Diversity VISA “Green Card” Lottery

The Diversity Lottery Program allocates 55,000 new immigrant visas each year for individuals from underrepresented nations. A nation is considered underrepresented if less than 50,000 people from that nation have immigrated to the US in the past five years.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the Diversity Lottery Program, an applicant should have either a high school education, its equivalent, or two years’ work experience within the last five years in a job which requires two years of training. Spouses and children are eligible, including spouses and children acquired after the entry submission.

The applicant or applicant’s spouse must be a native of a nation eligible for the Diversity Lottery Program. The applicant may be eligible if his/her parent was born in a country eligible to participate in the lottery.

The Diversity Lottery Program randomly picks the 55,000 visa candidates. Individuals are chosen to receive the visa by chance, not by merit.

STEPS

Each year, the Department of State publishes specific instructions on how to apply for the Diversity Visa. These instructions are typically made available in August, and the registration period usually begins in early October. Contact an immigration attorney to learn more about this year’s qualifications.

DOCUMENTS

Typically, an applicant only needs to submit a letter detailing his or her personal information. However, directions must be followed exactly when writing this letter, as any deviation may result in disqualification. A qualified NC immigration attorney can help you ensure that all instructions have been followed.

For more information on the diversity visa program, please click here to review the US State Department’s official instructions and news updates.