Finally, the United States has started publishing the results of the 2025 Visa Lottery, one of the most important moments of the year for thousands of people who want to come live in the country. This program is the Diversity Visa program, and it is one of the most common ways to get the famous green card without needing a family sponsor or a job offer.
So, if you were waiting for this year’s result, you can now find out whether you were selected and if there’s a green card waiting for you. But be careful, they don’t send emails or physical letters. The only real way to check is by going to the official Department of State website and entering the confirmation number you received when you signed up. That’s it. No “you’ve been selected” emails or calls.
Millions of people glued to their screens
Every year, more than 10 million people from all over the world enter this lottery. However, only around 55,000 visas are awarded. For many, it is literally the chance to change their lives: move to the U.S., work legally, and eventually apply for citizenship.
This system gives priority to countries with low immigration rates to the United States to create “migration balance”. So if you come from a country with less representation, your chances are higher than someone from, for example, India or Mexico, where demand is huge.
How to know if you were selected
The only official method is through the government’s official website. You’ll need your confirmation number, last name, and year of birth.
If the system tells you that you were selected, take a deep breath and wait. It only means you’re now starting the administrative process: embassy or consulate interviews, background checks, medical exams… A lot of bureaucracy.
If you weren’t selected, don’t get discouraged yet. You can repeat the process every year and keep trying your luck. Check your application until September 30, 2026, in case someone cancels their spot in line.
Watch out for scams!!
As always, some people try to take advantage of the situation with fake websites, phishing emails, and messages promising to “secure” your spot in exchange for money. No private company can guarantee you a visa. None!!!
The U.S. government does not send emails saying “Congratulations, you’ve won!” It also doesn’t ask for payments to confirm your selection. The entire process happens only on the official website.
I’ve been selected, now what?
Now the embassy interviews begin, and the process can take more than a year. It’s long, but thousands of people complete it successfully and get their long-awaited green card.
This year, the immigration (and political) situation might be especially tense. Many countries (LATAM, Africa, and some Asian countries) have increased the number of applications because it’s one of the few legal and safe migration pathways.
For thousands of people, this program is an open door to a new beginning. You don’t need to be rich, just meet the requirements and get that stroke of luck that sometimes changes an entire life, especially in the land of freedom.
And once you have the green card?
You basically become a permanent resident of the country. You’re not a citizen yet, but you do have rights and responsibilities. You can live and work legally, travel in and out of the country, and even access SSA benefits or scholarships and tuition, but you also have obligations: file taxes, reside in the country, and stay out of trouble. It sounds simple, right? Because they can revoke it, and after how hard it is to get, that’s the last thing you want.