Entry for 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery program opens October 4, 2023

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2025) are now available and entries must be submitted electronically between October 4, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)(GMT-4) and November 7, 2023, at 12:00 Noon, Eastern Standard Time (EDT)(GMT-5). Submission of more than one entry for a person during the registration period will disqualify all entries for that person.

For DV-2025, persons who are natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR)*, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

*Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Note: United Kingdom and its dependent territories are eligible for DV-2025.

Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s website here: Diversity Visa Instructions.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2025, up to 55,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2023

Entry for 2024 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Now Open

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2024 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2024) are now available and entries must be submitted electronically by November 8, 2022 at 12PM ET.

Persons born in the following countries are NOT eligible to apply:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2024, 55,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2022

Entry for 2023 Diversity Visa Lottery Program Now Open

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2023 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2023) are now available and entries must be submitted electronically by November 9, 2021 at 12PM ET.

Persons born in the following countries are NOT eligible to apply:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2023, 55,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2021

President Biden Issues Proclamation Revoking Immigrant Visa Ban

Last updated: 02/25/2021

On February 24, 2021, President Biden issued a President Proclamation revoking Proclamation 10014, known as the Immigrant Visa Ban or “IV Ban”. The IV Ban prevented the issuance of U.S. permanent residence (green card) visas by U.S. Embassies and Consulates for foreign nationals outside the U.S. Today’s Proclamation states in part that the IV Ban:

“does not advance the interests of the United States. To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world. And it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery.”

The Proclamation is posted here. The Department of State also issued guidance for IV applicants and visa holders (including Diversity Visa applicants/holders), available here.

Nonimmigrant visa bans (preventing temporary visa issuance by U.S. Embassies and Consulates until March 31, 2020 or revocation) and COVID travel bans remain in effect as of this writing. Permanent residence applications and visa petitions filed for foreign nationals inside the U.S. continue to be unaffected.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2021

Instructions for the 2022 Diversity Visa Lottery Program now available

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2022) are now available. Entries for the DV-2022 program must be submitted electronically between October 7 and November 10, 2020.

Persons born in the following countries are NOT eligible to apply:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2022, 55,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2020

Instructions for the 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery Program now available

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2020 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2020) are now available. Entries for the DV-2020 program must be submitted electronically between October 3 and November 6, 2018.

There are no changes in eligibility this year. Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2020, 50,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2018

Instructions for the 2019 Diversity Visa Lottery Program now available

The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2019 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2019) are now available. Entries for the DV-2019 program must be submitted electronically between October 3 and November 7, 2017.

There are no changes in eligibility this year. Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2019, 50,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2017

Diversity Visa Lottery Program entrants can check status online now

News Release from Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC – May 2, 2017 From now through September 30, 2017, entrants in the DV-2018 Diversity Visa Lottery may check the status of their entries through the State Department’s Entry Status Check website.

Entry Status Check is the only means by which the State Department will notify DV-2018 entrants of their selection. It will give winners instructions on how to proceed with their application for U.S. permanent residence, and will provide them with the date, time, and location of their immigrant visa interview.

For general information about the annual Diversity Visa Lottery, visit the State Department’s Diversity Visa website.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2017

Instructions for the 2018 Diversity Visa Lottery Program now available

News Release from Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC The U.S. Department of State’s instructions for the 2018 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-2018) are now available. Entries for the DV-2018 program must be submitted electronically between October 4 and November 7, 2016.

Ecuador is eligible for DV-2018. Otherwise, there are no changes in eligibility. Eligibility requirements and entry instructions are on the U.S. Department of State’s DV lottery web site.

The congressionally-mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered annually by the Department of State under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This law provides for a class of immigrants known as diversity immigrants, with visas made available to persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For fiscal year 2018, 50,000 diversity visas will be available.

© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2016