Green Card Lottery Countries 2022

If you’re a citizen of another country, you’re eligible to participate in the Green Card Lottery, also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV) or Green Card Lottery.

Established in 1990, the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program aims to increase the number of foreign nationals who may immigrate to the United States.

Since 2000, the diversity visas each fiscal year have been reduced from 55,000 to 50,000. Diversity lottery refers to the random selection of visa grantees from a pool of eligible applicants.

There is no priority in the lottery for candidates sponsored by an employer or family member in the United States. Even if one wins the lottery, it does not ensure one’s eligibility for permanent resident status.

Since an average of more than 13.3 million people a year compete for a total of 50,000 Diversity Visas, the lottery win is still an important milestone in many immigrants’ journeys toward citizenship.

If you’re in the running for a green card, what are the prerequisites?

Participants in the diversity lottery must be citizens of one of the low-admittance nations, defined as those from which less than 50,000 natives have moved to the United States in the previous five years.

Generally, people from countries like China, India, & Mexico aren’t eligible for the lottery since they have a wide range of options for obtaining a visa to the United States.

The applicant or the applicant’s spouse must be a native of one of the qualified countries of origin to be eligible for a diversity visa. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a person must also be eligible for admission to the United States (INA).

A high school diploma (or an equivalent) and two years of recent job experience are also required. Each year, those who are eligible must submit their applications online within a small window of time.

DV Lottery Countries Eligible for 2023

Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America, & South America/Central America/Caribbean are divided into six areas by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The yearly diversity visa allocation for each area is then calculated by USCIS based on current immigration data and a methodology.

Every September, the list is revised for the next year, which is 15 months away. In September of 2021, for example, the 2023 list was published.

A nation with visas available in one year will not have the same number or any in the next year since the list is reevaluated each year. The 2023 DV Lottery is open to citizens of the following countries:

Note: * signifies a nation that includes its overseas territories and dependent regions.

Asia

Please note that Macau (China SAR)***, although situated in Asia, gets its eligibility from Portugal and is thus considered a European nation in terms of immigration.

Europe

Even though it is situated in Asia, Macau (China SAR) *** receives its eligibility from Portugal and is thus considered a European nation for immigration purposes. The attack on Ukraine by Russia and Belarus in February 2022 might also lead to a suspension of immigration from these countries.

North America

Also See: Global Entry Countries 2022

Oceania

South America, Central America, and the Caribbean