The term “green card” refers to what is known officially as a permanent residence card. In other words, a green card is an immigration identity document showing that the card’s named holder has been granted permanent residency in the United States.
As such, individuals who hold green cards are known as lawful permanent residents in the United States. There are several ways in which a person may apply for a green card, such as through:
- Family
- A job offer
- Employment
- Refugee status
- Asylum status
- Other specific provisions
If you are an individual that wishes to live and work in the United States, you may wish to apply for a green card. Importantly, if you do not qualify for the normal method of obtaining a green card by the methods above, you may still receive one through the green card lottery.
The Green Card Lottery, or the “Diversity Visa Lottery Program”, is a United States immigration program that grants approximately 50,000 green cards each year to applicants from selected countries. The applicants are randomly selected by a computer-generated drawing.
It is important to note that an applicant who is selected under the Visa Lottery Program is given a chance to apply for permanent resident status in the United States. In other words, that person will still need to meet certain criteria to obtain a green card. The following article explores the green card lottery and how the process works.
What Is the Green Card Lottery?
Once again, the Green Card Lottery is a United States immigration program that grants approximately 50,000 green cards each year via a random computer-generated drawing to applicants from selected countries.
An applicant that is selected under the Visa Lottery Program is then given a chance to apply for lawful permanent resident status in the United States. That status then allows the foreign national to live and work permanently in the United States. Additionally, permanent residents may also bring along their spouse and any unmarried children who are younger than 21 years of age to the United States.
Once again, a common misconception that a Green Card Lottery “winner” is automatically granted a permanent visa or green card. However, that is untrue. This is because the winner is given the opportunity to apply for a green card, not given the green card itself.
What Are the Requirements for Qualifying for the Green Card Lottery?
It is important to note that different countries qualify each year for the Green Card Lottery. The countries who qualify are based on which countries in the world sent the fewest immigrants to the United States during the five previous years.
In general, people who are applying from countries that have sent over 50,000 immigrants to the United States over the past five years cannot apply. If you are unsure if your country has been approved for participation in the Green Card Lottery Program, you should consult with a lawyer for advice. Additionally, the State Department actually releases the list of eligible countries each year.
There are also additional requirements for qualifying for the Green Card Lottery. These additional requirements include criteria that:
- The applicant must hold at least a high school diploma, or its equivalent as defined in the United States
- The applicant must have at least two years of work experience, within the past five years, in an occupation that requires a minimum of two years of experience or training to perform
- In some specific cases, a person may be eligible for the lottery if their parent was born in a country that has been selected for participation
As previously mentioned, these eligibility requirements only apply to the application phase for the Green Card Lottery. As such, if you are selected for the Green Card Lottery, you will then need to complete the application process for a permanent visa. That process in turn has its own unique set of requirements that must be met in order for the immigration process as a whole to continue and be completed.
Which Countries Cannot Participate in the Green Card Lottery Program?
According to the United States Department of State, for 2024, the following countries may not participate in the Green Card Lottery program:
- Nigeria
- Bangladesh
- China (including Hong Kong)
- India
- Pakistan
- South Korea
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Great Britain (United Kingdom) and its dependent areas, which includes:
- Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, St. Helena, and Turks and Caicos Islands
- Canada
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Venezuela
It is important to note that there are exceptions if you are from one of the countries listed above. First, if your spouse is from a country with a historically low immigration rate, then you may list their country of origin as yours, as long as you both enter the United States together. Second, if your parents weren’t born in the country that you’re attempting to immigrate from, you can list the country where your parents were born, if that country qualifies.
How Do I Submit a Green Card Lottery Application?
As mentioned above, each year the United States Department of State (“DOS”) publishes the list of countries that have been selected for participation in that year’s green card lottery. The DOS also manages the online registration period. The registration period usually runs from October until December of each year.
In order to apply, you must apply online and submit a digital photo of yourself during that time period. There is no application fee for the Green Card Lottery program. However, if you are selected, you will then be required to pay the filing fees to begin the permanent resident card application.
Importantly, if you do not win the lottery in the year that you apply, you may apply the following year. The Department of Labor will provide information on qualifying occupations for that year. You must also not be inadmissible to the United States when submitting a Green Card Lottery application. A person may be considered inadmissible if they have been convicted of certain violent crimes, drug offenses, or are afflicted with certain illnesses.
Next, If you are selected in the lottery, you must immediately apply for your permanent visa. It is important to note that there will be more people chosen in the lottery than there are available visas. This is due to the fact that not all selected winners will satisfy the green card requirements.
Importantly, the lottery ends when all 50,000 visas have been successfully issued. If approved for the Green Card Lottery program, you will be notified through mail at the addresses provided in your application.
If you do not receive any notifications, it can generally be assumed that you were not selected for the program. If you are selected for the Diversity Visa program, you must immediately complete the following:
- A visa application;
- Payment for all required fees;
- Medical examination and record of that examination; and
- Interview at your local Embassy or Consulate.
Once again, if you complete that process and are approved, you will then be a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Assistance With the Green Card Lottery?
If you are considering applying for the green card lottery, and you have any questions regarding whether or not you are eligible or what you need to do if you have been selected, it is in your best interests to immediately consult with a green card lawyer.
LegalMatch can assist you in locating an immigration lawyer that is available in your area and help you set up an initial consultation with them. An experienced and local immigration attorney can help you determine whether your home country is eligible for the program, and whether you meet all the requirements to apply.
Additionally, you can retain the services of that lawyer if you are selected for the Green Card Lottery program. The attorney can then help you with the following visa application. An attorney can also represent you in court as needed, should any issues arise.
