Green Card Lottery Rules
The Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery, better known as the "Green Card Lottery," is a program run by the Department of State. This program allocates up to 50,000 Diversity Visas (DV) a year to immigrants from countries with low rates of migration to the U.S.
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Time Frame
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To enter the lottery, potential immigrants must apply two years prior to the scheduled entry. Applications are generally accepted in October and November. Those selected are notified from May to July the following year.
Applications
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Applications must be submitted online. Only one application per person is allowed. Applications must include biographical, contact, employment, education and family information.
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Eligibility
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Countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the preceding five years are not eligible for the lottery. For example, in the 2010 lottery, which ended in 2008, the ineligible countries were Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, South Korea, United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) and Vietnam.
Determining Country
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For your application, you can claim your own country of origin, your spouse's or that of either of your parents.
Education or Work Experience
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Applicants must have completed high school or an equivalent 12-year basic education, or have five years of work experience in a job that requires two years of training or background experience.
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