The Green Card Lottery, also known as the DV Lottery Program, is a special immigration program by the US government. It gives people from historically low-immigration countries a chance to apply for permanent residence. Through a random drawing process by the US Department of State, up to 55,000 diversity visas are made available yearly.
This program seeks to enhance multicultural diversity in the United States by accepting citizens of underrepresented countries. Individuals applying for a Green Card have to meet particular eligibility criteria, such as education or work history requirements. Winning the lottery is not a guarantee; you still need to enable chosen individuals to proceed with the immigration process, which may result in lawful permanent residence in the US.
Green Card Lottery in the US
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also referred to as the Green Card Lottery, provides a means for those from nations with low US immigration. Every year, as many as 55,000 visas are granted under this program to help ensure demographic diversity in the US.
The process is random, but candidates are still required to have education or work experience to be considered for a visa. The program is an opportunity for people from underrepresented areas to obtain lawful permanent residence in the US through an open and fair system.
US Green Card Lottery Overview
| Administrated by | U.S. Department of State |
| Name of Program | Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Lottery) |
| Common Name | Green Card Lottery |
| Country | USA |
| Number of Visas | Up to 55,000 per year |
| Apply Time | Usually October to November |
| Category | Latest News |
| Official Website | https://dvprogram.state.gov/ |
What Is the Green Card Lottery
The Green Card Lottery aimed to improve cultural diversity by providing permanent residency to people from countries with low immigration levels to America. It is run every year and gives eligible candidates the opportunity to compete for life and work in America permanently.
The program randomly selects as many as 55,000 people every year from a pool of applicants from all over the world. The winners are offered a chance to sponsor a US immigrant visa, also known as a Green Card. The process of selection is automated and does not entail any kind of prejudice or favoritism.
But not everyone can. Residents of countries that have experienced large numbers of immigrants to the US during the last five years are usually excluded.
How Many Visas Each Year Are Allocated
The US Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, or the Green Card Lottery, awards up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually. Applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the US have been awarded visas. It comes with the goal of promoting higher cultural diversity within the US population.
While 55,000 visas are officially reserved, the US government generally picks more applicants than there are visas available – usually 80,000 to 143,000 – since not all picked people follow through with the visa process or qualify. This guarantees that all Green Cards available are successfully distributed within the year.
Note that a few of the 55,000 slots would be allocated to other immigration programs, but this does lower the number of Diversity Visas issued slightly. Nonetheless, the Green Card Lottery is still one of the most open doors to lawful permanent residence in the United States.
How to Get Selected for the Green Card Lottery
- Names are picked by a random computer draw maintained by the US Department of State.
- The window for application generally opens between October and November yearly.
- A win does not guarantee a visa; additional procedures are needed to qualify.
- Those who are selected need to have an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
- A medical checkup by a doctor approved by the state is needed.
- Single entry only; multiple entries result in disqualification.
- Applications should only be filed through the official government website.
- Stay away from fake sites and agents; nobody can guarantee selection from the lottery.
Are Indians Allowed for Green Card Lottery Visa in the US
India is not currently qualified to join the U.S. Green Card Lottery because of the large number of immigrants who have already been residents of the United States in recent years. Indian citizens born in a qualifying country may still be eligible to apply on that country’s terms under special circumstances like the place of birth of their spouse or parents.
Admissible countries to participate in the Diversity Visa Program are numerous African countries like Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Morocco, among others. The countries have low immigration statistics to the US, thus making their citizens eligible to participate in the lottery. The applicants should go through the eligibility list yearly before making an entry to confirm that they meet the requirements.
FAQs
Is India a participant in the Green Card Lottery?
No, India is not eligible at this time because of heavy immigration to the US.
If an Indian citizen is born in an eligible country, can they apply?
Yes, an Indian citizen who is born in an eligible country can apply on the basis of their country of birth.
Where do I obtain the official list of countries eligible for the DV Program?
The official list is posted every year on the US State Department’s website at https://dvprogram.state.gov/