Diversity Visa 2023 registration now open

The State Department opened registration for the Diversity Visa 2023 lottery today. Up to 55,000 diversity immigrant visas will be available to nationals of countries with historically low immigration to the U.S.

Key Points:

• Registration began today, Oct. 6, at noon EDT and closes Nov. 9 at noon EST.
• Applicants must register online by submitting the diversity visa entry form that will be available at the State Department’s e-DV website. Paper applications are not accepted. Entries are limited to one per person and multiple entries will render the entrant ineligible.
• The State Department urges applicants not to wait until the final week to register because heavy demand may cause website delays.
• Lottery winners will be selected at random. Registrants will be given a confirmation number that they may use to check whether they have been selected starting May 8, 2022, on the E-DV website.
• This year, individuals born in the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong), 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. Individuals born in Macau and Taiwan are eligible.
• The State Department’s complete instructions are available here.

DV-2022 Update: Last week, a U.S. District Court judge ordered the Biden administration to reserve a total of 7,395 diversity visas past their expiration for visa lottery winners whose applications had not yet been adjudicated. This order comes after the judge’s previous ruling, ordering the U.S. State Department to make good-faith efforts to process DV applications by Sept. 30.

BAL Analysis: Those interested in registering for the DV-2023 lottery are encouraged to do so early in the registration period. Individuals should beware of scams that frequently target DV lottery registrants. Registrants are reminded that the registration process is free and that the only way to enter the lottery and obtain lottery results is via the State Department’s E-DV website.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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