The Diversity Visa Program, or the "Green Card Lottery", is an annual lottery run by the United States Department of State to give approximately 50,000 people the opportunity to obtain permanent resident visas for indigenous nationals of these countries. which have traditionally had low immigration rates to the United States.
The registration period for each lottery is approximately one month in length and there is very little chance of correcting any mistakes that have been made while submitting the documents – in fact, you could be disqualified for not filling out the form correctly. Therefore, filling out the form correctly and quickly is very important. Here's how to enter the Green Card Lottery.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Confirming Your Eligibility
Step 1. Consider whether you wish to obtain temporary or permanent entry into the United States
The Green Card Lottery is only for people who wish to become permanent residents in the United States. If you only want to stay temporarily in the United States - for example for vacation, visiting relatives or for business - the Green Card Lottery is not for you. Instead you may need a temporary visa to stay as a nonimmigrant or if you are from an eligible country you may be eligible for a visa waiver program. Citizens of Canada and Bermuda, subject to certain regulations, do not need a visa for temporary visits to the United States.
Step 2. Consider whether you qualify for another form of immigrant visa
If you have a sponsor, such as a family member or employer, or if you qualify for a Special Immigrant Visa, there may be a choice of other types of visas that are not determined by random draw. Information about these options is available from the United States Department of State's website, https://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1326.html. However, you can enter the Green Card Lottery even if you are registered on an immigrant visa in another category, as long as you meet the requirements to enter the lottery.
Step 3. Verify if you are from an eligible country
Each year the United States Department of State determines which countries are eligible based on the countries that have had the lowest immigration rates to the United States over the past five years. People who cannot claim to be from an eligible country cannot participate in this lottery. The instructions for entering the Green Card Lottery provide a comprehensive list of eligible and ineligible countries by region. There are three ways to claim that you are from an eligible country:
- If you were born in an eligible country.
- If your husband or wife was born in an eligible country, as long as both of your names are listed on the selected data entry, you are granted a diversity visa and enter the United States at the same time.
- If at least one of your parents was born in an eligible country, as long as none of your parents were born in your country (which is not eligible) and neither of your parents is a resident of that country when you were born (for example, they were there temporarily for vacation, business, study etc.)
Step 4. Check whether you meet the educational/work experience requirements
To be eligible to enter the lottery, you must meet one of two educational/employment requirements. You must at least:
- Have a high school education or its equivalent. This means that you must actually complete 12 years of primary education and secondary education or
- Have worked for two years during the last five years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform. This is determined through O*Net, a data center located on the United States Department of Labor website.
Step 5. Determine if there are any factors that make you unacceptable
This lottery is not a way to circumvent the general requirements for obtaining your permanent residency permit. If your application is selected in the lottery, factors that may hinder your entry into the United States such as criminal activity will still apply.
Part 2 of 4: Compiling and Collecting Documentation
Step 1. Beware of scams
Be careful not to fall victim to a scam involving the Green Card application process.
- Some applicants have received emails or letters asking for money in connection with their applications. The Department of State does not provide information to participants by email or regular mail, and there is no fee to be paid by participants to enter the lottery.
- The Department of State advises applicants not to use consultants or agents to help them fill out applications. If a participant's application is indeed prepared and submitted by another party, the participant must be present at the time of preparation and submission of the form and keep a confirmation letter with a unique confirmation number.
Step 2. Don't get confused about the date
The year referred to for the lottery can be confusing so take your time to understand what it means. For example, the 2013 application period is from October 1, 2013 to November 2, 2013. The application period for 2013 marks the beginning of the so-called 2015 Diversity Immigration Visa Program (2015 Diversity Immigration Visa Program aka DV-2015). It is referred to as the 2015 program because successful applicants will receive their visas during the 2015 fiscal year, which runs from 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.
Step 3. Gather everything you need
Make sure you collect all the information you will need to complete the registration and a digital photo of everyone who will be included in the application (yourself, husband/wife, children), before you start filling out the application form. Once you have created the application form, you only have 60 minutes to complete and submit it. You cannot save or download the form for later collection. If you don't complete the form within 60 minutes, you'll have to start all over again. You should know the following information::
- Your name, exactly as it appears on the passport
- Your date of birth
- Your gender
- The city where you were born
- The country where you were born (i.e. the country where your hometown is located)
- Countries that you can claim to be eligible for the program
- Your mailing address
- The country you live in now
- Your phone number (optional)
- Your email address - make sure it's an email address you can access directly
- The highest education you have attained up to the day you fill out the application
- Your current marital status -- please provide your spouse's name, date of birth, gender, city of birth and country of birth. Visa applications based on same-sex marriage are now treated the same as opposite-sex marriages, if the marriage takes place within jurisdictions where same-sex marriage is legal.
- Information about your children -- name, date of birth, gender, city of birth and country of birth for all living and unmarried children under the age of 21, regardless of whether they live with you or intend to accompany or follow you if You can immigrate to the United States. Your children include all living natural children, legally adopted children and stepchildren who were unmarried and under 21 years of age when you submitted the electronic entry, even if you are no longer legally married to the child's parents. and if the child is not living with you and/or will not be immigrating with you.
Step 4. Collect the photos
You must provide a recent photo of you, your spouse and all children listed in your entry. You don't need to include a photo of your spouse or child who is already a United States citizen or has become a Lawful Permanent Resident, but you won't be penalized if you do. You must submit photos for each person -- group photos are not allowed. If the photo was not taken with a digital camera, you can scan the non-digital photo onto your computer or have someone else scan it and email it to you.
Step 5. Validate the photos
Visit the lottery website https://www.dvlottery.state.gov, and click on the "Photo Validator" link to ensure the photos you submit meet the requirements of the program.
Step 6. Fill in the application form
The application form must be submitted online via the lottery website, it cannot be submitted by regular mail. Go to https://www.dvlottery.state.gov and click the link that says "Begin Entry". You must fill out the application form completely and accurately. Include photos that you have validated. There is an online help link on the lottery website which provides more information on how to complete the application form.
Step 7. Make sure you receive the confirmation number
After completing the application form, click the " Submit " link, but do not close the page until you receive a message confirming that your application has been submitted. This message will include a confirmation number. Print the confirmation page if possible. Don't lose the confirmation number because you will need it in the next few months to check the lottery results.
Part 3 of 4: Lottery Result Notification
Step 1. Be aware that you will not be notified of selected statuses
The United States Department of State will not contact you to let you know whether you have been selected. In addition, the Department will not ask you to send money by regular mail or money transfer services as part of the lottery process. However, the United States Department of State may send you an email directing you to view the Entrant Status Check for new information about your application.
Step 2. Be patient
Results will not be available for several months after the registration period is complete. Check the lottery website for the announcement date of whether or not you have been selected. For example, for the 2013 registration period (DV-2015), results will be available in the early noon of the EDT time zone on May 1, 2014.
Step 3. Check the result
You can access the results by clicking on the link labeled Entrant Status Check on the lottery website, www.dvlottery.state.gov/ESC/. You will need a confirmation number, last name/surname and year of birth to check your status. Keep in mind that if you are not selected, you should check this announcement again in the following days as there may be another withdrawal process.
Part 4 of 4: Getting a Visa
Step 1. Pay attention to the time limit
If you are selected by lottery, you only have until the end of the applicable United States fiscal year to apply and obtain your visa. For example, if you apply during the 2013 application period -- known as DV-2015 -- you will know your selected status from 1 May 2014 and you will have to apply and obtain a visa during the 2015 fiscal year which is 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015.
Step 2. Follow the instructions for the Participant Status Check
When you check your status via the Entrant Status Check link, if selected you will receive online instructions on what to do next. The next step will include an interview at the United States Embassy or Consulate.
Step 3. Submit the application as soon as possible
The DV program states that 50,000 green cards will be issued. To take into account the fact that many of the candidates in the lottery being selected would probably NOT qualify for a green card, the DV program actually selected 125,000 people. This means as soon as you submit your application, you will receive a Diversity Visa Rank Order number. This number is listed in the (Diversity Immigrant) Category of the Visa Bulletin, https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin.html. Look for your home region. If your serial number is very high, it is possible that 50,000 visas will be issued before your application is processed so you cannot immigrate.
Step 4. Consider adjusting your status, if you are already in the United States
If you are already in the United States, you can apply to the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to adjust your status to permanent resident. To take this step, you must be eligible to adjust your status and you must ensure that USCIS can complete the action for your Diversity Visa case, including processing your spouse and children during the program deadline.
Tips
- There is no fee to enter the lottery. However, if you are selected, there will be a fee associated with obtaining a visa. You will be directed to pay these costs yourself at the United States Embassy or Consulate, not by mail or money transfer services.
- Don't wait until the end of the application period to participate. If you wait until the end of the application period and a technical problem occurs or if the system is slowing down due to the high number of people trying to use it, you could miss the deadline.
- For participants who submitted applications during the 2013 registration period, all countries except the following countries are eligible to enter the Green Card Lottery: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (born in Mainland China), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and dependent areas, and Vietnam. The 2012 list is the same, except that Nigeria was once an eligible country.
- You can only apply for the lottery once during one registration period. However, both you and your spouse can complete separate applications. This means you can be selected either through your own application or as part of your spouse's application.
- You can submit your application to enter the lottery from anywhere - from the United States or any other country.
- If you cannot find the confirmation number when searching for your status using the Participant Status Check, you can click the link that says "Forgot Confirmation Number" on the 'Enter Entrant' information page. ' You must know the year of the program (the year you filled out the application), the participant's name, date of birth and email address as written on the application form.
