This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
The United States State Department has announced that the registration period for the 2021 Diversity Visa program, also known as the Green Card Lottery, will commence on October 2nd, 2019, at 12pm EDT.
According to the US State Department, 55,000 permanent resident visas (green cards) will be available on a lottery basis to nationals of countries around the world that have had low immigration rates to the United States over the last five years.
However, the following countries are ineligible to apply for DV-2021 due to high immigration rates: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.
Registration for the lottery is free of charge and can only be done online at dvlottery.state.gov.
For the first time, participants must have a valid passport to register for the lottery.
Those selected will be eligible to immigrate to the United States as green card holders in 2021.
