What is a Diversity Visa?

A Diversity Visa is a US immigrant visa issued to a new permanent resident of the United States through the Diversity Visa Program, allowing him or her to live, study and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time.

The main applicant must have been born in an eligible country with historically low levels of immigration to the United States and he or she must also satisfy the education or work experience requirement.

Registration for the Diversity Visa Program occurs during an approximately 30-day period that is held each year.

Up to 55,000 Diversity Visas are authorized to be issued annually to selectees who successfully pass the consular process.

After receiving a Diversity Immigrant Visa, which is placed in a new immigrant’s valid passport by a consular official to allow entry into the United States, the immigrant will need to pay the online fee to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to be issued a US Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) which is carried as official identification while living in the USA.