Immigrating to the States is a dream of millions of people from all over the world. Only the luckiest applicants for the green card will win in the lottery. Every year, 55,000 visas allow people to start a new life. To make it happen, one needs to know the eligibility criteria and rules that regulate the event.
The DV Lottery: General Info
The lottery is a special program held under the authority of the U.S. Department of State. The primary goal is to sustain the heritage as a country of immigrants and support the diversity of their society.
As a result, people from places with low immigration rates to the US, get a chance to come to the land of opportunities.
The Green Card is a document that allows you to legally live in the States without any limitations. 3-5 years later, the holder of this visa can officially become a U.S. citizen.
There is only one way to register. Applications are accepted online via the official website. Find a detailed guide here. The winner can relocate to the U.S. two years later. Meaning, if you win in the 2021 entry, you’ll relocate in 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
There are only two most important criterias to meet if you want to participate in the program. Let’s focus on each of them separately:.
1. The Country of Birth
Some countries are on a list that forbids their citizens to apply. It’s announced long before the lottery begins. You will see countries with a high migration rate to the U.S. crossed off the list, this is done to ensure diversity. For example, Mexico, Canada, the U.K. Your country falls into the category if over 50,000 people have relocated to the U.S. in the last 5 years. Don’t forget to check the relevant info for DV Program 2023 before you apply.
Keep in mind that it’s your country of birth that matters, not the citizenship that you hold.
2. Work Experience/Education
You can apply for the DV Lottery if you:
- Have a high-school education (foreign equivalent counts)
OR
- Have 2 years of working experience in the last 5 years in the fields that require training.
You don’t have to meet these two criteria at the same time.
The Registration Process
It starts on October 6 and lasts till November 10. During this time, applicants need to file all the documents, fill in the form with basic questions, and attach a photo. The latter must be recent and should meet certain DV Lottery criteria.
After that, you’ll get a confirmation number. Make sure you don’t lose it, it’s the key to know if you’ve been chosen or not.
Participation is Free
Unfortunately, there are always bad people who would like to con you out of cash. These are the most basic schemes they use:
- They can promise you more chances of being approved if they process your application. The system is impenetrable and randomized. It’s called a lottery for a reason.
- You can get an email with congratulations, confirming your victory. And for things to work out, you will be kindly asked to pay the visa fee right away. It’s a scam.
First of all, the U.S. embassies never contact the winners via email, phone calls, or letters. There is one way to check if your application has been approved. Go to the official website in the following May and enter your confirmation number to look at the status of your claim.
Secondly, the only place to pay fees is to the U.S. Embassy cashier. It happens on the day of your interview appointment.
Tips to Mind when Applying
- Before you enter “Submit”, carefully review your data. Check the spelling of your name, date of birth, etc. One mistake can cost you your win.
- Don’t forget to enter your spouse’s details if you’re legally married. This applies even if you aren’t together anymore and/or going through the divorce.
- Entering with more than one application is forbidden and disqualifies you automatically.
- Pay attention to the children’s sections. If they are younger than 21, you need to fill in the data about them.
Immigrating through the Green Card Lottery is the easiest way if you don’t have other options, like American relatives. But it’s a lottery in all its aspects. No one is capable of guaranteeing 100% results. Wondering if there’s anything that solely depends on you? Make sure you apply without any errors.
