What Are the Rules of the Green Card Lottery?

The Green Card Lottery is administered by the United States Department of State. It allows individuals from eligible countries to apply for a chance to win a U.S. permanent resident visa, also known as a “green card.”

Here is a short overview of the basic rules of this program.

1. Eligible Country. In order to participate, you must be a native of a country that qualifies to participate in the program. The list of eligible countries can change annually, and some countries may be excluded if they have had a high number of immigrants to the United States in recent years. It's important to check the official instructions for the list of eligible countries for the current lottery year.
2. Education or Work Experience. To be eligible, you must have either a high school education or its equivalent (completion of 12 years of school), or you must have at least two years of work experience in the past five years in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.
3. Entry Period. The official submission period for the Green Card Lottery is typically open for a one-month period, usually in the fall of each year. The exact dates are announced each year by the Department of State. However, take note that you can submit your application through USA Green Card at any time of the year, which will then guarantee that your entry submitted electronically through the official Diversity Visa website during the appropriate period.
4. One Entry per Person. You are allowed to submit only one entry per person during the registration period. Multiple entries by the same person will lead to automatic disqualification.
5. Digital Photographs. You must provide a recent digital photograph of yourself (and each family member you include on your lottery application), as per the specifications outlined in the official instructions. Failure to comply with the photo requirements will result in disqualification.
6. Valid Passport. The primary applicant must have a valid and unexpired passport at the time of registration. Passport details and a scan or picture of the passport are submitted with the lottery entry. Certain exceptions to the passport requirement do exist.
7. Application Submission. The entry must be submitted electronically. Paper entries are not accepted.
8. Confirmation Number. After submitting your entry, you will receive a confirmation number. It's crucial to keep this number safe as it allows you to check the status of your entry later when the results are released.
9. Selection Process. Winners are randomly selected by a computer program. If you are selected as a winner, you will be notified and given detailed instructions on the next steps to proceed with your application for your green card.

It's important to remember that these rules can change from year to year. It's always recommended to consult the official instructions for the most up-to-date and accurate information before applying for the Green Card Lottery. The USA Green Card website provides detailed instructions and guidance for each year's program, including access to answers of the most frequently asked questions concerning the program. Applications to the program are also accepted all year round.

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