Authorities saycame to the United States seven years ago from Uzbekistan under what is called the Diversity Visa Program. According to the Washington Post , the lottery’s premise is simple. Each year, the Diversity Visa Lottery, as it is officially known, provides up to 50,000 randomly selected foreigners — fewer than 1 percent of those who enter the drawing — with permanent residency in the United States. It’s not connected to employment or family members in the United States.