Attention: The lottery drawing has been suspended. Please follow official updates.
Each fall, registration usually opens for the Green Card lottery, officially known as the Electronic Diversity Visa Program.
Results are traditionally announced in May of the following year.
You can submit an application and check your status at the official website:
https://dvprogram.state.gov/
The most debated question every year is: Can asylum applicants participate? And if so, does it make sense?
Participation is allowed. Whether it makes sense depends on the situation.
Those who entered the U.S. with a visa generally have the best chances, and there are many successful DV cases in this category.
For individuals who crossed through Mexico, legal opinions vary.
My view:
There is a chance to obtain a Green Card, but only if several conditions are met.
First, you must have received Form I-94 and DT Parole at the border.
Official guidance states that parole is not considered an admission into the United States. USCIS also notes that individuals paroled into the U.S. are not formally admitted for immigration purposes.
However, parole is still a status that allows filing Form I-485 for Adjustment of Status.
USCIS requirements state that the applicant must have been:
- inspected and admitted into the United States; or
- inspected and paroled into the United States.
This means the applicant must either have entered with a visa or been paroled.
Some immigration attorneys agree that a person paroled into the U.S. may apply for adjustment of status as long as the parole status remains valid.
Therefore, simply receiving I-94 and DT Parole is not enough — maintaining a valid parole status is critical. The highest chances are for those who received parole recently, especially with a two-year validity.
No departure from the United States is required.
Not all attorneys are willing to handle such cases, and practical experience is limited.
Still, if you want to participate — do it. Immigration law may change, and you can address the legal strategy later if you win.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules may change. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified immigration attorney.
