Wednesday 13 September 2023

Overview
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program) makes up to 55,000 immigrant visas per year available for individuals who are from countries with low rates of admissions to the United States during the prior five years. The DV Program was launched in 1990 with the purpose of promoting and maintaining diversity and is administered by the US Department of State (DOS) through a lottery system. Diversity Visas are divided among six geographic regions and no one country can receive more than seven percent of available diversity visas in any one fiscal year. Up to 5,000 diversity visas are reserved for the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) program.

Update
As of 7 September 2023, the Department of State issued all available Diversity Visas for the 2023 DV Program. There were more than 54,000 issuances and adjustments of status out of the available 54,833 Diversity Visas for FY 2023 by 5 September 2023, which put the program on track to reach the annual issuance limit before the end of the fiscal year. For more information about the 2023 DV Program update visit Travel.State.Gov.

Typically, the entry period opens in October two years in advance of the intended fiscal year. The 2025 DV Program entry period will open in early October this year.

For more information, including eligibility criteria and application process details please contact your Laura Devine Immigration attorney or enquiries@lauradevine.com.