The Diversity Visa Lottery, formally called the Diversity Visa Applicant Program, is an opportunity for migrants. A computerized lottery assigns a US residency permit; the winner and their immediate family could be legal US citizens.
They will be able to move, live, work, and continue their studies in North America and, after five years, legally request US citizenship. This DV 2026 entry permit schedule indicates when the chosen ones are eligible to travel and move to the US.
What is the diversity visa lottery?
The diversity visa lottery, as can be read on the government webpage, began applications on 10/02/2024. This program will be in effect for the respective year and grant up to 55,000 of this residency permit.
Those randomly chosen with a computer will be allowed permanent residence in North America. However, this edition incorporated something new: several nations were excluded due to their many migrants.
Today, we will explain this process in detail, including how it works, what you should do, and how to register and intervene. As we said, applications were opened on 10/02 and will close on 11/05/2024.
If you want to enter, you must have completed high school studies or their equivalents and have two years of work experience. These jobs must be demonstrated and in a skilled trade.
Essential facts about petitioning for a diversity visa
Among the details of this process, we have that it is entirely free and is done on the programs. Each applicant must fill out Form DS-5501, which appears online, and follow the steps provided on the platform.
If chosen, the participant will receive a confirmation indicating what they must do, including submitting the DS-260 form. They must also undergo a consular hearing process where the possibility of a permanent transfer to North America is evaluated.
Some Latin American nations have been left out now and will not be able to participate due to the high migration numbers in the last five years. Those excluded from the programming for this draw are:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- South Korea
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
State authorities explained that the decision was made because more than 50,000 migrants from these nations had received entry permits. It disqualifies them from entering the lottery, wholly excluding them.
More facts about this drawing process
The results of the diversity visa lottery will be published in May 2025. As indicated above, those who participated will be able to see if they were nominated on the official site of the DOS Department of State.
The US government does not send email notifications or print letters. You can only find the result if you enter the webpage with the validation number sent to you when you registered.
If you are chosen for the program, you will receive specific instructions for the next steps. These include paying the respective tax and preparing for the corresponding consular appointment.
If you are elected in this lottery, it would only be a step towards the option of living permanently in North America. You must fill out and apply for a newcomer visa using the online DS-260 questionnaire.
Other vital prerequisites
In addition to the above, you must present your valid passport and accurately answer all the questions in the questionnaire. Insiderbits recommends that you fill out the questionnaire above and not hire specialized agencies or third parties.
After this, the applicant will receive an invitation to an appointment at the American consular office or embassy in each country. At this time, a consulate employee will evaluate the request and decide whether or not it is approved.
If someone is not chosen in this lottery, they can try again for a future invitation. We emphasize that this program has a limited set of travel authorizations per year intended for those who meet these prerequisites:
- Be a native of a nation with low migration to North America
- 12 years of primary and high school or their equivalents completed
- You must have specific training and practice in jobs, including a bachelor’s degree
- Have two years in a trade that involves at least two years of preparation or practice
- More data about the prequalified careers on the official digital platform
- It is not necessary to master the English language to participate in this lottery
Find out if you are a candidate for this Lottery
The Program promises migrant permits to nationals of countries with shallow migration. The American government’s official site tells you how to see if you qualify and what you must do to fill out your petition.
Another green card raffle program awards several newcomers visas yearly to those who meet specific criteria. State Authorities also publish a list of eligible and ineligible nations, which can change each year.
To get more info about your eligibility for this lottery that is held each year, you must do the following:
- See the most recent list of eligible nations, consulting from page 30 of the instructions.
- Find out about the education, work experience, and passport requirements to be on the list.
- Find out how to register for the Lottery for Foreigners.
- The date to apply for the lottery varies each year; for example, for the 2026 lottery, it is:
- From noon on 10/02/2024 (US Eastern Time).
- It closes at noon on 11/05/2024 (US Eastern Time).
More facts about the lottery
You can complete the DV Application Form (DS-5501) online, but your application can only be submitted once. You may miss this opportunity and be disregarded if you repeatedly submit your application.
Something significant is that there are no fees when submitting the questionnaire; remember, it is free. Here, we give you some additional recommendations so that you can properly submit your request:
- Use the official digital platform of the American government:
Remember that there is only one way to enter this program, and it is on the DOS government web
- Follow the instructions in strict order:
Here, you can find precise instructions for the DV-2026 questionnaire in different dialects
- Fill out the questionnaire yourself:
Avoid hiring an “advisor or manager” if you necessitate assistance; see that they do it in your presence to ensure they write your review correctly.
- Make sure to give your email address:
This ensures that you receive correspondence or requests that you can review promptly.
- Express each question accurately:
If you send incorrect data or documentation, it could cause disqualification.
- Update your Internet browser:
If you use an old browser or have problems opening the online site, we suggest you update or refresh the page. If the problem persists, consult an expert.
- Save the validation tab and data:
Please take a photo of the screen of your validation page or write it down and save the approval number somewhere safe. This approval will be necessary to know the status of your application. If you lose it, the platform cannot resend this data.
Data on the results of this draw
The results of this DV-2026 immigration lottery will be published on May 3, 2025. You can use the validation comment on the DOS online platform to check if you have been nominated.
You only have to enter your validation data; remember that you will not receive physical correspondence or an email indicating the results. You must be very careful with electronic correspondence and deceptive letters from scammers because:
- This lottery is entirely free
- There is no way to increase your chances of being elected
- There is only one way to see the results, and that is on the US DOS homepage
- If someone asks you for money or offers to increase your chances of being chosen, it is undoubtedly a fraud
- Do not pay anything for false applications or verifications of the status of your request; you can do it without help
You must take other steps to complete the submission if you are nominated. Remember that simply choosing within the program does not guarantee a passport or a green card.
After winning, you will still have to do the following
- Check your qualifications. To proceed, you will need to provide either your high school diploma or demonstrate at least two years of employment history. Furthermore, ensure that your passport is both current and valid.
- Submit the Questionnaire or Form DS-260, your migrant visa application. After submitting it online, you must print the screen showing the approval, which you will need later.
- Deliver supporting documentation. Your visit to the consulate will not be scheduled until you present simple copies of all the necessary documentation. You must bring this original documentation with you to the interview.
- Have a medical examination. You must consult an authorized doctor and get a report in the country where you will be interviewed.
- Prepare to be interviewed. The appointment date, time, and place are on the webpage mentioned. If your family applies for the DV visa, they must also be interviewed simultaneously, and the documentation must be presented at that time.
- Pay your taxes. The $300 tax is non-refundable if you do not obtain the permit. You must pay it before the appointment or on the same day you go to be interviewed.
- Go to your appointment. An employee at the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate will ask you questions about your petition and documents. After being interviewed, the employee will inform you whether your petition was accepted or denied.
- Arrive to the nation. Once you have completed these additional steps, a diversity residency permit will be inserted into your passport. You will also receive a sealed newcomer envelope.
To enter North America, you must
- Travel to the United States before the DV permit expires
- Present the sealed and unopened envelope
- Have the necessary medical records available
Upon entering the United States, you will be considered a legal and permanent resident, so you can work and live permanently here.
By way of conclusion
With all the above requirements derived from the diversity visa lottery, presenting an affidavit of support is unnecessary. However, you must prove that you do not need the economic benefits of the State, revealing your source of income, assets, investments, savings, and property you own.
If you cannot prove this, an acquaintance or relative in the United States with legal status can fill out Form I-134. With this, they agree to be your economic support, presenting this as a supporting document.
Did you like the info about the diversity visa lottery?
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