What is a Green Card?
The U.S. immigration system admits people from many countries each year to broaden cultural diversity. One path is the Diversity Visa Program, the Green Card lottery running since 1990. About 55,000 people receive Green Cards through it annually.
Winners get permanent residence and work authorization. Turkish citizenship continues while you gain many rights U.S. permanent residents enjoy. After five years, Green Card holders may apply for U.S. citizenship if they wish.
Who can apply?
- You must be a national of an eligible country. The U.S. government publishes the ineligible list each year. Turkey is eligible.
- You need a high school diploma (or equivalent), or at least two years of work in the past five years in a job that required training or experience.
- There is no formal age cap, though you effectively need to be 18 or older.
- English is not required, but living without it is hard.
- You do not need assets or savings to enter.
- Since 2005 applications must be online; mailed forms are ignored.
- Married applicants can also enter for a spouse, doubling the household’s chances. If either wins, the spouse and children are included.
How to apply
Many sites charge for “help.” None of those are the official entry. The U.S. government charges nothing for the lottery form. Be wary of companies promising to file for you for five or ten years; the program can end whenever Washington chooses.
Steps:
- Open the official page: https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/application.aspx
- Enter the security code, click submit, and complete the form carefully. If you have no middle name, check “No middle name.”
- Test your photo first. Use a clear face on a white background without heavy retouching; scars should remain visible. Photo rules: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/photos.html. Composition examples: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/photos/photo-composition-template.html. A cropper tool is also available on the State Department site.
- After uploading the photo, unmarried applicants can finish with Continue. Married applicants enter children’s details on later screens.
- When you submit, you get a Confirmation Number. Save it. You need it to check results.
Questions about the form? Leave a comment below or email oguzhan@oguzhan.co.
