How to Check If Your Country Is Eligible for the U.S. Visa Lottery

 

Before applying for the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, you must confirm that your country of birth is eligible for the current program year.

Step 1: Visit the Official DV Program Website

Go to the U.S. Department of State's Diversity Visa Program page, where the latest application instructions are published each year.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/diversity-visa-program-entry/diversity-visa-instructions.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Step 2: Open the Current DV Instructions

Download or open the Diversity Visa Instructions for the current program year. The instructions contain a complete list of eligible and ineligible countries.

Step 3: Find the List of Eligible Countries

Scroll to the section titled "Countries Whose Natives Are Eligible or Not Eligible". Locate your country of birth to determine whether you qualify to apply.

Step 4: Understand That Eligibility Is Based on Country of Birth

Your eligibility is determined primarily by your country of birth, not your current nationality or country of residence.

For example:

• A Nigerian living in Canada is generally considered under Nigeria.
• A Ghanaian living in the United Kingdom is generally considered under Ghana.

Step 5: If Your Country Is Not Eligible

If your country is listed as ineligible, you may still qualify in certain situations, including:

• Through your spouse's country of birth, provided your spouse is eligible and you will immigrate together.
• Through one of your parents' country of birth, if neither parent was born in or legally resident in your country of birth at the time you were born.

Important Note

The list of eligible countries can change from one DV program year to another. Always check the latest official Diversity Visa Instructions before submitting your application.