By: Diya Mathews

Online registration for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery is officially open starting today, October 6, 2021 at 12 PM eastern time (ET). The DV lottery will accept online applications until Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 12 PM ET. 55,000 DV applicants will be randomly selected to receive green cards. Lottery selections will be announced in May 2022 and selected foreign nationals can submit their green card applications starting October 1, 2022.

DIversity visa lottery eligibility 

Applicants are eligible for the DV lottery if:

• They are native to a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States.
  • Macau special administrative region (SAR) and Taiwan are eligible.
• Their spouse or parent is native to an eligible country, even if their country of birth is excluded, under special circumstances.
• They have a high school education, equivalency, or two or more years of work experience within the past five years.

Countries which are ineligible for the lottery include Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland), United Kingdom dependent territories, and Vietnam.

registration process

• Submit the online form and digital photo to the DV lottery website. If filing with a spouse or child, they should be included in the initial submission.
• Each entrant is only allowed one submission. If multiple entries are submitted, they will all be deleted.
• The State Department provides instructions for the submission process, such as photo requirements. Any entries that do not meet these guidelines will be immediately disqualified.
• After an entry is accepted, the entrant will receive a confirmation number that can be used to monitor the status of the application.

All winners will be chosen by random selection. Results will be available from May 8, 2022 to September 30, 2023 on the DV lottery webpage by confirmation number.

Protecting yourself from fraud 

The best way to avoid DV lottery fraud is to work closely with an immigration attorney to examine all submissions and information received. It is essential all entrants remember:

• Do not submit any information to a website that is not the official state department DV lottery website.
• There is no lottery registration fee.
• The State Department will not send out emails regarding the DV lottery.
• Do not send money or information to anyone without consulting your attorney.

Conclusion

For help filing a DV lottery entry or for specific questions regarding an application please contact your experienced Chugh, LLP immigration professional.