The following information are excerpts from a Visa Bulletin provided courtesy of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Reason for limiting the information is because the number of visas allocated for each region and dates for the visa lottery changes every year. For additional and updated information, please contact the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You may also want to confer with an attorney practicing immigration law. While officially known as "Diversity Immigrant Visa" this program is often referred to as the "Greencard Visa Lottery." Winners are drawn from a random pool of qualified participants. Also, it does not cost anything to participate.

DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA (DV)

Different sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, taken together, established an annual numerical limitation of 55,000 for diversity immigrants. Natives of countries determined by the Immigration and Naturalization Service according to a mathematical formula specified by the law are able to compete for these visas. The law specifies that there must be a separate registration for each year's DV visas.

QUALIFYING COUNTRIES

The law apportions DV immigrant visa issuance among six geographic regions according to a formula based on immigrant admissions over the most recent five years period. The program identifies both high and low admission regions and high admission foreign states. High admission states, i.e., the principal source countries for immigrants in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based categories, are excluded entirely from the program. No single country may receive more than 7% (3,850) of the worldwide total of DV visa numbers.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service determines the countries whose natives may be entitled to DV visas. According to the law, countries are grouped by region. The eligible countries and regional numbers may change each year depending on variations in immigration rates.

Generally speaking, the following are eligible:

AFRICA - all countries.

ASIA - All countries except the following: China mainland born and Taiwan born, India, Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam (Hong Kong is eligible).

EUROPE - All countries except the following: Great Britain (United Kingdom) and all its dependent territories, and Poland.

NORTH AMERICA - The Bahamas is the only eligible country included in the North America region. Canada is not eligible.

OCEANIA - All countries.

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN - All countries except Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Mexico.