Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Diversity Visa (DV) program is the U.S. government’s annual immigrant-visa lottery for people born in countries with historically low immigration to the United States. An online entry is free, but being selected is only an invitation to continue: you must prove eligibility, submit forms and documents, pass a medical examination, attend an interview and receive an available visa number.
Important status update: In guidance dated August 31, 2026, the U.S. Department of State said applicants may continue submitting DV applications and attending interviews, while the Department has paused all diversity-visa issuances with no exceptions. This policy can change quickly, so check the live State Department notice before paying costs, booking travel or making immigration plans.
![Understanding Immigration Law and Practice [Connected eBook] (Aspen Paralegal Series)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51hI4NYGlvL._SL160_.jpg)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How the Diversity Visa program works
Congress created the DV program to diversify immigration to the United States. Each year, the State Department makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas available, allocated by geographic region and limited so that no more than 7% of available visas go to people chargeable to one country. The exact number issued can be lower because statutory deductions and other limits apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The official instructions describe the online entry as easy and free. You submit one electronic entry during the registration period announced for that program year. A computer-generated random selection then identifies potential applicants. Selection does not confer a visa, lawful permanent residence or even a guarantee that an interview will occur; the case must remain eligible and a visa number must be available before the fiscal year ends.
#1 Best Overall
| Stage | What it means |
|---|---|
| Entry | A free, electronic registration for the annual drawing. |
| Selection | A random selection within regional and country allocation rules; it is not approval. |
| Visa processing | DS-260 filings, document review, medical examination and an interview. |
| Admission | If a visa is issued and you are admitted at a U.S. port of entry, you become a lawful permanent resident. |
The State Department reported 20,822,624 qualified entries for DV-2026. That figure describes the DV-2026 cycle only; it is not a prediction of DV-2027 demand.
Use only the official Diversity Visa Instructions and the electronic entry site identified there. The Department warns applicants to complete their own entry and be wary of services claiming they can improve selection odds.
Who may qualify
Country of chargeability
Eligibility is generally based on your country of birth, not where you live or the passport you currently hold. The eligible-country list can change each year, so read that year’s instructions rather than relying on a previous lottery. Limited exceptions can apply, including certain situations involving a spouse’s or parent’s country of birth; the current instructions control.
Education or qualifying work experience
The principal applicant must have either a formal education comparable to completion of a 12-year U.S. elementary and secondary course or at least two years of qualifying work experience during the preceding five years. The work must be in an occupation classified by the Department of Labor in Job Zone 4 or 5 with a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating of 7.0 or higher. The State Department does not accept a GED equivalency certificate as satisfying the education requirement.
Use the Department’s qualification guidance to evaluate the principal applicant’s exact schooling or occupation. A spouse or child applying with the principal applicant does not independently have to meet this education-or-work test.
Family members
At entry, list your eligible spouse and all living, unmarried children under 21, including adopted children and stepchildren where the instructions require them. Omitting a required family member can make the case ineligible. If your family circumstances change after entry, follow the State Department’s directions for adding a spouse or child to the case; do not create a second entry for the same person.
How to enter the lottery
- Wait for the official registration window. Entries are accepted only electronically through the official E-DV system during the period stated in that year’s instructions. Paper or late entries are not accepted, and the initial entry has no fee.
- Complete one accurate entry. A person may submit only one entry during a registration period. Submitting more than one can disqualify every entry for that person. Enter names, dates, place of birth, marital status, family members and photographs exactly as required.
- Save the confirmation number. Print or securely store the confirmation page and number. You need it to retrieve your result; an agent cannot substitute for it.
The Department’s instructions include technical and photograph specifications. Complete the form yourself when possible, review every answer before submission and keep a copy of what you sent.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow selection results are checked
The State Department does not mail selection letters or send selection emails. Its official wording says: “Entrant Status Check on the E-DV website is the ONLY way by which the Department of State notifies selectees of their selection.” Return to the official selection guidance and use your confirmation number, surname and year of birth as requested.
A selection notice tells you that a case was drawn; it does not mean you have passed the interview, that a visa number is available or that a visa will be issued. Keep checking official instructions and the Visa Bulletin because cases are processed in numerical order within regional limits and the program ends when the fiscal year closes.
What to do after selection
1. Submit DS-260 applications
The principal applicant and every family member applying for a DV must complete an online DS-260 Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application. Provide complete residence, education, employment, travel and security information. If a marriage, birth or other qualifying change occurred after the entry, follow the official procedure for updating the case and adding the family member.
2. Wait for case review and a current number
The Kentucky Consular Center reviews the completed DS-260. An interview is scheduled only when the case is ready and the case number is eligible under the monthly Visa Bulletin. Processing time varies. A selection notice alone does not reserve a visa number.
3. Gather civil and supporting documents
Prepare the documents listed by the embassy or consulate handling your case. Typical requirements include:
- Valid passports for each applicant.
- Birth, marriage, divorce, adoption and police certificates when required for your countries of residence.
- Evidence of the principal applicant’s qualifying education or work experience.
- DS-260 confirmation pages and interview appointment information.
- Certified translations and original or certified copies in the format the post specifies.
Document rules differ by country and post. Follow the post-specific checklist on the State Department’s DV interview page, including instructions about unavailable records.
4. Complete the medical examination
Every immigrant-visa applicant must have a medical examination by a physician authorized by the U.S. embassy or consulate. Do not use an unapproved doctor. Schedule the exam early enough for results to reach the post, and follow vaccination and laboratory instructions. The medical report can affect how long a visa remains valid.
5. Attend the interview and pay the fee
Bring the required originals, copies, photographs and appointment confirmations. A consular officer decides whether each applicant meets the legal requirements. The State Department lists the diversity-visa application fee as $330 per applicant, nonrefundable, on its interview-preparation page checked October 13, 2026. Medical examinations, translations, certificates, courier services and local travel can add costs, and payment methods differ by post. Confirm the amount and payment procedure with your assigned post at Prepare for the Interview.
6. Follow post-interview instructions
The officer may approve the case, request additional evidence or refuse it under a specific legal ground. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements until you have the visa in hand. If a visa is issued, it is generally valid for up to six months, or less if the medical examination expires sooner. Each applicant must enter before the visa expires.
7. Pay the USCIS immigrant fee and enter
Pay the USCIS immigrant fee before traveling to the United States. USCIS does not produce the Permanent Resident Card until that fee is paid. Admission at a U.S. port of entry makes the immigrant a lawful permanent resident, subject to the normal inspection process. The State Department explains these steps on its After the Interview page.
What the August 2026 issuance pause means
The State Department’s August 31, 2026 guidance says applicants may submit applications and attend scheduled interviews, and that the Department continues scheduling applicants. It also says the Department has paused issuance of all diversity visas and that there are no exceptions. An interview therefore cannot currently be treated as a promise that a visa will be printed.
Because this is an administrative policy that can change, check the dated notice and your embassy or consulate’s current instructions immediately before each step. Do not assume that paying a fee, completing an interview or receiving a favorable interview decision overcomes the pause.
Consular processing or adjustment of status
A selectee’s location and immigration status determine which route may be available. Neither route automatically bypasses the current issuance pause.
| Issue | Consular processing abroad | Adjustment of status in the United States |
|---|---|---|
| Where you are | Outside the United States, or choosing immigrant-visa processing through a U.S. embassy or consulate. | Already inside the United States and potentially eligible to adjust while maintaining lawful status. |
| Primary agency and procedure | State Department, Kentucky Consular Center and the assigned embassy or consulate; DS-260 followed by document review, medical exam and consular interview. | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services handles the adjustment filing and interview process under its instructions. |
| Visa-number requirement | A DV number must be available before the consular case can be scheduled and completed. | A DV number must also be available during the adjustment process and before the fiscal-year deadline. |
| Fees | Includes the $330 DV application fee per applicant plus medical and local charges; post procedures control payment. | Uses USCIS filing fees and any required biometrics or medical costs rather than the consular payment path; check current USCIS amounts. |
| Interview location | Assigned U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. | USCIS-designated location in the United States, if an interview is required. |
The State Department’s adjustment-of-status guidance describes eligibility and filing details. Because immigration history, lawful-status issues and timing can change the answer, obtain individualized advice from a qualified immigration professional when your circumstances are complex.
DV-2026, DV-2027 and the dates that matter
Do not carry dates from one cycle into another. DV-2026 statistics and instructions describe the 2026 program year. In a November 5, 2025 notice, the State Department said it would announce the DV-2027 registration and result-check dates later. It stated that the DV-2027 visa application period remains October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. That fiscal-year period is not the same as the entry window: wait for the separate announcement before attempting to register or assuming a deadline.
For any selected case, the governing deadline is the end of the relevant fiscal year. A selection cannot be carried into a later year, and a case that is not completed while visas are available expires with the program year.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Costs, risks and common mistakes
What is free and what is not
- The initial electronic entry is free.
- The DV application fee is currently $330 for each applicant and is nonrefundable.
- Medical examinations, translations, civil certificates, photographs, courier services and travel are additional and vary by location.
- After issuance, the USCIS immigrant fee is required before travel if you want USCIS to produce the Permanent Resident Card.
Mistakes that can end a case
- Submitting more than one entry for the same person in one registration period.
- Leaving out a spouse or required child at entry.
- Claiming education or work experience that does not meet the formal criteria.
- Missing a DS-260, document, medical or interview deadline.
- Letting a passport, medical examination or visa expire before entry.
- Relying on an email, mailed letter or unofficial website instead of Entrant Status Check.
Recognizing scams
No intermediary can purchase a selection or increase the random odds. Keep your confirmation number private, use government websites ending in .gov, and verify every payment instruction with the assigned embassy or consulate. The State Department’s DV application infographic reinforces that applicants should control their own entry and records.
A practical checklist for a selected applicant
- Confirm the selection through Entrant Status Check, not an email.
- Read the current year’s instructions and your embassy or consulate’s checklist.
- Complete DS-260 forms for every family member applying.
- Collect civil records, translations and proof of education or qualifying work.
- Monitor the Visa Bulletin and messages from the Kentucky Consular Center.
- Schedule the authorized medical examination and interview when instructed.
- Pay only the official fees and keep receipts.
- Check the latest issuance guidance before assuming a visa can be issued.
- If a visa is issued, pay the USCIS immigrant fee and enter before the visa or medical validity expires.
The central distinction is simple: entering is free, selection is random, and permanent residence comes only after eligibility, processing, an available visa number, adjudication and admission. The August 2026 issuance pause means that even otherwise qualified selectees must verify the current government position before committing money or travel.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
