Green Card - Visa Application Process to Permanent Residence

THIS IS A 3 STEP PROCESS

First you register, which simply means filling out an online application that places your name among those who may be selected through the lottery drawing system.

If you win you will be notified within approximately 8 months (eight). If you don’t win you will receive no further communication.

Second, winners can proceed to filling a green card application together with their accompanying relatives

Third, if your interview was at a US Consulate in another country, you must enter the US with your immigrant visa at which time you become a permanent resident.

IF YOUR PERMANENT RESIDENCE CANNOT BE APPROVED BY THE END OF THE LOTTERY (FISCAL) YEAR (Sept 30th) your application becomes INVALID and you lose your chance of a green card. This happens to thousands of people every year. It may not be within your control.

STEP ONE: REGISTERING FOR THE LOTTERY

The rules for registering yourself in the lottery change every year and INBIB will keep you informed of any criteria changes which may affect your Green Card chances.

SAMPLE LOTTERY APPLICATION

1. Full name---Last/Family Name, First Name, Middle name
2. DOB
3. Gender
4. City where you were born
5. Country where you were born. The name of the country should be the one currently in use for the place where you were born (Slovenia rather than Yugoslavia)
6. Country of Eligibility or Chargeability for the DV Program (normally your country of birth)
7. Entry Photographs (according to photo specifications: include photos of spouse and children)
8. Mailing address
9. Country where you live today
10. What is the highest level of Education
11. Marital Status
12. Number of children
13. Spouse information
14. Children information

Failure to list your spouse and all eligible children will result in disqualification for the visa. In fact you must fill in every question or it will be disqualified.

Send only one registration per person. If you submit more than one you will be disqualified. However husband and wives can each submit a separate application. Do not send separate registration for children unless they qualify on their own and are willing to immigrate without you. Although unmarried children under 21 years automatically qualify to immigrate with their parents, if selected the opposite is not true. If a child is selected the parents will not get green cards unless they are selected separately.

Once you have successfully registered online the State Department will issue a receipt. The notice will contain your name, date of birth, country of chargeability, and a time/date stamp.

DO NOT BE CONFUSED INTO THINKING THAT ACCEPTANCE OF YOUR REGISTRATION MEANS YOU HAVE WON THE LOTTERY. It means only that you appear to come from a qualifying country and did not make any mistakes in the registration process.

1. Green Card - About the USA Lottery
2. Green Card - Are You Eligible
3. Green Card - Visa Application Process to Permanent Residence
4. Green Card - Importance of a Job Offer
5. Green Card - Lottery Winners
6. Green Card - Enter the Lottery & Registration Help
7. Green Card - How We Can Help