Diversity Immigrant Visa
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| Diversity Immigrant Visa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Diversity Immigrant Visa |
| Other names | DV Lottery, Green Card Lottery |
| Introduced | 1990 |
| Administered by | United States Department of State |
| Purpose | Expand immigrant diversity |
| Eligibility | Nationals of low-admission countries |
| Website | Official Department of State DV Program |
Diversity Immigrant Visa
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program awards immigrant visas by randomized selection to admissions from underrepresented countries, administered by the United States Department of State, implemented under the Immigration Act of 1990, and related to legislative measures such as the Immigration and Nationality Act and debates in the United States Congress. The program has intersected with policy actions by the Department of Homeland Security, rulings from the Supreme Court of the United States, administrative procedures of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, and analysis by think tanks including the Migration Policy Institute and the Pew Research Center.
Overview
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually through a randomized selection process overseen by the United States Department of State, drawing applicants from countries with historically low rates of admission such as applicants from regions analyzed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, trends reported by the World Bank, and migration patterns studied by the International Organization for Migration. Program administration interacts with consular operations at posts like the United States Embassy in London, the United States Consulate General in Mumbai, and the United States Embassy in Abuja, while policy oversight engages members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.
Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Eligibility requires birth in qualifying countries determined by visa issuance statistics tracked by the Department of State, and education or work-experience requirements similar to standards referenced by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the United States Department of Education. Nations rendered ineligible have included applicants from places with high admission rates reflected in reports from the Migration Policy Institute, academic studies by Harvard University, and analyses by Stanford University. Selectees must satisfy background and admissibility checks conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, public-safety vetting coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security, and medical examination protocols informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Application Process
Applicants submit entries electronically via the Department of State portal managed by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, with selection conducted using randomized algorithms and lotteries similar in form to selection procedures referenced in legal analyses by the American Civil Liberties Union, scholarly work at the Brookings Institution, and reports by the Government Accountability Office. Entrants provide biographic data verified against records from institutions such as the Social Security Administration, the United States Postal Service, and national civil registries, and successful notifications are followed by consular interview scheduling at missions like the United States Embassy in Cairo and the United States Embassy in Mexico City.
Visa Issuance and Admission to the United States
Once selected, applicants apply for immigrant visas at consulates under procedures coordinated between the Department of State and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, present documentation comparable to records from the United States Customs and Border Protection and attest to admissibility per standards arising from the Immigration and Nationality Act. Successful applicants receive immigrant visas and enter the United States at ports of entry administered by United States Customs and Border Protection and may adjust status or receive permanent resident cards issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Program History and Legislation
The program originated in provisions of the Immigration Act of 1990 and has been affected by subsequent legislation debated in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, challenged in litigation before the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, and shaped by executive actions from administrations of presidents such as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Policy changes and pauses have been influenced by reports from the Government Accountability Office, oversight hearings chaired by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and treaties and international commitments referenced by the United Nations.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critics have raised concerns about security screening highlighted by the Department of Homeland Security, fraud and scam prosecutions pursued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney General, and policy debates involving members of the United States Congress, advocacy from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, and editorial commentary in outlets such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Legal challenges have implicated constitutional questions adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the United States and procedural disputes litigated in federal courts including the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Statistics and Impact
Annual visa allocations and demographic breakdowns are published by the Department of State and analyzed by research centers including the Pew Research Center, the Migration Policy Institute, and academic units at Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley. Impact assessments consider immigrant integration metrics tracked by the American Immigration Council, labor-market outcomes referenced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and remittance and transnational ties studied by the World Bank and the International Organization for Migration.
Notable Cases and Legal Challenges
Notable litigation and administrative actions have involved plaintiffs and agencies such as the State of Washington, the State of Kentucky, the United States Department of Homeland Security, and private litigants represented by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Constitutional Rights. High-profile rulings related to program pauses, executive orders, and statutory interpretation were deliberated in courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.