To enter the lottery, applicants must have been born in an eligible country. As of 2017 people born in the following countries are not able to apply for DIV: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom and its dependent territories (except Northern Ireland), and Vietnam.
If an applicant is selected for DIV, they must have completed at least a high school education or at least two years of work experience in an occupation which requires at least two other years of training or experience. The DIV program allows immigrants to legally relocate to the United States without a job or family. This program has opened opportunities for countless individuals. Undermining or eliminating this program would have a detrimental impact on recruiting a diverse pool of immigrants to the United States.