Alert: 2026 U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Period Has Begun

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The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (colloquially the diversity visa or diversity lottery) is designed to promote immigration to the United States by natives of countries with otherwise low US immigration rates. Interested applicants must have been born in a country of low admission to the United States. If the applicant was not born in a designated low admission country, the principle of cross-chargeability also applies. Cross-chargeability is a rule which allows a foreign national to be considered under their spouse’s or, in limited cases their parent’s, country of birth instead of their own. Eligible countries are organized by geographic region into the following categories: Africa; Asia; Europe; North America; Oceania; South America, Central America and the Caribbean.[1] Of these categories, 53 countries in the “Africa” region, 31 countries in the “Asia” region, 57 countries in the “Europe” region, 1 country in the “North America” region, 14 countries in the “Oceania” region, and 22 countries in the “South America, Central America and the Caribbean” region are eligible. A full list of countries may be found on the Department of State website.

Along with being a native of a low admission country, a prospective applicant must also possess either a “high school education” or equivalent, or at least “2 years of work experience within the last 5 years” in an occupation that requires at least 2 years of experience to undertake.[2] If the interested applicant meets both requirements, they may register in, or enter, the lottery.

Those eligible to enter the lottery may do so between October 02, 2024 and November 05, 2024.[3] Once a registration is submitted, no further action is needed until the Department of State makes selections in May, 2025. Those foreign nationals who register for the lottery must check at this time to find out if they were selected. The Department of State will not reach out to provide this update.[4] If chosen, the foreign national may apply for either adjustment of status or consular processing, as applicable. However, in an effort to ensure that the entire available pool of allotted visas are used, the Department of State will select more people in the lottery than there are available visas. As a result, those chosen should apply as soon as possible after selection to create the best possible chance of receiving a green card.

[1] DV 2026 Plain Language Instructions and FAQs.pdf (state.gov)

[2] Chapter 2 – Eligibility Requirements | USCIS

[3] 2026 Diversity Visa Program to launch next week – U.S. Embassy in Mongolia (usembassy.gov)

[4] https://dvprogram.state.gov/ESC/

 

Written by Ciara Melville

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