On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of State began accepting applications for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The online registration process is free, and the deadline for submissions is set for noon EST on November 7, 2024.
Key Details:
The DV lottery for FY 2026 will close at noon EST on November 7, 2024.
The lottery is available to individuals born in countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.
Applicants must meet basic educational or work experience requirements.
The program is open to applicants born in countries with historically low immigration to the U.S. However, individuals born in certain countries are not eligible for the FY 2026 lottery. These countries include: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including mainland China and Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El
Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
To qualify, applicants must have at least a high school education or its equivalent, or they must have two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in a field that requires at least two years of training or experience. Those who are ineligible due to their country of birth may still be able to apply if their spouse, or in some cases, their parent, was born in an eligible country.
The State Department will make 55,000 immigrant visas available through the lottery, and winners can include their spouses and children in their application.
Starting May 3, 2025, applicants can check their lottery status on the State Department’s website using a unique confirmation number. It is essential for registrants to keep this confirmation number safe. Those selected will be eligible to submit their immigrant visa applications starting October 1, 2025.
Related topics:
- Local Organizations Assist Immigrants with Housing, Jobs, and Visa Support
- Americans Flock to Europe’s Golden Visa Programs as Presidential Election Approaches
- Feds Investigating New York Government Workers for Potentially Fraudulent Visas
