What is the Diversity Visa Program?
The Diversity Visa program allows immigrants from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to apply for an immigrant visa, allowing them to come to the United States, receive a green card, and live and work in the U.S. indefinitely. The application process is generally open each year in the fall for a limited period and can be accessed online. Our immigration lawyers help clients determine eligibility and apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery as part of their broader immigration goals.
There is a cap on the number of individuals who may receive Diversity Visas each year. For Fiscal Year 2021, that cap is 55,000. When more than 55,000 applicants apply in a year, not all will be selected, and the Department of State will use a random computer drawing to select applicants from six geographic regions, with no single country receiving more than 7% of the Diversity Visas in any given year. Applicants who are not selected may apply again in a future year.
Eligibility Requirements for the Diversity Visa Lottery
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- They must have been born in an eligible country, OR their spouse must have been born in an eligible country, OR at least one of their parents must have been born in an eligible country, provided that neither of their parents was born or legally resided in an ineligible country at the time the applicant was born; and
- Excluded from this program are citizens of Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
- They must have a high school education or its equivalent (defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education), OR they must have at least two (2) years of work experience within the past five (5) years that requires at least two (2) years of training or experience to perform.
In addition to the eligibility requirements described above, applicants also cannot be inadmissible to enter the United States for any reason. Grounds for inadmissibility are too numerous to list here, but may include previous unlawful entries, terrorist activities, commission of certain crimes, or infection with certain transmissible diseases.
How the Selection Process Works
Applicants who are selected for the program will be notified online only through the “Entrant Status Check,” and they will have to fulfill additional requirements, such as completing a lengthy online application and paying various fees, before being issued an immigrant visa.
Path to Citizenship After Receiving a Diversity Visa
Successful applicants who travel to the United States and receive their green cards will be eligible for citizenship after five (5) years, provided that they apply, meet all the other requirements, and pass the citizenship test.
Consult a Pennsylvania Immigration Attorney
If you are interested in learning more about diversity visas, call 717-731-8114 or contact us online to set up a consultation with one of our attorneys.