Process after winning the DV Lottery

 

If you were selected in the DV Lottery, you must apply for the Green Card using the DS-260 form, where you will have to provide extensive personal information about yourself and your family members, e.g., your spouse and/or children under 21 years of age.

 

Prepare for the Interview

 

Sometime after sending the DS-260 online form, you will be invited to a US consulate for your visa interview. This is usually scheduled in your home country.

About 14 days before your interview appointment, you have to undergo a medical examination by a local panel physician of the U.S. Consulate General, which usually takes between 1-2 hours.

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Moreover, you need to bring a couple of documents to your interview appointment at the U.S. Consulate.

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Among the documents needed are:

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• Copy of biometrics page of passport(s)

• Birth certificate or extract from birth registration

• Police certificates (for applicants from the age of 16 etc.)

 

Further documents (if applicable):

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• Marriage certificate

• Divorce certificate

• Military records

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Winners' Interview for the DV Lottery:

 

The interview itself is generally not overly challenging and will be conducted by a consular officer, either in English or the language of the country where you are applying. These one-on-one interviews usually last for less than five minutes.

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The careful and successful examination of the submitted documents by the consular officer is of paramount importance. In essence, the appointment primarily serves to verify the authenticity of the documents.

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Post-Interview Process:

 

Following a successful interview appointment, your immigrant visa will be placed directly into your passport. To activate your Green Card, your initial trip to the United States should occur within six months after the issuance of the medical report. It's important to note that there is no specific required length of stay, so your trip to the USA for Green Card activation can be relatively short, such as a weekend visit.

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Within 3 to 6 months after your activation trip to the US, your Green Card will be mailed to the U.S. address you provided in your application. It's crucial to emphasize that the U.S. authorities will only mail the Green Card to an address within the USA. If you lack a U.S. address, please contact us for assistance at applications@us-dvlottery.com.

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Is Immediate Immigration Required?

 

Winning the DV Lottery does not obligate you to immediately move to the USA, and it won't result in the loss of your original citizenship.

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However, it's essential to understand that the U.S. authorities will only issue a Green Card if the applicant expresses an intention to immigrate. Therefore, you should pursue a permanent residence permit only if you genuinely plan to reside in the USA for an extended period, whether for work, education, family, or retirement purposes. You also have up to one year to decide whether or not to accept the Green Card in the event of a successful selection.

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However, it's important to note that you should avoid leaving the USA for longer than 12 months after receiving your Green Card, or 24 months upon request