What's Next After Winning the DV Lottery?
Millions of people from around the world apply for the DV Lottery to have the opportunity to receive a US Permanent Resident Green Card.
Many potential immigrants wonder: What happens next after winning the DV Lottery?
This article will discuss the next step after winning the DV Lottery, so keep reading for all the essential information!
Table of Contents
Do you have to move to the US if you win the Green Card Lottery?
It is worth noting that you do not have to move to the US if you win the Green Card Lottery.
Being randomly selected as a ‘winner’ of the DV Lottery (also called the Green Card Lottery) simply means that you now have the opportunity to continue the process to receive one of the 55,000 Diversity Immigrant Visas and US Permanent Resident Green Cards made available through this US immigration program each year.
In order to receive a US Diversity Immigrant Visa and Green Card after winning the Green Card Lottery, you must complete the consular process successfully.
If you are selected as a Green Card Lottery winner, it is your choice whether or not to take the next step in the US immigration process.
Should I take part in the Green Card Lottery if I can't move to the US right now?
The US immigration process takes time, so taking part in the Green Card Lottery should not be a problem if you can’t move to the US right now.
First of all, the registration period for the Green Card Lottery only takes place once a year (usually during October), so you have to wait to submit your application and photo(s).
Secondly, an individual generally needs to participate more than once in the annual Green Card Lottery before being randomly selected as a winner, although some people are lucky enough to be randomly selected the first time they apply!
After being randomly chosen as a winner of the Green Card Lottery, it takes close to a year to complete the consular process.
Thus, by the time you actually receive your US Diversity Immigrant Visa and Green Card, your situation may have changed and you may be ready to move to the US to start your new life in America.
Nonetheless, the United States Government is not going to make you and your family move to the US against your will, so you always have the option to stay where you are if that is what you prefer.
If I win, when will I be notified? How do I proceed after that?
You can check on the US State Department’s E-DV website if you were randomly selected as a Green Card Lottery winner after the ‘winners’ are notified which usually starts in May.
As part of its service, USAFIS promptly contacts its customers, so they can start the next step after winning the DV Lottery.
How to check if you won the Green Card Lottery?
You can check if you were selected as a winner of the Green Card Lottery by going to the US State Department’s E-DV website after the results are released (usually in May).
Once you are on the E-DV website, click on the blue ‘Check Status’ button, read the information, and then click on the blue ‘Continue’ button.
Next, you will need to enter your Confirmation Number, your family/last name as written on your DV Lottery application, your year of birth, the characters shown in a picture found on the webpage for authentication, and then click on the blue ‘Submit’ button to view your results.
The DV Lottery results will either say that you were selected for further processing (which means you are a ‘winner’) or you were not selected for further processing (you did not ‘win’ this time around).
What is the next step after winning the DV Lottery?
The next step after winning the DV Lottery is to file the Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application with the US State Department’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC).
The KCC will confirm if you satisfy the criteria to move forward with the US immigration process and if you do, a consular interview will be scheduled at the American Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
Prior to the consular interview, you and your family members will need to have medical exams, get your photos taken, pay the government fees, gather the required documents, etc.
Final Words
The Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery Program is one of the easiest ways to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) of the United States.
This is because the main applicant simply needs to have been born in an eligible country and must satisfy the education or work experience criteria.
Nonetheless, each step of the process must be done correctly, according to the official regulations, in order to move forward with the US immigration procedure.
US Permanent Resident Green Card holders are authorized to live, study and work in the US long-term and can apply for American citizenship after living in the USA for five years and meeting other requirements.
Since 2001, USAFIS has helped thousands of individuals and families properly prepare and submit their applications and photos to the DV Lottery and tens of thousands of them have been selected as winners.
USAFIS makes it easy for you to apply for the DV Lottery, our customer service representatives can assist you in several languages and we can guide you through the next step after winning the DV Lottery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How do I know if I won the lottery?
If you are a USAFIS customer, we will contact you promptly after the results are released in May if you win the Green Card Lottery. This is important so you can take the next step after winning the DV Lottery, which is to file your Form DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application with the Kentucky Consular System (KCC). Otherwise, you can go to the US State Department’s E-DV website and check your status using your Confirmation Number to see if you won.
What happens if I don’t want to move to the USA right away?
US immigration takes time, so even if you don’t want to move to the USA right away, you could still register for the DV Lottery, keeping in mind that it may take you more than one year to be randomly selected as a winner. The next step after winning the DV Lottery, known as the consular process, also takes several months. Thus, although you may not be ready to move to the USA right now, you might be in a couple years. Once you receive a Diversity Immigrant Visa in your passport after the consular interview, then you will need to enter the United States before the visa expires. Please note that you will also pay a fee to USCIS to receive your US Permanent Resident Green Card which you will carry long-term as identification while living in the USA.
What Our Clients Say
