New York · est. 2013Saturday, September 5, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Формы · Status and documents

Diversity Visa lottery

The diversity visa programme allots up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year by lottery to nationals of countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Registration is free and online during a short annual window. Selection is not a visa - selectees still have to qualify, apply, and be interviewed before the fiscal year ends.

Обычный срок: The whole cycle runs on the federal fiscal year. Selection to interview typically takes several months to a year, and everything must finish by September 30.Сборы: $1 to register, $330 per person for the visa application, the panel physician's fee, and $235 for the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

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Для кого. Nationals of eligible countries with a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience, and their spouses and unmarried children under 21.

Формы по порядку

3 форм
DS-260DS-1810I-485
  1. 1

    Register during the annual entry period

    Кто
    The principal entrant, for themselves, listing spouse and children
    Когда
    The registration window is short and announced each year
    Сбор
    $1.00 diversity visa registration fee, paid by the principal applicant at registration

    Only one entry per person. Duplicate entries disqualify.

  2. 2

    Check the entrant status check for selection

    Кто
    The entrant
    Когда
    Selection results are published on the official site only
    Сбор
    $0

    There is no notification by email or post. Anyone who emails to say you won is running a scam.

  3. 3

    Submit the immigrant visa application and documents

    DS-260

    Кто
    Each selected family member
    Когда
    Promptly after selection - case numbers become current in order
    Сбор
    $330 per person diversity visa application fee
  4. 4

    Attend the interview and receive the visa

    DS-1810

    Кто
    The applicant and family
    Когда
    Before the end of the fiscal year on September 30 - there are no extensions
    Сбор
    The panel physician's fee

    Unused diversity visas expire at the end of the fiscal year. A case not interviewed in time is simply lost.

  5. 5

    Enter the United States and pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee

    Кто
    The immigrant
    Когда
    Within the visa validity
    Сбор
    $235
  6. 6

    Or, if already in the United States and eligible, adjust status instead

    I-485

    Кто
    The selectee
    Когда
    Must be approved before September 30
    Сбор
    $1,440 paper or $1,390 online

    Adjustment is riskier because USCIS must finish the case before the fiscal year ends.

Где чаще всего ошибаются

  • The September 30 deadline is absolute; an unissued diversity visa cannot be carried over.
  • Diversity visa scams are widespread. The only official registration site is the State Department's, and there is no fee to enter beyond the $1 registration fee.
  • Selection means the case number is in the pool, not that a visa is available - more people are selected than there are visas.
  • Listing family members incorrectly at registration can disqualify the entry entirely.

Что изменилось в 2025 и 2026 годах

  • State issued updated diversity visa guidance during 2026 including changes to the entry period and issuance practice; check the current programme instructions before entering.
  • Broader visa vetting has slowed diversity visa interviews, which is dangerous given the hard fiscal-year deadline.

Связанные процедуры

Источники: travel.state.gov · travel.state.gov · travel.state.gov · uscis.gov