FAQ Immigration

Immigration FAQ

Gaining Permanent Residence Through the Green Card Lottery

The diversity immigration program ("DV immigrant visa program"), also known as the "green card lottery", provides a means of obtaining permanent residence in the United States for individuals who do not have U.S. citizen relatives or employment sponsors. Every year approximately 55,000 immigrant visas are available under this program (although up to 5,000 of the 55,000 are specifically allocated for use under a government program established pursuant to the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act).

In order to be eligible for the lottery you must:

• Be a native of a country on the current lottery list, and
  
  
• Have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent, or, within the five year period preceding the date of application for a visa, have two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years training or experience.

There are two steps to obtaining permanent residence through the lottery. The first is registering for the lottery. If you are chosen, then you can apply for your green card. The following should give you a rough idea of the green card lottery process.

• You will send your registration to the address designated by the Department of State during the appropriate mail-in period. If you have followed the registration directions exactly, your registration will be entered into the pool from which registrants are chosen
  
  
• If all goes well, you will be notified that your registration has been chosen.
  
  
• Once you are notified, you must act as quickly as possible to obtain your green card. The State Department notifies more individuals than there are immigrant visas allocated. Green cards are then given on a first-come first-serve basis.
  
  
• If you are not in the United States, you will apply for your green card at the U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country using "Packet III," which should have been included in your notification. If all goes well, you will then receive "Packet IV," which will have an interview appointment letter, more instructions, and more forms.
  
  
  • You will have a medical examination.
    
    
  • You will have an interview at the embassy or consulate where your forms will be verified and your documents reviewed.
    
    
  • If all goes well, you will return to the embassy later in the afternoon to pick up an immigrant visa.
    
    
  • When you travel to the United States, your passport will be stamped at the port of entry showing that you have become a permanent resident. It will serve as your authorization to work.
    
    
  • You will order your green card, and it should arrive several months later.
    
    
• If you are in the United States, you will "adjust status" to obtain your green card by filing the appropriate forms with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
  
  
  • If you want to work while you wait for your adjustment to be processed, you must also apply for work authorization.
    
    
  • If all goes well, after several months, you will receive a notice of your interview appointment
    
    
  • You will get a medical examination.
    
    
  • You will attend the interview, where your forms will be verified and your documents reviewed. If all goes well, your passport will be stamped showing that you have become a permanent resident.
    
    
  • Your green card will arrive in the mail after several months.

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