Diversity Visa Lottery

 

Registration opens October 6, 2021, at 12:00 noon; registration closes November 9, 2021, at 12:00 noon. Apply here!

Applying:

Coming to live in the United States is a goal for many. However, not everyone has a path into the United States because they do not have a family member or employer that can sponsor them. Luckily, for up to 55,000 people in FY 2023, there is hope through something called the Diversity Visa Lottery. The application is free, but there are two eligibility requirements:

  1. You must be a native of a country that has a historically low rate of immigration to the United States.

    Full list of eligible countries can be found here:

    • If you are not a native of a country that has historically low rates of immigration to the United States, but your spouse is a native of a country that is or one of your parents were born in a country that is, you can still apply.

  2. You must be able to demonstrate that you meet the education or work experience requirement by showing that (1) you have completed your high school education, or its equivalent; or (2) that you have two years of work experience (out of the last five years) in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.

  • Completion of high school is defined as completing a 12 year course OR formal elementary and secondary education.

  • To qualify under the work experience option, you should look to the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net database as this is where the Department of State will compare your work experience.

For 2023, the following countries are EXCLUDED from the Diversity Lottery because they had more than 50,000 individuals immigrate to the United States in the five years before:

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, and Vietnam.

Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

Please contact Soria Law at 561-318-3600, to determine if you are eligible to apply for the Diversity Visa Lottery or if need assistance with obtaining your Diversity Visa (through consular processing or adjustment of status) if you are chosen.