US Department of State Green Card Lottery – The U.S. Department of State Green Card Lottery is a program that grants permanent residency to foreigners who have not been given an opportunity to immigrate to the United States in preference to other applicants through processes like the employment-based visa or family-based visa programs. In order for someone to qualify for this type of immigration, they must meet both the country’s age and education requirements.

What is the US Department of State Green Card Lottery?

This year’s lottery is for 55,000 immigrant visas – the highest number available in a single lottery since the program began in 1996.

You can participate in the lottery by submitting your application online at usa.gov/greencard or at a participating U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

To be eligible to participate in the lottery, you must: be a lawful permanent resident of the United States; have been present in the United States for at least 30 days within the six months before filing your application, and not have participated in any other immigration programs during that time.

SEE: Application Form for US Green Card Lottery – This is Your Opportunity to Apply

If you are selected as a winner, you will need to submit an application for a visa and pay the appropriate fees. You may also need to submit documentation proving your identity and residence status in the United States. The Department of State will not provide assistance with these requirements.

How to Enter the US Department of State Green Card Lottery?

The US Department of State offers a green card lottery to foreign nationals who are interested in obtaining a US visa. The green card lottery is open to all foreign nationals who are not already in the United States on a valid visa. To enter the green card lottery, you must first register with the Department of State. You can do this by visiting the website, www.immigrantvisa.state.gov, and completing an online registration form. After you have registered, you will need to provide your full name, date of birth, national origin (if you are a citizen of a country other than the United States), and citizenship status (if you are a citizen of the United States). You will also need to provide information about your family members who are living in the United States. Finally, you will need to provide information about any criminal convictions that you have had.

Once you have registered, the Department of State will send you an invitation to participate in the green card lottery. You will need to complete and submit an online entry form to enter the green card lottery. You can find the online entry form at www.immigrations.gov/greencard-lottery/. The online entry form will require you to provide personal information about yourself, including your name, contact information, and other circumstances that may be relevant to your entry into the United States. You will also need to provide an original copy of each page of your passport or other identification documents. Once you have completed and submitted the online entry form, you will receive a notification that you are in the green card lottery. You will not receive a confirmation notice from DHS until after you have received your visa number. Your visa number is typically available within 96 hours following the close of the lottery.

Deciding which country to apply for a green card in can seem overwhelming at first. If this is your first time applying for a green card, it may be helpful to look below for some general information about how the process works. If you are an employer, you can find a list of some of our helpful resources below.ASW Canada has partnered with the Canadian Association of Immigration Professionals (CAIP) to provide a number of resources for employers seeking to hire skilled workers. The green card application process is different in each country which determines where your applicant will live after getting their green card. You will have to research and obtain detailed information about the specific rules, regulations, and requirements that pertain to your country of choice.

The United States Consulate-General located in Vancouver has developed an online library of basic information about applying for work permits in BC and other provinces. Please note that this is not an official source for information about the requirements for working in Canada. We strongly suggest that you consult with local immigration offices in each province. Please note that the following consulates are only authorized to provide the following types of services: In order to apply for a work permit, an applicant must have a job offer from an employer in Canada. They will submit their application for a temporary work permit through the BWC-EI program. Each province and territory has its own specific guidelines for how this process works; therefore it is not possible to give information about how one province’s system operates as a model for other regions of Canada. There are two categories of permanent residence under Canadian law: permanent resident status and citizenship. You may obtain permanent resident status if you fall under one or more of the following categories:

• Family class (see Family Class R-1 to R-6)• Economic class (refugees, victims of human trafficking, and their dependents)
• Humanitarian class (persons in need of protection or who have been granted permanent resident status on humanitarian grounds or under the following classes: refugee claimants; persons in need of protection; persons in need of government-assisted temporary residence pending the establishment of a claim to refugee status or permanent residence; stateless persons; and foreign nationals who hold a valid travel document that was issued by the Government of Canada, or by a country other than the United States.)
• Medical or compassionate care class OR be an orphan under 18. Only spouses and common-law partners are eligible for permanent resident status. The spouse must be married to the sponsor for at least two years or be cohabiting with the sponsor for at least one year. Spouses are not eligible for permanent resident status if they are legally separated, divorced, or widowed.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for the US Department of State Green Card Lottery?

The US Department of State Green Card Lottery is an annual program that allows eligible immigrants to apply for a green card. The eligibility requirements for the Green Card Lottery are as follows:

• The applicant must be a lawful permanent resident of the United States
• The applicant must not have received a prior green card through the lottery
• The applicant must not be in removal proceedings or subject to a final order of removal
• The applicant must not have been convicted of a felony
• The applicant must not have engaged in terrorism or committed any crimes against United States citizens or national security interests
• The applicant must meet other qualifications, which can be found on the US Department of State website.

There are a few important things to remember about the Green Card Lottery. First, it is important to understand that the lottery is only one way to obtain a green card. There are other ways, such as marrying a US citizen, that may also be available. Second, even if you do not win the lottery, you still have the opportunity to apply for a green card. Third, although the application process can be difficult and may require documentation, it is worth it to try because the chance of receiving a green card is much greater than other options. Fourth, some of the steps are incredibly complex and require careful planning. For example, if you plan to apply for your green card through the lottery, you must be willing to wait at least 3 months before applying. You will also need to submit all of your documentation in a timely manner. The application process may take multiple years depending on many factors including how well the information submitted by you is received by USCIS and any problems with documentation or processing times that may arise down the line. Lastly, although the lottery is not a guarantee, there is a 75% chance of being chosen. If you have no other plans for permanent residency (you can’t get a green card through marriage) and are in the United States legally, you may want to apply in the hopes of winning this very competitive lottery.

When Should You Apply for a US Department of State Green Card Lottery?

If you are an eligible national, the US Department of State offers a Green Card Lottery every few years. The online application process is straightforward and requires just three simple steps.

The lottery is open to nationals of countries who have been admitted to the United States as refugees or have obtained a conditional green card. Eligible nationalities include: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kuwait, Liberia, Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of), Myanmar (Burma), Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines (Republic of), Qatar, Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of), Somalia, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, Yemen*.

The deadline to apply for the 2018 Green Card Lottery is October 2nd. For more information or to register for the lottery online visit uscis.gov.

SEE: Application for US Green Card Lottery – You Should Apply Now

Filing Dates and Processes

The US Department of State (DOS) Green Card Lottery is an annual process that allows individuals who are not citizens or nationals of the United States to apply for a green card. The lottery occurs every year on October 15th.

To enter the lottery, applicants must first file a “Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.” The form can be found at www.uscis.gov. Applicants must also submit documentation that shows they are not citizens or nationals of the United States, such as a valid passport or a Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship.

Once the application has been filed, applicants will have to wait until their visa number is drawn in the lottery. They will then have to go to a US embassy or consulate to complete the visa application process. If they are selected in the lottery and their visa number is available, they will then be required to attend an interview and provide more documentation.

If an applicant is not selected in the lottery, they can still apply for a green card through other means, such as family sponsorship.

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