The DV Lottery: From Selection to a Green Card

Current status: issuances are paused

This guide does not say whether or how the issuance pause relates to the September 30 fiscal-year date described below, and nothing here should be read as saying the pause extends, cancels or changes it. Check the current Department of State guidance and USCIS for your own situation.

The two stages

1. 1

   Selection by the Department of State

   USCIS describes the DV Program as drawing up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually from random selection among all entries. The Department of State administers the selection.

2. 2

   Qualifying for the visa

   Being selected is a requirement, not the whole test. USCIS lists further requirements for a selectee who adjusts status: a visa must be immediately available when the applicant files Form I-485, and the applicant must be admissible to the United States.

3. 3

   The fiscal-year rule

   USCIS describes a general fiscal-year rule for completing adjustment of status, explained below.

Sources:^[1]

What USCIS requires of a selectee who adjusts status

1. You were selected by the Department of State.
2. An immigrant visa is immediately available when you file Form I-485.
3. You are admissible to the United States.

Sources:^[1]

Your own history can affect admissibility. If something in your background could raise a question, consider speaking with an immigration attorney before you file.

The fiscal-year rule

This is a general statement from the USCIS page, not a date specific to your case. A September 30 date for an earlier program year may already have passed. This guide does not say how the issuance pause or a passed date affects any particular selectee, and nothing here should be read as saying the pause extends, cancels or changes the rule. Check the current Department of State guidance and USCIS.

Documents for Form I-485 as a selectee

For a selectee inside the United States, USCIS lists these among the supporting documents:^[1]

• The results of the medical examination
• A birth certificate
• The Department of State selection letter
• The receipt from the Department of State for the diversity visa processing fee
• The applicable fees

Sources:^[1]

The general I-485 evidence checklist also asks for two passport-style photographs, a government-issued identity document, and documentation of inspection and admission or parole, and says not to send original documents unless requested. Fees can change, so use the USCIS fee schedule.^{[2], [3]}

Scams

If you are outside the United States

The USCIS page describes selectees who are legally in the United States and apply to adjust status. Selectees who are abroad should follow the instructions in their Department of State selection notice and check the official Diversity Visa pages listed below.

Common mistakes

• Treating selection as the finish line. USCIS lists further requirements.
• Paying a person or website that claims you have won.
• Sending original documents that were not requested.
• Using an out-of-date fee.

Sources:^{[1], [2], [3]}

Forms mentioned

• I-485
• I-693

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

• The Diversity Visa (DV) Program: Overview and Current Status — Diversity Visa
• Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status — Form I-485
• Getting a Green Card: Routes, Forms and Visa Availability — Green card

Where to check the current official information

Official pages to consult directly. They are listed so you can check the latest details; they are not among the sources this guide was written from.

• Update on Diversity Visa (DV) Program 2026 (U.S. Department of State)

  U.S. Department of State — Department of State update on the DV-2026 program. Listed for reference; this guide does not rely on it.

• DV-2026 Plain Language Instructions and FAQs (U.S. Department of State, PDF)

  U.S. Department of State — Official DV-2026 instructions and FAQs. Listed for reference; this guide does not rely on it.

Sources checked

Official sources this page was written from, in order of authority. See our sources policy.

1. [1] Green Card Through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated July 8, 2025

   Supports: program description; two stages; requirements to adjust; fiscal-year rule; documents; scam warning

2. [2] Checklist of Required Initial Evidence for Form I-485 (for informational purposes only)

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated July 8, 2025

   Supports: general I-485 initial evidence; do not send originals

3. [3] G-1055, Fee Schedule

   USCIS · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated October 1, 2026

   Supports: fees can change; fee schedule

4. [4] Diversity Visa Issuance: Updated Guidance

   U.S. Department of State · Official source · Checked October 3, 2026 · Source last updated August 31, 2026

   Supports: guidance updated August 31, 2026: all DV issuances are currently paused; applications and interviews may continue; no DV visas currently issued; no exceptions