The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, is a U.S. government program that provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. It's designed to diversify the immigrant population.

Yes, the DV Lottery is completely free to enter through the official U.S. State Department website (dvprogram.state.gov). Beware of websites that charge fees - these are scams. The only costs are visa processing fees if you're selected and decide to proceed.

DV-2027 registration typically opens in early October 2025 and closes in early November 2025. The exact dates will be announced by the U.S. State Department. Results are usually available in May 2026.

No! Submitting multiple entries will result in disqualification. You may only submit one entry per person during each registration period. However, if you're married, both you and your spouse can each submit an entry.

Over 90% of DV Lottery disqualifications are photo-related because the requirements are very strict and automatically checked by software. Common mistakes include wrong dimensions, incorrect background, improper lighting, or facial expression issues.

Photos must be: 600x600 pixels minimum, square format, taken within 6 months, white/off-white background, neutral expression, no glasses (unless medically necessary), JPEG format under 240KB. Head should occupy 50-69% of image height.

Generally no. Glasses are not recommended unless medically necessary and you cannot remove them. If you must wear glasses, ensure there's no glare, reflection, or shadow, and your eyes are clearly visible.

Yes, modern smartphones can produce acceptable photos if used correctly with proper lighting and background. However, ensure the photo meets all technical requirements. Our free green card photo checker can validate your image.

Most countries are eligible except those that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. in the past 5 years. Ineligible countries typically include: China, India, Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, and others. Check our country eligibility tool for the complete list.

You need either: (1) High school diploma or equivalent (12 years of elementary and secondary education), OR (2) Two years of work experience within the past 5 years in an occupation requiring at least 2 years of training or experience.

Yes, if your spouse was born in an eligible country, you can claim your spouse's country of birth. You can also claim your parents' country of birth if neither parent was born in your country of birth and neither parent was a resident there at the time of your birth.

No English requirement exists for the DV Lottery application itself. However, if selected, you may need to demonstrate English proficiency during the visa interview process or provide evidence of education conducted in English.

Winning means you're selected for further processing, not guaranteed a visa. More people are selected than visas available (55,000). You must still meet all requirements, pay fees, attend an interview, and pass background checks.

If selected, you'll pay a $330 diversity visa fee plus standard immigrant visa processing fees (around $325). Additional costs may include medical examinations, document translation, and travel to the interview.

You must respond quickly after selection. The visa processing period runs from October 1, 2027, to September 30, 2028. All visa processing must be completed by September 30, 2028 - no extensions are given.

Yes, your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included in your application. They can accompany you to the U.S. or follow within the same fiscal year. You must list all eligible family members in your original application.