What it actually is
The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program was created by Congress to bring immigrants from countries that do not send many people to the United States. Each year a computer randomly selects entrants for up to 55,000 immigrant visas, spread across regions of the world.[1][2] For millions of people, including generations of Ethiopians and Eritreans, it has been the one door that opens without a job offer or a family sponsor. That is also why it draws so many scammers: the hope is real, and desperate hope is easy to exploit.
Can you enter?
Two things decide eligibility. First, the country you were born in has to be on that year's eligible list. Ethiopia and Eritrea have generally qualified, though a country can drop off if too many of its people immigrated recently, so it is set fresh each year.[1] Second, you need either a high school education or two years of work in a job that requires training. If you were not born in an eligible country, you may still qualify through a spouse or, in some cases, a parent. The official instructions spell out every case.[1]
How to enter, step by step
When the entry window opens, usually for about a month in the autumn, you fill out one form at dvprogram.state.gov with your details and a photo that meets the rules. It costs nothing. When you finish, you are given a confirmation number. Save it, photograph it, guard it. It is the only key you will ever have to check your result, and if someone else entered "on your behalf" and keeps that number, they can hold your own entry hostage.[1] Enter only once; duplicate entries are thrown out.
How you find out, and how you do not
Months later, in the spring, results open. You learn whether you were selected in exactly one way: by logging into the Entrant Status Check on the same official site with your confirmation number.[1] There are no winning emails. There are no letters in the mail. There is no phone call from a "visa officer." Every one of those is a scam, without exception. If you are selected, it is a chance to apply, not a guaranteed visa, and from there the real process begins, with forms and fees paid only to the U.S. government.
The scams, named plainly
Ready to enter, or want to check your status?
Go straight to the official government site. It is the only real one.
dvprogram.state.govCommon questions
Is the DV Lottery free?+
Yes. Entering the Diversity Visa Lottery is completely free at the official government site, dvprogram.state.gov. The U.S. government never charges a fee to enter and never asks for payment by email or letter. Any website or person charging you to enter is not the government.
How do I know if I won the DV Lottery?+
There is only one way: the Entrant Status Check on the official E-DV website, using the confirmation number you got when you entered. The U.S. government does not email, mail, or call to tell you that you were selected. If you get a message saying you won and asking for money, it is a scam.
Can I improve my chances of winning?+
No. Selection is done at random by computer. No agent, website, or payment can improve your odds. Submitting more than one entry in the same year actually disqualifies you. One free, correct entry is all anyone can do.
Who can enter the DV Lottery?+
You generally need to have been born in an eligible country, and to have either a high school education or two years of qualifying work experience. Ethiopia and Eritrea have usually been eligible, but the country list is set fresh each year, so confirm on the official instructions before you enter.
When does the DV Lottery open?+
The entry window is short, usually about a month in the early autumn (often October into early November). Results come out the following spring. The exact dates change every year, so check the official site for the current year's dates rather than trusting a date you saw elsewhere.
Sources
This guide points only to official U.S. government sources. Always confirm this year's exact dates and rules on the State Department site before you enter.