Attend an in-person interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Selection is performed through a random, computer-generated drawing. The Entrant Status Check on the official site is the way the Department of State notifies selectees. If you lose your confirmation number provided during registration, you can retrieve it via the site’s recovery tool, but the government will never send you an email or letter stating that you have won. Next Steps for Winners
The registration window typically opens once a year, usually from early October through early November. During this time, the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website allows eligible participants to submit their entries for free. The U.S. Department of State emphasizes that there is never a fee to enter the lottery; any website asking for payment to register or promising "increased chances" of winning is a scam. dvprogram.state
Winning the lottery does not guarantee a Green Card; it only makes you eligible to apply for one. Selected individuals must: Submit the DS-260 immigrant visa electronic application.
Provide proof of eligibility and pay the official visa processing fee at the time of the interview. Attend an in-person interview at a U
You must be a native of a country that has sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the previous five years. Countries like India, China, Mexico, and Nigeria are frequently excluded from the list due to high immigration volumes.
You must have at least a high school education or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training. Checking Selection Status The Entrant Status Check on the official site
To successfully register on the state portal, applicants must meet two primary criteria: