Green Card Lottery FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions about Diversity Visa (DV)
Lottery)
We recommend that you read the following questions and answers before
registering for the Green Card Lottery. For more information, please email us with questions.
What is the Green Card Lottery Program?
How to apply for Diversity Visa Lottery?
Who is eligible to apply for the lottery?
Natives of which countries are excluded?
Why is my country excluded from the Green Card Lottery?
Is there a minimum age to apply for the lottery?
How much does the DV Application cost?
Are there any restrictions on the number of application I can send in for the green card lottery?
Will I be notified if I win the lottery?
How is the DV lottery different from the common LPR (lawful permanent residency) procedure?
Where can I find more details about US green card lottery application?
What is the Green Card Lottery Program or Diversity Immigrant Visa Program?
This program is considered the easiest way to get a US green card. Every year,
the U.S. Congress grants 50,000 immigrant visas to eligible foreign nationals to
study, live, and work in the US as part of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery
Program. The winners are selected at random from a computerized lottery system,
and are considered permanent residents (green card holders). They can travel
freely to and from the United States.
How to apply for Diversity Visa Lottery?
The US Department only receives applications for the Diversity Visa via
online submission. In the past, the department accepted paper applications. In
2003, the U.S. Government changed the paper application to the electronic
registration system in order to make the DV process more efficient and safe.
Who is eligible to apply for the lottery?
The green card diversity visa lottery has two eligibility requirements:
- The applicant must be an inhabitant of the U.S. low-admission foreign
country. To be exact, the applicant must be born in an eligible country OR
have parents born in eligible countries and were not occupants of the
applicant’s country of birth, when he/she was born. For example, the working
parents lived temporarily in the ineligible country.
- The applicant must hold a high school education or its equivalent. OR The
applicant must have 2 years work experience in a job requiring at least 2
years training or experience.
Natives of which countries are excluded?
The State Department annually publishes a list of countries whose citizens are
ineligible for DV Lottery application. For the DV-2007 Lottery, citizens of the
following countries are not entitled to apply:
- Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia
- Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic
- India, Pakistan, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam
- China (excluding nationals of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan)
- United Kingdom (excluding nationals of Northern Ireland) and its
dependent territories
- Russia, Poland
You should confer with the State Department to find out the ineligible countries
for future Green Card Lotteries.
Why is my country excluded from the Green Card Lottery?
The Green Card Lottery Program is intended to grant US immigrant visas to
individuals from countries that do not generally send lots of immigrants to the
United States. More clearly, this program is designed to increase the diversity
of the overall pool of foreign nationals coming to the USA. Nations which are
proportionately over-represented in the migrant population are disqualified.
Is there a minimum age to apply for the lottery?
The law doesn’t state a minimum age to apply for the lottery. But, the education
or work experience requirements will efficiently stop most people under 18 from
applying.
How much does the DV Application cost?
There is no fee charged for applying the DV lottery (when you apply directly
with the US federal). Once you win the lottery program, you have to pay a fee
for an immigrant visa and a separate visa lottery surcharge. Some agencies that
help the individuals apply for the US Diversity Visa Program charge a fee. But,
these agencies are not affiliated with the government.
Are there any restrictions on the number of application I can send in for the
green card lottery?
An individual can send only one application. If a person sends more than one
application, he will be totally disqualified. But, it is not a problem if you
have sent an application during a “previous” lottery registration.
Will I be notified if I win the lottery?
The State Department sends an official letter to you, if you were selected. But,
the department does not send any mail to losers. That is, if you do not receive
a mail, you have not been awarded a visa for this year. Remember that DV-2007
winners can become green card holders in year 2007.
How is the DV lottery different from the common LPR (lawful permanent
residency) procedure?
DV lottery is a true lottery and is not merit based. Here, the applicant just
fills out an application form and if his/her application is picked by a
computerized lottery system, then he/she can apply for lawful permanent
residency status in the U.S. The applicant doesn’t need a sponsoring employer or
a family sponsor.
Where can I find more details about US green card lottery application?
Please visit the website of U.S. Department of Sate for more information on the
DV Lottery application. You can also call the department’s information center at
1-900-884-8840 for additional information. Your nearest U.S. Embassy or
Consulate also provides you the needed information. A listing of U.S. Consulates
and Embassies is given on US Embassy and
Consulate Website Locator page.
