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Green Card Lottery 2023 (DV-2025): Everything you must know

The green card lottery (or the “diversity lottery”) for 2023 (DV-2025) will open on Wednesday October 4, 2023 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The most important thing to know: There's only one way to legitimately enter. Don't listen to any of the websites out there that say they will give you a special service or a higher chance of winning, it's never real.

So what else is very important to remember about entering the green card diversity lottery?

Is the Green Card lottery 2023 (DV-2025) currently open?

No, the entry form will open on October 4, 2023 at 12:00 noon, US Eastern Daylight Time.

The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only. Entries will NOT be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service.

How long are applications for the 2023 Diversity Green Card Lottery (DV-2025) open?

Applications are open for a little over a month between October and November.

Entries close on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Where should you enter the DV Green Card Lottery?

Enter only on the official website. There is only one official website for entering the green card lottery: https://dvprogram.state.gov/

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

The official information about DV-2025 can be found at Travel.State.Gov. You should trust this and only this for accurate advice about the lottery (aside from this article, of course).

At every turn, make sure that your website still says “.gov” at the top to ensure that you haven't accidentally found a link to an unofficial site.

Does it matter when you enter the DV lottery?

If you are considering applying for the DV Lottery, apply early to avoid missing out because the website usually experiences issues close to the application period end date due to heavy website traffic.

That being said, your chances do not increase based on when you apply.

Is it free to enter the Green Card Diversity Lottery?

Yes, it's free to enter the DV Lottery every year. There is never a cost involved to enter the lottery. It does not cost any money to apply for the green card lottery.

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

How do I fast track my entry or give myself a better chance of winning?

There is no fast-track or any more “reliable” way to get a green card from the green card lottery other than applying on the official site.

There are no tricks, no benefits to entering at a certain time of day, and no benefit to entering at the beginning or end of the process. As long as you enter between the start and finish dates.

DO NOT TRUST ANY WEBSITE THAT TELLS YOU OTHERWISE.

What does DV-2025 mean? What year does the green card lottery happen?

The lottery is drawn every year. The “DV-2025” lottery means that you will enter in late 2023, and you will find out if you won the lottery in mid-2025 (with interview and entry in 2025/2026).

Yes, it's a slow and long process, but that's just how it is, there's no way to speed things up.

Is the lottery still running this year?

Yes, it is still running as per usual!

What should I consider before entering the Green Card Lottery?

If you do win, and you can now apply to get a Green Card, it's worth considering the HEART Act. In short, if you become a green card holder for more than 8 years, if you ever want to give it up, you might have to pay LOTS of tax. Read more about the HEART Act.

Other than that, it is my understanding that there are no real implications to entering the Green Card lottery, even if you have another visa. Applying for a green card is a whole other story, but simply entering the lottery should not result in any issues with a non-immigrant visa. That being said, it's always best to consult with an immigration attorney before undertaking something like this.

When does the DV-2025 Green Card lottery start?

The DV-2025 Green Card Lottery will open on October 4, 2023 at 12:00 noon, US Eastern Daylight Time.

Should you use a lawyer when applying for a green card?

It's a long and windy path, you should use help

The green card process is long and windy, including the application. For the best guide on everything green card be sure to check out BritSimonSays for a step-by-step Green card guide!

Best of luck with your application! I know it's stressful as many people are really keen to get into the U.S. and start their new lives as expats, but be patient, read as much as you can, and consult with an immigration lawyer if you have any serious concerns or queries.

Getting this process wrong, or any immigration process wrong in America can have long-lasting detrimental effects so don't do that.

Which countries cannot apply for the DV Lottery?

Applications depend on the country you were born, not the country you are living in, or the country you are a citizen of. Those born in these countries cannot apply:

  • Bangladesh
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China (including Hong Kong SAR – Natives of Macau SAR and Taiwan are eligible)
  • Colombia
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Philippines
  • Republic of Korea
  • South Korea
  • United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam

Read about a DV lottery success story!

To read a story about one of America Josh's readers, check out A Green Card Success Story by an Australian Expat.

The Diversity Green Card Lottery DV-2025 is OPENING SOON!

As a side note, I can also help with:

  1. Getting a credit card in the US (without a credit score)
  2. Transfering money (at a special America Josh rate with a personal introduction if you want it) from overseas with OFX; and
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Josh Pugh

A business founding, digital marketing focused, charity driving, community builder from South Australia, living in New York City. After moving in 2017, Josh realized that there was an opportunity to curate and help the community of expats who moved to the United States – and launched America Josh.View Author posts

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Yes, it's a bit morbid to consider a will (and everything that comes with that), especially in these times where we're seeing the world in a crazy state. However, it's important to get ahead of things and make sure that you've taken care of your assets, your dependents, and your family. So the short answer is: Yes. You probably do need a new will, but it's more difficult than that because those living abroad have their own set of rules. So let's start with the real basics: What is a will? A will is a legal document that lays out your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children. When we say "property" here we mean more than you might think: Real property, such as real estate, land, and buildings Cash, including money in checking accounts, savings accounts, and money market accounts, etc. Intangible personal property, such as stocks, bonds, and other forms of business ownership, as well as intellectual property, royalties, patents, and copyrights, etc. Unproductive property, such as valuable objects like cars, artwork, jewelry, and furniture, etc. If you die without a will, those wishes may not be followed. Are wills important? You may have worked this out already but yes, they're really important, even if you don't have much. Without a will, your heirs (family normally) may be forced to spend additional time, money, and emotional energy to settle your affairs after you're gone, especially if there are multiple countries involved which have different rules. Don't leave that to them, sort this out! What makes a will legal (generally)? A will for most jurisdictions (it's different in some countries but they normally include these fundamentals) require a few things: Be made in writing It need not be written by the testator It can be written in any language It must be signed and dated in the presence of two witnesses Why "international wills" aren't always perfect There are all sorts of different types of wills out there, and you'll find that the rules for each of those changes per state in the U.S. and per country around the world. At one point, jurisdictions around the world tried to agree on an "International Will" and it fell flat, only being accepted by a handful of countries and not even all the U.S. states. To be a well-drafted Will, it would normally be at least 5-6 pages and include more than 20 clauses going through the details of what you want. The Will first has to revoke previous Wills and appoint an Executor (and a backup). It then has to describe the distribution of the estate, with alternate and residual plans, about what I detailed above. This all sounds easy but different jurisdictions have their own laws as to what can and cannot be done within a Will. For example, whether a spouse or adult child can be disinherited (this actually varies across US States and Canadian Provinces) and how the disposition of real estate is handled. There are also different laws limiting bequests to minors and the definition of a minor. So your will that was looking perfect in one state or country is now basically void! What about just creating a new, second will So you've got everything sorted in your home country, why don't you just walk into a lawyer's office and ask for another will in your new country? Well, the problem is something I mentioned above: The Will first has to revoke previous Wills Creating a new Will likely erases your old one from existence, leaving you basically in the same pickle you started. Tax is always a consideration One very important aspect of creating a will is the tax implications. If you aren't properly set up in all your countries, your assets might start dancing around the world and picking up quite a tax bill along the way. Some countries have estate taxes, some don't, and you might be hit from multiple sides all at once. Take for example if you die in your new country and pledge everything to family in your home country. Do you know what will happen and how it will be executed? So what you should really be doing? Go speak to a lawyer who is familiar with wills for international citizens and expats. I'm not a lawyer, so it's always best that you go seek personal legal advice to ensure that you have covered your bases properly, especially if you have dependents and/or property in multiple countries. I know this might feel like I've led you down the garden path but this is important because you're not like everyone else and you should not just rely on an online form to do this. You need to talk through with someone what you want and what you plan for. If your situation changes (more/less property, or changes to your "family"), you should go right on back to them as well. If a will is for when I die, what is a "living will"? While you're speaking to that lawyer, I would also recommend organizing a living will. Living wills are all about giving advance directives to medical professionals (and your loved ones) about your end-of-life care, especially if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Again, these aren't fun topics, but for the good of your family and loved ones, you should have a plan in place that makes your intentions clear. Other types of wills One that you might come across is a "holographic will" which sounds WAY cooler than it really is. A holographic will is one that has been signed, dated, and written by hand, but in the presence of no-one else. *Insert cool movie scene where they find the will the person wrote hours before being murdered* Thing is, these are only valid in some cases and up to lots of discretion. Another one that is becoming more popular is video wills where you sit and record yourself talking through things. Now, this might seem really accurate but many jurisdictions still don't weigh them like an officially written and witnessed will. It can be used to add value though, which can help everyone interpret what you wanted! All in all: Make sure you have the core one done perfectly, then you can look into the rest.

Do I need a will in my new home country as an expat 2023?

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32 thoughts on “Green Card Lottery 2023 (DV-2025): Everything you must know”

  3. Bella
    Reply

    Hi Josh I want to know please is the dv 2023 over for all countries or just some countries? That means no one will conducted interviews next week? The us ambassy in cameroun did not notify the they canceled appointments. Please I want to understand. Thank you.

  4. Olive Oshoka
    Reply

    good day American Josh, i will like to understand why some selected countries have been excluded from the DV Program in respect to my country of birth (Nigeria). Its almost a decade now, i hope they can reconsider and grants citizens of Nigeria eligibility once more

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