Embassy of the United States Harare, Zimbabwe

The registration period for the diversity/green card lottery for fiscal year 2014 is Noon EDT on October 2, 2012 to Noon EST on November 3, 2012.  Registration outside these dates is not possible until the following year

There is no initial fee to enter the DV Program. The U.S. Government employs no outside consultants or private services to operate the DV program. Any intermediaries or others who offer assistance to prepare an application do so without the authority or consent of the U.S. Government. The Diversity Immigration Program makes available each year by random selection 50,000 permanent residence visas to persons from countries that have low rates of immigration to the United States. Visas are apportioned among six geographic regions based on immigration rates over the last five years, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration. 

Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) and submit their entries free of charge at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period, which is normally in October and November each year.  Applicants are strongly encouraged not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.  Heavy demand may result in website delays.  For more information, about the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, click here. 

Applicants may access the electronic diversity visa entry form at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period.

Beginning with DV2012, applicants will be able to check the status of their entry through the Entry Status Check on the E-DV website www.dvlottery.state.gov and find out if their entry was or was not selected.

Please be informed that under no circumstances can a visa for a particular Fiscal Year DV cycle be issued after September 30^th of that year.  It is important to understand that because of the limited number of visas that may be issued under this program, visas may cease to be available even before this September 30^th date. This is especially true the closer to September 30^th an application is made.