You can use the below photo tool to help crop your photo so it's the right size and so you can compare your photo with examples of good photos. You will be ineligible if the entry photographs for you and your family members do not fully meet these specifications. Use the instructions below and the photo tool to ensure it is done correctly. If you submit an incorrectly taken photo, we will contact you to take another one that is up to the correct standard.
Requirements of Photos
In color
In focus and a clear image of your face
Do not use filters commonly used on social media
Have someone else take your photo. No selfies.
Do not use filters commonly used on social media
Use a white or off-white background without shadows, texture, or lines.
Taken within the last six months to reflect your current appearance
Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
Uniforms should not be worn in your photo, except religious clothing that is worn daily
Do not wear a hat or head covering that obscures the hair or hairline, unless worn daily for a religious purpose. Your full face must be visible, and the head covering must not cast any shadows on your face.
Headphones, wireless hands-free devices, or similar items are not acceptable in your photo.
Take off your eyeglasses for your photo, do not wear eyeglasses.
If you normally wear a hearing device or similar articles, they may beworn in your photo.
Taking photos of your baby or toddler - When taking a photo of your baby or toddler, no other person should be in the photo, and your child should be looking at the camera with his or her eyes open. Tip1: Lay your baby on his or her back on a plain white or off-white sheet. This will ensure your baby's head is supported and provide a plain background for the photo. Make certain there are no shadows on your baby's face, especially if you take a picture from above with the baby lying down. Tip2: Cover a car seat with a plain white or off-white sheet and take a picture ofyour child in the car seat. This will also ensure your baby’s head is supported.
Sized such that the head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mmand 35 mm) or 50 percent and 69 percent of the image's total height from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head. Please look at the picture below.
If you're having trouble accessing the above photo tool, you can visit the website directly here: https://tsg.phototool.state.gov/photo
general requirements
These are the requirements for your application. If you're unsure of any of the questions, the below should help to explain it.
Name – last/family name, first name, middle name – exactly as it appears on your passport, if you have a passport (for example, if your passport shows only your first and last/family name, please list your last/family name and then first name; do not include a middle name unless it is included on your passport. If your passport includes a first, middle and last/family name, please list them in the following order: last/family name, first name, middle name). If you have only one name, it must be entered in the last/family name field.
Gender – male or female.
Birth date – day, month, year.
City - where you were born.
Country where you were born – Use the name of the country currently used for the place where you were born.
Country of eligibility for the DV program – Your country of eligibility will normally be the same as your country of birth. Your country of eligibility is not related to where you live or your nationality if it is different from your country of birth. If you were born in a country that is not eligible, please review the FrequentlyAsked Questions to see if there is another way you may be eligible.
Country where you live today - where you live right now
Email address – An email address to which you have direct access and will continue to have direct access to for the next few years. If you check or we contact you and inform you that you have been selected, you will later receive follow-up email communication from the Department of State with details if an immigrant visa interview becomes available. The Department of State will never send you an email telling you that you have been selected for the DVprogram.
Mailing Address: - In Care Of (Name) - Address Line 1 - Address Line 2 - City/Town - District/Country/Province/State - Postal Code/Zip - Code Country
Highest level of education you have achieved, as of today: (1) Primary schoolonly (2) Some high school, no diploma (3) High school diploma (4) Vocationalschool (5) Some university courses (6) University degree (7) Some graduatelevel courses (8) Master’s degree (9) Some doctoral-level courses (10)Doctorate
Current marital status: (1) unmarried (2) married and my spouse is NOT aU.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), (3) married and my spouseIS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR (4) divorced (5) widowed (6) legallyseparated
Enter the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, and country of birth of your spouse, and a photograph of your spouse meeting the same technical specifications as your photo.
Failure to list your eligible spouse or, listing someone who is not your spouse, will make you ineligible as the DV principal applicant and your spouse and children ineligible as DV derivative applicants. You must list your spouse even if you currently are separated from him/her, unless you are legally separated. Legal separation is an arrangement when a couple remain married but live apart, following a court order. If you and your spouse are legally separated,your spouse will not be able to immigrate with you through the DV program. You will not be penalized if you choose to enter the name of a spouse from whom you are legally separated. If you are not legally separated by a court order, you must include your spouse even if you plan to be divorced before you apply for the Diversity Visa, or your spouse does not intend to immigrate. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, do not list him/her in your entry. A spouse who is already a U.S. citizen or LPR will not require or be issued a visa. Therefore, if you select “married and my spouse IS a U.S. citizen or U.S. LPR” on your entry, you will not be prompted to include further information on your spouse.
Number of children: List the name, date of birth, gender, city/town of birth, and country of birth for all living, unmarried children under 21 years of age, regardless of whether they are living with you or intend to accompany or follow to join you, should you immigrate to the United States. Submit individual photographs of each of your children using the same technical specifications as your own photograph. Be sure to include: - All living natural children - All living children legally adopted by you - All living stepchildren who are unmarried and under the age of 21 on the date of your electronic entry, even if you are no longer legally married to the child’s parent, and even if the child does not currently reside with you and/or will not immigrate with you.
Married children and children who are already aged 21 or older when you submit your entry are not eligible for the DV program. However, the Child Status Protection Act protects children from “aging out” in certain circumstances: if you submit your DV entry before your unmarried child turns 21, and the child turns 21 before visa issuance, it is possible that he or she may be treated as though he or she were under 21 for visa processing purposes. The close date for this application is in November, if your child turns 21 before November, then they will be treated as a child who is over the age of 21. A child who is already a U.S. citizen or LPR when you submit your DV entry will not require or be issued a Diversity Visa; you will not be penalized for either including or omitting such family members from your entry. Failure to list all children who are eligible or listing someone who is not your child will make you ineligible for a DV, and your spouse and children will also be ineligible as Diversity Visa derivative applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a green card?
The DV Lottery Program: What Is It?
Am I allowed to take part in the DV Lottery?
What are the Eligible countries?
Which countries are NOT eligible?
Is there an age requirement to apply?
Is there an education or work history requirement?
How many applicants for the DV Lottery will be chosen?
How can I find out whether I won the DV Lottery?
Can I enter the lottery more than once?
May my spouse and I each submit a separate entry?
Which family members must I include in my DV entry?
What are the requirements for education or work experience?
If I don't have the required education, how do I know if my work experience qualifies?
How can I find the qualifying DV occupations in the O*Net OnLine database?
The website "GCL Help - The US Green Card Lottery Service https://greencardlottery.webflow.io/ " is a private business and is not connected to any government organisation or the American government. When the U.S. Diversity Lottery is open for registration, which usually begins in early October, you can enter for free at www.state.gov. This website offers a paid review and submission service.