The U.S. Department of State (DOS) will begin accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Diversity Visa lottery beginning on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at noon Eastern and ending on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at noon Eastern.
The Diversity Visa lottery program for FY 2022 will make up to 55,000 green card numbers available through random selection, and the results will be announced in May 2021. Foreign nationals whose registrations are chosen in the lottery can submit their green card applications beginning October 1, 2021.
What is the Diversity Visa lottery?
The Diversity Visa lottery is reserved for natives of countries that have historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. This year, individuals born in the following countries are ineligible for the Diversity Visa:
- 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
- Vietnam
Individuals born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are able to participate. Those who cannot register because their country of birth is excluded may be able to qualify through a spouse who was born in an eligible country, or in certain circumstances, through a parent’s country of birth. Entrants must have a high school education or its equivalent or at least two years of qualifying work experience to qualify.
After following and completing the DOS’s official lottery instructions, applicants can check if they were selected beginning May 8, 2021 on the official Diversity Visa lottery entry status website.