When Do You Apply for Green Card Lottery in the USA?

The Diversity Visa program is a lottery that is held annually. This program gives 55,000 immigration visas every year to qualified applicants. Each applicant who wins the lottery and is approved receives a green card that enables the applicant, his or her spouse and any children under the age of 21 to obtain permanent residency in the United States.

History

The U.S. government started this program in 1990 to diversify the population of the United States by giving the opportunity to underrepresented ethnic groups to receive the opportunity to come to the United States.

Significance

A green card authorizes you to live, work and study permanently in the United States.

Misconceptions

Receiving a green card does not make you a citizen. You can apply for citizenship after five years of continuous residence.

Time Frame

Applications for the green card lottery are accepted between October and December every year. If you are chosen in the lottery, after review of your qualifications, it takes approximately 6 to 12 months to receive your green card.

Where to Apply

Interested applicants can apply on the U.S. State Department's website (see Additional Resources).

Qualifications

To qualify to apply for the green card lottery, you must meet the following requirements. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent or two years work experience within the past five years that requires two additional years of experience or training to perform. The applicant also must be a resident of one of the selected countries or have a parent who is a resident of one of the selected countries. Selected countries can vary from year to year, so check the State Department's website for the most up-to-date list (see Additional Resources).