What is the DV program?
The Diversity Visa program makes a limited number of US permanent-resident visas available each year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. It is popularly known as “the lottery”.
You register during a limited window each year (usually October to November) on the official website dvprogram.state.gov, then a random draw selects entrants to continue the process.
Who can apply?
- You were born in a country that is eligible this year. If yours is not, you may qualify through your spouse’s or your parents’ country of birth under specific conditions.
- You hold a high school education or equivalent (12 years of schooling),
- or you have at least two years of work experience within the last five years in a qualifying occupation on the US Department of Labor list.
- You must list your spouse and all unmarried children under 21, even if they do not plan to immigrate with you.
The list of ineligible countries changes every year. Our data form warns you when your country of birth is on it.
Registration steps
- Prepare a compliant photo for yourself, your spouse and each child.
- Have your passport, personal details, mailing address and a reachable email ready.
- Fill in the registration form on the official website during the window and submit it only once.
- Keep the confirmation number and confirmation page; they are your only way to learn the result.
- Check the result on the official website on the stated date using your confirmation number.
Photo rules
The photo is one of the most common reasons entries are disqualified. These are the specifications we check:
| Format | JPEG (.jpg or .jpeg) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Square, 600 to 1200 pixels |
| File size | Up to 240 KB |
| Color | 24-bit color (sRGB), not black and white |
| Head height | 50% to 69% of the image height |
| Eye line | 56% to 69% from the bottom of the image |
Common mistakes that lead to disqualification
- Entering more than once, or spouses filing separate entries without each listing the other.
- Writing the name in Arabic letters or with a spelling that differs from the passport.
- Forgetting to list an eligible spouse or child, or listing a child aged 21 or over.
- A photo with a colored or shadowed background, with glasses, or edited with filters.
- Using an old photo or photographing a screen.
- Choosing the wrong country of eligibility or a birth date that differs from the passport.
- Entering an expired passport or one about to expire.
- Losing the confirmation number; the result cannot be retrieved without it.
After registration
Results are usually published in May of the year after registration on the official website, through the “Entrant Status Check” page, using your confirmation number.
If you are selected, you follow the official website’s instructions to complete your file and schedule an interview; visa fees are paid directly to the official authorities and only at later stages.
Beware of scams
- The US Department of State does not send emails announcing that you won.
- The only payment at registration is the :official government fee, paid on dvprogram.state.gov itself. Checking the result is free, and nobody should ask you to pay for it.
- Always verify the address ends in .gov and is dvprogram.state.gov.
- Our service is optional, and we make clear it is not affiliated with the US Government and does not affect your chances.
Questions and answers
Can spouses each submit their own entry?
Yes, one entry each, and each must list the other as spouse. This helps the family because if either entry wins it covers both.
Must I list children who will not travel with me?
Yes. You must list every unmarried child under 21 at the time of entry, including stepchildren and adopted children, even if they will not immigrate.
How much does official registration cost?
The official entry on dvprogram.state.gov costs a $1 government fee (non-refundable), paid online on the official website when you submit. You can enter yourself directly and pay only that fee.
What if I make a mistake after submitting?
An entry cannot be edited after it is sent. That is why we review your data carefully with you before submission.
How long must the passport be valid?
The passport must be valid on the day of registration. If you are selected you will later need a valid passport to complete the process.
Can I apply on someone else’s behalf?
You can help others, but each person is responsible for the accuracy of their data. We require the applicant’s explicit consent to submit on their behalf.
Do you keep my data?
We keep it for as long as needed to serve you, then photos and documents are deleted automatically after the retention period stated in the privacy policy.
Important notice, in plain words
Please read these facts before you start, so you can decide with full information.
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This website is an independent private service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing the US Government or the US Department of State.
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The official entry on dvprogram.state.gov costs a $1 US government fee (non-refundable). You can enter yourself directly on the official website and pay only that $1.
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Our 5.000 JOD fee covers only the help and submitting the entry on your behalf. The $1 government fee is passed through: we pay it for you when we submit and collect it from you, so you pay one total of 5.710 JOD.
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Nobody, including us, can increase your chance of winning. The selection is entirely random.
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Only one entry per person per year is allowed. Duplicate entries get you disqualified.
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Results are published only on the official website. With the confirmation number we give you, you check them yourself.
dvprogram.state.gov — the official DV program website