INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE 2024 DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM - (DV-2024)
Program Overview
the statutorily created Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. For Fiscal Year 2024, up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be available. There is no cost to register for the DV program.
Applicants who are selected in the program (selectees) must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify for a DV. The Department of State determines selectees through a randomized computer drawing. The Department of State distributes diversity visas among six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.
For DV-2024, natives of the following countries and areas are not eligible to apply, because more than 50,000 natives of these countries immigrated to the United States in the previous five years:
Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong SAR), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea (South Korea), United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.
Benefits of a green card
You can apply for U.S. citizenship after three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen, or five years if not.
You cannot be deported to your country of origin.
You do not have to renounce citizenship of your country of origin.
You are legally protected by the laws of the United States, your state of residence and your local jurisdiction.
You can sponsor other family members for a green card. Family members of permanent residents are given priority, but not as great a priority as family members of U.S. citizens.
You can renew your green card every 10 years.
You can travel to and from the United States more easily than other visa holders or new arrivals.
You can travel or live anywhere within the United States. State borders are no limitation, and there is no need to check in with civil or state government agencies.
You are eligible to receive federal benefits such as social security or education assistance.
You may apply for a wide variety of jobs.
You can engage in the political process. Politics at all levels, from the local councilperson to the president, can influence life in the United States.
Education Qualifications -
The applicant at least a high school education or its equivalent defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education;
OR
Two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. The Department of State will use the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience.
Digital Image Requirements
- Dimensions - Minimum acceptable dimensions are 600 x 600 pixels. The maximum acceptable dimensions are 1200 x 1200 pixels. Please review the photo requirements for specific dimensions.
- Color - The image must be in color (24 bits per pixel) in sRGB color space which is the common output for most digital cameras.
- File Format - The image must be in JPEG file format
- File Size - The image must be less than or equal to 240 kB (kilobytes).
- Compression - The image may need to be compressed in order for it to be under the maximum file size. The compression ratio should be less than or equal to 20:1.
If you want to scan an existing photo?
In addition to the digital image requirements, your existing photo must be:
2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm)
Scanned at a resolution of 300 pixels per inch (12 pixels per millimeter)
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