Will the Visa Lottery require English? These are the new requirements for the green card - El Nuevo Herald
Key Takeaways
- There is no English language requirement for the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery or most green card categories; English and civics testing applies at the U.S. citizenship (naturalization) stage.
- DV eligibility remains based on country of chargeability and education/work experience; no valid passport is currently required to submit a DV entry, following a 2022 court decision.
- Consular officers review public charge (financial support) factors; DV selectees may be asked for a Form I-134 (Declaration of Financial Support), while family-based immigrants generally must submit Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support).
- Medical exams, security checks, and required vaccinations remain core parts of immigrant visa processing; none involve a language test.
- USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) increased many application fees in 2024, affecting those adjusting status inside the U.S., but not the basic DV entry process.
No, English Is Not a Requirement for the DV Lottery
A Spanish-language report raised the question of whether the U.S. visa lottery will begin requiring English proficiency. There is no such requirement under current law or policy. The Diversity Visa (DV) program, which allocates up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually, is set by the Immigration and Nationality Act and State Department rules; neither imposes an English test for DV entry or selection. English and civics testing enter the picture only for naturalization—after a person has been a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for the required period. While some politicians have proposed points-based systems that could weigh English ability, Congress has not enacted changes of this kind.
What the DV Program Really Requires
DV eligibility still turns on two main criteria: being charged to an eligible country (based on birth, with limited exceptions) and meeting the education or work experience minimum—either a high school education (or equivalent) or two years of qualifying work experience within the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience. Applicants submit a free online entry during the annual registration window, typically in October–November. Following a 2022 federal court decision, the State Department no longer requires a valid passport just to submit a DV entry. Selected entrants proceed to the immigrant visa stage (consular processing) or, if eligible and already in the U.S., to adjustment of status with USCIS. All DV visas must be issued by September 30 of the relevant fiscal year; unused numbers do not carry over.
Financial Support, Medicals, and Security Checks Still Matter
For all immigrant visas, consular officers assess “public charge” factors—whether the person is likely to become primarily dependent on the government. Family-based immigrants generally need a binding Form I-864 Affidavit of Support from a sponsor. DV selectees do not file I-864 but can be asked for evidence of support, commonly a nonbinding Form I-134 from a U.S.-based sponsor, plus proof of personal funds, job offers, or other resources. Every applicant must complete a medical exam with a panel physician and show proof of required vaccinations per CDC guidance. Security screenings and police certificates are standard. None of these steps include any formal English proficiency test.
What This Means if You’re Applying Now
If you are preparing for the next DV cycle, focus on accurate entries, education/work documentation, and civil documents (birth, police certificates) rather than language exams. If you’re selected, act quickly: submit the DS-260, gather financial evidence, and schedule your medical as instructed. Applicants adjusting status inside the U.S. should budget for USCIS’s 2024 fee increases and check current processing times. Rumors about imminent English requirements resurface frequently; absent an official rulemaking or a new law, they remain just that—rumors. Always verify with the State Department’s DV instructions and USCIS updates before making decisions.
Source: Original Article