedures for the application process; emails will not be sent out, nor will DOS mail any correspondence to selectees. This will be the only way in which selected individuals will be provided further instructions on immigrant visa procedures.

Who is Eligible for the DV-2024 Lottery Program

The DV-2024 Lottery Program is only available to citizens of countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. (sending less than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past five years) and within each region, no country may receive more than 7% of the available Diversity Visa “green cards” in any one year.

Examples of countries that are ineligible to apply because of “high admission” to the U.S., include the following: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), United Kingdom (which includes Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands – but not Northern Ireland), Venezuela and Vietnam. Foreign nationals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery.

There are times where countries that are eligible to participate one year, are unable to participate the following year. For example, last year, natives of Hong Kong SAR and Venezuela were eligible to participate in the DV-2023 Lottery Program but are not eligible to participate in the DV-2024 Lottery Program. Additionally, last year, natives of Peru were not eligible to participate in the DV-2023 Lottery Program but are eligible to participate in the DV-2024 Lottery Program.

Using Spouse’s Country of Birth

Those who are unable to register for the DV Lottery because their country of birth is ineligible may still be eligible to qualify through a spouse (and you are applying for the visa together) who was born in an eligible country or, or if one of your parents was either born in or at the time of your birth was a legal resident of an eligible country.

Disqualification

All entries by an applicant will be disqualified if more than one entry for the applicant is received, regardless of who submitted the entry. Entry forms will also be disqualified for failure to provide digital photograph with the entry form. A separate photograph is required for each family member (main applicant, spouse and each child). Failure to list your spouse, all children, who are eligible, will result in disqualification of the principal applicant and refusal of all visas in the case at the time of the visa interview)

Registration versus Selection

Although the DOS notifies more than 100,000+ applicants that they have been selected through the DV Lottery Program, there will only be 55,000 green cards lotteries available annually. Therefore, more applicants will be registered than there are immigrant visas available. Since the DOS will NOT guarantee that an applicant will receive a green card under the DV lottery, registered applicants who wish to receive his/her immigrant visa must be prepared to act quickly after being notified, especially if he/she is assigned a favorable lottery number in the random selection process.

Although registering for the DV Lottery is free, there is a special DV Lottery Case processing fee payable later to the DOS by applicants who “win” the lottery and file for their green card based upon the lottery program.

Should you have any questions regarding the DV Lottery FY 2024, please contact our office.