The U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, is an annual program administered by the U.S. Department of State.
This initiative offers people from countries with low immigration rates to the United States the opportunity to apply for permanent residency. Unfortunately, due to its popularity, the program has also become a target for fraudulent activity. Michael Waller, an attorney with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), warns of scammers who claim they can increase an applicant’s chances of winning the lottery or help with the application process. These scammers often demand payment for their alleged services, but in reality, cannot affect the outcome of the lottery.
In some cases, scammers even falsely inform people that they have won the lottery when they never entered it, and then demand money to process their nonexistent application. The Diversity Visa Program awards up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually through a random selection process. For many individuals and families, this is a rare opportunity to obtain a green card, especially if other immigration pathways are not open to them. It is important to understand that the selection process is completely random and no external factors can affect the outcome.
To protect yourself from potential scams, it’s important to be aware of common scam tactics. Scammers may try to take advantage of applicants by promising them higher odds of winning, sending fake lottery winnings notifications, or demanding upfront payments to process applications. It’s important to note that the U.S. Department of State never notifies winners by email or mail, and the only legitimate way to check status is the official website. Potential applicants should be cautious of requests for payment before a visa appointment, as the government does not require upfront payments.
Legitimate fees are only paid directly to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate during scheduled interviews. The only official method of entering the Diversity Visa Lottery is the dvlottery.state.gov website. Applicants should be wary of other websites or individuals claiming to offer assistance with the submission process. It should be noted that individuals are limited to one entry per year and submitting multiple entries will result in disqualification. However, if an applicant’s spouse is eligible, they may submit a separate application and both partners may include each other in their respective entries.
The Diversity Visa Lottery application period typically runs from early October to early November each year. During this time, eligible individuals can submit their entries online. To qualify, applicants must meet certain requirements, such as at least a high school diploma or equivalent, or two years of work experience in a profession that requires at least two years of education or experience. To protect yourself from fraudulent schemes, it is imperative to use only the official website for all activities related to the Diversity Visa Lottery. Applicants should be cautious if they receive unsolicited communications claiming they have won the lottery, especially if they request financial transactions.
