{"id":1324,"date":"2026-04-18T10:05:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/?p=1324"},"modified":"2026-04-18T10:05:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:05:30","slug":"diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Diversity Visa Lottery 2026-2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Browse Content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Alternar tabla de contenidos\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Diversity_Visa_Lottery_20262027_How_to_Enter_Eligible_Countries_and_What_Happens_If_You_Win\" >Diversity Visa Lottery 2026\/2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Eligible_Countries_for_the_DV_Lottery\" >Eligible Countries for the DV Lottery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Using_a_Parents_or_Spouses_Country_of_Birth\" >Using a Parent&#8217;s or Spouse&#8217;s Country of Birth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Entry_Requirements\" >Entry Requirements<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#The_Selection_Process_and_Notification\" >The Selection Process and Notification<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#What_Happens_After_You_Are_Selected\" >What Happens After You Are Selected<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#DV_Lottery_for_People_Already_in_the_US\" >DV Lottery for People Already in the US<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#DV_Lottery_Scams_How_to_Stay_Safe\" >DV Lottery Scams: How to Stay Safe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Diversity_Visa_Lottery_FAQ\" >Diversity Visa Lottery FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#What_countries_are_not_eligible_for_the_DV_lottery\" >What countries are not eligible for the DV lottery?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#How_does_the_DV_lottery_selection_work\" >How does the DV lottery selection work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#What_are_the_requirements_to_enter_the_DV_lottery\" >What are the requirements to enter the DV lottery?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#What_happens_after_being_selected_in_the_DV_lottery\" >What happens after being selected in the DV lottery?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Can_I_enter_the_DV_lottery_multiple_times\" >Can I enter the DV lottery multiple times?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/#Won_the_DV_Lottery_We_Can_Help\" >Won the DV Lottery? We Can Help.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@graph\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Article\",\n      \"headline\": \"Diversity Visa Lottery 2026\/2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win\",\n      \"description\": \"The DV lottery distributes 55,000 green cards annually. Registration for DV-2027 ran October-November 2025. Ineligible: Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, and others. Full guide.\",\n      \"datePublished\": \"2026-04-18\",\n      \"dateModified\": \"2026-04-18\",\n      \"author\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal Immigration Law\"},\n      \"publisher\": {\"@type\": \"Organization\", \"name\": \"Atlas Legal Immigration Law\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/www.theatlaslegal.com\"},\n      \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\/\/www.theatlaslegal.com\/diversity-visa-lottery-2026-2027-how-to-enter-eligible-countries\/\"\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n      \"mainEntity\": [\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What countries are not eligible for the DV lottery?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Countries that sent 50,000 or more immigrants to the US in the prior 5 fiscal years are ineligible. For DV-2027, ineligible countries include: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born, including Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Eligibility is based on country of birth, not citizenship. UK-born applicants became eligible for DV-2027.\"}\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"How does the DV lottery selection work?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"The State Department uses a computer-generated random selection process. From all eligible entries submitted during the registration period, approximately 125,000 to 150,000 are selected to ensure all 55,000 visa slots are filled (many selectees do not follow through with the visa process). Selectees are notified through the Entry Status Check at dvlottery.state.gov. You cannot be notified by email or letter \u2014 you must check the website using your confirmation number.\"}\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What are the requirements to enter the DV lottery?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"You must be a native of an eligible country (determined by country of birth, not citizenship) and meet one of two educational requirements: (1) a high school education or its equivalent (completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education), OR (2) two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. A valid, recent passport-quality photo is also required for the entry.\"}\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"What happens after being selected in the DV lottery?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"Selection does not guarantee a visa \u2014 it gives you the opportunity to apply for a diversity immigrant visa. After selection, you must complete Form DS-260 (immigrant visa application) and submit supporting documents through the National Visa Center (NVC). You then attend a visa interview at a US consulate. All DV visas for a fiscal year must be issued by September 30 of that year \u2014 if you do not complete the process in time, your selection is lost.\"}\n        },\n        {\n          \"@type\": \"Question\",\n          \"name\": \"Can I enter the DV lottery multiple times?\",\n          \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No. USCIS regulations prohibit submitting more than one entry per person per fiscal year. If you submit duplicate entries, all your entries will be disqualified. Your spouse may submit a separate entry if they are a native of an eligible country. Each entry must include the required photo, and submitting an incorrect photo is a common disqualification reason.\"}\n        }\n      ]\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diversity_Visa_Lottery_20262027_How_to_Enter_Eligible_Countries_and_What_Happens_If_You_Win\"><\/span>Diversity Visa Lottery 2026\/2027: How to Enter, Eligible Countries, and What Happens If You Win<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<blockquote><p>\n<strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The DV lottery distributes <strong>55,000 green cards<\/strong> per fiscal year to underrepresented countries<\/li>\n<li>Registration is <strong>free<\/strong> \u2014 only at dvprogram.state.gov, never through any third-party site<\/li>\n<li>Eligibility based on <strong>country of birth<\/strong>, not citizenship or residence<\/li>\n<li>Ineligible countries for DV-2027 include: Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Brazil, Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and others<\/li>\n<li>UK-born applicants <strong>became eligible<\/strong> for DV-2027<\/li>\n<li>All DV visas for a fiscal year must be <strong>used by September 30<\/strong> of that year \u2014 no extensions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program \u2014 commonly called the Green Card Lottery \u2014 is unique in the US immigration system: it awards permanent residence to people from countries that are historically underrepresented in US immigration, through a random selection process rather than family ties, employer sponsorship, or refugee status. Congress established the program in 1990 to diversify the immigrant population. Each fiscal year, the State Department registers millions of entries and randomly selects approximately 125,000-150,000 to ensure all 55,000 diversity visa slots are filled. Registration for DV-2027 ran from early October through November 7, 2025. For DV-2028, registration will open in fall 2026 \u2014 this guide covers eligibility, the application process, and what to do if you are selected.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/1537356\/pexels-photo-1537356.jpeg?auto=compress&#038;cs=tinysrgb&#038;w=1200&#038;h=630&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"World globe representing diversity visa lottery eligible countries and international applicants\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" loading=\"eager\" \/><figcaption>The Diversity Visa lottery awards 55,000 green cards annually through random selection to nationals of underrepresented countries \u2014 entry is free at dvprogram.state.gov.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eligible_Countries_for_the_DV_Lottery\"><\/span>Eligible Countries for the DV Lottery<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Eligibility for the DV lottery is determined by country of birth, not by current citizenship or country of residence. The State Department calculates eligibility each year by identifying countries that sent 50,000 or more immigrants to the United States in the prior 5 fiscal years \u2014 those countries are excluded because they are already &#8220;well-represented&#8221; in US immigration. For DV-2027, the ineligible countries were:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Bangladesh<\/li>\n<li>Brazil<\/li>\n<li>Canada<\/li>\n<li>China (mainland-born, including Hong Kong SAR)<\/li>\n<li>Colombia<\/li>\n<li>Cuba<\/li>\n<li>Dominican Republic<\/li>\n<li>El Salvador<\/li>\n<li>Haiti<\/li>\n<li>Honduras<\/li>\n<li>India<\/li>\n<li>Jamaica<\/li>\n<li>Mexico<\/li>\n<li>Nigeria<\/li>\n<li>Pakistan<\/li>\n<li>Philippines<\/li>\n<li>South Korea<\/li>\n<li>Venezuela<\/li>\n<li>Vietnam<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All other countries \u2014 including most of Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia \u2014 are eligible. Notably, UK-born applicants (mainland) were not eligible for DV-2026 but became eligible for DV-2027 because UK immigration numbers dropped below the threshold. Macau SAR and Taiwan were also added to the eligible list for DV-2027.<\/p>\n<p>The ineligible country list changes each year. Check the State Department&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/immigrate\/diversity-visa-program-entry\/diversity-visa-instructions.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">DV Instructions page<\/a> each year for the current list before registering.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Using_a_Parents_or_Spouses_Country_of_Birth\"><\/span>Using a Parent&#8217;s or Spouse&#8217;s Country of Birth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Applicants born in an ineligible country may still enter the DV lottery if they can claim chargeability to an eligible country based on the country of birth of their parents or spouse:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Parent&#8217;s country:<\/strong> If either of your parents was born in a country where neither parent was a resident at the time of your birth, you may claim your parent&#8217;s country of birth as your own for DV chargeability purposes. For example, a person born in India but whose father was born in France may claim France as their country of birth \u2014 and France is an eligible country.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Spouse&#8217;s country:<\/strong> If you are married to a national of an eligible country, you may be able to claim chargeability based on your spouse&#8217;s country of birth. But both you and your spouse must enter the DV and use the visas together \u2014 your spouse&#8217;s country of birth controls both entries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These chargeability rules allow nationals of large ineligible countries to sometimes participate if they have the right family connections.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Entry_Requirements\"><\/span>Entry Requirements<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To enter the DV lottery, you must meet basic eligibility requirements at the time of registration:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Country of birth eligibility:<\/strong> As described above \u2014 based on place of birth, not citizenship or residence<\/li>\n<li><strong>Educational\/work experience requirement:<\/strong> Either (1) a high school diploma or equivalent (completion of a 12-year formal education course), or (2) at least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in an occupation that requires at least 2 years of training or experience (as listed in the Department of Labor&#8217;s O*NET database)<\/li>\n<li><strong>One entry per person per year:<\/strong> Submitting more than one entry disqualifies all your entries<\/li>\n<li><strong>Accurate current passport photo:<\/strong> Must meet US visa photo specifications \u2014 no glasses, proper background, recent photo<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The entry is completely free at <a href=\"https:\/\/dvprogram.state.gov\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dvprogram.state.gov<\/a>. Be very wary of websites or agencies that charge fees to &#8220;help&#8221; you enter the DV lottery \u2014 the State Department warns that many are scams. The official free registration website is the only legitimate entry point.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/1181406\/pexels-photo-1181406.jpeg?auto=compress&#038;cs=tinysrgb&#038;w=800&#038;h=500&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"DV lottery selectee reviewing diversity immigrant visa requirements and consular processing documents\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>After DV lottery selection, you have until September 30 of the fiscal year to complete the immigrant visa interview \u2014 there are no extensions, and unused slots disappear.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Selection_Process_and_Notification\"><\/span>The Selection Process and Notification<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The State Department&#8217;s computer randomly selects approximately 125,000-150,000 entrants from all eligible entries during the registration period. This is substantially more than 55,000 because many selectees do not follow through with the visa application process \u2014 the overselection ensures all 55,000 slots are filled.<\/p>\n<p>Selectees are notified exclusively through the Entry Status Check at <a href=\"https:\/\/dvlottery.state.gov\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">dvlottery.state.gov<\/a>. You check your status using the confirmation number assigned when you submitted your entry. The State Department does NOT notify selectees by email, letter, or phone. Any email or letter claiming you won the DV lottery and asking for money or personal information is a scam \u2014 report it to the FTC.<\/p>\n<p>Results for DV-2027 were released in May 2026. Check results annually in early May if you entered.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Happens_After_You_Are_Selected\"><\/span>What Happens After You Are Selected<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Selection in the DV lottery is the first step, not the last. Being selected does not guarantee a visa \u2014 it gives you the opportunity to apply for one. The process after selection:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Check your case number:<\/strong> Each selectee is assigned a case number indicating their rank among all selectees in their geographic region. Lower numbers are processed first, and some numbers may never be reached if earlier numbers use up the available visa slots for the year.<\/li>\n<li><strong>National Visa Center (NVC) processing:<\/strong> The NVC will contact you to complete your immigrant visa application, submit civil documents, and pay fees. The immigrant visa application fee is $325 per adult applicant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complete Form DS-260:<\/strong> The online immigrant visa application, submitted through the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Medical examination:<\/strong> Required by a State Department-designated physician in your home country.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Visa interview:<\/strong> At the nearest US embassy or consulate. The consular officer reviews your application, documents, and eligibility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Enter the US:<\/strong> Approved DV immigrants must enter the US before September 30 of the DV fiscal year \u2014 even a single day&#8217;s delay past September 30 invalidates the visa. Once you enter, you are a lawful permanent resident.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DV_Lottery_for_People_Already_in_the_US\"><\/span>DV Lottery for People Already in the US<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>DV selectees who are already in the United States on a valid nonimmigrant visa may be able to adjust status (file Form I-485) rather than traveling to a US consulate for the immigrant visa interview. The I-485 adjustment of status process is available to DV selectees who are otherwise admissible \u2014 but the same September 30 deadline applies. DV-based I-485 cases are typically processed on an expedited basis to meet the fiscal year deadline. See our <a href=\"\/us-adjustment-of-status-i485-guide-2026\/\">Adjustment of Status guide<\/a> for the I-485 process.<\/p>\n<p>If your DV case number is very high and may not be reached before September 30, consult an immigration attorney immediately \u2014 there may be limited options if the fiscal year ends before your number is current.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DV_Lottery_Scams_How_to_Stay_Safe\"><\/span>DV Lottery Scams: How to Stay Safe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The DV lottery is one of the most heavily targeted programs for immigration scams. Common scam formats include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Websites that look like the official DV lottery site but charge fees for &#8220;entry&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Emails claiming you have been selected, asking for personal information or money to &#8220;process&#8221; your winnings<\/li>\n<li>Letters or calls from &#8220;attorneys&#8221; claiming they can improve your odds or accelerate your case for a fee<\/li>\n<li>Fake NVC &#8220;payment&#8221; portals designed to steal credit card information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The real DV registration site is <strong>dvprogram.state.gov<\/strong> (not .com, not .org, not any variation). The real NVC and consular systems will direct you to official .gov and .state.gov URLs. Never pay money to any third party claiming to improve your chances in the random draw \u2014 the draw is entirely random and no one can influence it.<\/p>\n<figure>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/1031641\/pexels-photo-1031641.jpeg?auto=compress&#038;cs=tinysrgb&#038;w=800&#038;h=500&#038;fit=crop\" alt=\"DV lottery winner preparing to travel to US with immigrant visa from diversity visa program\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>DV lottery winners must complete the entire visa process and enter the US before September 30 of the applicable fiscal year \u2014 there are no extensions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Diversity_Visa_Lottery_FAQ\"><\/span>Diversity Visa Lottery FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_countries_are_not_eligible_for_the_DV_lottery\"><\/span>What countries are not eligible for the DV lottery?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Countries that sent 50,000+ immigrants to the US in the prior 5 years are ineligible. For DV-2027: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland and Hong Kong), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Eligibility is based on country of birth, not citizenship. UK-born applicants became eligible for DV-2027.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_the_DV_lottery_selection_work\"><\/span>How does the DV lottery selection work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The State Department uses a computer-generated random selection from all eligible entries. Approximately 125,000-150,000 are selected to ensure all 55,000 visa slots are used. Notification is only through dvlottery.state.gov \u2014 not by email or letter. Emails claiming you won are scams.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_requirements_to_enter_the_DV_lottery\"><\/span>What are the requirements to enter the DV lottery?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Native of an eligible country (by birth), plus either a high school diploma or equivalent, or 2 years of qualifying work experience within the past 5 years. Entry is free and only at dvprogram.state.gov. One entry per person per registration period \u2014 duplicates disqualify all entries.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_after_being_selected_in_the_DV_lottery\"><\/span>What happens after being selected in the DV lottery?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Selection gives you the opportunity to apply for an immigrant visa \u2014 it does not guarantee one. You complete DS-260, submit civil documents, pay fees to NVC, undergo a medical exam, and attend a consular interview. All processing must complete and you must enter the US by September 30 of the applicable fiscal year.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_enter_the_DV_lottery_multiple_times\"><\/span>Can I enter the DV lottery multiple times?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Submitting more than one entry per person per registration period disqualifies all entries. Your spouse may submit a separate individual entry. The entry is free; any service charging fees to submit your DV entry is a scam.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f7ff;border-left:4px solid #1a56db;padding:20px 24px;margin:32px 0;border-radius:4px;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:0;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Won_the_DV_Lottery_We_Can_Help\"><\/span>Won the DV Lottery? We Can Help.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you have been selected in the Diversity Visa lottery, the next steps are time-sensitive. Atlas Legal helps DV selectees navigate the NVC process, prepare for consular interviews, and file I-485 adjustment of status where applicable. Contact us immediately after selection \u2014 the September 30 deadline allows no margin for delay.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"\/contact\/\">Contact Atlas Legal to process your DV lottery selection.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The DV-2027 Diversity Visa Lottery registration opens October-November 2025. 55,000 immigrant visas available. Entry is free and done only at dvlottery.state.gov \u2014 never pay a third party. Mexico, China, India, Philippines, Brazil, and Nigeria are ineligible. UK is eligible for DV-2027. Complete entry guide.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,274],"tags":[277,275,281,279,280,276,278],"class_list":["post-1324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-green-card","category-immigrant-visas","tag-diversity-visa-eligible-countries","tag-diversity-visa-lottery-2026","tag-diversity-visa-uk-eligible-2027","tag-dv-lottery-registration","tag-dv-lottery-scam-warning","tag-dv-2027-lottery","tag-green-card-lottery-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1324"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1325,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1324\/revisions\/1325"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theatlaslegal.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}