Toba Owojaiye Reporting
The U.S. Department of State has initiated the annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery registration period for fiscal year (FY) 2025, offering a chance for foreign citizens to secure one of the 55,000 green cards allocated for this purpose.
This program, commonly known as the Diversity Visa program, extends from October to November each year and is accessible online at no cost.
Eligible participants from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States, such as Kenya, are given the opportunity to obtain a green card through this initiative.
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, created by section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), is overseen by the Department of State. It caters to “diversity immigrants” hailing from nations with minimal historical immigration to the U.S. In contrast, individuals born in countries with higher immigration rates to the U.S. are ineligible for DV lottery participation.
Countries not eligible include Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland and Hong Kong-born individuals), Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, as well as natives of Macau, SAR, and Taiwan.
All DV lottery applications must be completed online, accompanied by a digital photograph, and may include a spouse and children. It’s essential to note that only one entry per person is permitted; submitting multiple registrations will result in disqualification.
To thwart fraud, registrants are urged to retain their unique confirmation numbers, as the State Department will not send DV lottery notifications via email or direct communication.
Additionally, DV lottery entrants must meet certain education or work experience requirements, necessitating at least a high school education or two years of employment in an occupation requiring a minimum of two years of training or experience.
Starting May 4, 2024, registrants can check their lottery status using their unique confirmation number on the State Department’s DV lottery entrant status page. This initiative not only promotes diversity but also provides a pathway for eligible individuals to pursue lawful immigration to the United States.