How and when the Green Card Lottery is held?
The first lottery draw took place in 1994 year and since then held every year. Organized by the US Department of State Lottery. To participate in the lottery, you must submit an application in accordance with the rules, which are published shortly before the start of accepting applications. The official acceptance of applications takes place in the fall (usually in October and November).
And the draw takes place in the spring. After the completion of accepting applications, the computer randomly determines the lucky ones, who are given the opportunity to get a "green card". In recent years, the draw has been 1 May. It is after this date that all participants using their application numbers (Confirmation Number) can find out the result on the official website. If the result is positive, then within a certain period you need to go through the procedure for obtaining an immigration visa. With an immigrant visa, the winners come to the United States and receive a green card there.
Together with the winner in the USA, his spouse / spouse can go for green cards (even if the marriage is concluded after winning) and their children under 21 of the year. It is impossible to transfer the "green card" to other family members within the lottery. To visit the winner, other relatives and friends can try to get a visitor visa.
For lottery purposes, all countries are divided into regions. There are six regions in total: Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North America, South and Central America. Applications from each region are competing with each other. According to rough estimates, among the natives of European countries, one of the 25 families, given that, that the applications of both spouses are involved. Single entry odds, respectively, twice smaller. Who has not won, can participate again - every year.
To become a participant in the lottery, you must meet the minimum requirements. Read more about this in the lottery rules.
