Basic information about the green card draw: when and where the lottery is held and how to take part in it

How to get a US green card

Except for marriage to a US citizen, reunification with relatives and obtaining political asylum, green card can be obtained through the lottery.
We will talk about her.

The Green Card Lottery is called Diversity Immigrant Visa (diversification lottery).
That is, the drawing of US visas, giving the winners the status of a US resident.

Annual green card lottery.
Applications for participation are accepted every year at a certain period of time.

Registration of applications for a US green card

The application is submitted on the website https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/.
Registration for participation in the DV program is free.
Can apply:

- Citizens, born in countries eligible to participate in the DV lottery. IN 2020 year Russia is one of them.
- Applicants must be educated. Minimum - high school diploma.

Country is excluded from the lottery, if over the past five years, more than 50 thousands of people.
Participation in the green card lottery does not affect obtaining a tourist visa in the United States.

How to participate in the lottery

The application is submitted on the website https://dvlottery.state.gov/. After clicking on the "Begin Entry" button and entering the captcha, you can start filling out the questionnaire. Step-by-step instruction:

1. The first field contains passport data.
2. Date of Birth.
3. Applicant gender.
4. Place of Birth, t. is. modern name of the city, village or settlement. For example, themes, who was born in Leningrad, should be written in the Leningrad - Saint Petersburg field. Region and district do not need to be specified.
5. Country of birth.
6. The state, from which the application is submitted.
7. Participant's photo, meeting all requirements.
8. Mailing address.
9. Country of current residence.
10. International phone number.
11. E-mail address.
12. The level of education.
13. Family status.
14. Presence and number of children.

Before sending the questionnaire, you should carefully study it for errors. One violation may result in the application being disqualified.

Examples of green card fraud

1. To apply for a green card, you need to know your data from the passport.
Help company - for example, a travel agency, where did you get your salary) submits an application on your behalf without your knowledge.
In case of winning, green cards will be drawn from you from 5000 dollars for access to the number of the successful bid.

2. Same, but you yourself applied for participation in the lottery.
But not in the know, that the help has also applied for you - to make money if you win or just to pick up.
Duplication of your data in two lottery application automatically deletes you from the number of participants.

3. Help applied on your behalf, but in the questionnaire I wrote the bullshit under a carbon copy (they usually do that).
If you win a green card, you will have an interview at the US Consulate and there will be a discrepancy between what you wrote in the application and what you said at the interview..

All this is called fraud for short or long - fraud.

Your photo or digital image must meet the following requirements:

• Color image;
• In focus;
• The height of the head in the image must be 22-35 mm (1-1-3 / 8 inches), or borrow 50%-69% of the total height of the photo. The photograph should show your entire head, from the top of the head to the bottom of the chin;
• Photo taken within the last 6 months and corresponds to, how do you look at the moment;
• The background of the photo must be white or close to white;
• Taking pictures, look directly into the camera;
• Facial expression should be neutral, eyes open;
• clothing, which falls into the frame, should be everyday;
• ️ Photos of applicants in uniform will not be accepted, except for clothing, worn every day for religious reasons;
• ️ Photos of applicants wearing a headdress are not accepted, which hides hair or hairline. The exception is hats., worn every day for religious reasons. The face must be fully visible, the headdress should not shade the face;
• ️ Photos are not accepted, in which the applicant is depicted with headphones, wireless headset and similar devices;
• ️ Do not take pictures with GLASSES;
• If you constantly wear a hearing aid or similar device, you can take pictures with them.

Check out the photo examples on the Photo Examples page. ️ Photos, copied or scanned from a driver's license or other official documents, not accepted.

️ Household photos are also not accepted, photos from magazines, low quality photos, made in vending machines or on a mobile phone, and also photos, full length.

Step 2: registration of an immigration visa

USD
Is it worth counting on financial assistance in the USA?

Confirmation of funds

You can confirm the availability of finances using:

• Bank statements;
• Appraisals of movable and immovable property (it is not recommended to sell property before obtaining a visa);
• Contracts with an employer in the USA.

Stages of obtaining an immigrant visa for a lottery participant

• Obtaining instructions for uploading documents from the Kentucky Consular Center (Kentucky Consular Center, KCC) and download the required documents and translations online only (any paper correspondence, sent to KCC, destroyed);
• Receiving notice of interview date;
• Payment of application processing fee (330 USD);
• Passing a medical examination;
• Passing an interview (bring with you all originals and certified translations of documents if necessary);
• Waiting for results (on the day of the interview or in some cases after additional administrative processing before 60 days);
• Obtaining a passport with a visa and a sealed package of documents (intended for border guards in the USA, printing is prohibited);

List of documents

Translation of documents for an immigration visa

A certified translation into English is required:

• All extracts from court decisions;
• All documents are not in Russian.

The certified translation must be signed by the translator and contain a statement of his competence, as well as the correspondence of the translation to the original document. There are no special requirements for the attachment of the translator's certificate and subsequent notarization.

What to expect in a job interview?

Passing a medical examination

Vaccination for immigrants
Immigrant visa applicants are required to have a number of required vaccinations. It is necessary to vaccinate as early as possible, as the process may take an indefinite time depending on the individual situation and personal vaccination schedule. Statement of previous preventive vaccinations, certified by a doctor, and with the seal of a medical institution, you need to bring for a medical examination.

List of vaccines for immigrant visa

• Hepatitis A;
• Hepatitis B;
• Flu;
• Hemophilic fever type b (Hib);
• Measles;
• Meningococcal infection;
• Piggy;
• Pneumococcal vaccination;
• Pertussis;
• Polio;
• Rotavirus vaccination;
• Rubella;
• Diphtheria and tetanus;
• Chickenpox.

US visa photo

Reasons for refusing a visa

• Insufficient funds for travel and accommodation in the United States;
• An incomplete package of required documents was provided;
• Providing forged documents to obtain a visa (lifetime travel ban);
• Illegal stay in the United States (travel ban from 3 to 10 years);
• Criminal past, drug-related, human trafficking, etc.. crimes (lifetime travel ban).

How to get a green card for marriage or marriage

Before an interview with a USCIS agent on a green card, lawyers strongly recommend spouses to check the answers to at least basic questions.

At the interview will find out additional information, to check again, who you are, where do you live and work, what is your financial level (for an immigrant, having received a green card, did not immediately demand assistance from the state).

Spouses must provide evidence that, that their relationship is real, that they live and rest together: Photo, tickets, bills - anything and more. Spouse (spouse) from the USA are not required to attend the interview, but, if consular officials have any doubts about the reality of marriage, they may require, to have your other half interviewed in the United States.

List of interview questions for a green card:

• How did you meet?
• How soon after meeting did you start dating?
• When did you meet each other's families?
• How did you decide to get married?
• Where did you buy the rings?
• How was the wedding and who attended it?
• What happened after?
• Where did the wedding banquet take place??

The immigration officer can also ask more complex, detailed questions:

• How do you enter the house?
• What kind of transportation does your spouse regularly use? (spouse)?
• What did you do last night?
• What did you do for Christmas?
• What gift did you give your spouse (spouse)?
• When was the last time your spouse (spouse) met (-las) with mother-in-law?
• Where did you meet your spouse's brothers and sisters? (spouses)?
• Does your spouse have (spouses) any tattoos or scars from surgery?

Besides, officer can:

• Asking you to draw your bedroom plan.
• Visit your home, To see, do you really live there, or park, in which you often walk.
• Talk to your neighbors.

After marrying a US citizen, the process of obtaining an immigrant visa will take about 8-12 months, if you are already in the States. If you are planning to come to the USA to see the groom, and only then add more to sign 7-9 months to obtain a K-1 bride visa.

There's a possibility, that you will be denied a green card due to marriage. This happens most often, if you are suspected of cheating.

You will be denied a green card due to marriage, if:

• You will not be able to prove the authenticity of the marriage
• You have no financial support
• You are in a hurry to change your immigration status
• You are in the country illegally

How to win a Green Card, video

If you are a winner, send the identification number to the embassy, received at the end of filling out the questionnaire. The email address will be indicated in the information field about the results of the win. After that, you just have to wait for an invitation for an interview..

If, according to the results of the interview, you received a positive decision, a visa will be put into your passport, на въезд в США. Кроме этого вам выдается запечатанный пакет Immigrant Packet. It contains documents, which you will give to the customs service upon arrival in the USA. The package cannot be opened, instead, you will be given a temporary Green Card.

Expenses

As already stated, participation is free, but, though, you will have to pay various fees:

• Registration fee - $300, paid before the interview starts.
• Consular fee for a visa - $165, paid after the interview.
• Payment of expenses for medical examination - prices depend on the medical institution where you will undergo medical examination.
• Ticket and Initial Set Up Costs - Housing, food.

Interview

The interview is a necessary procedure for all applicants. Held at the embassy. The procedure is quite complicated, requires preparation.
Before the interview, you must undergo an examination at an authorized medical institution (list on site) diplomatic missions. After passing, a sealed envelope is issued, it will need to be presented at the embassy.

The decision can be reported immediately, maybe through 1-2 days, документы доставят по вашему адресу. О нюансах проведения собеседования можно прочитать в нашей статье «Как пройти собеседование».

Basic facts about the green card lottery: when and where, who can participate

Basic requirements for the applicant:

1. Country, where the person was born, who wants to take part in the green card drawing, should not be excluded from the list of states, admitted to participate. At the moment, applications cannot be submitted by those, who was born in brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Colombia, Salvador, Pakistan, Ecuador, South Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Philippines and Peru. Countries cannot participate in the lottery, of which more than immigrated to the USA 50 thousand people in the last 5 years. Natives of other countries can participate, if they meet other requirements.
2. Availability of secondary education. Document, high school graduation, must be in the hands of every applicant. It can only be replaced by work experience in the specialty, which involves training over two years.

Knowledge of English does not matter. To participate in the lottery, the correct submission of biographical information is much more important.. for example, family member, wanting to move to the United States for permanent residence, must indicate not only information about yourself, but also about relatives.

According to immigration law, a family is considered to be spouses and their common children under the age of 21 of the year. Information about children from previous marriages is also indicated.. Information about the child over 21 year not specified.

To double your chances, each spouse can submit a separate application. Unmarried and unmarried children can only provide information and photos of their own.

There is no age limit for participation in the lottery, but a criminal record matters.

Also, application forms are not accepted., having serious illnesses, state-sponsored, as well as persons, suffering from socially dangerous diseases or mental disorders.