Your dream life might be closer than you think!
Each year, the U.S offers a handful of immigration programs, welcoming individuals from around the world. One of these programs is the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, which leads to permanent residency in the U.S.
Unlike other programs, you can apply for a Green Card regardless of your professional or academic background!
What Is the DV Lottery Program?
Congress introduced the DV Program in 1990 to diversify the country’s immigrant pool. Each year, 55,000 people from around the world are awarded a green card. You could be the next DV Lottery winner if you meet the eligibility criteria and follow the application process to the letter. Here are some of the highlights:
- Sponsorship from a family member or an employer is not required, AND
- It’s completely FREE!
Do You Qualify?
After learning about this exciting opportunity, you might be asking yourself, “Am I eligible to apply to this program?”. To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
Country of Birth
Every 5 years, the U.S government publishes a new list of eligible countries for the DV Lottery Program. In addition, available spots for each country may vary every year.
If you are not from an eligible country, you can apply using your spouse’s country of birth, given that it’s an eligible country.
Education & Work Experience
Another requirement is to possess a high school diploma or at least 2 years of work experience gained within the past 5 years. In the case of the latter, your profession should involve at least 2 years of training as per the U.S. Department of Labor.
Spouse
If you’re applying under your spouse, they must be from an eligible country and have a high school degree OR the required work experience.
Getting Started with the Application Process
To apply for the DV Lottery Program, all you need to do is this:
Fill the Application Form
Participating in the DV Lottery is a straightforward process with very few complications. Just log on to the State Department’s website and fill out the DV Lottery form — available only from the start of October to early November. Here are a few tips to make sure things run smoothly:
- “Country of birth” and “Country of eligibility” are separate. You can either list your country of birth in both options if it’s eligible OR you can mention your spouse’s country of birth in the latter option.
- Provide your spouse’s information even if they don’t intend to immigrate with you.
- List all your biological and adopted children, whichever age they may be. Mention your under-21 step-children even if you no longer have a relationship with the parent.
Understand the Selection Process
A randomized computer program picks the DV lottery winners every year. The only restrictions are that each region is allocated a specific number of visas and no country is entitled to more than 7% of the visas available in a year.
Be sure to save your confirmation number after applying to the program because you’ll need it to check your application status later on. You won’t be notified any other way if you’re one of the lucky winners.
Applying for a Green Card
Are you one of the lucky ones chosen for the next step? Well then, you might want to postpone your celebrations and act fast. Since more people are nominated in the lottery than the number of available Green Cards, you might not get yours!
After being selected from the DV Lottery, you will need to take the following actions:
- If you’re in the US at the time of selection, file Form I-485 via US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- If you’re outside the US, submit Form DS-260 with the National Visa Center.
After submitting your green card application, you’ll be called in for an interview. This interview will determine whether you will receive your Green Card – and a new life in the USA!
Getting Started
Does the process seem overwhelming? Are you not a native-English speaker? You’re not alone! These are some of the most common reasons people choose to hire an immigration consultancy for assistance.
Dream of USA is a non-governmental consultancy for U.S immigration and visas. They specialize in simplifying the process for a U.S Green Card. If your goal is to live in the USA next year – you should make a stop at Dream of USA. Apply Now ⟶