About the Green Card Lottery

The program was established to help increase the numbers of immigrants entering the U.S. from underrepresented countries. This concept is reflected in the official name.  Although the green card lottery and "diversity visa" lottery are used interchangeably here, the U.S. government program officially refers to this program as the Diversity Visa Lottery. 

A “green card” is the common name given to the plastic identity card issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is proof of your permanent resident status in the U.S. Obtaining your green card is the final step towards U.S. permanent residency. The visa lottery is for anyone who wants to become a U.S. permanent resident. This includes temporary employees, students, business people, visitors, and others who are already in the U.S.

Originally called a Form I-151, it was renamed to a “Form I‑551 Permanent Resident Card” in December 1998. It became known as a “green card” because the card was initially green in color. Today, it features your photograph, fingerprints, a security hologram, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services number and an expiration date on a white background.

NOTE: The 2008 edition of Win the Green Card Lottery, the Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to the USA Diversity Visa Lottery, is now available FREE for download to registered members.  The hardcopy version is also available at Amazon.com and elsewhere.

• How many diversity visa winners are there each year?

• How and when are winners selected and notified?

• What does the “DV-“ name mean?

• When can I apply?

• Will my spouse and children also get green cards?

• Pros and cons of becoming a permanent resident

• Limitations

• You must renew your green card in 10 years

• Benefits of citizenship versus a green card

• Where can I get the latest information?

How many diversity visa winners are there each year?

There are 50,000 visas available under the Diversity Visa Program. However, 100,000 primary applicants are selected as winners. Therefore, twice as many winners are selected as there are visas available. This is because, historically, about half of those selected change their mind or fail to qualify due to problems with their application.

Also, note that each person in your family gets one of the 50,000 available visas, even if there is only one “winner” per family. On average, each lottery winner uses three to five additional visas.

How and when are winners selected and notified?

Winners are selected by computer at random from all qualified entries. All winners will be notified by mail between May and July of the year following the year in which they entered. Winners will be provided further instructions, including information on fees connected with immigration to the U.S. Those selected in the random drawing are NOT notified by e-mail. Only winners are notified. Those individuals NOT selected will NOT receive any notification but may enter again in the next available drawing. Spouses and unmarried children under age 21 of successful entrants may also apply for visas to accompany or follow to join the principal applicant. DV-2010 visas will be issued between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010.

What does the “DV-“ name mean?

Today’s diversity visa lottery system has many informal names—the green card lottery, the immigration lottery, the visa lottery, and the Schumer Visa Lottery (named after U.S. Congressman Charles Schumer, its chief sponsor). It became identified with the “DV‑” (Diversity Visa) symbol followed by the U.S. Government fiscal year in which the visas are finally awarded.

For example, the lottery in calendar year 2009 is known as DV‑2010, since the awards are made in fiscal year 2010. The U.S. government’s 2010 fiscal year begins October 1, 2009 and ends September 30, 2010.

When can I apply?

The lottery is now open for electronic registration during a 60-day period. Be advised that the specific dates change every year. For example:

• For calendar year 2004 (DV-2006) the registration dates ran from noon Friday, November 5, 2004 to midnight Friday, January 7, 2005.
• For calendar year 2005 (DV-2007) the registration dates ran from noon Wednesday, October 5, 2005 to Sunday, December 4, 2005.
• For calendar year 2006 (DV‑2008) the registration dates ran from: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 to Sunday, December 3, 2006.
• For calendar year 2007 (DV-2009) the registration dates ran from Wednesday, October 3, 2007 to Sunday, December 2, 2007.

Registrations for the 2008 lottery (DV-2010) must be submitted between noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4) Thursday, October 2, 2008 and noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5) Sunday, December 1, 2008.

  

Will my spouse and children also get green cards?

Your immediate family will also receive visas, although they must also pass a visa interview along with you. Immediate family members include your spouse and unmarried children under 21. Immediate family members will be able to live and work permanently in the United States.

According to the current U.S. State Department policy, your children must be under the age of 21 when you (the principal applicant) register with the U.S. Embassy or file for adjustment of status with the local CIS office. Note that under the lottery rules effective August 08, 2001, you must list all your children on your visa lottery registration whether or not they will accompany you to the United States.

Pros and cons of becoming a permanent resident

A green card entitles you to live permanently anywhere in the U.S. and work freely at any job, attend a college or university, own property, or even start a business of your own. As a permanent resident, you can receive financial aid benefits such as loans, grants, scholarships or other awards based on academic merit to study at a university or college of your choice.

Limitations

A permanent resident must have the intent to reside permanently in the United States. This means you are required to make the U.S. your permanent home or you will risk losing your green card.

As a permanent resident, you must file for U.S. taxes each year according to U.S. law. If you commit certain crimes in the United States, you could lose your green card and be removed (deported).

As a permanent resident, you are ineligible for certain public benefits under the 1996 Welfare Reform Law, signed by ex-president Bill Clinton. This law makes it illegal for persons other than U.S. citizens to receive some benefits. Before 1996, permanent residents could receive welfare, food stamps, Medicaid and other public benefits.

To be admitted as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., you must intend to reside permanently in the U.S. An absence from the U.S. for more than one year at a time can result in a finding of abandonment, causing you to lose permanent resident status. If you need to be absent from the U.S. for more than one year, you should obtain a reentry permit by filing Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document). The cost is currently $170 USD. The reentry permit is additional evidence that you do not intend to abandon your residence in the U.S.

You must renew your green card in 10 years

In the past, a green card lasted “forever”, or until you became a naturalized citizen. In September 1989, the laws changed. A green card now is only valid for 10 years. Unless you apply for U.S. citizenship, your green card must be renewed before the expiration date. Note that your permanent resident status does not expire, only the card expires. Receiving a “green card” is the first step in the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship. You should apply for your U.S. citizenship so you can receive benefits available to only U.S. citizens, and to avoid the legal restrictions imposed on permanent residents.

Benefits of citizenship versus a green card

As a U.S. citizen, you may vote and hold public office. More importantly, you will not be subject to changing immigration restrictions and new laws that can adversely affect permanent residents. You can also sponsor relatives from your home country such as your parents, brothers and sisters. You may also travel to and from your home country for extended periods. You may also receive a U.S. passport and receive public benefits such as welfare, Medicare and food stamps (if needed). You may also hold certain jobs available only to U.S. citizens.

  

Where can I get the latest information?

We always publish the latest lottery rules available. However, the State Department now publishes the final lottery rules late in the year. (Please note that the URL’s of government web sites can also change frequently.)

You will need to verify at least two additional pieces of information before you enter the lottery:

1. The list of visa ineligible countries
2. If you do not have at least a secondary school diploma, then you need to confirm you meet the occupational requirements.

Obtain the above information from any one of the following official sources, or our web site.

U.S. State Department web site. You can also visit the official DV Lottery web site for DV‑2010 when Consular Affairs posts this information.

The National Visa Center. The center as an automated voice system to inform you (in English only) about the next lottery. Call: +1 603-334-0700.  Please note that U.S. government phone numbers change frequently.

myGreencard.com. For those of you with Internet access, this web site has reviews and ratings of green card lottery services, including sites that engage in fraud and scams.

State Department “Visa Bulletin". For immigration professionals and others, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs offers a monthly publication called the “Visa Bulletin”, available via the Internet. The Visa Bulletin contains the latest policies, new or updated regulations, preference categories, dates, an on-line archive, and other general visa matters, including the green card lottery. It is only available at the State Department web site.