State Department Announces FY2023 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Application Dates: October 6 to November 9, 2021

October 6, 2021

The State Department just released its instructions for the DV 2023 Lottery for a chance to secure one of the 55,000 green cards available next fiscal year (FY 2023). 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 SAR), 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, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

Persons born in Macau SAR 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.

Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2023 electronically between Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00pm EST and Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 12:00pm EST. The DV 2023 Lottery results will be available starting May 8, 2022 and those selected will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status starting October 1, 2022. 

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