The Diversity Visa programme offers up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year, and registration has historically been free. Selection is random, so a correct entry matters more than a clever one. The U.S. Department of State runs it and publishes the dates.
The one date nobody can give you yet
No third party can give you a confirmed DV-2027 registration opening or closing date. The Department of State announced changes to the DV-2027 process, with updated details to be published before registration opens.
Check the official DV programme site for the dates and instructions. Any site quoting you a precise DV-2027 opening day right now is guessing or lying to you.
How to spot a scam site
Fake dates are the classic bait. A site posts a fixed deadline, adds a countdown clock, then sells you a “guaranteed” entry before it passes.
No third party can improve your odds, because the draw is random. Registration has historically been free, so a charge for the entry is a warning sign.
Results are checked only through the official Entry Status Check system. The Department of State never notifies winners by email, phone or text, so an email saying you won and asking for a fee is fraud.
Who can enter
Both requirements must be met by the principal applicant.
Country of birth. You must be born in an eligible country. The list changes each year, because the programme targets countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. In limited circumstances you can qualify through a spouse’s or parent’s country of birth.
Education or work. You need high school education or its equivalent, or at least two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. Your spouse does not have to meet this test.
What the entry form asks for
The entry is submitted online during the registration period. Have this ready:
- Full legal name, exactly as on your passport
- Date and place of birth
- Passport or identity information
- Marital status
- Details for your spouse and each eligible child
- A recent digital photograph meeting the official specifications
- Education information
- Contact details
When you submit, you get a confirmation number. Save it in more than one place: without it you cannot check your result, and nobody can replace it.
The mistakes that get entries thrown out
Most rejected entries fail on paperwork, not on luck.
| Disqualifying error | How to avoid it |
|---|---|
| More than one entry in a single registration period | Submit once. If your spouse is separately eligible, each of you may enter as a principal. |
| Photograph does not meet specifications | Follow the official photo rules exactly: recent image, correct dimensions, plain background, no glasses or filters. |
| Inaccurate personal information | Copy names, dates and numbers straight from your passport. A misspelling can void the entry. |
| Leaving out a spouse or an eligible child | List your spouse and every unmarried child under 21, including stepchildren and adopted children, even if they stay behind. |
| Not meeting the education or work requirement | Confirm before entering that you hold the qualification or work experience and can document it. |
| Missing visa processing deadlines after selection | Act as soon as you are selected. Each fiscal year has limited visas and unused selections expire. |
The costs start after you are selected
The entry is not where the money goes. Selection is where the budget begins, and applicants are often caught out by the total.
- Immigrant visa processing fees. Payable to the U.S. government per applicant, including each family member.
- Medical examination. Done by an approved panel physician at their price, with any missing vaccinations added on top.
- Police certificates. One from each country you have lived in, each with its own fee and waiting time.
- Certified translations. Certificates, court records and diplomas usually need certified English translations, priced by page count.
- Travel to the interview. If your post is in another city or country, budget flights, hotels and days off work for everyone attending.
Start saving the day you are selected. The costs land in a compressed window.
Selection is followed by the visa application, civil documents, the medical exam, the interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and the fees. Collect passports for everyone applying, long-form birth certificates, proof of your marital status, diplomas or employer letters, and evidence that you will not become a public charge. Check passport expiry dates early: renewals can take months.
When an immigration attorney is worth paying for
For a clean case, the entry does not need a lawyer. Paid advice earns its cost at the DS-260 stage, and is worth it if you have a prior visa refusal, overstay or removal order, a criminal record, an arguable work experience claim, missing or inconsistent civil documents, a claim through a spouse’s or parent’s country of birth, or you are in the United States considering adjustment of status.
Ask for a fixed fee and a written scope. One consultation before you file beats fixing a filing afterwards.
What winning gives you
An approved visa means lawful permanent resident status: you can work for most U.S. employers, study, and travel under the applicable immigration rules. You become eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship once you meet the requirements, and your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify as derivative beneficiaries.
Two money questions deserve attention before the interview: how you will pay dollar fees from a local currency account, since transfer costs and spreads add up, and how you will fund your first months there. Budget for deposits, rent, health cover before your employer’s plan starts, and having no U.S. credit history. Our guide to covers what that first year costs.
The lottery is not the only route. If you have an employer willing to sponsor you, compare it against the , and read the first.
FAQ
Is there a fee to enter the DV lottery?
Registration has historically been free on the official Department of State site. The Department announced changes to the DV-2027 process, with details to be published before registration opens, so confirm the terms in the official instructions. Any third party charging to “improve” your entry is selling you nothing.
Can my spouse and I both enter?
Yes. If each of you separately meets the requirements, you may each submit one entry as a principal applicant, which doubles your household’s chances legitimately. What you cannot do is submit more than one entry for the same person in a single registration period.
How will I know if I was selected?
Only through the official Entry Status Check system, using the confirmation number you received when you submitted. There are no winner emails, phone calls or letters from the Department of State, and that number is the only way to retrieve your result.
Do I need a high school diploma to qualify?
You need high school education or its equivalent, or at least two years of qualifying work experience gained within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. Only the principal applicant must meet this, and you will need documents to prove it.
What to do next
Confirm your country of birth is on the eligible list for DV-2027 and that you meet the education or work test. Watch the official Department of State DV site for the registration window and instructions, and ignore dates published anywhere else.
Take a compliant digital photograph in advance, and gather passport details for your household. If you are selected, save your confirmation number, budget for fees, the medical exam and translations, and book a consultation if your case is complicated.
Rules and dates change; verify everything on the official U.S. Department of State DV programme site before you enter.
