Green Card Lottery: the gateway to legal immigration to the United States
The Diversity Visa Lottery offers thousands of permanent resident cards every year. Here is our clear, complete and up-to-date guide — with one golden rule: registration is 100% free and no one can register on your behalf.
What is the Green Card?
The "Green Card" grants its holder the status of permanent resident in the United States, with the right to live and work there long term.
The Green Card can be obtained through several paths (family, employment, investment…), but these procedures are often long and complex. That is why the U.S. Department of State organizes a major lottery every year, usually in early October, to select applicants for legal immigration: the Diversity Visa Lottery ("DV").
This program, mandated by Congress, is administered under Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). It makes available up to 55,000 visas per fiscal year, primarily for nationals of countries with low immigration rates to the United States. However, since the DV-1999 program, Congress has reserved up to 5,000 visas per year under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), bringing the effective number of diversity visas to around 50,000.
The one and only official website
To take part, only one address is legal and recognized. The .gov extension at the end of the address guarantees it is a genuine U.S. government website.
Warning: beware of paid companies
Providing false information in connection with the Green Card Lottery — directly or through a paid company — can be classified as a false statement to U.S. federal administrations and agencies. Companies that charge for these procedures also expose themselves to prosecution for fraud and deceptive trade practices.
| Penalty incurred | In which cases does it apply? | Scope / consequence | Reference law |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disqualification & visa denial | Multiple entries for the same person, non-compliant photo, inaccurate information, or an entry submitted by an unauthorized third party. | Immediate cancellation of the entry and rejection of the visa application, with no refund. | INA §204(a) 22 C.F.R. §42.33 |
| Permanent inadmissibility for fraud | Fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact to obtain a visa or immigration benefit (civil status, family situation, history…). | Lifetime ban from U.S. territory (unless a waiver is granted). | INA §212(a)(6)(C)(i) 8 U.S.C. §1182 |
| False statement to federal authorities | Any false statement made knowingly to a federal administration or agency (DV form, consular interview, USCIS). | Fine and imprisonment up to 5 years (up to 8 years if terrorism-related). | 18 U.S.C. §1001 |
| Visa / document fraud and misuse | Forged documents, identity theft, or false information entered into an immigrant visa application. | Fine and imprisonment up to 10 years (enhanced penalties for repeat offenses). | 18 U.S.C. §1546 |
| Mail and wire fraud | Companies or individuals orchestrating a scam (fake "registration fees", fake selection emails) via the Internet, email or mail. | Fine and imprisonment up to 20 years per count. | 18 U.S.C. §1341 18 U.S.C. §1343 |
| Unfair / deceptive trade practices | Businesses giving the impression they are "approved" to register applicants or to guarantee selection. | Federal Trade Commission action, injunctions, civil penalties and restitution to victims. | FTC Act §5 15 U.S.C. §45 |
This information is provided for general and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The statutes (Immigration and Nationality Act – INA, Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Department of State and FTC regulations) and their application evolve over time. For any specific situation, consult the official websites (travel.state.gov, dvprogram.state.gov, USCIS) or a licensed U.S. immigration attorney.
Unsure about an offer or an email?
Before paying anything, contact us or check with a U.S. consulate. Our "Embassies & Consulates" section gives you all the useful contacts.
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