What is the lottery and why do millions of people from all over the world eagerly await the start of its registration period every year? In response, it should be said that the Diversity Visa Program, or the lottery, is actually the most democratic and fair immigration system on an international level, which is based on chance and equality. This program gives individuals, regardless of social status or financial wealth, the unique chance to step into one of the most advanced countries in the world. Today and in this article, we are going to fully introduce the US lottery. Stay with us.
The United States Diversity Visa Lottery Program, popularly known as the lottery in Iran, is a golden and legal opportunity for permanent immigration and obtaining a US green card, which is held annually by the Department of State of this country and based on the provisions of the Immigration Act of 1990. The main goal of this program is to maintain population balance and attract immigrants from countries that have low immigration rates to the United States. So that every year, about 55,000 volunteers are selected completely randomly and systematically to obtain permanent residence, the right to work and study for free after going through administrative procedures and interviews. One of the most important advantages of this lottery is the lack of the need for a language certificate, job offer or large capital, which has made it one of the best immigration methods worldwide.
Types of American Lottery
Although in most of our minds the lottery only means immigrating to the United States, in the real world, the term refers to a wide range of lotteries, ranging from the chance to obtain residency to winning huge cash prizes. Below, we will examine the main types of lotteries:
Diversity Visa Program
This type of lottery, which is the most prestigious immigration program based on luck in the world, is run by the US federal government to maintain the racial diversity of immigrants. The Green Card Lottery gives people from selected countries (including Iran) the chance to obtain permanent residency in the US completely legally and directly without the need for special expertise, large capital or family sponsorship. The selection process in this system is random and, after passing the consular interview, the winners enjoy all the rights of citizenship such as the right to work, education and insurance from the moment they enter the US; which is why this program is at the top of global searches as the fastest and cheapest route to immigrate to the US.
National Lotteries
This category, which is the most popular type of games of chance in the world, includes state or private lotteries such as Powerball, Mega Millions or national lotteries of various countries. In this system, participants try their luck at winning jackpots of several hundred million dollars by buying a ticket and choosing a set of numbers. Unlike the immigration type, the main goal here is to gain sudden wealth.
Promotional Lotteries
These types of lotteries, often run by big brands, banks or chain stores, are designed for the purpose of marketing and attracting customers (Loyalty Marketing). In promotional lotteries, people earn points by purchasing a specific product or using a specific service and enter a lottery for cars, home appliances or leisure trips. From a business perspective, this method is one of the most powerful tools for customer engagement. Because it creates excitement and hope of winning, it significantly increases sales rates and brand loyalty, and in the world of digital marketing, successful campaigns are formed around them.
Housing and government services lotteries
In some countries, a lottery system is used to allocate limited resources that have countless applicants. For example, in housing support schemes, due to the low price compared to the free market and the high volume of demand, governments use lottery to observe fairness. This type of lottery is not a form of entertainment or immigration, but rather a mechanism for fair distribution of resources that allows people with similar economic conditions to have an equal chance of becoming homeowners or receiving government facilities; an issue that has become a challenge and news trend in the housing and car markets of many countries in recent years.
Conditions for participating in the lottery draw
To participate in the lottery, applicants must meet a set of legal standards set by the U.S. government; these conditions are designed to ensure that only qualified individuals from eligible countries with a minimum level of education or work experience can enter this immigration process.
Be born in one of the eligible countries (such as Iran)
Have at least a high school diploma (12 years of full-time education)
Have at least 2 years of specialized work experience (if you do not have a high school diploma)
Be at least 18 years of age (for the main applicant)
Register within the legal period (usually mid-October to mid-November)
Provide a standard photo in accordance with the immigration department’s algorithms
Complete the electronic E-DV form accurately
Have a valid passport (not required at the time of registration, but required for the post-approval process)
Have no effective criminal record
Be in good physical and mental health (confirmed in a medical check)
Not be legally prohibited from entering the United States
Countries allowed to register for the lottery
Most countries in the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, European countries, and many Asian and African countries, are eligible to participate in the lottery. In fact, the U.S. State Department only excludes countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past 5 years, such as India, China, Canada, Pakistan, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and most recently Cuba, from the program in order to maintain racial balance. So, if you were born in a country with a low immigration rate to the United States, you are considered the main eligibility for this lottery, and even if you were born in a country that is not eligible, you will still be able to register and take advantage of this unique immigration opportunity under certain conditions.
Benefits of winning the US lottery
Winning the US Green Card Lottery is more than just a simple lottery draw, it opens the door to a world of unparalleled opportunities that can change the course of a person’s life and that of their family forever. Here are five of the key benefits of this great achievement:
Obtaining permanent residency and US citizenship
The main advantage of winning this program is the direct acquisition of a US green card, which allows you to live in all states without time limits. Unlike difficult paths such as immigration to Europe, which are often accompanied by complex bureaucracy, the lottery winner is considered a permanent resident from the moment of entry. This status, after five years of continuous residence, has the ability to become citizenship and receive a powerful US passport, the validity of which is incomparable to any other document.
Complete freedom in employment and entrepreneurship
Unlike those seeking job stability with temporary visas like the Greek Blue Card, lottery winners are allowed to work in any profession or organization. You are not forced to work for a specific employer; you can also start your own business or work as a freelancer. This level of freedom even surpasses attractive conditions like the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa, as you will not have a financial or time commitment to renew your visa annually based on foreign income.
Benefit from world-class educational standards
With a green card, your tuition costs at US colleges and universities are greatly reduced and you are considered an in-state student. While applicants for a study visa to Germany or other developed countries often face financial challenges and high international tuition fees. In addition to cheap tuition, lottery winners have extensive access to federal student loans and special scholarships that pave the way for higher academic degrees at the world’s most prestigious universities.
Social security and sustainable economic well-being
As the world’s largest economy, the United States provides an excellent platform for wealth growth and social security. A lottery winner receives full benefits from the welfare system, including unemployment insurance, pensions, and government health care. While obtaining a Greek or similar visa may provide limited access to national welfare services, a green card holder is recognized as an official member of society and enjoys the full legal and economic protections of the federal government.
Ease of international travel and personal diplomacy
The holder of a US green card has high prestige with embassies around the world. The process of obtaining a visa for many countries is much faster and simpler for these people than for others. For example, while many people wait for months to receive a Canadian tourist visa, lottery winners can obtain entry permits to Schengen countries, Canada and Australia much more easily due to their residence in the US; because their residence status indicates social stability and adequate financial means.
Final Words
As you can see, in this article, we have fully introduced the American lottery. We learned that participating in the lottery is not just a game of chance, but a cost-free investment in a brighter future. Although the final selection is made by computer systems and randomly, knowing the exact conditions and observing the details at the time of registration is the first vital step to entering this global competition. Thank you for your support until the end of this article.
At Nobility Immigration Institute, we specialize in consulting on immigration to Europe, obtaining a Schengen visa, obtaining a Greek visa, obtaining a German visa, and obtaining a Spanish Digital Nomad visa. Dear friends, you can contact us through communication bridges for more information and free consultation.