What is the Process for US Green Card Lottery?

If you are considering applying for a US green card the US green card lottery is one option you may have when it comes to seeking permanent residency in the United States. To be eligible for the lottery the country where you currently reside must qualify with the US Department of State. This means that your country must be among those who have had less than 50,000 immigrants to the United States within the last five years.

Applying for US Green Card Lottery

Applying for a US green card can sometimes involve a lengthy process depending upon your individual circumstance and the time you choose to apply. Registering for the US Green Card Lottery is just one of the options you can pursue when it comes applying for a green card in the United States. The lottery is also known as the US visa lottery or the DV Lottery (Diversity Lottery) and requires you to fill out an application which is known as Form DS 5501.

The Selection Process

When you are trying to obtain a US green card through the US green card lottery, once you fill out the application to register for the lottery each application is assigned a number. The applications are entered into a computer where the computer chooses the numbers at random. The manner in which the process is set up ensures that every application has an equal chance of getting chosen for a US green card.

Getting Selected

If you are selected for the US visa lottery you will receive an appointment letter which will arrive prior to your interview with the US consular in the country where you reside. The time between when you receive the letter and the date of the interview is typically four to six weeks. If you are already in the United States it is necessary to adjust your status by applying for Adjustment of Status. You will also be responsible for all fees associated with applying for an Immigrant Visa or Adjustment of Status. It is important to respond as quickly as possible as everything works on a first come first serve basis.

Paying the Fees

Once you are a winning entrant for the US green card lottery the fees you are charged for applying for an Immigrant Visa must be paid in person. You can do this by going to the United States Embassy or Consulate where the cashier will provide you with a receipt for your payment which is stamped by the US government.

If you are in the United States then you will apply for Adjustment of Status. Once the application is complete you will receive instructions on how to pay the fees to a bank in the United States.

Interview

Once you have paid the required fees you will receive notice of your interview appointment which will direct you to the Entry Status Check to learn more about the details of your appointment. You will also need to provide proof that you can support yourself once you are in the United States and that you will not become a public charge. You can then proceed to apply for a US green card to achieve permanent residency in the US.