FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 provides for a class of immigrants known as "diversity immigrants". Section 203(c) of the INA provides a maximum of up to 55,000 Diversity Visas (DV) each fiscal year to be made available to persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

The annual DV program makes permanent residence visas available to persons meeting the simple, but strict, eligibility requirements. A computer-generated random lottery drawing chooses selectee's for diversity visas. The visas, however, are distributed among six geographic regions with a greater number of visas going to regions with lower rates of immigration, and with no visas going to nationals of countries sending more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the period of the past five years. Within each region, no one country may receive more than seven percent of the available Diversity Visas in any one year.

To receive a DV-2011 visa, an individual must be a native of a low admission foreign state (described above). The individual must have at least a high school education or its equivalent, or, within the preceding five years, two years work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience.

There is no minimum age to apply for the program, but the requirement of a high school education or work experience for each principal applicant at the time of application will effectively disqualify most persons who are under age 18.

No. Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are no special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility other than those ordinarily provided in the Act.

• The Department of State will only accept completed Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Forms submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov during the registration period.
• All entries by an individual will be disqualified if more than ONE entry for that individual is received, regardless of who submitted the entry. You may prepare and submit your own entry, or have someone submit the entry for you.
• A successfully registered entry will result in the display of a confirmation screen containing your name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a date/time stamp. You may print this confirmation screen for your records using the print function of your web browser.
• Paper entries will not be accepted.
• Your entry will be disqualified if all required photographs are not submitted. Recent photographs of the following people must be submitted electronically with the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form:
  • you
  • your spouse
  • each unmarried child under 21 years of age, including all natural children as well as all legally-adopted children and stepchildren, even if a child no longer resides with you or you do not intend for a child to immigrate under the DV program, You do not need to submit a photo for a child who is already a U.S. citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident

Yes, such persons may apply for the DV program.

Yes, an applicant may be in the U.S. or in another country, and the entry may be submitted from the United States or from abroad.

Yes, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals for whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State will employ sophisticated technology and other means to identify individuals who submit multiple entries during the registration period. People submitting more than one entry will be disqualified and an electronic record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State. Individuals may apply for the program each year during the regular registration period.

Yes, a husband and a wife may each submit one entry if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either were selected, the other would be entitled to derivative status.

On your entry you must list your spouse, that is husband or wife, and all unmarried children under 21 years of age, with the exception of children who are already U.S. citizens or Legal Permanent Residents. You must list your spouse even if you are currently separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated (i.e. there is a written agreement recognized by a court or a court order). If you are legally separated or divorced, you do not need to list your former spouse. You must list ALL your children who are unmarried and under 21 years of age, whether they are your natural children, your spouse's children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country, unless such child is already a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident. List all children under 21 years of age even if they no longer reside with you or you do not intend for them to immigrate under the DV program.

The fact that you have listed family members on your entry does not mean that they later must travel with you. They may choose to remain behind. However, if you include an eligible dependent on your visa application forms that you failed to include on your original entry, your case will be disqualified. This only applies to those who were family members at the time the original application was submitted, not those acquired at a later date. Your spouse may still submit a separate entry, even though he or she is listed on your entry, as long as both entries include details on all dependents in your family.

People may prepare and submit their own entries, or have someone submit the entry for them. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each person and the entrant remains responsible for insuring that information in the entry is correct and complete. If the entry is selected, the notification letter will be sent only to the mailing address provided on the entry.

At the Kentucky Consular Center, all entries received from each region will be individually numbered. After the end of the registration period, a computer will randomly select entries from among all the entries received for each geographic region. Within each region, the first entry randomly selected will be the first case registered, the second entry selected the second registration, etc. All entries received during the registration period will have an equal chance of being selected within each region. When an entry has been selected, the entrant will be sent a notification letter by the Kentucky Consular Center, which will provide visa application instructions. The Kentucky Consular Center will continue to process the case until those selected to be visa applicants are instructed to appear for visa interviews at a U.S. consular office, or until those qualifying to change status in the United States apply at a domestic USCIS office. Important Note: Notifications to those selected in the random lottery are not sent by email. Should you receive an email notification about your E-DV selection, be aware that the message is not legitimate.

Yes, provided they are otherwise eligible to adjust status under the terms of Section 245 of the INA, selected individuals who are physically present in the United States may apply to the USCIS for adjustment of status to permanent resident.

No, entrants who are not selected will receive no response to their entry. Only those who are selected will be informed. All notification letters are sent within five to seven months from the end of the application period to the address indicated on the entry. Since there is no notification provided to those not selected, anyone who does not receive a letter five to seven months from the end of the registration period should assume that his/her application has not been selected.

There are 50,000 DV visas available for DV-2009, but more than that number of individuals will be selected. Because it is likely that some of the first 50,000 persons who are selected will not qualify for visas or pursue their cases to visa issuance, more than 50,000 entries will be selected by the Kentucky Consular Center to ensure that all of the available DV visas are issued. However, this also means that there will not be a sufficient number of visas for all those who are initially selected. All applicants who are selected will be informed promptly of their place on the list.

The Kentucky Consular Center will send appointment letters to selected applicants four to six weeks before the scheduled interviews with U.S. consular officers at overseas posts. Each month visas will be issued, visa number availability permitting, to those applicants who are ready for issuance during that month. Once all of the 50,000 DV visas have been issued, the program for the year will end. Selected applicants who wish to receive visas must be prepared to act promptly on their cases. Random selection by the Kentucky Consular Center computer as a selectee does not automatically guarantee that you will receive a visa.

The death of an individual selected in the lottery results in automatic revocation of the DV case. Any eligible spouse and/or children are no longer entitled to the DV visa, for that entry.

"Native" ordinarily means someone born in a particular country, regardless of the individual's current country of residence or nationality. But for immigration purposes "native" can also mean someone who is entitled to be "charged" to a country other than the one in which he/she was born under the provisions of Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

For example, if a principal applicant was born in a country that is not eligible for this year's DV program, he/she may claim "chargeability" to the country where his/her derivative spouse was born, but he/she will not be issued a DV-1 unless the spouse is also eligible for and issued a DV-2, and both must enter the U.S. together on the DVs. In a similar manner, a minor dependent child can be "charged" to a parent's country of birth.

Finally, any applicant born in a country ineligible for this year's DV program can be "charged" to the country of birth of either parent as long as neither parent was a resident of the ineligible country at the time of the applicant's birth. In general, people are not considered residents of a country in which they were not born or legally naturalized if they are only visiting the country temporarily or stationed in the country for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or government.

An applicant who claims alternate chargeability must include information to that effect on the application for registration.

Diversity visas are intended to provide an immigration opportunity for persons from countries other than the countries which send large numbers of immigrants to the U.S. The law states that no diversity visas shall be provided for natives of "high admission" countries. The law defines this to mean countries from which a total of 50,000 persons in the Family-Sponsored and Employment-Based visa categories immigrated to the United States during the previous five years. Each year, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) adds the family and employment immigrant admission figures for the previous five years in order to identify the countries whose natives must be excluded from the annual diversity lottery. Because there is a separate determination made before each annual DV entry period, the list of countries whose natives do not qualify may change from one year to the next.

(Will be notified once US State Government announces the date)

Signatures are not required on the Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. Recent and individual photographs of you, your spouse and all children under 21 years of age are required. Family or group photographs are not accepted.

The service is fully secured by the highest-level industry standard SSL encryption, which prevent exposure of your credit card number and other personal data to anyone but the credit card company server (even we don't get your card number except the last four digits for record keeping).

Refunds will be given at the discretion of the USA Green Card Lottery Management. Fee paid is NOT recoverable if filing of the lottery application is made impossible by any events beyond the control of US Green Card Services. (For example, including but not limited to Act of War, Acts of Nature, Technological limitations, economical Resources, Legislative or procedural change and/or State Action).

The new rule states that all Green Card Lottery Applications are to be made electronically. USA Green Card Lottery will submit all the completed applications on time according to the new rule.

By law, the U.S. diversity immigration program makes available a maximum of 55,000 permanent residence visas each year to eligible persons. However, the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) passed by Congress in November 1997 stipulates that beginning as early as DV-1999, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. The actual reduction of the limit by up to 5,000 diversity visas began with DV-2000 and is likely to remain in effect through the DV-2009 program

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines the DV regional limits for each year according to a formula specified in Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Once the USCIS has completed the calculations, the regional visa limits will be announced.

According to the Immigration and Naturalization act, an applicant born in an ineligible country if married to a person in an eligible country, can claim the spouse's country of birth rather than his/her own. For example, a person born in an excluded country such as India may still apply if his or her spouse was born in a qualifying country.The applicant may also be eligible if one of his/her parents were born or resided in an eligible country, and have not established residency in an ineligible country.

No, the law allows only one entry by or for each person during each registration period. Individuals for whom more than one entry is submitted will be disqualified. The Department of State will employ sophisticated technology and other means to identify individuals who submit multiple entries during the registration period. People submitting more than one entry will be disqualified and an electronic record will be permanently maintained by the Department of State. Individuals may apply for the program each year during the regular registration period.

People may prepare and submit their own entries, or have someone submit the entry for them. Regardless of whether an entry is submitted by the individual directly, or assistance is provided by an attorney, friend, relative, etc., only one entry may be submitted in the name of each person and the entrant remains responsible for insuring that information in the entry is correct and complete. If the entry is selected, the notification letter will be sent only to the mailing address provided on the entry.

No. You are not eligible to participate in the Green Card Lottery if your country of birth is not eligible. Your nationality makes no difference in applying for the lottery. You must qualify as a native of an eligible country to participate in the Green Card Lottery

The law and regulations require that every entrant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience. A high school education or equivalent is defined as successful completion of a twelve-year course of elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and secondary education comparable to a high school education in the United States. Documentary proof of education or work experience must be presented to the consular officer at the time of the visa interview. To determine eligibility based on work experience, definitions from the Department of Labor's O*Net OnLine database will be used.

Incase you forgot your Account-ID and/or password, please surf USA Green Card Lottery website http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/ and use the option 'Forgot your Account ID or password?'.

The service is fully secured by the highest-level industry standard SSL encryption, which prevent exposure of your credit card number and other personal data to anyone but the credit card company server (even we don't get your card number except the last four digits for record keeping).

You probably started the application more than one time.

If you uploaded your photo(s), you can view it on the 'Edit' section of the 'User Area'. If you sent your photos by regular mail, you will receive an email once the envelope is opened and the photos are processed.

In order to use the on-line registration process you must hold International Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Diners CLub or American Express).

Successful applicants (Green Card Lottery winners) will be notified, by regular mail, email and phone, by the USA Green Card Lottery Winners Center at the contact information provided during registration (or later updated by the applicant). The notifications will be sent between April and June of next year, along with Official US Government letter consisting the instructions on how to apply for an immigrant visa. Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements under U.S. law to be issued a visa.

No, you do not need a printer as you can upload your photo(s) to USA Green Card Lottery website. You will need a printer ONLY if you prefer to send your photo(s) by regular mail, and in such case you need to print the 'Photo Page' from the 'User Area', attach your photo(s) and send it by regular mail.

The best way to pay the service fee is by valid International Credit Card. Other payment methods are available upon demand. Go to http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/ for more details.

You can either: (1) Upload your electronic pictures from your online account, OR, (2) Send regular applicant passport photos to USA Green Card Lottery by regular mail, attaching them to the photo page you printed.

You should send/upload only one photo for each family member that you add to your application. Note: you must add your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21. In accordance with the new State Department rule for the lottery program, USA Green Card Lottery now requires that only one Application/Photo form be sent. If you have already sent one complete form with all the photographs, there is no need to send us any more material. As these regulations where changed, please rest assure that we have already taken all the necessary steps to ensure your application will be included in this year s program.

All the information related to the Green Card Lottery Program can be found on our web site at http://www.usagreencardlottery.org To find out if you are eligible to participate in the American Green Card Lottery Program please take the 3 questions quiz: http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/ Our Organization provides quick and easy online registration for the American Green Card Lottery Program and you can register to participate online at http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/ The online registration process ensures you enter all the needed information.

In order to participate the Green Card lottery program please complete the on line registration process at: http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/

Participation in the American Green Card Lottery Program is free. The US Green Card Services charges per application in order to ensure that all the US BCIS requirements are met. According to US Officials, 2.5 Million applications were disqualified last year due to misunderstanding of the requirements (out of 10 Million forms submitted).

In order to update your application please login to your account using provided username and password. Login address is http://www.usagreencardlottery.org In case you forgot your user-number and/or password, please use the following link and enter your email address that you used to register with our services. http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/ (Use the option Forgot your username or password?) Once you login - please click the edit your application - and edit your application with your current personal details.

This year (2009) Green Card lottery program is DV2011 and is scheduled to be closed 12 Noon EST, November 30, 2009.

Kindly note that in order to complete your application and get Account ID and password you must on line using your credit card. Please visit the following link: http://www.usagreencardlottery.org/

The US Green Card Services provides Immigration Information through the website http://www.usagreencardlottery.org The Organization enables non-American users to apply for the American Green Card Lottery Program online helping them in making sure their Green Card Lottery Application Qualifies to participate. The US Green Card Services is not an American Government related agency we are an Independent Organization. For more details about our Organization please visit: http://www.usagreencardlottrey.org

You must add your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 to your application.

The DV-LOTTERY for this year entry period will run through the registration period. Each year millions of people apply for the program during the registration period. The massive volume of entries creates an enormous amount of work in selecting and processing successful individuals. Holding the entry period during October, November, and December will ensure that selectees are notified in a timely manner, and gives both the visa applicants and our embassies and consulates time to prepare and complete cases for visa issuance. You are strongly encouraged to enter early in the registration period. Excessive demand at end of the registration period may slow the system down.No entries whatsoever will be accepted after noon EST Sunday, November 30, of this year

Participation in the American Green Card Lottery Program is free. The USAGCL Organization charges per application in order to ensure that all the US BCIS requirements are met. According to US Officials, 2.5 Million applications were disqualified last year due to misunderstanding of the requirements (out of 10 Million forms submitted)

Several questions and options for answers have been added to this year DV -Lottery to gather additional information.Country where you live today? What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today? You must choose one of the ten options indicating the highest level of education you have achieved: (1) Primary school only, (2) High school, no degree, (3) High school degree, (4) Vocational school, (5) Some university courses, (6) University degree, (7) Some graduate level courses, (8) Master degree, (9) Some doctorate level courses, and (10) Doctorate degree LEGALLY SPEARATED replaces the term SEPARATED used in previous DV programs as an option under the question WHARE IS YOUR MARITAL STATUS? Legal separation means that a court has formally declared that you and your spouse are legally separated. Legal separation means that your spouse would not be eligible to immigrate as your derivative.

No. Applicants are subject to all grounds of ineligibility for immigrant visas specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. There are neither special provisions for the waiver of any ground of visa ineligibility other than those ordinarily provided in the Act nor special processing for waiver requests.

Yes, applying for another immigrants category has no bearing on entering the DV LOTTERY for this Year