{"id":65,"date":"2010-08-18T11:49:52","date_gmt":"2010-08-18T11:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/?p=65"},"modified":"2024-03-21T06:52:31","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T06:52:31","slug":"diversity-visa-immigrant-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/diversity-visa-immigrant-program","title":{"rendered":"What is the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Diversity Visa Immigrant Program is a concept unique to the US that isn\u2019t offered by any other country. It\u2019s more commonly known as the <strong>Green Card Lottery<\/strong>, which should indicate a bit more clearly what it\u2019s about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Numerous articles on our website detail the Diversity Visa Program, so we won\u2019t cover that in too much detail here. We\u2019ll still give a brief description, but instead, we\u2019ll focus mainly on how to apply with the greatest chance of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.usgreencardoffice.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/US-Green-Card.jpg\" alt=\"Diversity Visa Immigrant Program\" class=\"wp-image-797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/US-Green-Card.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/US-Green-Card-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><div><div><a href=\"#what-is-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">What is the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program?<\/a><\/div><div><a href=\"#how-to-apply-for-the-diversity-immigrant-visa-program\">How to Apply for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program<\/a><div><div><a href=\"#when-to-apply-for-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">When to Apply for the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program<\/a><\/div><div><a href=\"#getting-the-forms-correct-for-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">Getting the Forms Correct for the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program<\/a><\/div><div><a href=\"#waiting-for-the-results-can-be-a-long-wait\">Waiting for the Results can be a long wait. <\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div><a href=\"#final-thoughts-on-the-diversity-immigrant-visa-program\">Final Thoughts on the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">What is the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply put, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is a scheme that awards Green Cards. It\u2019s specifically designed to increase diversity in the US (hence the name) by targeting countries with low immigration rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It began in 1990 and has been a massive success. Each year, 50,000 visas are awarded randomly through a lottery-style draw. Unlike other methods for obtaining a Green Card, applicants don\u2019t need a US-based sponsor, providing more freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To qualify for the Green Card lottery, applicants must meet two criteria: first, they must be natives of, or married to, a native of, a qualified country. Second, they must have the equivalent of a high school education or work experience in a field requiring at least two years of training. The spouse and minor children of any winner will also qualify for permanent residency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Green Card Program selection process is random and computer-generated. Around 125,000 people are usually chosen to apply for Green Cards. The reason the number is so much higher than the 50,000 spots available is that many who win turn out to be ineligible later in the process or simply decide not to apply. If you are chosen, be sure to apply as quickly as possible so you don\u2019t risk losing your spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-apply-for-the-diversity-immigrant-visa-program\">How to Apply for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The only method for applying for the Green Card Lottery is online. There are no paper applications or offices where an application can be taken. Because the online process tends to get bogged down toward the end of that period, it\u2019s best to apply as early as possible. A relatively large percentage of applications are disqualified due to errors, so be sure to follow instructions closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>These last two points lead us to our essential tips for applying for the <strong>Diversity Visa Program<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-to-apply-for-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">When to Apply for the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, applications open towards the beginning of the American fiscal year (October). The registration period usually starts about a week into October and runs for about a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering how many people apply, this is quite a short period. As such, our first tip is to submit your entry as soon as you can. Nothing is stopping you from having everything ready before registration opens. In fact, this is the better way to do it, as it can take a while to fill in the forms and gather your evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can apply independently using the free service on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.state.gov\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"www.state.gov\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.state.gov<\/a>, submitting the forms through an approved immigration professional can help with time management. This is because the company can ensure everything is completed in advance, meaning you can submit it almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"getting-the-forms-correct-for-the-diversity-visa-immigrant-program\">Getting the Forms Correct for the Diversity Visa Immigrant Program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For the most part, it\u2019s not challenging to fill in a Diversity Visa Program form. It\u2019s generally just your personal information along with supporting documents. However, up to 65% of applications can be rejected due to minor errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So, although it seems obvious, ensure your information is correct, and that you\u2019ve filled the forms in properly. Again, enlisting the help of a professional immigration service is a good idea because they have plenty of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Incorrect photos are a particularly common reason for rejection. Using an immigration agency will ensure that they can check your photos before you submit them, thus reducing your chances of rejection and increasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/chances-of-winning-a-green-card\">chances of winning a green card.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"waiting-for-the-results-can-be-a-long-wait\">Waiting for the Results can be a long wait. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When your application is accepted, there\u2019s not much else you can do but wait. It takes around 7-12 months for results to be posted, and you need to check on the Diversity Visa Program website \u2013 you won\u2019t be notified directly unless you have used the value-added service from the US GREEN CARD OFFICE. In that case, you will be contacted directly by our immigration offices as soon as the result is out<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Results are tied to your application number, essentially your lottery entry. The draw is completely random, and there\u2019s nothing you can do to influence your number being picked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If your number is picked, you\u2019re one step closer to getting a Green Card. However, you are still a few steps ahead. Specifically, you must attend a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/how-to-prepare-for-diversity-visa-interview\">Visa Interview at your nearest Embassy or Consulate of the United States<\/a>.  This stage can take more than a year, so don\u2019t expect this to be immediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts-on-the-diversity-immigrant-visa-program\">Final Thoughts on the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Green Card Program is an excellent way to bypass some of the complicated family and employment requirements that applicants typically experience. If you\u2019re born in a qualifying country, be sure to apply for a Green Card every year at the US Green Card Office. You can also apply online by clicking the green apply button below. What are you waiting for? Let your dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/apply\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"245\" height=\"59\" src=\"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/apply-now.gif\" alt=\"Apply for a green card today\" class=\"wp-image-3087\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:52px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Diversity Visa Immigrant Program is a concept unique to the US that isn\u2019t offered by any other country. It\u2019s more commonly known as the Green Card Lottery, which should indicate a bit more clearly what it\u2019s about. Numerous articles on our website detail the Diversity Visa Program, so we won\u2019t cover that in too [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":797,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[77,3,78],"class_list":["post-65","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about-the-usa-en","tag-diversity-visa-immigrant-program","tag-diversity-visa-program","tag-green-card-program"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5134,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65\/revisions\/5134"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usgreencardoffice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}