The US Green Card Lottery is now open for 2022!
The entry submission period for DV-2024 closes at 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 8, 2022.
For those who have never heard of the Green Card Lottery, this program (officially named “Diversity Visa” Program) provides up to 55,000 US immigrant visas each fiscal year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States (defined as those countries with less than 50,000 immigrants to the US during the previous five years). To see if you qualify, check out this year’s list of qualifying countries, starting on page 16.
In addition to the nationality requirement, applicants must have at least “two years of high school or its equivalent or two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience."
Interestingly, the program, which is about “bringing diversity” to the US population, was created by President Reagan in the late-1980s with Ireland in mind, as a large number of Irish were fleeing an economic crisis back home at the time.
Here are four reasons why you should enter the green card lottery this year:
1. It is free to apply for the DV-2024 lottery
In a time of rampant inflation, immigration fees and services have not been spared. However, this program has been - and remains - free of charge. However, if you win, you will be responsible for paying all required visa application fees.
All eligible persons can enter the Visa lottery on the Department of State website.
2. You aren’t competing against the entire world
The DV program issues up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually, based on the results of a random drawing.
Interestingly though, participants are placed into six geographic regions ("lottery pot") and compete only with other participants in that region - not with participants from every region.
Currently, the highest allocations per continent go to Africa and Europe, though no one country can win more than 7% of the visas.
3. If you are married, you and your spouse can both apply for the DV-2024 lottery
Both people in a married couple are allowed to enter the DV-2024 lottery. As long as one of you is from a qualifying country, both partners are able to apply based on that spouse’s country of birth. By doing so, married couples are able to double their chances of winning the lottery and the winner of the lottery will be able to apply for green cards for their spouse and their (unmarried) children under the age of 21.
4. The DV-2024 lottery can be combined with all other immigration processes
Applying for the DV-2024 lottery doesn’t have any influence on your current status as a US visa holder, or on any of your pending or future visa applications. As a matter of fact, you do not even have to mention that you applied for the DV-2024 Lottery on other visa applications.
Apply today - entry closes on November 8, 2022 at 12:00PM EST (GMT -5)!
