The Green Card Lottery: a legal path to permanent residence in the U.S.
Every year, the U.S. government awards tens of thousands of permanent resident cards through a random drawing. Here's how the program works, where to apply for free, and how to avoid scams.
What is the Green Card?
The Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) lets its holder live and work in the United States permanently. It grants rights close to those of citizens (employment, residence, access to certain services) and is often a first step toward naturalization. There are several paths to one: employment, family, investment, or the diversity lottery.
The Diversity Visa (DV) Program is run each year by the U.S. Department of State. It makes available up to 55,000 immigrant visas, set aside primarily for nationals of countries with low rates of recent immigration to the United States. Winners are chosen at random from eligible entries.
- Permanent Resident Card: live and work in the United States.
- Up to 55,000 visas offered each year.
- Random drawing limited to nationals of eligible countries.
- Online entry during a limited period, usually in the fall.
The one and only official website
There is only one official website to enter the Diversity Visa lottery, run by the U.S. Department of State. Its address ends in ".gov," your proof that it's genuine.
Entry is completely free. Any website or middleman that charges a fee to "register" you is misleading you: no company is authorized to submit an entry on your behalf. You enter yourself, at no cost.
Be wary of emails claiming you've "won" and asking for a wire transfer: selected entrants are notified only through the official Entrant Status Check on the .gov site, never by an email asking for money.
Penalties
The lottery relies on truthful information and a single entry per person per year. Fraud comes at a high price.
- Multiple entries: submitting more than one entry in the same year leads to automatic disqualification.
- False statements: incorrect information, fake documents, or identity fraud result in a denied entry and ineligibility.
- Lasting consequences: proven fraud can lead to a visa denial, a bar from the United States, and even prosecution.
- Final decision: being selected does not guarantee a visa; eligibility is verified at a consular interview, and entry remains subject to U.S. authorities.
Online procedures
All official steps are completed directly on U.S. government websites, with no paid middleman.