No. The FTC states that there is nothing a person can do to increase the chances of winning the Diversity Visa lottery, and the Department of State describes selection as a random computer drawing. Claims of better odds, insider methods, or guaranteed selection are warning signs of fraud.
Quick answer
- Selection is random, by computer, from qualified entries, within each geographic region.
- Every entry received in a region during the entry period has an equal chance of being selected.
- Only one entry per person is allowed. More than one entry disqualifies all of that person’s entries.
- DV-2026 had no entry fee, and the Department states a $1 fee for DV-2027, collected in the official process.
How the drawing works
The Department of State instructions for DV-2026 explain that all entries received from each region are individually numbered and that at the end of the entry period a computer selects entries at random within each region. The first entry selected becomes the first case registered, the second the second, and so on. All entries within a region have an equal chance. The Department distributes visas among six geographic regions, and no single country can receive more than seven percent of the visas in a year.
For DV-2026 the number of visas was 55,000. The Department selects more entries than that, because some selectees will not qualify and others will not pursue their cases. Being selected is therefore a first step, and the order of selection is a rank number, not a prize.
What the FTC says scammers claim
The FTC’s consumer advice on the Diversity Visa lottery scam describes the pitch in plain terms. Scammers say they can help a person win or improve the odds, and they cannot. Some tell people they have won a lottery that they never entered and then ask for payment to “process” an application. The FTC lists these offers among its red flags. Its red flags are anyone claiming to raise the odds, any email or letter announcing a win, and any request for payment in advance by check, money order, or wire transfer.
Why a fee cannot change the result
There is no category of paid entry, priority lane, or special queue in the instructions. The Department uses technology to detect multiple entries, and the entry form is submitted on the official site. A third party cannot change the draw, and a payment is not part of the selection logic. The FTC lists “someone who says they can increase your chances of winning” among its red flags.
A fee that does exist is small and goes through the official process. The March 2026 final rule says every DV-2027 entrant pays $1 at the time of submitting the entry, with no waivers, through Pay.gov. After selection, the DV-2026 instructions say visa fees are paid in person at the consular cashier of the embassy or consulate, or directly to USCIS for people adjusting status. Those instructions say not to send visa fees through the mail or a service such as Western Union, and that visa application fees cannot be refunded.
Spouses may each enter
The instructions allow each spouse to submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either spouse is selected, the other may apply as a derivative. That is a rule of the program, not a paid feature, and it applies only to spouses who both meet the requirements.
What is not allowed
- Submitting more than one entry for the same person. The Department states that it disqualifies all entries of a person with duplicates.
- Using the same photograph as a previous year’s entry, or a manipulated photograph, which may make an entrant ineligible.
- Listing a spouse or a child who is not one, or failing to list an eligible one, which may make an entrant ineligible.
What selection does and does not mean
The Department selects more than the number of available visas because some selectees will not qualify and others will not pursue their cases. Being selected does not guarantee a visa, an interview, or even the chance to make an application. Services that sell certainty are describing something the program does not offer.
The DV-2026 instructions also say there is no carry-over of benefits. A selectee must obtain a visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year, and once all the visas are issued, the program ends. A seller who promises a green card with a purchase is promising something that depends on rank number, eligibility, and the interview, none of which a payment affects.
What can improve an entry’s chance of being valid
Accuracy does not change the odds of selection, but it prevents disqualification. A correct country of eligibility, correct family information, a compliant photograph, and the education or work experience required by the program are all conditions for a valid entry. They are explained in the DV entry form guide and the eligibility guide, both based on official sources.
A short check before believing an odds claim
- Does the claim say odds can be improved? The FTC says nothing can improve them.
- Does the seller ask for money before anything is shown? The FTC names advance payment as a red flag.
- Does the offer involve a second entry for the same person? The instructions say that disqualifies all entries.
- Does the message announce a win? The Department never sends such notices; Entrant Status Check is the only channel.
Frequently asked questions
Do early entries have better odds?
The instructions say entries received in a region during the entry period have an equal chance. They also advise against waiting for the last week, because heavy demand may cause website delays.
Can a lawyer or an agent raise the chances?
The program does not recognize any such advantage. An attorney or another person may submit an entry for someone, but only one entry may exist in that person’s name.
Is it true that some countries have better odds?
Visas are allocated among six geographic regions, and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the visas in a year. That is a feature of the program, not something a fee can change.
What does the FTC recommend?
Enter only on the official site, enter once, keep the confirmation number, and report people who promise better odds.
Can the same entry method be used every year?
Each program year has its own instructions. The DV-2026 instructions say reusing a previous year’s photograph makes an entrant ineligible, and DV-2027 adds passport and fee requirements, so the current year’s instructions control.
Related reading
- DV lottery scams: common types and warning signs
- How to check whether a DV lottery website is official
- DV lottery costs and how to avoid scams
- Where to report Diversity Visa fraud
About this guide
This website is for information only. It is not affiliated with the U.S. government, does not give legal advice or consultations, and does not offer application services. Entries are submitted only on the official entry site, and the current official instructions control, because rules change each year.
Last verified: October 2026. Sources: Department of State instructions for DV-2026; FTC consumer advice on the Diversity Visa lottery scam; final rule published March 11, 2026.