American Immigration Lawyers
Khan Law, PLLC
555 Republic Drive, Floor 2, Suite 214
Plano, TX 75074
Office: (469) 200-6508
WhatsApp: (469) 200-6508
Email: info@khanlegalgroup.com
U.S. immigration law, serving clients
in all 50 states and worldwide.
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Free Case Evaluation
Tell us your story. We’ll tell you which of these paths actually fits your life, before you spend a dollar.
The Visa Guide ยท Green Card
Diversity Visa
Lottery
Luck favors the prepared.
Up to 55,000 immigrant visas a year for nationals of countries with historically low U.S. immigration, awarded by random selection from a free online entry. Here’s the whole journey, in plain English.
Who Qualifies
Four boxes. Check them all.
The requirements are simple, but the program forgives nothing: errors disqualify at the interview.
An eligible country
Born in an eligible country. The list changes annually, and chargeability to a spouse’s or parent’s country can rescue some entrants.
Education or experience
High school education or its equivalent, or 2 years of experience in the last 5 in an occupation requiring 2+ years of training.
Admissibility
The entrant must be admissible to the U.S.
A flawless entry
Exactly correct entry details and compliant photos: errors disqualify at the interview.
The Process
Five steps. One chance.
The entry
Enter free at dvprogram.state.gov during the annual fall window. One entry per person; spouses may each enter, listing each other.
The results
Check results yourself the following May. The State Department never emails winners.
The application
If selected, submit Form DS-260 immediately. Selection alone guarantees nothing, and visas run out.
The interview
Interview at the embassy (or I-485 adjustment if lawfully in the U.S.) with education and work evidence.
The deadline
Everything must finish by September 30 of the program year: a hard, unmovable deadline.
Forms & Fees
Know the paperwork.
The immigrant visa application, submitted immediately after selection
Adjustment of status, for selectees lawfully in the U.S.
Selected? The clock is already running.
Selection alone guarantees nothing: visas run out, and the program year ends September 30 no matter where your case stands. Submit the DS-260 immediately, and move fast.
Live processing times & fees
Government numbers change monthly. These official tools are always current:
Your chance.
Our fight.
Won the lottery? Move fast. Tell us your story: the evaluation is free, and we’ll tell you exactly what to do next.
Attorney Advertising: general information, not legal advice. Won the lottery? Move fast: request a free case evaluation or call (469) 200-6508. โ Back to all visa guides
The Rules
What disqualifies an entry.
- Use a fresh photo taken within the last six months, plain background, no glasses
- List your spouse and every living child under 21, including stepchildren and children who will stay home
- Copy your name, birth date, and passport details exactly as your documents show them
- Keep the confirmation number yourself; it is the only key to your result
- Submit more than one entry per person in a season; duplicates are disqualified automatically
- Reuse a photo from a previous year’s entry; recycled photos fail the review
- Omit a spouse or child, even one with their own status or no plans to travel
- Let an agent enter for you and hold the confirmation number as leverage
Costs
What it costs in 2026.
The lottery stays close to free at the front door: entering now costs one dollar, a registration fee added beginning with the DV-2027 season. The real spending starts only if you are selected. The biggest single item, the $330 visa fee, is paid at the interview and is not refunded if the case is refused, so make sure the entry was clean before spending on fees, medicals, and travel.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lottery entry | $1 per entrant | Charged at registration starting with DV-2027; entries were free in earlier years |
| Diversity visa application fee | $330 per person | Paid at the consular interview; not refundable if the visa is refused |
| Medical exam | Varies by country | Every applicant sees an authorized panel physician; prices are set locally |
| USCIS immigrant fee | $235 per person | Paid online after the visa so the physical green card can be produced |
Fee amounts reflect published government figures as of August 2026 and change over time; the live links above are always current. Fees apply per person, including children.
FAQ
Questions we hear every week.
I received an email saying I won. Is it real?
Treat it as fraud. Selection shows up only in the Entrant Status Check on the official site, unlocked by your confirmation number. Anyone emailing congratulations, demanding wire transfers, or offering to release your case for a fee is running a scam we see every season.
Can a paid agency improve my odds?
No. Selection is a random draw and one entry is all anyone gets. An agency types the same form you can type, and the worst ones keep your confirmation number so they can charge you later to learn your own result.
I married after I entered. Is my new spouse covered?
A spouse gained after entry can generally be added to the case, with solid proof the marriage is genuine and hard questions at the interview. The opposite situation is fatal: a spouse who existed when you entered but was left off the form.
My case number is very high. Will I be interviewed?
Not necessarily. Interviews open by regional case-number cutoffs published monthly, and in most years some selectees are never reached before visas run out. No filing speeds it up; watch the cutoffs and be ready the moment your number is current.
I am in the U.S. on a valid visa. Can I finish here?
Often yes, through adjustment of status, if your number becomes current with enough runway before September 30 and you are otherwise eligible. Choosing between adjusting here and interviewing abroad is strategy; the deadline forgives neither route.
I found an error in my entry. Can I fix it?
Entries cannot be corrected after submission. A wrong birth date or a missing family member usually ends the case at the interview, after the money is spent. If you spot a real error, get advice before paying fees and booking travel, and enter cleanly next season.