Green card lottery is considered to be one of the easiest ways to get a green card in the U.S. as it does not require the applicant to have a sponsor. Every year, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) publishes lottery instructions with the list of countries whose citizens can participate in the lottery. Only those individuals who meet the eligibility requirements can file entries to take part in the DV lottery.
The winners of the lottery will be selected randomly by a computer. Only 50,000 immigrant visas are allotted to this green card lottery program every year. Eligible winners will be issued immigrant visas after they successfully go through the visa application process.
Results for the 2018 green card lottery program were published in May 2017 and the results for the green card lottery 2019 program were published on May 15, 2018. Here is a to-do list for the winners of the lottery. This list will help the winners of the lottery program who are currently outside the U.S. to get their green cards.
- Check eligibility once again to make sure they do not get into trouble when they apply for their immigrant visas.
- Complete and file Form DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, online and retain a copy of the confirmation page.
- Collect all required supporting documents to prove they are eligible for resident status in the U.S. along with translations, if any.
- Undergo medical examination and get vaccinated, if required. Only medical examination reports provided by DOS authorized physicians will be accepted.
- Pay the required nonrefundable visa application fees before the interview.
- Attend the visa interview on the scheduled date. Information provided in the interview needs to be authentic. Applications filed by applicants who provide fake information will be rejected.
- Receive passport with visa and sealed immigrant packet, if the interview was successful.
- Pay the immigrant fee to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after receiving the visa, before leaving for the U.S.
- Travel to the U.S. before the diversity visa expires and get a Green Card.
