The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the Green Card Lottery or DV Lottery, is a program that makes immigrant visas available to citizens of countries with low immigration rates to the United States. The program was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 and awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas each year through a random selection process. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) .

To be eligible for the Diversity Visa Lottery, an individual must be from a country that is eligible for the program and meet certain eligibility requirements, such as having a high school education or equivalent, or two years of work experience in a qualifying occupation. The list of eligible countries may change each year, and the U.S. Department of State puts out a list of eligible and ineligible countries each year.

The registration period for the DV Lottery is limited and changes each year. All entries must be submitted electronically on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website during the specified registration period. The Department of State uses sophisticated technology to detect multiple entries, and if an individual submits more than one entry, they will be disqualified.

If an individual is selected for the Diversity Visa Lottery, they can apply for an immigrant visa and, if approved, obtain permanent residency in the United States. The vast majority of people who are selected for the Diversity Visa aren’t in the United States, and will apply for a green card through the U.S. consulate in their home country. If an individual is in the United States in a temporary immigration status when they win the Diversity Visa lottery, they can apply for a green card through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by filing Form I-485.