The green card lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, is a program run by the US government that allows people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States to apply for a green card. Green cards allow immigrants to live and work permanently in the United States.
What is the green card lottery?
The green card lottery is a program that provides up to 50,000 immigrant visas each year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. It is also known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. This lottery aims to diversify the immigrant population in the United States by selecting applicants from countries with fewer than 50,000 immigrants in the previous 5 years.
Being selected in this lottery does not automatically grant the applicant a green card, but it does allow them to apply for permanent resident status if they meet certain eligibility requirements. Those selected in the lottery must still go through background checks and interviews before being granted a green card.
What are the requirements to enter the green card lottery?
There are a few basic requirements in order to enter the green card lottery:
- You must be a native of a qualifying country – Countries whose nationals have had less than 50,000 immigrants admitted to the US in the previous 5 years qualify. However, natives of countries like China, India, Mexico, Philippines, and others are not eligible.
- You must have a high school education or equivalent minimum education.
- You must have at least 2 years of work experience in the last 5 years in a profession requiring at least 2 years of training or experience.
- You must meet health and character requirements.
In addition, you must follow the proper procedures for submitting the online application form during the designated registration period. All applicants must also provide a digital photo according to the specifications.
How to enter the green card lottery
Here is a step-by-step overview of how to enter the green card lottery:
- Check if your country qualifies – Make sure your country of birth meets the eligibility requirements mentioned above.
- Meet the education or work requirements – You must have a high school diploma or at least 2 years of work experience in a designated profession.
- Submit your online entry – Entries can only be submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period each year.
- Include a digital photo – Your entry must include a digital photo of you and each family member applying. The photo must meet very specific requirements.
- Double check for errors – Confirm all information entered is correct. Mistakes may disqualify your entry.
- Submit only one entry – Only one entry is allowed per person during each lottery. Multiple entries will disqualify you.
- Check results online – You can check the status of your entry on the official lottery website in May following the lottery.
- Proceed with green card process – If selected, begin the official green card application process.
The registration period usually opens in early October and closes in early November each year. The entry submission process is free.
What are the chances of winning the green card lottery?
The chances of being selected in the green card lottery depend on several factors, including your country of birth and the total number of applicants that year. Keep in mind there are always far more applications submitted each year than available green cards.
In the most recent DV-2023 lottery, over 11 million qualified entries were received for 55,000 available green cards. This puts the odds of winning at less than 1%. However, some regions have better odds than others based on lower competition.
Here is a table with the odds of winning for some sample regions in the most recent DV-2023 lottery:
| Region | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Africa | 1 in 200 |
| Europe | 1 in 350 |
| Oceania | 1 in 350 |
| South America | 1 in 600 |
| Asia | 1 in 750 |
As you can see, your odds vary significantly depending on your country and region of birth. Africa sees the best odds while densely populated regions like Asia have the slimmest odds of being chosen.
Application fees for the green card lottery
There is no fee to submit the online lottery entry form during the registration period each year. However, winners of the lottery who apply for a green card will need to pay required visa processing fees at that time. Fees are broken down as follows:
- Diversity visa application fee: $330
- Immigrant visa security surcharge: $220
- Medical examination fee: $190
- Other administrative fees: ~$200
All in all, winners can expect to pay around $940 in processing fees as part of the green card application process. There may also be other costs associated with document retrieval, translations, or traveling to an interview.
Can you pay extra for better chances?
There is no way to pay any fee or extra amount to increase your odds of winning the lottery. The program specifically prohibits any attempts to offer bribes or extra payment to influence selection.
Eligible countries for the green card lottery
Only nationals of certain countries are eligible to apply for the diversity visa lottery each year. The list of eligible countries is determined based on immigration levels over the previous 5 years.
In general, countries are NOT eligible if they have had more than 50,000 immigrants move to the US in the past 5 years. Populous countries like Mexico, China, India, and the Philippines have higher immigration levels, so they do not qualify currently.
Some sample countries that are eligible for the DV-2023 green card lottery include:
- Ghana
- Poland
- Argentina
- Egypt
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- South Africa
- Uzbekistan
You can check the full list of eligible countries for the most recent lottery in the instructions posted each year. The list does change slightly year-to-year based on immigration statistics.
Not eligible based on country of birth?
In some cases, you may be charged to a different country than your country of birth when determining eligibility. For example, if you were born in an ineligible country but your spouse was born in an eligible country, you are charged to your spouse’s country.
The rules around country eligibility and chargeability are complex, so check the official instructions carefully if you have any questions about whether your country qualifies.
Education and work experience requirements
All applicants for the green card lottery must meet certain education or work experience requirements under US immigration law:
- Education – At minimum, you must have a high school education or its equivalent. This means successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education.
- Work experience – The alternative is at least 2 years of work experience within the past 5 years in an occupation that requires at least 2 years of training or experience. The official rules have more details on qualifying work experience.
You must meet either the education or the work experience requirement. If you do not meet either, you are not eligible to enter the lottery.
Proving your education or work experience
When completing your visa application after being selected, you will need to provide documents proving you meet either the education or work requirement. Some examples include:
- High school diploma or transcript
- College diploma or transcripts
- Employment letters from recent jobs
- Certifications for trainings completed
It’s a good idea to start gathering these types of documents now if you are selected, since you will have to move quickly to complete the full green card application.
Green card lottery – other requirements
In addition to the requirements around country, education, and work experience, there are a few other major requirements to enter the lottery:
Submit only one entry
Each applicant can only submit one lottery entry per registration period. Submitting more than one entry will get you disqualified. Spouses can each submit their own entry if applying together.
Provide a digital photo
You must submit a digital photo of yourself and each family member applying with you. The photos must meet composition and technical specifications listed in the application instructions.
No criminal issues
You must have no serious criminal issues or violations in your background check to qualify for a green card if selected. Certain crimes make you inadmissible.
Not from a prohibited country
There are restrictions on eligibility for natives of certain sanctioned countries like Iran, North Korea, Syria and others. Check the official rules for details.
Admissible to the United States
You must be otherwise admissible and eligible for a green card under all other immigration laws. There are many detailed technical grounds for inadmissibility.
Be sure to read all official instructions closely to ensure you meet all requirements before entering the lottery.
Green card lottery process step-by-step
Here is a summary of the full process for the diversity visa lottery, from start to finish:
- Registration – Submit electronic diversity visa entry during the open registration period in October.
- Selection – Check the lottery results in May to see if you were selected.
- Immigrant visa application – If selected, apply for an immigrant visa at the designated U.S. consulate.
- Interview – Attend a consular interview after your forms are processed.
- Medical exam – Undergo a medical exam by an approved doctor.
- Visa issuance – If approved, your visa will be issued.
- Enter the U.S. – You will be given a timeline to enter the U.S. using your visa.
- Green card – Finally, you will receive your actual green card in the mail.
The process involves many detailed steps, fees, and paperwork. Be prepared for a long process even once selected in the lottery.
Selection does not guarantee a green card
It is important to note that simply being selected in the lottery does not guarantee you will receive a green card. You must successfully complete the immigrant visa application process outlined above for approval.
Reasons you may be ultimately denied include failure to meet education or work requirements, issues discovered during your background check, or problems at your visa interview.
Green card lottery frequently asked questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the green card lottery program:
Can someone else enter the lottery on my behalf?
No, the program rules prohibit anyone from submitting an entry on behalf of another person, unless an official form is filed with a consulate. All applicants must submit their own entries electronically.
Are there any fees to enter the lottery?
No, there are no fees charged by the U.S. government to submit the online lottery entry form. Only winners must pay required visa processing fees later.
Can I still apply if my spouse is not eligible?
Yes, as long as you are from an eligible country you can still enter the lottery. Your spouse can apply for a green card as your dependent once you immigrate if you win.
Do I need an attorney to enter the lottery?
No, you do not need to hire an attorney just to submit the online green card lottery entry form. However, winning applicants often do hire attorneys to help navigate the full visa application process.
When will I get notified if I win?
Lottery winners are notified in May following the registration period. You can check the official lottery website using your confirmation number.
Conclusion
Winning the green card lottery takes luck, but you can maximize your slim chances of being selected by meeting all eligibility requirements and following the instructions carefully. Be sure to submit your electronic entry during the registration period each October for a chance to immigrate to the United States.