Information on Immigration and Visas

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. 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 and approved by the U.S. government before the applicant receives permanent residence in the United States.

The congressionally mandated Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the DV Lottery Program, Visa Lottery or the Green Card Lottery, was especially designed for persons from underrepresented countries and those adversely affected by the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965. Citizens of these countries were to receive a special immigration benefit. In 1986, the United States Congress attempted to assist recently disadvantaged immigrants with an emphasis on persons from Ireland to obtain a special way to immigrate to the United States. The sponsors of the Legislation, among them prominent Irish-American members of Congress, devised a program that would admit persons from otherwise underrepresented countries. Since that initial program, changes have been made. It is administered on an annual basis by the U.S. Department of State and conducted under the terms of Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 131 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-649) amended INA 203 to provide for a new class of immigrants known as 'diversity immigrants' (DV immigrants).

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