If you or someone you know is trying to get a green card - the right to live
in the United States permanently - be on the lookout for unscrupulous businesses
and attorneys. They'll claim that, for a fee, they can make it easier to enter
the US State Department's annual Diversity Visa (DV) lottery (also known as the
"green card lottery") or increase your chances of winning the DV lottery.
Each year, the State Department conducts a lottery through its DV program to
distribute applications for 50,000 immigrant visas. Winners of the lottery have
a chance to apply for an immigrant visa, which can be used to enter the U. S.
Winners are selected randomly, and there is no fee to enter the lottery.
Entries to the Diversity Visa Lottery (often
referred to as the Green card lottery) must be submitted online at
www.dvlottery.state.gov. (This site is only accessible during the
application period.)
Paper entries or mail-in requests will not be accepted.
Lottery entrants must include a passport-style digital photograph and separate
digital photographs of any spouse and children under 21 years of age. Group
photographs are not allowed. Check with the State Department for technical
requirements of the digital photograph.
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING AN ENTRY
Green Card Lottery dates
The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa
Entry Forms submitted electronically at
www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period beginning during a
brief period, usually in November & December each year.
Check with the State Department for entry dates for future
DV lotteries.
The official US Department of State website:
www.state.gov
