One of the easiest ways to get a US green card is back and is now accepting entry submission. Under the Diversity Visa 2023 lottery, around 50,000 people can get green cards.
Registration for the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program for Fiscal Year 2023 (DV-2023), popularly known as the visa lottery, officially opened up on 6 October 2021.
Eligible foreign nationals interested in immigrating legally to the United States must submit their applications electronically. Online entries are accepted no later than 9 November 2021 at 12 PM. EST.
“Do not wait until the last week of the registration period to enter as heavy demand may result in website delays,” officials recommended.
No late entries or paper entries will be accepted and the law allows only one entry per person during each entry period. Attempting to enter the program more than once automatically disqualifies the applicant.
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The U.S. Department of State has announced the winners for the 2024 Diversity Visa lottery. Out of the millions who entered last year’s lottery, 55,000 applicants have been selected to apply for permanent resident status.
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program provides foreign nationals from countries that typically do not send many immigrants to the U.S. a chance to obtain green cards. The program is often used by applicants who otherwise would not have a path to legal immigration in the United States. The entry process is simple — applicants fill out an online form and there is no fee to enter.
To check whether they’ve been selected, entrants must visit the “DV Entrant Status Check” portal on the State Department website. On the site, foreign nationals can enter the confirmation information they received when registering for the visa lottery to check their status. The State Department does not notify selectees directly (either by mail or email), so the only way to confirm whether you’ve been selected is through the status check portal. Results will be available on the portal through the end of September 2023.
Being selected in the lottery does not guarantee an applicant will be approved for a green card — it simply means they are eligible to apply for a diversity visa. If selected, applicants must complete the green card application process to prove they are admissible to the U.S.. The process itself includes filing (the online immigrant visa application), attending a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy or consulate, and paying any required government filing fees.
Selectees are encouraged to start the application process as soon as possible, as all of the diversity visas available this fiscal year must be issued no later than September 30, 2024.
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A green card allows a non-U.S. citizen to gain permanent residence in the United States. A green card is also sometimes referred to as a permanent resident card. Many people from outside the United States want a green card because it would grant them permanent resident status, which would allow them to live and work (lawfully) anywhere in the United States and qualify for U.S. citizenship after three or five years. Boundless has helped more than 100,000 people reach their immigration goals. We’ll be your visa planning partner from beginning to end. Get started today!
In this guide, we’ll cover:
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The green card application process will differ depending on if you are applying from within or outside the United States.
There are two main green card application forms:
Green card application (from within the US): Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status). This form is used by those who are already in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa, have been selected for a diversity visa, or are eligible through family or employment.
Green card application (from outside the US): Form DS-260 (Immigrant Visa Electronic Application). This form is used by those who are seeking an immigrant visa from abroad, either through family, employer sponsorship or through the diversity visa program.
Not sure which visa is right for you? Take our free assessment to get a customized plan.
Green Card Timeline
The processing time for a permanent resident card is anywhere from a few months to many years, depending on the type of green card you’re applying for and where you’re applying from.
Applying from within the United States
For spouses and immediate relatives (parents and minor children) of U.S. citizens applying from within the United States through adjustment of status, the wait is currently 12.5-22.5 months. For spouses of U.S. green card holders, other relatives of U.S. citizens, and employment-based green cards, the wait can be much longer, typically two years or more.
Applying from outside the united states
For spouses and immediate relatives (parents and minor children) of U.S. citizens applying from outside the United States via consular processing, the wait is currently 13.5-15.5 months. All other green card categories are subject to country caps, and wait times vary dramatically.
For spouses of U.S. green card holders applying from outside the United States, the wait is currently – months.
Green Card Costs
For other green card categories, check the USCIS website for the cost of your particular form.
Proposed Green Card Cost Increase 2023
The government filing fees for a green card could increase significantly in 2023 if a proposal by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is approved. Earlier this year, the agency announced plans to raise the application costs for most visa application types, including forms I-130 and I-485. In addition, those adjusting their status to a marriage green card will have to pay fees on those applications as well. All told, the cost Adjustment of Status process (with work and travel) could increase by 90% this year, while the spousal visa process will be less impacted. The proposed fees are not yet in effect.
Check out our USCIS fees guide for a full breakdown of the expected costs as well as updates on the government’s proposal.
Different Types of Green Cards
There are many categories of green cards. The most common types are:
How to Get a Green Card
The process for getting a green card depends on which type you are applying for. Each of these is covered in detail below, starting with how to get a family-based green card.
Family-Based Green Card
IMPORTANT UPDATE (March 24, 2023):
The April 2023 Visa Bulletin saw a notable shift in the F-2A family-based category (Spouses and Unmarried Children (Under Age 21) of U.S. Green Card Holders). The “Final Action Dates” for these applications have stopped being “current” due to an increase in backlogs in the category. “Final Action Dates” refer to applications whose priority dates have reached the front of the line and can now be processed. However, these cases will NOT be adjudicated until the priority date is current. For Mexican applicants, the “Final Action Date” (or priority date) has retrogressed to November 1, 2018 and for all other applicants, the “Final Action Date” has retrogressed to September 8, 2020. This development is likely to lead to longer wait times for green cards under the F-2A category. Boundless will be paying close attention — check out our monthly Visa Bulletin report for future updates.
Close relatives of U.S. citizens and current green card holders may apply for family-based green cards of their own. Eligible family members include spouses, children, parents, and siblings (as well as the spouses and children of those spouses, adult children, and siblings).
Also included in this category are widows and widowers who were married to a U.S. citizen at the time the citizen died. Like spouses of living U.S. citizens and current green card holders who apply for a marriage-based green card, widows and widowers must prove that their marriage was authentic in order to receive a green card.
Many extended family members — cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents — do not qualify. They may apply for a permanent resident card only if they, too, have a closer relative who is a U.S. citizen or current green card holder (or qualify for one of the other types of green cards below).
Employment-Based Green Card
Within the employment-based green card category, multiple subcategories of workers can apply for a permanent resident card. In some cases, their spouses and children may qualify for a green card, as well.
*Extraordinary ability is demonstrated “through sustained national or international acclaim. Your achievements must be recognized in your field through extensive documentation,” according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). **Exceptional ability refers to “a degree of expertise significantly above that ordinarily encountered” in your field.
Humanitarian Green Cards
People who fear, or have experienced, persecution in their home country — because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group — can seek protection in the United States by applying for a visa from abroad (to come as refugees) or from within the United States (to remain as asylees).
Once they have physically lived in the United States for at least one year since receiving refugee status or asylum, they may apply for a permanent resident card. Children and spouses (and in some cases, other family members) of refugees and asylees may also seek protection in the United States under these programs and eventually apply for a green card.
For human-trafficking victims
Victims of human trafficking who are living in the United States — whether lawfully or unlawfully (in other words, “undocumented”) — may apply for a T visa to stay in the United States for up to four years. As a condition of the T visa, however, they must help to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking (unless the victim is under age 18, in which case they need not help with such efforts).
They must also meet other eligibility requirements. These include, for instance, demonstrating “good moral character” (meaning they have not committed certain crimes, such as fraud, prostitution, or murder) from the time they received a T visa until they’re approved for a green card. As another example, they must demonstrate to the U.S. government that they would suffer extreme hardship involving severe harm if they were required to leave the United States. (USCIS provides the full list of eligibility criteria.)
Certain family members will also be eligible to apply for their own green cards as long as both those relatives and the victim satisfy all requirements.
For crime victims
Victims of “substantial physical or mental abuse” who are living in the United States — whether lawfully or unlawfully (in other words, “undocumented”) — may seek protection by applying for a U visa. To obtain a U visa, the victim’s application must be certified by a law enforcement agency. Like recipients of T visas (see above), an applicant for a U visa must also agree to help investigate and prosecute people who commit certain crimes, such as kidnapping, sexual assault, and torture.
The victim’s children, parents, siblings, and spouse will also be eligible to apply for their own green cards as long as both those relatives and the victim satisfy all requirements.
For abuse victims
Victims of domestic violence (battery or extreme cruelty) may apply for a green card that would allow them to seek relief through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Although this law was created to benefit women, it applies to both women and men, and both parents and children, who are victims of abuse.
An abuse victim may apply for a permanent resident card on their own — without the knowledge or permission of their abusive relative, who can include:
USCIS will not notify the abusive relative of the application in order to keep the victim safe. (Full eligibility requirements are detailed on the USCIS website.)
IMPORTANT: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse now, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline right away at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). You’ll be able to talk with someone about available resources, such as shelters, mental health care, and legal assistance. The hotline also provides information about green cards through VAWA.
Diversity Lottery Green Card
Most lottery applicants live in their home countries at the time they cast their entries, but some already live in the United States under a different type of immigration status.
Longtime-Resident Green Card
Individuals who have physically lived in the United States — lawfully or unlawfully (meaning you were “undocumented”) — since January 1, 1972 may apply for a permanent resident card through a special process called “registry.”
Other Green Cards
The U.S. government issues many other types of green cards besides the ones discussed above. Some of these include permanent resident cards for “special immigrants,” including media professionals, religious workers, Afghanistan and Iraq nationals who have served the U.S. government under certain capacities, and other types of workers who have served in an international organization. Others include green cards for Cuban citizens and American Indians born in Canada.
USCIS provides a list of these other green card types and their eligibility requirements.
Boundless helps you build a tailored visa plan for every step of the green card process, from forms to your immigration interview. Get started today!
FAQs
What is a permanent resident?
A permanent resident is a citizen of another country who is permitted to live and work lawfully in the United States.
Who can apply for a green card?
There are many different types of green cards, all with different eligibility requirements. For instance, relatives of U.S. citizens and green card holders can apply for a family-based green card.
How much does a green card cost?
The cost to obtain a green card depends on the type of green card you’re applying for. For example, the government filing fee for a family-based green card is $1760 for an applicant applying from within the United States, and $1200 for an applicant living outside the United States. However, the cost for most visa applications could go up in 2023. Boundless compiled a list of the expected fee increases, including updates on the government’s proposal.
After obtaining a green card, how long until I can apply for citizenship?
You may apply for U.S. citizenship if you have had a green card for five years (or three years for a marriage green card).
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It important to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing any deadlines, the earlier you apply the better chance you have to get your application approved and submitted on time. It will only take a few minutes to apply and it’s all done online here www.usgreencardoffice.com/apply
How does the green card lottery work?
As the name suggests, the Green Card Lottery is a form of lottery, where you stand a chance to win every time you participate in the program. The process of applying for a visa under the green card lottery is straightforward; you submit your application online on www.usgreencardoffice.com/apply, get selected by the U.S. Department of State, pass an interview, and get a green card. After receiving your Green Card, you and your family can enjoy the legal rights to seek employment and live in the United States permanently.
How to Enter the 2023 Green Card Lottery
Applicants must submit entries for the DV-2023 program electronically at Electronic Diversity Visa Program with the entire “E-DV Entry Form” completed.
You can also apply for the US Diversity Greencard Lottery with the simplified process with a firm like IaM.
Minimum age requirement
There is no minimum age to apply for the green card lottery. However, the criterion of high school education or work experience will effectively disqualify most applicants who are below 18 years of age.
Why some countries are disqualified
For the Diversity Visa program, people from the countries mentioned below are not eligible. The reason is that in the last five years, more than 50,000 people from these nations have already migrated to the United States and are therefore disqualified until next year.
All the other countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America (Bahamas), Oceania, South America, Central America, and the Caribbean are green card lottery eligible countries. Here’s a list of these countries. The list of countries, which do qualify for the Green Card Lottery, is subject to change from year to year so please make sure to check the list before you apply.
Announcement of DV-2023 Winners
According to the Department of State’s instructions, DV-2023 participants must go to the Entrant Status Check web page to find out whether their entry has been selected using the confirmation number received when they submitted their forms.
The results will be available from 8 May 2022 through at least 30 September 2023.
It is important that applicants retain the unique confirmation number received after completing the entry, as well as a printout of the confirmation screen.
If selected, an individual will be directed to a confirmation page that provides further instructions, including legal fees related to immigration to the United States.
All winners, including family members, must be issued immigrant visas by 30 September 2023, to be able to obtain a green card under the visa lottery category.
But first, selectees go through a strict consular interview process.
Interviews for the DV-2023 program will begin in October 2022 for selectees who have submitted all pre-interview paperwork and other information as requested in the notification instructions.
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Or are you considering applying for the Greencard lottery?
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2023 Diversity Visa Program
The 2023 Diversity Visa Program provides permanent resident visas to foreign citizens in countries with low immigration rates to the United States in the previous five years.
Participation in the DV-2023 program is free and the application process is quite simple. Winners are determined through a randomized computer drawing.
Applicants must meet simple but strict eligibility requirements to qualify, according to the Department of State, which distributes immigrant visas among six geographic regions. The program is widely popular around the globe because it does not require a US sponsor to immigrate.
For the DV-2022, the program received 7,336,302 qualified entries.
Egypt, Sudan, Russia, and Algeria won the most immigrant visas to legally immigrate to the US as legal permanent residents.
Eligible Applicants for 2023 Green Card Lottery
