The United States Government issues 50,000 permanent resident cards (Green Cards) every year through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. Applicants are selected randomly by a computer-generated drawing. If selected, the main applicant, spouse and all unmarried children under 21 years of age will have a chance to apply for permanent resident status in the United States. The process of completing and submitting a DV Lottery application can be confusing. There are dozens of websites on the internet offering Green Card Lottery submission services, and it can be difficult to distinguish the legitimate companies from the scams. The only way to guarantee that the application will be submitted on time and according to the strict requirements is to submit it yourself. This application guide consists of application instructions and requirements for the initial application and how to proceed with the application process if selected in the drawing. It is a misconception to believe that “winning” the Green Card Lottery automatically grants the selected applicant U.S. residence, a Green Card or United States Citizenship. There are several additional forms and documents that must be submitted to the U.S. government before the applicant receives permanent residence in the United States. Click here to find out more.