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Green Card Lottery
Main topic: Green Card ::: Sub topic: Green Card Lottery
GREEN CARD LOTTERY / DIVERSITY VISA PROGRAM / DV LOTTERY
The Green Card Lottery (sometimes misspelled as "Green Card Lotery") or Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV-1) makes available 50,000 diversity visas (DV) annually, drawn from random selection among all entries to persons who meet strict eligibility requirements from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Lottery applicants who are selected are notified by mail between May and July the following year and are provided with further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Those selected in the random drawing are NOT notified by email. Those individuals NOT selected will NOT receive any notification. A computer-generated, random lottery drawing chooses selectees for diversity visas.
The visas are distributed among six geographic regions, with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the period of the past five years. Within each region, no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.
Checking Status of Green Card Lottery Entries
In DV-2010, for the first time, those who submit entries may check the status of entries online and determine whether their entries were selected or not selected. Successful entrants still received notification letters by mail.
To enter the green card lottery (DV lottery), the following green card lottery filing requirements apply:
- You must be a native of one of one of the eligible or listed countries.
- Native of a country whose natives qualify:
In most cases, this means the country in which you were born. However, there are two other ways you may be able to qualify. First, if you were born in a country whose natives are ineligible but your spouse was born in a country whose natives are eligible; you can claim your spouse's country of birth, provided both you and your spouse are on the selected entry, are issued visas, and enter the U.S. simultaneously. Second, if you were born in a country whose natives are ineligible, but neither of your parents was born there or resided there at the time of your birth, you may claim nativity in one of your parents' country of birth, if it is a country whose natives qualify for the DV-2010 program. - Education or Work Experience:
You must have either a high school education or its equivalent, defined as successful completion of a 12-year course of elementary and secondary education; OR two years of work experience within the past five years in an occupation requiring at least two years of training or experience to perform. If you cannot meet either of these requirements, you should NOT submit an entry to the DV program.
What Do The Terms "Eligibility", "Native" And "Chargeability" Mean? Are There Any Situations In Which Persons Who Were Not Born In A Qualifying Country May Apply?
Your country of eligibility will normally be the same as your country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where you live. "Native" ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or nationality. For immigration purposes, "native" can also mean someone who is entitled to be "charged" to a country other than the one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. For example, if you were born in a country that is not eligible for this year's DV program, you may claim chargeability to the country where your derivative spouse was born, but you will not be issued a DV-1 unless your spouse is also eligible for and issued a DV-2, and both of you must enter the United States together with the diversity visas. In a similar manner, a minor dependent child can be "charged" to a parent's country of birth. Finally, if you were born in a country not eligible to participate in this year's DV program, you can be "charged" to the country of birth of either of your parents as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible country at the time of the your birth. In general, people are not considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized if they are only visiting the country, studying in the country temporarily, or stationed temporarily in the country for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or government from a country other than the country in which the applicant was born. If you claim alternate chargeability, you must indicate such information on the E-DV electronic online entry form, in question #6. Please be aware that listing an incorrect country of eligibility or chargeability (i.e., one to which you cannot establish a valid claim) may disqualify your entry.
Are There Any Changes Or New Requirements In The Application Procedures For This Diversity Visa Registration?
For DV-2010, you may check the status of your entry using your confirmation page information. Because this confirmation information will be provided only once at the time of your entry it is extremely important that you print or write down your confirmation information for later use. If you lose this information, you will still receive a letter from the Kentucky Consular Center by mail notifying you of your selection, if you are successful. You will receive no additional notification if your entry is unsuccessful, but you may check this through the Internet using your confirmation information. Photo size requirements have increased for DV-2010 to 600 by 600 pixels. Old photos used in previous years should not be reused for DV-2010. Only color photos may be submitted for DV-2010. Black and white photos are not acceptable.
Are Signatures And Photographs Required For Each Family Member, Or Only For The Principal Entrant?
Signatures are not required on the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. Recent and individual photographs of you, your spouse and all children under 21 years of age are required. Family or group photographs are not accepted. Refer to information on the photograph requirements located in this bulletin.
Why Do Natives of Certain Countries Not Qualify for the Diversity Lottery Program?
Diversity lottery visas are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the countries that send large numbers of immigrants to the U.S. The law states that no diversity visas shall be provided for natives of "high-admission" countries. The law defines this to mean countries from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each year, the USCIS adds the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five years to identify the countries whose natives will be ineligible for the annual diversity lottery. Because there is a separate determination made before each annual E-DV entry period, the list of countries whose natives are not eligible may change from one year to the next.
What is the Numerical Limit Each Year?
By law, the U.S. diversity immigration program makes available a maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to eligible persons. However, the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning as early as DV-1999, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. The actual reduction of the limit by up to 5,000 diversity visas began with DV-2000.
What are the Diversity Visa (DV) Limits for Each Year?
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines the DV regional limits for each year according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Once the USCIS has completed the calculations, the regional visa limits will be announced.
When will Entries for the Diversity Visa Program be Accepted?
The entry period runs from October to December each year. Millions of people apply for the program during the registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous amount of work in selecting and processing successful individuals. Holding the entry period during October, November, and December will ensure that selectees are notified in a timely manner and will give both the visa applicants and the U.S. embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance. Applicants are strongly encouraged to enter early in the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period may slow the system down. No entries whatsoever will be accepted after the end of the entry period.
May Persons Who are in the U.S. Apply for the Program?
Yes, an applicant may be in the U.S. or in another country, and the entry may be submitted from the United States or from abroad.
Is Each Applicant Limited to Only One Entry During the Annual E-DV Registration Period?
Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals for whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State will employ sophisticated technology and other means to identify individuals who submit multiple entries during the registration period. People submitting more than one entry will be disqualified and an electronic record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State. Individuals may apply for the program each year during the regular registration period.
May a Husband and a Wife Each Submit a Separate Entry?
Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one DV lottery entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either is selected, the other is entitled to derivative status.
What Family Members Must I Include on my E-DV Visa Lottery Entry?
On your visa lottery entry you must list your spouse (husband or wife) and all unmarried children under 21 years of age, with the exception of children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated (i.e., there is a written agreement recognized by a court or a court order). If you are legally separated or divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. You must list ALL your children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age at the time of your initial E-DV entry, whether they are your natural children, your spouse's children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country, unless such child is already a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident. List all children under 21 years of age at the time of your electronic entry, even if they no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to immigrate under the DV program. The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application forms that you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. This only applies to those who were family members at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date. Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your family.
You may prepare and submit your own diversity visa entry, or have someone submit the visa lottery entry for you. Regardless of whether a visa diversity lottery entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one DV lottery entry may be submitted in the name of each person, and the entrant remains responsible for ensuring that information in the entry is correct and complete. If the entry is selected, the notification letter will be sent only to the mailing address provided on the entry. All entrants, including those not selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the official DV website. Entrants should keep their own confirmation page information so that they may independently check the status of their entry.
What Are the Requirements for (DV Lottery) Education?
The law and regulations require that every DV lottery entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or have, within the past five years, 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. Only formal courses of study meet this requirement; correspondence programs or equivalency certificates (such as the G.E.D.) are not acceptable. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview.
What Occupations Qualify for the Visa Lottery Diversity Visa Program?
To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the Department of Labor's O*Net Online database will be used. The 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 Green Card Lottery Visa or Diversity Visa on the basis of your work experience, you must have, within the past five years, 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.
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: Select "Find Occupations" and then select a specific "Job Family." For example, select Architecture and Engineering and click "GO." Then click on the link for the specific Occupation. Following the same example, click Aerospace Engineers. 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.
How Will Successful DV Lottery Visa Entrants Be Selected?
At the Kentucky Consular Center, all DV lottery entries received from each region will be individually numbered. After the end of the registration period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered; the second entry selected the second registration, etc. All entries received during the registration period will have an equal chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the entrant will be sent a notification letter by the Kentucky Consular Center, which will provide visa application instructions. The Kentucky Consular Center will continue to process the case until those selected to be visa applicants are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. consular office or until those qualifying to change status in the United States apply at a domestic USCIS office. Important Note: Notifications to those selected in the random lottery are not sent by e-mail. Should you receive an e-mail notification about your E-DV selection, be aware that the message is not legitimate.
May Green Card Lottery Selectees Adjust Their Status With USCIS?
Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected individuals who are physically present in the United States may apply to the USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent resident. Applicants must ensure that USCIS can complete action on their cases, including processing of any overseas derivatives, before the end of September two years after the initial lottery entry, since on that date registrations for the applicable DV program period will expire. For example, no visa numbers for the DV-2010 program, which ran from October 2008 to December 2008, will be available after midnight EST on September 30, 2010 under any circumstances.
Will DV Lottery Visa Entrants Who are Not Selected be Informed?
Starting with DV-2010, all entrants, including those NOT selected, will be able to check the status of their entry through the E-DV website and find out if their entry was or was not selected. Entrants should keep their own confirmation page information from the time of their entry until they may check the status of their entry online. Status information for DV-2010 will be available online from July 1, 2009, until June 30, 2010. All notification letters are sent to the address indicated on the entry within five to seven months from the end of the application period.
How Many Visa Lottery Individuals will be Selected?
There are 50,000 DV visas available for each annual DV Program, but more than that number of individuals will be selected. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected by the Kentucky Consular Center to ensure that all of the available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. All applicants who are selected will be informed promptly of their place on the list. Interviews for the DV Program begin approximately one year after the initial application period. For example, interviews for the DV-2010 program (where applications were submitted between October and December 2008) will begin in October 2009. The Kentucky Consular Center will send appointment letters to selected applicants four to six weeks before the scheduled interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month, visas will be issued to those applicants who are ready for issuance during that month, visa-number availability permitting. Once all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program will end. In principle, visa numbers could be finished before September 2010. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases. Random selection by the Kentucky Consular Center computer as a selectee does not automatically guarantee that you will receive a visa. You must qualify for the visa as well.
Is There a Minimum Age for Applicants to Apply for the E-DV Program?
There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.
Are There any Fees for the E-DV Program?
There is no fee for submitting an electronic lottery entry. DV applicants must pay all required visa fees at the time of visa application directly to the consular cashier at the embassy or consulate. Details of required diversity visa and immigration visa application fees will be included with the instructions sent by the Kentucky Consular Center to applicants who are selected.
Do DV Lottery Visa Applicants Receive Waivers of Any Grounds of Visa Ineligibility or Receive Special Processing for a Waiver Application?
Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility aside from those ordinarily provided in the Act, nor is there special processing for waiver requests. Some general waiver provisions for people with close relatives who are American Citizens or Lawful Permanent Resident aliens may be available to DV applicants as well, but the time constraints in the DV program will make it difficult for applicants to benefit from such provisions.
May Persons Who are Already Registered for an Immigrant Visa in Another Category Apply for the DV Program?
Yes, such persons may apply for the DV program.
How Long do Applicants Who are Selected Remain Entitled to Apply For Visas in the DV Category?
Selectees must apply within a specific time frame. For example, persons selected in the DV-2010 lottery are entitled to apply for visa issuance only during fiscal year 2010, from October 1, 2009, through September 30, 2010. Applicants must obtain the DV visa or adjust status by the end of the fiscal year. There is no carry-over of DV benefits into the next year for persons who are selected but who do not obtain visas during FY-2010. Also, spouses and children who derive status from a DV-2010 registration can only obtain visas in the DV category between October 2009 and September 2010. Applicants who apply overseas will receive an appointment letter from the Kentucky Consular Center four to six weeks before the scheduled appointment.
If an E-DV Selectee Dies, What Happens to The DV Case?
The death of an individual selected in the lottery results in automatic revocation of the DV case. Any eligible spouse and/or children are no longer entitled to the DV visa for that entry.
When Will E-DV Online be Available?
Online entry will be available during the registration period beginning at noon EDT (GMT-4) on October 2, 2008, and ending at noon EST (GMT-5) on December 1, 2008 and similar periods in subsequent years.
Will I Be Able to Download and Save the E-DV Entry Form to a Microsoft Word Program (or Other Suitable Program) and Then Fill it Out?
No, you will not be able to save the form into another program for completion and submission later. The E-DV Entry Form is a Web form only. This makes it more "universal" than a proprietary word processor format. Additionally, it does require that the information be filled in and submitted while online.
If I Don't Have Access To A Scanner, Can I Send Photographs to My Relative in the U.S. to Scan the Photographs, Save the Photographs to a Diskette, and Then Mail the Diskette Back to Me to Apply?
Yes, this can be done, as long as the photograph meets the photograph requirements in the instructions and the photograph is electronically submitted with, and at the same time as, the E-DV online entry. The applicants must already have the scanned photograph file when they submit the entry online. The photograph cannot be submitted separately from the online application. Only one online entry can be submitted for each person. Multiple submissions will disqualify the entry for that person. The entire entry (photograph and application together) can be submitted electronically from the United States or from overseas.
Can I Save the Form On-Line so That I Can Fill Out Part and Then Come Back Later and Complete the Remainder?
No, this cannot be done. The E-DV Entry Form is designed to be completed and submitted at one time. However, because the form is in two parts, and because of possible network interruptions and delays, the E-DV system is designed to permit up to sixty (60) minutes between the form's download and when the entry is received at the E-DV website. If more than sixty minutes elapse and the entry has not been electronically received, the information already received is discarded. This is done so that there is no possibility that a full entry could accidentally be interpreted as a duplicate of a previous partial entry. The application instructions explain clearly and completely what information is required to fill in the form. Thus you can be fully prepared, making sure you have all of the information needed before you start to complete the form online.
If The Submitted Digital Images do Not Conform to the Specifications, the Procedures State that the System will Automatically Reject the E-DV Entry Form and Notify the Sender. Does this Mean I will be able to Re-Submit My Entry?
Yes, the entry can be resubmitted. Since the entry was automatically rejected, it was not actually considered as submitted to the E-DV website. It does not count as a submitted E-DV entry, and no confirmation notice of receipt is sent. If there are problems with the digital photograph sent, because it does not conform to the requirements, it is automatically rejected by the E-DV website. However, the amount of time it takes the rejection message to reach the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet. If the problem can be fixed by the applicant, and the Form Part One or Two is re-sent within sixty (60) minutes, there is no problem. Otherwise, the applicant will have to restart the submission process. An applicant can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent.
Will the Electronic Confirmation Notice that the Completed E-DV Entry Form has Been Received Through the Online System be sent Immediately After Submission?
The response from the E-DV website which contains confirmation of the receipt of an acceptable E-DV Entry Form is sent by the E-DV website immediately. However, how long it takes the response to reach the sender is unpredictable, given the nature of the Internet. If many minutes have elapsed since pressing the "Submit" button, there is no harm in pressing the "Submit" button a second time. The E-DV system will not be confused by a situation where the "Submit" button is hit a second time, because no confirmation response has been received. An applicant can try to submit an application as many times as is necessary until a complete application is received and the confirmation notice sent. However, once you receive a confirmation notice, do not resubmit your information.
How Will I Know if the Notification of Selection that I have Received is Authentic? How Can I Confirm that I have in Fact Been Chosen in the Random DV Lottery?
Keep your confirmation page. You will need it to check the status of your entry on the official DV website after the electronic lottery is conducted (usually in March). If you lose your confirmation information, you will not be able to check your DV entry status by yourself, and we will not resend the confirmation page to you. If selected, you will also receive a letter from the Kentucky Consular Center by mail sometime between May and July the next year at the addresses listed on the E-DV entry. Only the randomly selected individuals will be notified by mail. Persons not selected may check their entry using their confirmation information through the official DV website, but they will not receive any additional official notification by email or by mail. We will NOT resend confirmation page information to you. If you lose your confirmation page information, you will only find out that you were selected if you receive an official letter by mail. U.S. embassies and consulates will NOT provide a list of those selected to continue the visa process. The Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) will send the letters notifying those selected. These letters will contain instructions for the visa application process. The instructions say the selected applicants will pay all diversity and immigrant visa fees in person only at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the visa application. The Consular Cashier or Consular Officer immediately gives the visa applicant a U.S. Government receipt for payment. You should never send money for DV fees through the mail, Western Union, or any other delivery service.
The E-DV lottery entries are submitted on the Internet, on the official US Government E-DV website at www.dvlottery.state.gov. KCC sends only letters to the selected applicants. KCC, consular offices, or the U.S. Government has never sent e-mails to notify selected individuals, and there are no plans to use e-mail for this purpose.
If I Am Successful In Obtaining A Visa Through The DV Program, will the U.S. Government Assist With My Airfare to the U.S., Provide Assistance to Locate Housing and Employment, Provide Healthcare, or Provide Any Subsidies Until I Am Fully Settled?
No, applicants who obtain a DV visa are not provided any type of assistance such as airfare, housing assistance, or subsidies. If you are selected to apply for a DV visa, you will be required, before you are issued a visa, to provide evidence that you will not become a public charge in the United States. This evidence may be in the form of a combination of your personal assets, an Affidavit of Support (Form I-134) from a relative or friend residing in the United States, and/or an offer of employment from an employer in the United States.