2024 Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery (DV-2024) Now Open

Each year, the U.S. government makes available 55,000 permanent resident (“green card”) visas to individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. (see below).  To qualify, eligible individuals must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, or two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience. Applicants for DV-2024 will be entered into a random, computer-generated lottery drawing. Entrants can check the DV lottery website to see whether they have been selected beginning May 6, 2023.

The registration period for the 2024 Diversity Visa Lottery opened on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 and closes at noon EST on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Applications must be submitted electronically at https://dvprogram.state.gov/ during the registration period (paper entries will not be accepted). Additional information about the DV Lottery is available here.

Please note that for this year’s lottery, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply (because these countries sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. 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, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, Venezuela and Vietnam. Persons born in Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible.

The Department of State reminds applicants to be aware of fraudulent websites posing as official U.S. government websites. In recent years, companies posing as government agencies have sought money in order to complete and submit DV entry forms. There is no charge to download and submit the Visa Lottery entry forms.

Visa Processing Delays Continue in 2022

Despite the relaxation of Covid restrictions around the world, visa processing at US embassies and consulates abroad remains much slower and more backlogged than in pre-pandemic years. While some consular posts may have interview availability in the short-term, many others do not have availability for weeks or months, and interviews are likely to be in short supply as holiday travel approaches. If you are planning to travel and will need to apply for a new visa while abroad, please contact our Immigration team as soon as possible to review your options.

New Rule Strengthens DACA But Program Remains Stalled in Court

On October 31, 2022, a new federal regulation will codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, in an effort by the Biden administration to protect DACA from judicial attacks. The new rule maintains the same criteria for DACA eligibility and codifies existing DACA policy. However, DACA is still subject to an injunction from a Texas federal judge, and litigation is expected to be ongoing for some time. Among other things, the current injunction prohibits the filing of new initial DACA applications. Current DACA recipients are still permitted to renew their status.

If you have any questions about DACA, please contact one of our attorneys.