Registering for the Green Card Lottery is extremely important and it is absolutely necessary that applicants file correctly. Incorrect applications will be automatically rejected by the State Department.
Applications will be accepted starting on October 1, 2013 at noon. The registration period will officially end on November 2, 2013 at noon. No further applications will be accepted past this date for DV 2015. All times are Eastern Standard.
The application must be filed online and in one session, so it is important that applicants be prepared before they begin the online registration. Applicants should have the following on hand before applying and these conditions met:
- A reliable Internet connection
- An Internet browser
- Digital copies of the applicant and all dependents of the applicant also listed on the application
- Copies of identification documents and birth certificates of applicant and all dependents
Applicants are only allowed to submit one application per applying immigrant. Some have attempted to apply multiple times which results in disqualification from the DV Lottery overall.
Spouses are allowed to file one application for each partner as well as claim their spouse as a dependent. This effectively double’s one’s likelihood of winning the Green Card Lottery.
It is extremely important for applicants to the Green Card Lottery to hold on to their confirmation numbers. This number is given to applicants after they have completed the online form.
On May 1, 2014, applicants will then be able to check their status on the Entrant Status Check page made available by the U.S. Department of State. No other communications will occur between the U.S. government and the applicant during this period.
If a person has been selected for the Green Card Lottery, they will be informed of that fact on the Entrant Status Check. They will then contact the State Department as described in the Entrant Status Check instructions. The U.S. government will not contact winners of the Green Card Lottery about their status, rather, they will only respond to winning applicants setting up a visa interview.
In order to keep one’s confirmation number safe, applicants are often advised to maintain the number in a couple of different ways.
- Take a screen shot of the confirmation number page when it appears after the completion of the application, one can also print this page
- Write the confirmation number on a piece of paper and store in where the applicant keeps their other important documents
Applicants should be sure to write the number correctly. The case of the letters is important and should be noted.
If a confirmation number is lost it cannot be retrieved. Attempts to receive a new confirmation number will result in the rejection of one’s application.
Confirmation numbers are necessary when checking one’s status.