State Department Announces DV 2022 Lottery Application Dates: October 7 to November 10, 2020

September 30, 2020

The State Department just released its instructions for the DV 2022 Lottery for a chance to secure one of the 55,000 green cards available next fiscal year (FY 2022). The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was mandated by Congress to allow immigration from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the U.S.

Individuals from the following countries are NOT eligible to apply because more than 50,000 natives of those countries immigrated to the U.S. in the previous five years:

Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (now including Hong Kong), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Macau and Taiwan are eligible.

If you were not born in an eligible country, you may be eligible based on your spouse’s country of birth or in limited circumstances, based on one of your parent’s country of birth. Please see the instructions for precise eligibility criteria.

In addition to country of birth, eligibility for the DV Lottery requires the equivalent of a U.S. high school education, or work for at least two years within the last five in a qualifying occupation. There is no cost to register. Individuals who apply more than once will be disqualified.

The DV 2022 Lottery results will be available starting May 8, 2021, and those selected will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status starting October 1, 2021. 

We recommend applicants closely review the instructions and FAQs provided by the State Department.