Top 10 Things You Need To Know About the FY 2018 Green Card Lottery

By Tien-Li Loke Walsh

1. Yes, DV Lottery really exists! The government has 50,000 diversity immigrant visas available for FY 2018 (i.e. October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018).
2. Why should you do it? It’s free – you just complete your application online at www.dvlottery.state.gov (read the instructions here and watch the step-by-step video tutorial here). There is no application fee, so don’t pay anyone to apply for you. And, don’t submit more than one entry or you will be disqualified.
3. Online registration for the DV-2018 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and conclude on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT). After the entry period opens October 1, the State Department recommends submitting early and strongly encourages applicants not to wait until the last week of the registration period to enter.
4. Do it, because you never know what might happen! You can’t rely on it, but you might just win and if you do, it’s one of the quickest ways to get a green card!
5. DV Lottery is based on country of birth, not country of citizenship. So, an Indian passport holder who was born in Malaysia can still apply!
   • Changes in eligibility for this year: Ecuador is eligible for DV 2018!
6. Even if you have started an employment based green card application, apply anyway! Depending on your visa category, it may be quicker to get a green card through DV lottery than through the lengthy PERM Labor Certification process.
7. If you are married, make sure your spouse also applies! Why? You have two chances to win, instead of one! Don’t forget that the U.S. now recognizes same-sex marriages, so DV Lottery applicant may include same-sex spouses in their initial entries or add spouses acquired after their initial registration.
8. If you were born in a country that is not eligible to participate in DV Lottery, but are married to someone who is eligible, you can “cross charge” to your spouse’s country of birth. For example, a person born in India cannot participate in DV Lottery. But, if the person is married to someone who was born in Australia, the Indian national can “cross-charge” to the spouse’s country of birth (i.e. Australia) and can therefore also participate in green card lottery! “Cross-chargeability” also applies when a person is born in a country that is ineligible for lottery, but neither of their parents were born in or resident of that country at the time of birth. For example, if your parents were only visiting, studying in the country temporarily or stationed temporarily for business or professional reasons on behalf of a company or government from a different country other than the one in which you were born, you can “cross-charge” to the country of birth of your parents.
9. If your child is a high-school graduate and at least 18 years old, make sure s/he applies too! It won’t help you (i.e. a parent), but your “teenager” may be able to get their own green card!
10. Be careful of DV Lottery scams! There is no lottery application fee, so you do not need to pay anyone to submit an application. In addition, the State Department has warned the public that there has been a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. Additionally, the State Department will never ask for advance payment by check, money order, or wire transfer. Applicants are encouraged to review the rules and procedures for the DV program so that you know what to expect, when to expect it, and from whom.