US Diversity Immigrant Visa Program: New Opportunities for Foreigners Starting October 2024
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme is the jewel in the crown of United States immigration policy and once again will be open for new registrations this coming October 2024. This is a program annually designed to afford an opportunity for persons from countries with historically low rates of immigration into the United States to gain United States residency, followed by an opportunity subsequently for admission into the United States, only subject to those persons who qualify under rigorous eligibility criteria.
What is the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program?
Please be advised that, due to court decisions that are appealable, the U.S. Department of State will be unable to upgrade the Diversity Visa cases for either the 2020 or 2021 program years; all eligible, interested individuals may apply as part of
the DV 2026 program year for a new chance to win.
Registration Details for DV-2026
The DV-2026 program will begin in October 2024. The registration period conveys the meaning of a limited time frame within which applicants are entitled to submit entries electronically. Entries are not accepted late or in paper form. An applicant must carefully follow every detailed instruction as given by the Department of State to successfully register.
There is no charge for registering in the DV Program. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services strongly encourages you to fill in your own entry and not to use visa consultants or agents. If you require someone to assist you in completing your entry, you must be there. That way, you can ensure that information is accurate and you retain your confirmation page and unique confirmation number.
Important Dates and Status Checks
DV-2024 entrants should continue to check the Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website through September 30, 2024. Submission for DV-2024 opened on October 5, 2022, and closed on November 8, 2022. DV-2025 applicants should hold onto their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2025.
Please be advised that, due to court decisions that are appealable, the U.S. Department of State will be unable to upgrade the Diversity Visa cases for either the 2020 or 2021 program years; all eligible, interested individuals may apply as part of
the DV 2026 program year for a new chance to win.
Selection and Further Processing
The real process of selection for the DV Program is by random drawing, based on each region and country’s visa allocations. Moreover, on May 4, 2024, entrants will be updated on the Electronic Diversity Visa website regarding whether an entrant has been selected for further processing by the Department of State.
If randomly selected and if physically present in the United States, you could also be eligible for adjustment of status to permanent resident. However, selection will not guarantee a visa interview; the applicant must meet all the eligibility requirements set by the law of the United States for a Diversity Visa. End
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Programme is the way through which a person from a low-immigration country could legally pursue residency in the United States. Since the DV-2026 Program is going to be open in October 2024, a prospective applicant should be very strict on how to go about the registration process in order to keep himself or herself up to date with the status of entry for a better chance of success.
