Quick Overview:
- Registration for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery opens from Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at noon EDT until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at noon EST on the official State Department DV lottery website.
- All lottery applications must adhere to the State Department's strict requirements.

Detailed Information:

The State Department will commence accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery starting on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at noon EDT. Foreign nationals interested in participating in the lottery can do so until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at noon EST.

For FY 2025, the DV lottery program will allocate up to 55,000 green card numbers through a random selection process. The results for FY 2025 will be announced in May 2024. Individuals selected in this lottery can submit their green card applications starting on October 1, 2024.

Eligibility criteria for entering the lottery include being a native of a country with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. Individuals from countries with high rates of U.S. immigration are not eligible to participate. This year, citizens of specific countries, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, and others, are ineligible. However, individuals born in Macau SAR, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom and its dependent territories can participate. Those unable to register due to their country of birth may qualify through a spouse or parent's country of birth under certain circumstances. Entrants must also have at least a high school education or equivalent or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years.

To register for the DV lottery, entrants must complete an online form and provide a digital photo via the official DV lottery website. Each person is allowed only one entry; multiple registrations for the same individual result in disqualification. Strict adherence to the State Department's official lottery instructions is crucial, as entries and photos not meeting these requirements will be disqualified. Successful applicants will receive a confirmation number to check their application status.

Winners of the DV lottery are chosen through a random computer selection process, with results published on the official DV lottery entry status website from May 4, 2024, through at least September 30, 2025. The State Department does not notify entrants via letter, email, fax, or phone; the official website is the sole legitimate source for lottery results.

To safeguard against DV lottery fraud, it's important to watch out for deceptive lottery websites. Only the State Department's DV lottery website is authorized. There is no government fee to enter the lottery, and applicants should be cautious of websites or individuals claiming otherwise. If assistance is needed, it's advisable to seek competent advice, such as from a lawyer, but be wary of commercial websites offering registration outside the official period or for a fee. Be skeptical of any communication regarding winning the DV lottery if you didn't register or did so in a previous year, and avoid sending money or personal information to suspicious individuals or entities.

For more information on DV lottery fraud, visit the State Department and Federal Trade Commission websites. This information is provided for informational purposes only, and any specific questions should be directed to the immigration professional you work with.