• Source:JND
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The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, is a United States government initiative that allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually. These visas are awarded to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the US, offering a unique path to permanent residency for people who may not have family or employment sponsorship.

The Green Card Lottery is officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. It was established to promote diversity in the US immigrant population by providing an opportunity for individuals from underrepresented countries to obtain permanent resident status (a green card). The selection is random and conducted through a computerised lottery system.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, an applicant must meet two main requirements:

Country Of Birth:

Applicants must be born in a country that sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the US in the past five years. This excludes nationals of countries such as India, China, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For the DV-2026 program, countries ineligible include: India, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Bangladesh, and others. 

Indians are not eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery due to the high number of Indian immigrants in the US.

Education Or Work Experience:

Applicants must have: At least a high school diploma or two years of work experience (within the last five years) in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience, as per US Department of Labour guidelines.

Timeline and Application Process

Oct–Nov 2024: Apply for DV-2026 Lottery

May 2025: Results announced

Oct 2025 – Sept 2026: Visa applications and interviews

By Sept 30, 2026: All visas must be issued

After being selected, applicants submit Form DS-260 and attend an interview at their home country’s US consulate. If approved, they must enter the U.S. within six months of visa issuance.

If a winner is already in the US on a temporary visa, they may apply for a green card through USCIS by submitting Form I-485, once a visa number becomes available.

The DV Lottery provides a rare opportunity for many, but Indians remain ineligible due to the country's high migration numbers to the US.