The United States holds a random lottery every year to grant 50,000 permanent visas.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program offers a path to a green card for individuals from countries with historically low immigration rates to the United States. Administered by the Department of State, this random selection process is a unique feature of American immigration policy, yet it remains a target for frequent scams.

Established by the Immigration Act of 1990, the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) program was designed to diversify the immigrant population by prioritizing applicants from nations with low recent immigration levels. While the program currently makes 50,000 visas available annually, its history is marked by fluctuations. Legislative adjustments, such as those to compensate for other immigration programs like NACARA, have caused the total number of available visas to shift over the decades, ranging from 50,000 to approximately 54,800 in recent years.

The process is strictly regulated and time-sensitive. Winners are selected randomly, but being chosen is only the first step. Those already residing in the United States in a legal status must apply for an adjustment of status through USCIS, while most winners abroad undergo consular processing. Applicants must meet specific eligibility requirements, including admissibility to the United States, and must complete the entire process by September 30 of the relevant fiscal year. Because visas cannot be carried over, the Department of State uses a monthly Visa Bulletin to manage the flow of applications based on rank cut-offs.

The program has faced significant administrative challenges. In 2012, a computer error forced the Department of State to void initial results, affecting 22,000 applicants. Other controversies include the 2019 introduction of a passport requirement—which halved the number of applicants before being struck down by a federal court—and errors in the list of eligible countries for the 2025 and 2026 lotteries. Despite these hurdles and persistent attempts to end the program since 2005, the lottery remains a high-stakes opportunity for millions, though officials warn that any notification claiming a win that requires a fee is a fraudulent scam.

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