Registration for the Green Card Lottery Has Opened: How to Fill Out the Application Correctly and Avoid Making Dangerous Mistakes

Online registration for the DV-2026 Green Card Lottery is now open. Applications will be accepted beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET October 2, 2024. Registration closes Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time (EST).

Photo: 9dreamstudio | Dreamstime.com

You can fill out an application for participation in the green card lottery ONLY on the website dvprogram.state.gov.

The registration process is absolutely free. Remember that some fraudulent platforms may pose as green card lottery sites to steal your personal data or money. Be sure to check the resource where you will fill out the form.

A step-by-step Russian-language instruction for filling out a green card application form with explanations for each question is available here.

Firstly, because the winners are chosen by a computer, and it does not understand the creative impulses of the applicant, and failure to comply with the technical requirement will automatically lead to the application being rejected before the drawing. Secondly, if after winning it turns out that you messed up something in your name, date of birth, country, or, God forbid, lied, you may be denied a green card.

On the subject: How to increase your chances of winning the green card lottery: 11 secrets

When preparing to fill out the form, prepare all the necessary documents and photos. You cannot save the started form and add data later. The application form is designed to be filled out within one hour, if you do not have time or interrupted the filling, you will have to start over.

The most common mistakes that green card lottery participants make in the questionnaire

1. Photography is our everything

The photo should be: square 600 by 600 pixels, face (without glasses, hats, headphones, etc.) - take up about 60% of the canvas, person - looking straight ahead, background - light. Detailed requirements for the photo - here.

Screenshot from the State Department website

We advise you to make sure that the photo is correct before applying for the green card lottery. To do this, the website of the State Department has special tool.

2. Take your time and don't try to outsmart everyone

There is no advantage for those who submitted documents earlier than others, all applications submitted during the specified period will participate in the drawing on an equal basis. That is, it makes absolutely no difference whether you submit an application today, October 2, or on the last day of registration, November 5.

If you decide to outsmart everyone and stamp several applications in your name in order to increase your chances, you will immediately be eliminated from the drawing. Submitting two or more applications is prohibited. If there is more than one application with the same name and data, ALL Duplicate profiles are automatically deleted.

In this case, a little trick that increases your family's chances of winning, is still allowed. The application form includes details of the husband or wife and children under 21 years of age. Both spouses have the right to submit separate applications to increase the family's chances of winning.

3. Don't lie and pay attention to details

Many lottery winners do not end up getting a green card because the information they provided on the application is not true. There is no need to lie on the application because the information you provide both on the application and at the interview will be verified. If you changed your name between applying and winning, keep copies of your old passport so you can prove your name change.

Incorrectly written marital status can also deprive you of a green card, for example, applying for the lottery as a married couple on the grounds that they will get married before the lottery result is announced. This is wrong! In the application, you need to indicate the actual status of affairs, if you are currently single, then write so, even if you are planning to get married in a month.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

It is necessary to indicate in the application the data and provide photographs of children, even if they were from a previous marriage and do not plan to immigrate with you.

One of the most noticeable mistakes is registering by country of residence, not by birth. Make sure you indicate your country of birth in your application.

The official instructions for DV-2026 from the State Department (in English) can be read here:.

When to expect results

The results of the DV-2026 green card draw will be available from May 3, 2025 to September 30, 2026 on the website dvprogram.state.gov. Verification is carried out by confirmation number.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Lindsey Graham Proposes Not Giving US Citizenship to US-Born Children of Tourists and Illegals

You can live in the US for three years on an expired green card without losing your status

How to get a visa for talented people and move to the USA

Green card for moving to the outback: the US wants to create a new immigration program

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.