Submit Your Own Entry without a "Visa Agent," Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery), Applicants Advised

The registration period for 2021 Diversity Visa program (Green Card lottery) runs from October 2nd, 2019 to November 5th, 2019.

The Diversity Visa program is run by the State Department and allocates 50,000 permanent resident visas to nationals of countries with low immigration rates to the United States. Countries with high immigration rates to the US over the past year are ineligible to participate in the program. This list of ineligible countries changes almost every year, and for DV-2021 the following countries are ineligible: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

The State Department informs those intending to register for the program that entries are only accepted online at dvlottery.state.gov and not from any other website claiming to accept Diversity Visa program entries.
Entrants are also urged to complete the entry form themselves without a “visa consultant,” “visa agent,” or other facilitator. If you have to get help from someone, the State Department advises that you be present so that you can provide the correct information and get your own confirmation number.

Without a confirmation number, you will not be able to access the website to check if you won. The Department says that some “agents” have been known to submit entries on behalf of individuals, sometimes unbeknownst to the individuals and retain confirmation numbers, then charge exorbitant fees to the individuals to get their confirmation numbers.

Individuals who enter incorrect information or fail to provide required information will be disqualified from the program, adds the Department.

Entrants are also advised that there is no fee charged to enter the Diversity Visa program. The only fees that apply for the Diversity Visa are visa application fees at the time of visa interview, for those who win the lottery.