What is the Green Card Lottery?

Every year 50,000 immigrants are given diversity visas. These immigrants come from countries with low rates of immigration.
 
These visas will not be awarded to those who are from countries that have had more than 50,000 immigrants within the last five years.
 
The National Visa Center within the Department of State administers the lottery and chooses winners from qualified countries.
 
Those who are awarded a Diversity Visa are considered permanent immigrants and have the opportunity to apply for Permanent Residency (“a Green Card).
 
If you receive a Green Card, you have the ability to live in the United States, as well as the ability to apply and work for any company. A Diversity Visa holder is also allowed to bring their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21 to the United States with them. 
 
What does this law mean?
 
The Visa Lottery is addressed in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Paragraph 203. Please click  for more information.
 
Who is eligible to take part in the Visa Lottery?
 
You or your spouse must be citizens of a country that is allowed to paticipate in the Visa Lottery. If you were not born in an eligible country, then you are ineligible.  However, you are eligible if your parents were born in an eligible country. Before the lottery takes place, the State Department publishes a list of the eligible countries. Some requirements are:
 
1.    You must have a high school diploma, or the equivalent thereof.   A diploma in the USA is defined as having completed school through the 12th grade.  In the event that you did not receive a diploma or the equivalent, then you must have 2 years of professional experience within the last 5 years in an occupation that requires a minimum of 2 years training or a 2-year apprenticeship.

Further information:

Diversity Lottery

How to apply?

What is it?

Who can participate?