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Education OR Work Experience Requirements

Note: Please do not request clarification on the Work Experience Requirements, we can only refer you back to this web page, which contains all the U.S. Government's information about this subject.

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE?

WHAT OCCUPATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM?

HOW DO I FIND THE QUALIFYING OCCUPATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEBSITE?

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1. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE?

The law and regulations require that every entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent OR, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience. A "high school education or equivalent" is defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the Department of Labor’s O*Net OnLine database will be used.

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2. WHAT OCCUPATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM?

The Department of Labor (DOL) O*Net Online Database groups job experience into five "job zones." While many occupations are listed on the DOL Website, only certain specified occupations qualify for the Diversity Visa Program. To qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of your work experience, you must, within the past five years, have two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher. Proof of work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.

3. HOW DO I FIND THE QUALIFYING OCCUPATIONS ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEBSITE?

Qualifying DV Occupations are shown on the Department of Labor O*Net Online Database.

Follow these steps to find out if your occupation qualifies:

1. Select "Find Occupations" and then select a specific "Job Family". For example, select Architecture and Engineering and click "GO".
2. Then click on the link for the specific Occupation.
3. Following the same example, click Aerospace Engineers.
4. After selecting a specific Occupation link, select the tab "Job Zone" to find out the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range.
5. To qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of your work experience, you must, within the past five years, have two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher. Proof of work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.

PLEASE NOTE: Another, faster way to check the rating range on some occupations is to look through the following long list of job links. Click on the one that applies to you. It will take you to that specific occupation on the O*Net Online Database site. Once there, select the tab "Job Zone" to find the designated Job Zone number and Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) rating range. As stated above, to qualify for a Diversity Visa on the basis of your work experience, you must, within the past five years, have two years of experience in an occupation that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) range of 7.0 or higher. Proof of work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.