CUNY Citizenship Now

The annual Diversity Visa program (better known as the Visa Lottery or Green Card Lottery) makes visas available to persons meeting certain eligibility requirements. A computer-generated, random lottery drawing chooses the winners of diversity visas. The visas are distributed among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the period of the past five years. Within each region, no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.  

Eligibility Requirements

In addition to being from an eligible country*, to qualify for the Diversity Visa Lottery you must be over 18 years old, and either be a High School graduate, or have worked for two out of the last five years in a job that requires at least two years training or experience.

If you are in the United States unlawfully, you may have a difficult time getting permanent residence even if you win the lottery.  Unlawfully present lottery winners can apply to adjust your status to permanent resident in the United States if either a family or employment case was filed by January 14, 1998, or they were in the United States on December 20, 2000 and a family or employment case was filed by April 30, 2001.  Those who are not eligible for adjustment of status in the United States may return home to apply for adjustment at the U.S. Consulate.  However, they may not be able to return to the United States for three to ten years.  We can help you figure out if this is a good option for you at one of our centers below.

*Ineligible Countries

This year's ineligible countries are: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (Mainland born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.  Note: Persons born in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan are eligible.

How to Enter (Starting October 1, 2013)

• Entries can be submited at www.dvlottery.state.gov, OR
• Go to one of our CUNY Immigration Centers for FREE assistance.  Each applicant must come in person to receive assistance.
• Entries will be accepted until noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), on November 2, 2013.
• Note: ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON IS ALLOWED.

CUNY Immigration Centers Offering Assistance with DV Lottery Application

Note: Hours to receive assistance with DV Lottery Application vary from center to center.  Please call the numbers below to make an appointment.

Bronx

Hostos Community College Immigration Center

427 Walton Avenue, T-501
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 518-4395
Languages spoken: English and Spanish

Brooklyn

Medgar Evers College Immigration Center

1150 Carroll Street, Room 226
Brooklyn, NY 11225
(718) 270-6292
Languages spoken: English Only

Manhattan

City College Immigration Center

160 Convent Avenue
North Academic Center, Rm. 1-206
New York, NY 10031
(212) 650-6620
Languages spoken: English, Spanish and Italian

CUNY Express Immigration Center

560 West 181st Street
New York, NY 10033
(212) 568-4692
Languages spoken: English and Spanish

Staten Island

College of Staten Island, El Centro, and Project Hospitality Immigration Center at The Help Center
(Part Time)

514 Bay Street
Staten Island, NY 10304
(718) 273-6737
Languages spoken: English, Spanish, and Polish

Queens

Flushing Immigration Center

39-07 Prince Street, Suite 2B
Flushing, NY 11354
(718)-640-9223
Languages spoken: English, Spanish (limited), Chinese and Korean

York College Immigration Center

Welcome Center Atrium
94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11451
(718) 262-2983
Languages spoken: English and Spanish