U.S. Green Card Lottery Scheme 2025, Eligibility Rules & Application Process

Seven years ago, I was sitting in my apartment in Bucharest, Romania, nervously clicking through the official U.S. State Department website. My palms were sweaty, and I kept refreshing the page as if doing so would somehow change the outcome. Then, there it was—the confirmation notice that would change my life: “Based on the information provided, you have been randomly selected for further processing in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for the fiscal year 2018.”

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I still remember the disbelief. After two previous unsuccessful attempts, I had finally won the Green Card Lottery. Today, as I write this from my home in Minneapolis, I can trace every aspect of my current life—my job at a local marketing firm, my weekend hikes around Minnesota’s beautiful lakes, even the friends who’ve become like family—back to that moment.

The Diversity Visa Program (DV Program), commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, remains one of the most straightforward pathways to permanent U.S. residency for people from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. Every year, it opens doors of opportunity for 55,000 individuals and their families from around the world. But despite its relative simplicity compared to other immigration programs, navigating the application process can feel overwhelming.

Having been through the process myself and helped numerous friends and family members with their applications over the years, I’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you understand if you’re eligible, how to apply correctly, and what to expect if you’re selected.

Understanding the Green Card Lottery: Purpose and History

The Diversity Visa Program was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 with a specific purpose: to diversify the immigrant population in the United States. Before this program, U.S. immigration was heavily dominated by family-sponsored immigrants and those from a small number of countries. The Green Card Lottery was designed to give people from nations with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S. a chance to obtain permanent residency.

The program has evolved over the years, but its core mission remains the same—to ensure that the benefits of immigration are available to people from a broad range of countries, not just those with established connections to the United States.

“The Diversity Visa Program reflects core American values,” explains immigration attorney Maria Gonzalez, whom I consulted for this article. “It embodies the idea that the U.S. benefits from welcoming people from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. It’s also one of the few immigration pathways that doesn’t require family connections, job offers, or substantial financial investment.”

The program allocates visas among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration to the United States. No single country may receive more than 7% of the available visas in any one year, ensuring a truly diverse pool of new immigrants.

Key Facts About the Program

Before diving into eligibility requirements and application procedures, here are some essential facts about the Green Card Lottery:

• It’s entirely free to enter. The U.S. government does not charge any fee for entering the lottery.
• It’s a true lottery. Selection is random among qualified entries.
• 55,000 diversity visas are available each fiscal year (though 5,000 are set aside for use under the NACARA program).
• Approximately 12-15 million people apply each year, putting your odds of selection at roughly 1 in 25 (though this varies significantly depending on your country of eligibility).
• Being selected in the lottery doesn’t guarantee a green card—it only gives you the opportunity to apply for one.
• The application period is brief, typically lasting only 30-45 days each October/November.

Eligibility Requirements: Do You Qualify?

The Green Card Lottery has two primary eligibility requirements: country of birth and education/work experience. Let’s examine each in detail.

Country of Birth Eligibility

Your eligibility is generally determined by your country of birth, not your current citizenship or residence. Countries whose natives sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the previous five years are excluded from the program.

For the DV-2025 program (the lottery held in late 2023 for visas issued in 2025), the following countries are ineligible:

• 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
• Vietnam

It’s important to note that this list changes slightly each year based on immigration patterns. For example, Nigeria was eligible for many years but became ineligible recently due to increased immigration rates to the U.S.

“One aspect that often confuses applicants is the country of chargeability,” notes Gonzalez. “While typically this is your country of birth, there are two potential exceptions.”

These exceptions are:

1. Spouse’s country of birth: If you were born in an ineligible country, but your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can claim your spouse’s country of birth—provided both of you are named on the selected entry, are issued visas, and enter the U.S. simultaneously.
2. Parents’ country of birth: If you were born in an ineligible country, but neither of your parents was born in or was a resident of that country at the time of your birth, you might be able to claim one of your parents’ countries of birth.

I’ve seen this second exception help several friends. For instance, my colleague Pavel was born in the United Kingdom (ineligible) while his Ukrainian parents were there temporarily for work. Because neither parent was a permanent UK resident, Pavel could claim Ukraine as his country of chargeability, making him eligible for the lottery.

Education/Work Experience Requirements

Beyond country eligibility, you must also meet either education or work experience requirements:

Education Requirement: You must have completed a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education (equivalent to graduating high school in the U.S.).

Work Experience Alternative: If you don’t meet the education requirement, you must have at least two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience.

The work experience must be in a qualifying occupation as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database, typically jobs classified in Job Zones 4 or 5, categorized as Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range 7.0 or higher.

“The education requirement is usually straightforward,” Gonzalez explains. “But the work experience alternative can be trickier to navigate. I always recommend that applicants check if their occupation qualifies using the O*Net Online database before applying through this route.”

From personal experience helping others apply, I’ve found that occupations like specialized technicians, craftspeople, and certain service providers often face challenges proving their jobs meet the SVP requirements. Careful documentation of job responsibilities is essential if you’re qualifying through work experience.

The Application Process: Step by Step

The application process for the Green Card Lottery is straightforward but requires careful attention to detail. Any errors or omissions can disqualify your entry. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of the process:

When and Where to Apply

The DV Lottery application period (also called the registration period) typically occurs once a year, usually in October-November. For DV-2025, the application period ran from October 4, 2023, to November 7, 2023. The exact dates for future lotteries will be announced on the official State Department website.

Applications are accepted ONLY through the official website: dvprogram.state.gov. Any other website claiming to submit applications on your behalf is not legitimate.

“One of the most common mistakes I see is people using third-party services to submit their applications,” warns Gonzalez. “Not only do these services charge unnecessary fees, but they often introduce errors that can disqualify applicants. The official process is designed to be completed without assistance.”

I can personally attest to this. My first two attempts were done through a “helper” website that charged €50 per application. Both were unsuccessful. For my winning entry, I applied directly through the official website—completely free—and was selected.

Preparing Your Application

Before starting your application, gather the following:

1. A recent digital photograph of each person included in your entry (main applicant, spouse, and all children under 21). Photos must meet specific requirements:
   • Taken within the last six months
   • Dimensions of 600×600 pixels
   • In color, with a clear full-frontal view of your face
   • Neutral facial expression with both eyes open
   • Plain, light background
   • No hats or head coverings (unless worn for religious purposes)
   • No glasses
2. Valid passport information for the main applicant (recommendation, not requirement)
3. Personal information for yourself, your spouse (if married), and all unmarried children under 21, including:
   • Full name
   • Date of birth
   • Gender
   • City and country of birth
   • Photographs meeting the requirements above

“The photo requirements cause the most disqualifications,” Gonzalez emphasizes. “In some years, nearly 20% of entries are disqualified due to photo issues alone.”

My own experience confirms this. For my successful application, I had professional photos taken specifically for the lottery, then carefully resized them to meet the exact pixel requirements. For my earlier unsuccessful attempts, I had used regular passport photos that didn’t precisely match the DV Lottery specifications.

Completing Your Entry

The application form itself is relatively simple but must be completed with extreme care. Here’s what you’ll need to provide:

1. Personal Information: Name, gender, birth date, city and country of birth

2. Photograph: Uploaded according to specifications

3. Mailing Address: Where you can reliably receive mail

4. Country of Eligibility: Usually your country of birth

5. Family Information: Details about your spouse and children

6. Education: Highest level completed

7. Work Experience: Current occupation and experience

8. Additional Information: Straightforward questions about criminal history, previous U.S. immigration applications, etc.

After reviewing all information for accuracy, you’ll submit your entry. The system will then generate a confirmation page with a unique confirmation number. This number is CRUCIAL—it’s the only way to check your status when results are announced. I recommend taking a screenshot, printing the confirmation page, and storing the number in multiple secure locations.

“I’ve seen heartbreaking situations where people are selected but lose their confirmation number,” Gonzalez shares. “Without that number, there’s typically no way to proceed with your application, even if you were selected.”

Trust me on this—I stored my confirmation number in my password manager, emailed it to myself, and kept a printed copy in my important documents folder. Six months later, when it was time to check results, I was grateful for this redundancy.

After Submission: The Waiting Game

After the application period closes, all qualified entries are assigned a random number by computer. Then comes the hardest part—waiting approximately six months until results are announced.

Checking Your Results

Results for the DV-2025 lottery will be available starting May 4, 2024, and will remain accessible until September 30, 2025. To check your status:

1. Visit dvprogram.state.gov
2. Click on “Entrant Status Check”
3. Enter your unique confirmation number, your name, and year of birth
4. The system will tell you whether you’ve been selected

Remember: The State Department will NEVER email you about your selection. The only way to find out if you’ve been selected is through the Entrant Status Check system.

I vividly recall checking my results. I had set a calendar reminder and woke up early on the first day results were available. With my confirmation number ready, I anxiously logged into the system. Seeing the selection notification was a moment of pure joy and disbelief—one I hope many readers of this article will experience.

If You’re Selected: Next Steps

Being selected doesn’t guarantee a green card—it only means you’re eligible to apply for one. Selected applicants receive a rank number, which determines when they can proceed with their application.

There are two ways to proceed after selection:

1. Adjustment of Status: If you’re already lawfully in the United States, you may be eligible to adjust your status through USCIS.
2. Consular Processing: If you’re outside the U.S., you’ll attend an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country.

The majority of lottery winners, including myself, go through consular processing. This involves:

1. Completing the DS-260 immigrant visa application online
2. Gathering required documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, police certificates, etc.)
3. Completing a medical examination with an authorized physician
4. Attending a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate
5. If approved, paying the visa issuance fee and receiving your immigrant visa

“The period after selection is time-sensitive,” cautions Gonzalez. “Visas must be issued during the fiscal year for which you were selected (October 1 to September 30). If your number becomes current late in the fiscal year, you need to act quickly to complete all requirements.”

In my case, my number became current in January, about halfway through the fiscal year. I submitted my DS-260 immediately upon selection and had gathered most required documents in advance, which helped ensure I completed the process smoothly.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Through my own experience and helping others, I’ve observed several common mistakes that can derail a Green Card Lottery application. Here’s how to avoid them:

Double Entries

Each person may submit only ONE entry per lottery period. If you submit more than one, ALL your entries will be disqualified. This is strictly enforced and verified using sophisticated detection technology.

“Some applicants mistakenly believe that multiple entries increase their chances,” notes Gonzalez. “In reality, it guarantees disqualification.”

Incomplete Family Information

You MUST include your spouse and ALL unmarried children under 21, even if they don’t live with you or won’t immigrate with you. Failing to list an eligible family member will result in disqualification at the visa interview stage.

“I’ve seen cases where applicants were disqualified at their interview because they failed to list a child on their original entry,” Gonzalez shares. “This rule is enforced without exceptions.”

Using the Wrong Country of Eligibility

Remember, eligibility is typically based on your country of birth, not citizenship or residence. Using the wrong country can lead to disqualification.

Missing the Deadline

The application period is brief—typically just over a month. Once it closes, there are no extensions or exceptions.

“Every year, I hear from people who meant to apply but missed the window,” says Gonzalez. “I always recommend setting multiple reminders and applying early in the period rather than waiting until the last days.”

Photo Issues

As mentioned earlier, photo problems cause numerous disqualifications. Always check that your photos meet ALL requirements before submitting.

Losing Your Confirmation Number

Without your confirmation number, you cannot check if you’ve been selected. There is no recovery system for lost confirmation numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a quick reference guide to common questions about the Green Card Lottery:

Q: Does it cost money to enter the Green Card Lottery?

A: No. The U.S. government does not charge any fee to enter the lottery. You only pay fees if you’re selected and proceed with a visa application.

Q: Do I need a lawyer to apply?

A: No. The application is designed to be completed without professional assistance.

Q: Can I apply if I’m already in the U.S. on a different visa?

A: Yes. People in the U.S. on non-immigrant visas can apply for the lottery.

Q: Does the Green Card Lottery lead to citizenship?

A: Not directly. It leads to permanent residency (a green card). After 5 years as a permanent resident, you may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Q: Can my children over 21 be included in my application?

A: No. Only unmarried children under 21 at the time of your initial entry can be included.

Q: What are my chances of winning?

A: It varies by country. Overall odds are approximately 1 in 25, but for some low-application countries, odds can be significantly better.

Green Card Lottery Timeline and Requirements

My Personal Perspective: Is It Worth Trying?

As someone who changed their life through this program, I believe the Green Card Lottery represents one of the most accessible pathways to U.S. permanent residency. The application process is free and relatively simple, making the barrier to entry low compared to other immigration options.

While the odds of selection aren’t high, they’re not negligible either. In some eligible countries with lower application rates, chances can be quite reasonable—sometimes better than 1 in 10.

“I always tell clients that if they’re eligible, there’s little reason not to apply,” Gonzalez concludes. “The investment is minimal—just the time to complete an accurate application—and the potential reward is life-changing.”

My journey from a small apartment in Bucharest to building a life in Minnesota exemplifies the opportunity this program represents. It wasn’t always easy—navigating the post-selection process required patience, organization, and some financial investment for medical exams and visa fees. But the doors that have opened as a result have made every step worthwhile.

Whether you’re seeking educational opportunities, career advancement, or simply a new beginning, the Diversity Visa Program offers a chance worth taking. Just be meticulous with your application, maintain realistic expectations, and if selected, be prepared to act promptly to turn that selection into an actual visa.

After all, as it was for me, this could be the beginning of your American story.

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