Applications now open for 2022 U.S. Visa Lottery

Last updated on 9 October 2020

The Department of State announced the beginning of the Diversity Visa 2022 Program (DV-2022).

The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes available up to 55,000 diversity visas (DVs) each year, drawn from random selection among all entries, to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

The online registration period for the DV-2022 Program begins on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5). Individuals who submit more than one entry during the registration period will be disqualified. There is no fee to enter.

The law allows only one entry for each person during each registration period.  Entrants who submit more than one entry will be ineligible to receive a DV.  However, a husband and a wife may each submit a separate entry, listing the other as a derivative dependent, if each meets the eligibility requirements.

Each principal entrant must provide information from a valid, unexpired passport. This requirement applies to the principal entrant only, not to dependents.  There are very limited exceptions that only apply to individuals who are unable to obtain a passport.  Entrants who do not include valid passport information with the entry will be ineligible to receive a DV.

All entrants must enroll with a recent photo, taken within the last six months.  If a person submits the same photo from a previous DV year, that person will be ineligible to receive a DV.

Being randomly chosen as a selectee does not guarantee you will receive a visa.  Selection merely means that you are eligible to apply for a DV, and, if your rank number becomes eligible for final processing, potentially to be issued a DV if qualified.

Because it is likely that some of the first 55,000 individuals selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 55,000 entries will be selected.  This also means there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected.  Once all of the 55,000 DV visas have been issued, the program will end.  It is possible that visa numbers could be exhausted before September 2022.

It is very important for entrants to keep a record of their unique confirmation number for the submission of their DV entry until at least September 30, 2022.

The confirmation number is the only way to check whether an entry has been selected and to obtain visa application and appointment information, if selected.  The unique confirmation number helps to protect DV entrants against fraud, malfeasance, or other problems with the mail.

Unscrupulous visa facilitators have been known to assist entrants with their entries, retain the confirmation page, and then demand more money in exchange for information on the entry.  Entrants can avoid this by ensuring they receive the unique confirmation number at the time of entry.

Beginning May 8, 2021, DV-2022 entrants will be able to use their unique confirmation number provided at registration to check the online Entrant Status Check at   https://dvprogram.state.gov/ to see if their entry was selected.

The online Entrant Status Check will inform successful entrants how to apply for DVs for themselves and their eligible family members.  The Department also will confirm visa interview appointments through the Entrant Status Check.

Successful entrants are not notified by mail, email or over the telephone of the status of their E-DV online entry.  All mail, emails, or telephone calls claiming to notify entrants they have been selected for the DV program are not legitimate.

Please read the DV-2022 Entry Instructions carefully. Entrants may be disqualified for not completing the entry form correctly or by submitting more than one entry. Use the link below to view the instructions.