Thousands of people around the world dream of moving to the United States every year. Some people get a visa and achieve their goal, while others leave the idea only in their dreams. However, it is possible to draw a lucky ticket and get a chance to move to the States thanks to the famous lottery. We tell you how and when the "green card" lottery takes place and what you need to do to participate in it, as well as what are the deadlines for receiving the results of the green card.
What is a green card?
In essence, this document is a credential that confirms the holder's right to permanent residence in the United States. However, it is important to remember that the card does not mean citizenship. In fact, it is a kind of bridge to the country's passport, which can be obtained if certain conditions are met.
The card allows permanent residence in the state, as well as travel within and outside the state. In addition, the holder of the card can work, receive social benefits, undergo training and purchase real estate in the USA. By the way, five years after the issuance of a green card, a migrant can apply for citizenship.
It should not be forgotten that the person who receives the coveted document must clearly comply with all national laws, be a bona fide taxpayer and not leave the country for more than six months.
What is the green card lottery?
The U.S. State Department raffles off the coveted document among those wishing to do so around the world. Every year this procedure takes place in October-November and is indicated by the Latin symbols DV, as well as the year of completion of visa interviews.
This program allows migrants from countries with a low probability of moving to the United States to get a chance for a long-awaited move. In addition, the State Department imposes one important condition on applicants: they must be citizens of states where the number of migrants who have arrived in the United States in the last five years does not exceed 50,000 people.
It is because of this requirement that Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea and some other countries do not participate in the current draw.
How is the 2026 drawing going?
The current lottery is designated as DV-2027, because it is necessary to finish all bureaucratic formalities by 2027. When should I apply for a green card? If you plan to try your luck, you can do it from October 4 to November 5 on the official website. Note that this is the only resource that collects data on the participants of the drawing and assigns them serial numbers. You should not trust fraudsters and give them personal information.
To to apply for a green cardyou must meet several criteria:
- One must be born in a country that has not exceeded the required migrant quota.
- It is important to have a high school education or two years of work experience within the last five years in a field that requires at least two years of vocational training. In addition, a minimum SVP Range of 7 or higher is required.
How do I enter the lottery?
In order to get a serial number in the drawing, you need to fill in the questionnaire on the site and attach a photo. The State Department has set serious requirements for the image, violation of which automatically deprives applicants of a chance to win:
- Parameters of digital version - 600*600 pixels, printed version - 51*51 mm, format - JPG.
- The photo must be taken no earlier than six months prior to the application being processed.
- The head should be in the center and take up about 50-69% of the total height.
- The use of retouching and editing programs is prohibited.
- The photo should be taken on a uniform light background with no shadows.
- Must be photographed in casual clothing, no glasses, uniforms or hats.
- It's best to choose a neutral expression on your face and keep your hair out of it.
When will the results be known?
The results of the drawing will be announced from the first days of May 2026, and you can find them on the official website, where applicants applied and attached a photo. To find out if you live under a lucky star, simply enter the serial number you received after registration, your last name and year of birth.
What do you do if you win?
If your luck has smiled on you, congratulations! But the question arises: if you have won a green card, what should you do next? First of all, you need to is to fill out a visa application form Form DS-260. Prepare a list of documents and make sure they meet the requirements. You will then be called for an interview at the consulate or consular section.
At the same time, sometimes there are so many lucky applicants that there are not enough visas for everyone, so not every winner reaches the interview stage. Sometimes the triumphant who takes a place in the queue after the 50,000th mark cannot, purely theoretically, be included in the pool of those who will have a chance to talk to the consul in person.
To find out if you can expect an interview, you need to monitor the visa bulletin on the State Department's website. Check to see if your personal case number fits within the cutoff range, which is determined for each region. If your number is above the cutoff, it's not time yet. But if the number is below the "ceiling," the invitation is in your pocket. Another status - current - means that absolutely all residents of the region have a chance for an interview.
The next step requires immunizations and vaccines approved in the U.S., as well as a physical examination at a facility that has been approved by the U.S. Consulate. Then all that is left to do is to pay the fee ($330) and go through the interview process. Now you know how to register for a green card.
