Skip to main content

Nixon Peabody LLP

  • People
  • Capabilities
  • Insights
  • About
Trending Topics
    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    Practices

    View All

    • Affordable Housing
    • Community Development Finance
    • Corporate & Finance
    • Cybersecurity & Privacy
    • Entertainment & Media
    • Environmental
    • Franchising & Distribution
    • Government Investigations & White Collar Defense
    • Healthcare
    • Intellectual Property
    • International Services
    • Labor, Employment, and Benefits
    • Litigation
    • Private Wealth & Advisory
    • Project Finance
    • Public Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Regulatory & Government Relations
    Industries

    View All

    • Aviation
    • Cannabis
    • Consumer
    • Energy
    • Financial Services
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education
    • Infrastructure
    • Manufacturing
    • Nonprofit Organizations
    • Real Estate
    • Sports & Stadiums
    • Technology
    Value-Added Services

    View All

    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

      We help clients create positive return on investments in people, products, and the planet.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    • Women in Dealmaking

      We provide strategic counsel on complex corporate transactions and unite dynamic women in the dealmaking arena.

    1. Home
    2. Insights
    3. Articles
    4. Applying for the Diversity Green Card Lottery

      Articles

    Article

    Applying for the Diversity Green Card Lottery

    Oct 10, 2024

    LinkedInX (Twitter)EmailCopy URL

    By Courtney New and Mary-Benham Nygren

    Applications for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program, which offers permanent resident visas to individuals from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States, were accepted from October 2, 2024, to November 7, 2024, for the fiscal year 2026. The registration period has now closed.

    The U.S. Department of State is expected to open the registration period for the Diversity Visa (DV) Program for Fiscal Year 2027 in early October 2025, with the application window likely closing in early November 2025. 

    Each year, 55,000 immigrant visas are made available through a Diversity Visa Lottery to natives of countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

    The US Department of State selects applications randomly from all qualified entries.

    When are applications accepted?

    Diversity Visa Lottery entries for the federal fiscal year 2027 are expected to be accepted beginning in early October 2025, typically around 12:00 noon Eastern Daylight Time, and will close in early November 2025 at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time. Exact dates will be confirmed by the U.S. Department of State closer to the official registration launch.

    Who can apply for a Diversity Visa?

    A DV lottery applicant must possess a valid and unexpired passport as well as either a high school diploma or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years.

    Please note that spouses can each file a Green card lottery application if they each meet the DV lottery eligibility requirements independently. If one spouse is selected, both will be eligible for green cards, as will all their minor children.

    A “winner” can save his/her employer significant time, money, and aggravation by avoiding the normal green card lottery process. Applicants currently possessing H or L visas need not worry about concurrently stating immigrant and nonimmigrant intent. Applicants currently possessing other types of visas should review this issue carefully before applying for the lottery.

    How can one apply for the Diversity Lottery?

    Foreign nationals eligible and interested in applying can find additional information on the State Department’s Diversity Visa Lottery website, including the DV Lottery Registration Form that must be completed online. There is no cost for foreign nationals to register for the Diversity Visa Lottery.

    Entrants will be able to check the status of their Diversity Visa applications and determine if they have been selected beginning May 3, 2025.

    What happens after an applicant receives a lottery selection?

    A lottery applicant selected in the Diversity Visa (DV) Program will be given the opportunity to begin the application process for U.S. permanent residence (a Green Card) on his or her own behalf and on behalf of their spouse and any unmarried children under the age of 21. The principal applicant is responsible for ensuring that all eligibility and documentation requirements are met.

    If selected in the Green Card Lottery, the applicant must pay the required non-immigrant visa and immigrant visa fees as part of the formal application and interview process administered by the U.S. Department of State.

    If permanent residence is granted (i.e., the issuance of a Green Card), the DV program winner will receive legal status authorizing them to live and work permanently in the United States.

    Late entries or incomplete documentation after selection may result in disqualification, so it is crucial to follow all instructions carefully and meet submission deadlines set by the Department of State.

    Frequently Asked Questions

     

    What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?

    The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the DV Program, is a U.S. government initiative administered by the Department of State that provides a path to lawful permanent residency (Green Card) for individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States.

    Who is eligible for the DV Lottery?

    Applicants must be from a country on the DV Lottery eligible countries list and must have either a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience. Each year, the U.S. Department of State publishes the US visa lottery eligible countries list. For the most recent program, eligible countries include: Argentina, Egypt, Nepal, Ukraine, Thailand, Albania, Kenya and Uzbekistan. The principal applicant must meet all eligibility criteria at the time of entry.

    What happens if I make a mistake on my DV Lottery entry?

    If you submit incorrect or incomplete information, your entry may be disqualified. You cannot correct an entry after submission. It's important to carefully review your DV Program application before submitting, as the application process does not allow for changes or edits once filed.

    Can I submit more than one entry to increase my chances?

    No. Submitting more than one entry per person in a given year will disqualify all entries. However, both spouses may submit one entry each if both meet eligibility requirements. Duplicate or late entries will be automatically rejected.

    Are there any costs to apply for the Green Card Lottery?

    There is no fee to submit a DV Lottery application, but if selected, applicants must pay the standard nonimmigrant visa and immigrant visa fees as part of the formal immigration process.

    Practices

    Immigration

    Insights And Happenings

    • Article

      Options available when an employee is not selected in the H-1B visa lottery

      April 2, 2024
    • Article

      The H-1B lottery registration period will be March 6 to 22, 2024

      Jan 31, 2024
    • Article

      Department of State to resume stateside renewal of certain H-1B visas

      Dec 28, 2023
    The foregoing has been prepared for the general information of clients and friends of the firm. It is not meant to provide legal advice with respect to any specific matter and should not be acted upon without professional counsel. If you have any questions or require any further information regarding these or other related matters, please contact your regular Nixon Peabody LLP representative. This material may be considered advertising under certain rules of professional conduct.

    Subscribe to stay informed of the latest legal news, alerts, and business trends.Subscribe

    • People
    • Capabilities
    • Insights
    • About
    • Locations
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Alumni
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Statement of Client Rights
    • Purchase Order Terms & Conditions
    • Nixon Peabody International LLC
    • PAL
    © 2025 Nixon Peabody. All rights reserved