Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 2025

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Every applicant must include a payment for USCIS fees when submitting an immigration application. USCIS fees change over time, so make sure you know how much to pay.

Applications prepared with SimpleCitizen include detailed instructions on how to pay government fees. However, if you don't use SimpleCitizen, here is the USCIS form fee finder.

Beginning October 28, 2025, there are three ways to pay USCIS application fees:

1. Electronic Bank Transfer Form
2. Credit or Debit Card Form
3. USCIS Online Payment (when applicable)

All payments, regardless of the payment method used, must come from a bank or other financial institution in the United States and be payable in US currency.

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Here's a breakdown of each payment method:

1. Pay with an Electronic Bank Transfer

Paying with an electronic bank transfer is often considered the most simple way to pay as is is less likely to see rejections that are more common with credit and debit card payments. To pay using an electronic bank transfer, you must complete and sign Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions, and send it with your application to the USCIS lockbox. 

A filled out Form G-1650 must be sent with each form that requires payment. For example, you must submit two Form G-1650s for a concurrently filed green card application; one for the Form I-130 and the other for the Form I-485. Place the Form(s) G-1650 on top of your application when you mail it into the USCIS.

2. Pay with a Credit or Debit Card

To pay the fee with a credit or debit card, you must fill out Form G-1450 and send the application to a USCIS Lockbox facility. Payments can be made with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover.

A filled-out Form G-1450 must be sent with each form that requires payment. For example, you must submit two Form G-1450s for a concurrently filed green card application; one for the Form I-130 and the other for the Form I-485. Place the Form(s) G-1450 on top of your application when you mail it into the USCIS.

3. Making an Online Payment

If you are filing one of the few forms that USCIS has available online, the USCIS system should guide you through the process of paying online. Once you are ready to submit your application, the system will direct you to the Department of Treasury site, pay.gov, to pay your fees online.

To make a payment online, only use pay.gov. Always be sure to check the website address before entering any payment information. Be very careful to avoid scam websites and scammers who may pretend to be a government website.

Updated: December 5, 2024

Every immigrant that applies for a Green Card must first complete a medical examination with a USCIS certified doctor.

This article explains everything you need to know about the medical exam and it's associated form, Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

Finding a Doctor

Immigration medical exams need to be performed by USCIS-authorized doctors. USCIS refers to these doctors as Civil Surgeons and allows them to perform the medical examination required for the Green Card application process.

Inside the United States

To find an approved civil surgeon near you, visit myUSCIS Find a Doctor or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283.

Outside the United States

If you're filing from outside the United States, the medical exam must be completed by a Panel Physician. Panel physicians are different from civil surgeons.

To find more information about the approved panel physician near you, visit Department of State Medical Examination site.

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How much does it cost?

The cost of the medical exam is set by the physician and can vary between providers. Typically the exam is between $100 - $500. You can shop around by calling different providers in your area to find the best price.

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How to Prepare for the Medical Exam

You should bring the following items with you:

• Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Print out and bring the form to your appointment. Fill out Part 1 of the form but do not sign it until the civil surgeon tells you to do so.
• Government-issued I.D., such as a valid passport or driver's license.
• Vaccination or immunization record, such as DT, DTP, DTaP, Td, Tdap, OPV, IPV, MMR, Hib, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, varicella, pneumococcal influenza, rotavirus and meningococcal disease.
• Medical insurance card. Check with the doctor's office to see if they accept your medical plan.
• Payment. Check with the doctor's office about acceptable forms of payment.

What happens at the exam?

During the exam, the doctor will perform a basic physical, ask several questions about your health, and run various tests. After the exam the doctor will fill out and seal the Form I-693 and supporting documents in an envelope for you.

IMPORTANT: Do not open this envelope. USCIS will not accept your medical form if it is not in a sealed envelope or if the envelope is altered in any way.

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When to Send the Form to USCIS

While USCIS previously allowed Form I-485 to be submitted without a complete Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, they changed that rule as of December 2, 2024, and now require that adjustment of status applicants submit the medical exam at the time of submission of Form I-485.

For applicants who are required to submit Form I-693, USCIS will reject Form I-485 if the completed medical exam is not submitted concurrently with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. 

Effective April 4, 2024 any Form I-693 that was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, does not expire and can be used indefinitely as evidence to show that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. USCIS officers have the discretion to request more evidence or a new or updated Form I-693 if they have reason to believe the applicant’s medical condition has changed since the civil surgeon signed the Form I-693, or that the Form I-693 submitted does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition and the applicant may be inadmissible on health-related grounds. Medical exams completed before November 1, 2023, have a 2-year validity period.

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What if I already had an exam outside the U.S.?

You are not required to have another exam if you already had one prior to admission. However, the Form I-485 (green card form) must be submitted within one year of an overseas medical examination.

If a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you meet the vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not included in the original overseas medical examination, you will need a new medical exam.

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Have questions about the medical exam?

If you need help or have questions about the medical exam or the Form I-693, please reach to our team and we'll get back to you shortly.

The immigration process can be overwhelming and the information about marriage based green cards can be complex. Here are some common questions that people have before they get started.

What documents do I need?

Here is a list of the documents the Applicant/Immigrant should provide as part of the green card application. Keep in mind that the employment/tax documents are only required if the applicant's income will be supporting the petitioner/sponsor's income.

• Applicant's Birth Certificate
• Applicant's Form I-94 (Last Admission Record)
• Applicant's Passport - Identification Page
• Applicant's U.S. Visa
• Applicant's Letter from Employer
• Applicant's Federal Tax Return Most Recent Year
• Applicant's Pay Stubs for the Last 6 Months
• Applicant's W2's for the Most Recent Tax Year
• Applicant Employment Authorization Card

These are the documents you should provide as evidence of a "good faith" marriage:

• Marriage Certificate
• Wedding/Ongoing Marriage Evidence
• Joint Assets and Co-Mingling of Funds
• Joint Financial Responsibilities
• Joint Ownership, Lease or Tenancy
• Letters of Support from Friends & Family

These are the documents that the Petitioner/Sponsor/U.S. Citizen should provide:

• Petitioner's Birth Certificate
• Petitioner's Passport
• Petitioner's Federal Tax Return Most Recent Year
• Petitioner's Letter From Employer
• Petitioner's Pay Stubs for the last 6 months
• Petitioner's W2's for the Most Recent Tax Year

Green Card Timeline?

The timeline for green card applications is always changing. You can check this website to find the average processing times of specific applications and the various USCIS service centers. You know which field office is processing an application by the first three letters of the receipt.

On average, we are currently seeing the following timelines:

• Filling out the questionnaire and uploading documents on SimpleCitizen. 30 min to months depending on how much time the client takes to get documents.
• Initial Review - 2-5 business days.
• Attorney Review - 2-10 business days.
• Shipping - 3-4 business days.
• Once application is mailed to USCIS, to get the I-797C receipts - 2-6 weeks.
• Biometrics appointment - 2-4 weeks after receipts
• EAD/AP - 6-12 months
• Interview 10-20 months

What do the first three letters of the I-797 notice receipt indicate?

• CSC – California Service Center
• EAC – Eastern Adjudication Center (now known as Vermont Service Center)
• IOE – ELIS (efile)
• LIN – Lincoln Service Center (now known as Nebraska Service Center)
• MSC – Missouri Service Center (now known as National Benefits Center)
• NBC – National Benefits Center
• NSC – Nebraska Service Center
• SRC – Southern Regional Center (now known as Texas Service Center)
• TSC – Texas Service Center
• VSC – Vermont Service Center
• WAC – Western Adjudication Center (now known as California Service Center)

What is an EAD or OPT?

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is granted for people in the C09 category (pending I-485) when the I-765 is processed. This gives them work authorization for the time period listed on the EAD, usually one year. Because green card applications are typically taking longer than that these days people may need to apply to renew this document to continue to work while waiting for their green card. The USCIS usually processes this application at a separate field location than the rest of the application.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization given to F-1 visa holders to be able to work in their field of study either during their schooling or afterwards. Usually OPT is good for 12 months. Income from OPT is considered temporary as you only have authorization for a short time and usually cannot be counted on the I-864, however if the expiration is not for another year or so and the applicant would likely get their EAD within that time it can be included.

Names: Should I use my previous or married name on the GC application?

You can use either your married name or your maiden name. Whichever you would rather have on your green card. Often customers keep the maiden name until they get citizenship so their passport, birth certificate, etc match the green card. If you do have documents that don’t match, you will just need to carry your marriage certificate with you. Let us know if you have any other questions or concerns about this.

Medical Exam: When do I need to complete medical exam? Is it before or after filling

Starting 12/2/2024, USCIS now requires that any I-485 applicants required to file Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record MUST submit Form I-693 concurrently with their Form I-485. Failing to file the two forms together can result in Form I-485 being rejected.

International Travel: Is it safe to travel outside the U.S while my Green Card is pending?

Once you have a travel permit, you can use that to travel outside the U.S. Before you have it, YOU CAN NOT travel. Otherwise your I-485 will be canceled, unless you have a valid H-1B Visa or L-1 Visa.       

To avoid getting into any issues,You need to get authorization prior to travel. Advance Parole generally takes 6-12 months to receive. It is possible to have your I-131 expedited if you have an emergency that requires you to travel outside of the U.S. 

Updated: Feb. 24, 2020

Public Charge Final Rule goes into effect Feb. 24, 2020.
USCIS will reject any affected application or petition that does not include Form I-944 received on or after Feb. 24, 2020.

Important: SimpleCitizen application packages will include Form I-944 after Feb. 24, 2020. If you have questions about Public Charge or your application, please contact SimpleCitizen support.

What is the Public Charge rule?

“Public charge” is described as someone who is likely to become dependent on government assistance. USCIS has always considered “public charge” when determining your status in the U.S. However, under the current Trump administration the public charge rules will be looked at in a different light.

What does this mean?

USCIS wants to know how much government assistance you have received in the past and how much assistance you will likely receive. They’ll use the information you provide to determine whether you will be considered a “public charge” to the government in the future. USCIS gathers this information with the Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency.

Form I-944 & What You Need to Know

If you are filing an application to register permanent residence or you are submitting an adjustment of status within the United States and you are completing Form I-485 you’ll need to fill out and include the new Public Charge Form I-944. They’ll look at factors such as the applicant’s age, health, family information, assets, financial status, education and skills, etc. The Form I-944 is automatically included with every SimpleCitizen application package.

In the end they will look at the overall factors you provide to determine if an applicant would become a public charge to the USCIS.

Have questions?

Need help or have questions about public charge? Feel free to reach out to our support team and we'll be happy to help with your application.

Applicant Supporting Documents

Here is a list of the documents the Applicant/Immigrant should provide as part of the green card application. Keep in mind that the employment/tax documents are only required if the applicant's income will be supporting the petitioner/sponsor's income.

• Applicant's Birth Certificate
• Applicant's Form I-94 (Last Admission Record)
• Applicant's Passport - Identification Page
• Applicant's U.S. Visa
• Applicant's Letter from Employer
• Applicant's Federal Tax Return Most Recent Year
• Applicant's Pay Stubs for the Last 6 Months
• Applicant's W2's for the Most Recent Tax Year
• Applicant Employment Authorization Card

"Good Faith" Marriage Supporting Documents

These are the documents you should provide as evidence of a "good faith" marriage:

• Marriage Certificate
• Wedding/Ongoing Marriage Evidence
• Joint Assets and Co-Mingling of Funds
• Joint Financial Responsibilities
• Joint Ownership, Lease or Tenancy
• Letters of Support from Friends & Family

Petitioner/Sponsor Supporting Documents

These are the documents that the Petitioner/Sponsor/U.S. Citizen should provide:

• Petitioner's Birth Certificate
• Petitioner's Passport
• Petitioner's Federal Tax Return Most Recent Year
• Petitioner's Letter From Employer
• Petitioner's Pay Stubs for the last 6 months
• Petitioner's W2's for the Most Recent Tax Year

If you have any questions, feel free to chat with our support team by clicking on the chat icon on the lower left side of the screen.

Helpful links:

How to apply for a green card with SimpleCitizen
Green Card Eligibility Quiz

Below we have included information defining what the 3-letter USCIS codes mean:

• CSC – California Service Center
• EAC – Eastern Adjudication Center (now known as Vermont Service Center)
• IOE – ELIS (efile)
• LIN – Lincoln Service Center (now known as Nebraska Service Center)
• MSC – Missouri Service Center (now known as National Benefits Center)
• NBC – National Benefits Center
• NSC – Nebraska Service Center
• SRC – Southern Regional Center (now known as Texas Service Center)
• TSC – Texas Service Center
• VSC – Vermont Service Center
• WAC – Western Adjudication Center (now known as California Service Center)

We want to provide the best possible experience for you and your family. If you have any issues with your experience, please get in touch with support and let us know how we can improve. If you are still unsatisfied, let us know! We are committed to making things right! .

Please see the following situations that qualify for refund requests:

• No Documents Uploaded – 100% refund
• After Attorney Review – 50% refund
• 90 Days After Application Purchase – 50% refund
• 365+ Days After Application Purchase - 25% refund

If your application is denied by USCIS due to an error on our part, we will refund 100% of your SimpleCitizen service fees — and in certain cases, reimburse your USCIS fees, up to $3,000, depending on the application type.

While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee specific legal outcomes. For example, a correctly completed marriage-based green card application may still be denied due to factors beyond our control. We can only issue refunds for issues we are directly responsible for.
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*SimpleCitizen partners with independent immigration attorneys for the review of your application, but it is self-service, and applicants may choose how to implement those suggestions. Any denial due to a decision not to follow attorney suggestions is not covered by the 100% satisfaction guarantee. In addition, if a client chooses to respond to requests from USCIS without SimpleCitizen’s help and is denied, they are not covered by the 100% satisfaction guarantee.

We take great pride in the work that we do. If you feel that your experience warrants a refund, please reach out to us. We’ll review your request and will work to make things right!

Due to bank transfers, please allow up to 30 days to process refund requests.

Please click the following link to request a refund.

Congratulations on submitting your I-485, Adjustment of Status application! While waiting to hear back from USCIS about the status of your green card application, let’s examine whether you can travel domestically in the United States without a valid green card, and before you obtain your driver’s license or EAD (employment authorization document, work permit, or Form I-766).

What documentation do I need to fly domestically within the U.S.?

If you do not have an unexpired green card or an unexpired EAD, you may use a border crossing card or a foreign government-issued passport to fly domestically within the U.S.

According to Transportation Security Administration (TSA), adult passengers (age 18 and over) must show at least one of the following forms of identification in order to travel by plane. While many of these forms of identification apply only to U.S. citizens, the items in bold apply to non-U.S. citizens.

• Driver's license or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles
• U.S. passport
• U.S. passport card
• DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
• U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
• Permanent resident card (green card)
• Border crossing card (for Mexican citizens)
• DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
• Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
• HSPD-12 PIV card
• Foreign government-issued passport
• Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
• Transportation worker identification credential
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (Form I-766/EAD/work permit)
• U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

Need to apply for a green card? - The Ultimate Guide on How to Get a Green Card.

What documentation does my child need to fly domestically within the U.S.?

According to TSA, children under age 18 do not need to provide identification when traveling with a companion domestically within the U.S.

Can I use my Form I-797 as a form of identification for air travel?

You cannot use the Form I-797 alone as your only form of identification for air travel. However, it can be used as a secondary form of identification in addition to other forms of valid identification.

The Form I-797 is not considered by the U.S. government to be a travel document. It is considered a secondary form of identification for air travel, not a primary form of identification, which means that you can only use it to supplement primary forms of identification for air travel.

Primary forms of identification for non-U.S.-citizens include green cards, EADs, border crossing cards, and foreign government-issued passports. If you have one of these documents, bring it to your airport security screening. You should also bring any other forms of secondary identification you have. Bring the original documents, as well as photocopies and pictures of the documents on your cell phone or a camera, in case TSA officers request to see the original documents.

If you do not have proper primary identification, bring at least two forms of secondary identification to your airport security screening. These documents must have any identifying information such as your name, photo, address, phone number, social security number, or date of birth. Secondary forms of identification include:

• Temporary paper IDs
• Expired IDs
• Credit cards
• Social security cards
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• Bank statements or bills
• Any other ID you have available

What if I arrive at the airport without valid ID, because it’s lost or left at home?

You may still be allowed to fly if you do not provide valid identification, but this may not be allowed if you intentionally choose to not provide proper identification.

• A TSA officer will likely ask you to complete an identity verification process, during which you will provide information such as your name, current address, and other personal information.
• If TSA can confirm your identity, you will be allowed to enter the security screening checkpoint. TSA may require you to undergo additional screening, such as a pat-down and screening of carry-on luggage.
• TSA recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours before a domestic flight due to potential extra screening time requirements and wait times.
• If TSA cannot confirm your identity or if you decline to undergo the identity verification process, you will not be allowed to enter the security screening checkpoint.

What do I do if TSA discriminates against me in the security screening process?

If you feel TSA security screening has discriminated against you because of your race, color, national origin, sex/gender (including gender identity, sexual orientation and parental status), religion, and age, you may do any or all of the following actions:

• File a complaint with the TSA Multicultural Branch
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which houses the TSA, through their Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
• Apply for traveler redress through the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

You may apply for for DHS Traveler Redress if you experienced one or more of the following:

• You are unable to print a boarding pass.
• You are denied or delayed boarding a plane.
• You are denied or delayed entry into and exit from the U.S. at a port of entry or border checkpoint.
• You are continuously referred for additional screening at the airport.

What types of Form I-797 could be issued to me?

Form I-797, Notice of Action: Issued when an application or a petition submitted to the USCIS has been approved.

Form I-797A, Notice of Action: Issued to an applicant as a replacement Form I-94.

• As of January 2018, foreign visitors to the U.S. no longer need to fill out a paper version of the Form I-94, the Arrival and Departure Record, with a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer in order to enter the U.S.
• CBP now gathers air and sea travelers’ arrival/departure information automatically from their electronic travel records.
• Upon arrival to the U.S., a CBP officer will stamp the travel document of each arriving non-immigrant traveler with the admission date, the class of admission, and the date that the traveler is admitted.
• If you need the information from your Form I-94 admission record to verify immigration status or employment authorization, the record number, and/or other admission information, you can get your I-94 number here.
• If you would like a paper Form I-94, you can request a form during the inspection process.
• You can learn more about the I-94 updated procedure here.

Form I-797B, Notice of Action: Issued for approval of an alien worker petition.

Form I-797C, Notice of Action: Issued to communicate receipt of payments, rejection of applications, transfer of files, fingerprint biometric, interview and re-scheduled appointments, and re-open cases.

Form I-797D, Accompanies benefit cards.

Form I-797E, Notice of Action: Issued to request evidence.

I-797F, Transportation Letter: Issued overseas to allow applicants to travel.

How can I get more information about the status of my applications?

If your green card application (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) and/or Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization have been pending with USCIS for 75 or more days, you can either call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 800-767-1833 (TTY) to inquire about the status of your application, or check your case status online.

Last Updated: May 12, 2020

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To many hopeful immigrants around the world, the Green Card Lottery is the “golden ticket” for entry into the United States. In many ways, Green Card Lottery, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a cheap and straightforward way to enter the U.S. Applying is free and fewer forms are needed than for the family-sponsored or employer-sponsored visas. The application window for the 2017 fiscal year closed in November and more than 19 million hopefuls applied for the Lottery. Only 50,000 visas will be awarded. Which means, only 1 in 386 applicants will be awarded a visa.  For many people, it is the best or only way to immigrate into the country. This is our comprehensive guide for getting a green card through the Green Card Lottery.

The Basics

What is the Green Card Lottery?

The Green Card Lottery, officially, the Diversity Immigrant Visa program is enacted in section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and codified in title 8 section 1153 of the United States Code. President H. W. Bush signed it into law back in 1990. It came after a series of temporary diversity programs, as an attempt to broaden the range of admitted immigrants. At the time, it especially helped the Irish fleeing their country due to unrest.Although Diversity Immigrant Visa program is the official name, it is often referred to as the Diversity Visa Lottery or the Green Card Lottery, or some mixture of these terms. Immigrant visas awarded are often called diversity visas.To summarize the process, applicants apply; applicants are selected at random using a computer; selected applicants are then screened through an interview process; those that pass the screening process are awarded immigrant visas; upon entry into the U.S., they are awarded their green card.So, it is called both a visa lottery as well as Green Card lottery because winners are first given a visa which is then upgraded to a Green Card upon entry into the U.S.Officially, 55,000 visas are awarded, however, each year 5,000 goes to the NACARA program, dropping the available number down to 50,000. The Green Card Lottery is one of several peripheral immigration programs that exist outside the more common route of family or employer sponsorship.The Diversity Visa Lottery has come under some scrutiny lately and some lawmakers are even calling for it to end. Sayfullo Saipov infamously entered the country through the Diversity Lottery and then used his vehicle to slaughter innocent people in an act of terror.Read more about Trump’s bill to end the program.

What is a green card?

A green card is an identification card carried by lawful permanent residents. They receive it when they become authorized to live and work in the U.S. on a permanent basis. Perhaps most importantly, green card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship.The Green Card lottery compresses hassle of getting a visa and then obtaining a green card into a single process. About 1 million people are granted lawful permanent residency each year, so the Lottery makes up about 5% of those receiving green cards each year.Go here for our complete guide on getting a green card.

The Application for the Green Card Lottery

As visa applications go, applying for the Diversity Visa Lottery straightforward. It can be broken down into four main parts

1. Submitting your application
2. Getting selected
3. Passing the interview
4. Receiving your Green Card

Submitting your application

Each year, the U.S. Department of State publishes here the instructions on that year’s application process. Because the process takes a couple years, application years are given the name of the year in which their applicants will enter the U.S. So the application open in 2018 will be called DV-2020 because winners will enter the U.S. in 2020.To apply, you’ll submit your Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form, E-DV Entry Form or DS-5501, online at dvlottery.state.gov. Applications can only be done online, only one entry is allowed per person, and submitting an application is free. Usually, the application process is only open for a limited time from October to November.The online application will ask you for basic background information including:

• Name
• Gender
• Birthdate
• City where you were born
• Country where you were born
• Country of eligibility for the Diversity Visa program
• Entrant photographs – these are individual photographs taken within the last six months of yourself, your spouse, and each of your children.
• Mailing Address
• Country where you live currently
• Phone number (optional)
• Email address
• Highest level of education you have achieved
• Current marital status
• Number of children

Married children and children who are already aged 21 or older when you submit your entry are not eligible to be included on your application.Most importantly, you must meet the three basic requirements. You must:

1. Be able to apply from an eligible country
2. Have completed high school OR have two years work experience
3. Be admissible

Requirement #1: The visa lottery countries

Not all countries are eligible for the green card lottery. Because the green card lottery is designed to admit immigrants from less common countries, countries with the highest rates of immigration are prohibited. The State Department uses a fairly complex formula to determine high-admission and low-admission countries and regions. If more than 50,000 immigrants have come from a country in the last five years, then that country will be ineligible.Areas with the fewest number of immigrants are prioritized. This equation has lately favored Africa and Eastern Europe and consistently disfavored the most populous countries. No single country may receive more than 3,500 DVs.In 2019, on the prohibited list was:

• Bangladesh
• Brazil
• Canada
• China (mainland-born)
• Colombia
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Haiti
• India
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• South Korea
• United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories
• Vietnam

Natives from all other countries are eligible to apply. If you are from one of the prohibited countries, do not despair. Your country may be taken off the list in the future. Also, there are two other ways you might be able to qualify.

• Use your spouse’s country. If your spouse was born in an eligible country then you can claim your spouse’s country of birth. For this to work, both you and your spouse must be named on the selected entry, be found eligible and issued diversity visas, and enter the United States simultaneously.
• Use your parents’ country. If you were you born in an eligible country, but your parents were neither born in nor residents of that country, then you can claim the country of birth of one of your parents.

Requirement #2: School or work experience.

An applicant must also meet the second requirement. This can be done in one of two ways.

• Graduated from high school. You must have at least a high school education or its equivalent. This means you must have successfully completed a 12-year course of formal elementary and secondary education
• OR two years work experience. You must have two years of work experience within the past five years, in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform.

For this second requirement, the State Department uses the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online database to determine qualifying work experience. It requires two years of training or experience that is designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation rating of 7.0 or higher.

Requirement #3: Admissibility

Additionally, an applicant must be admissible to the US -- categories of inadmissibility to the US broadly include terrorism connections.Generally speaking, to be admissible, an applicant must not be inadmissible.The main categories of inadmissibility include health, criminal activity, national security, public charge, lack of labor certification, fraud and misrepresentation, prior removals, unlawful presence in the United States, and several miscellaneous categories. Sometimes, a person may apply for a waiver.

Getting Selected

The INA requires diversity visas to be distributed “strictly in a random order.”Around May 15 each year, applicants are notified through the online portal if their applications are accepted. For the few that are selected to continue the application process, this is a happy day; for the many not selected, they hope to find better luck in the year to come.It is important to note that not all selected at this stage will ultimately be submitted. About 100,000 applicants are selected at this stage. They will be narrowed down to 50,000. Try not to get ahead of yourself by selling your house, car, or other properties, quitting your job, or making travel arrangements; don’t do any of that stuff until after you actually have your visa.To proceed in the process, selected applicants must complete the online Form DS-260 application immediately to schedule an interview appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Passing the Interview

The next step in the process is the in-person interview. At this point, a fee is required to continue on to the interview:  $330 per person. Each family member who will accompany the applicant to the U.S. must be present.Fingerprints are recorded at the interview.An applicant must bring many things with them to the interview:

• Appointment Letter - Snag this from your appointment information from the Entrant Status Check on the Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website.
• DS-260 Confirmation Page - Print this from the Consular Electronic Application Center any time after you complete your DS-260 application.
• Passport - You must have for each applicant an unexpired passport valid for six months beyond the intended date of entry into the United States.
• Photographs - Two identical color photographs for each applicant. Go here for requirements.
• Medical Exam Results - You and each family member applying for a visa with you must schedule a medical appointment with an authorized physician in the country where you will be interviewed. This examination and required vaccinations must be completed before your interview. The results may be mailed to the Embassy or Consulate or you may need to bring them with you yourself.

Beyond this, a long list of documents is required. For each document, you must have:

• An original or certified copy
• A photocopy
• A certified translation, if the original document is not in english.

Required documents could include all applicable civil documents

• Documents demonstrating the requisite qualifying education or work experience
• Birth certificates
• Court and prison records
• Deportation documentation
• Marriage certificate
• Marriage termination documentation
• Military records
• Police records
• Custody documentation

Read this to understand consular processing.

Receiving your Green Card

At the end of the interview, the consular officer will inform you whether your visa application is approved or denied. If denied, then your passport comes back empty. If approved, your passport will be returned to you with a nice, new, beautiful visa.Time to pack your bags! You are coming to America.A diversity visa is usually valid for up to six months. So an applicant must arrive and apply for admission in the United States before the expiration date on the visa.Of course, there is one more fee. You must pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee to USCIS after you receive your immigrant visa and before you travel to the United States. Currently, it’s $220.The primary applicant must come before or at the same time as other family members with visas.  At this point, your diversity visa will grant you entry to the U.S., although that entry is not 100 percent guaranteed. Any immigrant still must conform with the Customs entry requirements.If you are admitted, you will now be a lawful Permanent Resident, a green card holder. Congratulations!After you are admitted to the United States, USCIS will mail your green card to the address you provided to the State Department at the time of your immigrant visa interview or to Customs at the time you arrived in the United States.You will be allowed to work and live permanently in the United States.

What if I’m already on a visa in the U.S. and I win the Green Card Lottery?

If you are already in the U.S. under a lawful immigrant or nonimmigrant status and you win the green card lottery, you can apply for a change of status to receive your green card. This process is done through USCIS. Your application with USCIS must be completed by September 30 of the fiscal year the lottery pertains to.You must:

• Have won the Green Card Lottery
• Have an immigrant visa immediately available at the time of filing an adjustment application Form I-485, and
• Be admissible to the United States.

To obtain the Green Card, you must file Form I-485, change of status request. Read this tutorial.You’ll need to provide these documents:

• Two passport-style photos
• Copy of birth certificate
• Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
• Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa (if applicable)
• Copy of passport page with admission (entry) or parole stamp (if applicable)
• Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record
• Certified copies of court records (if you have been arrested)
• Copy of your selection letter for the Lottery
• Copy of the receipt for the diversity visa lottery processing fee
• Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility (if applicable)
• Applicable fees

The Happy Ending

Now that you have a Green Card, you must keep it safe and keep it in your possession at all times. It is valid for 10 years.You should renew your green card when it has 6 months left or request a new one if it was lost or stolen by filing the Form I-90You can use your Green Card to:

• Prove employment eligibility in the United States when completing the Form I-9
• Apply for a Social Security Card
• Get a state-issued driver’s license.
• Re-enter the U.S. after a trip abroad if you do not leave for longer than 1 year. If your trip will last longer than 1 year, a reentry permit is needed.
• Sponsor family members to come on over next!

Last Updated: Feb. 7, 2020.

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Do you have a family member that is applying for legal permanent residency?

Are you going to be the sponsor? Do you meet all the requirements to be a sponsor?

This guide will help you figure out if you meet the requirements for being a sponsor.

What is a financial sponsor?

Being a financial sponsor to an immigrant means the U.S. Government will consider your income and assets (such as checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or property) as available to support the potential immigrant.

Who can sponsor? Who needs a sponsor?

You may sponsor a relative, an employee, or a prospective or currently adopted child wishing to immigrate to the United States. If you filed an immigrant visa petition for your relative, you must be the sponsor.

Anyone applying to be a permanent resident through a family member must have a financial sponsor. A sponsor is also required for a family member coming to work for a relative, or for a company in which a relative owns 5 percent or more of the company.

Am I eligible to become a sponsor?

To qualify to be a financial sponsor for a green card applicant, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must be at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. You must have a domicile in either the U.S. or a U.S. territory or possession (i.e. you must live there).
3. You must prove an income level at or above 125 percent of the Federal poverty level (100 percent for active duty military personnel).
4. You must submit an affidavit of support, which can be done by submitting Form I-864.

Income requirement to be a financial sponsor?

You must prove an income level at or above 125 percent of the Federal poverty level. (For active duty military personnel, the income requirement is 100 percent of the poverty level when sponsoring a husband, wife, or children.) Federal poverty levels are updated each year by the Department of Health and Human Services.

You can check current minimums at their website at www.aspe.hhs.gov.

What is Form I-864?

Form I-864 acts as an affidavit of support, which is a document an individual signs to accept financial responsibility for another person, usually a relative, who is coming to the United States to live permanently. The form proves that the immigrant has the financial means to live in the United States without needing welfare or financial benefits from the U.S. government. The person who signs the affidavit of support becomes the sponsor of the relative (or other individual) coming to live in the United States. The sponsor is usually the petitioner of an immigrant petition for a family member.

As the sponsor, you should fill out Form I-864 when your relative is about to submit an application for adjustment to permanent resident status with the USCIS or with an Immigration Court in the United States.

What if I don't meet the financial requirements?

If your income alone does not meet the requirement, your assets (such as checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds, or property) may be considered in determining your financial ability. You may also submit the I-864 as a joint sponsor or a substitute sponsor.

What is a joint sponsor?

A joint sponsor is someone who is willing to accept legal responsibility for supporting your immigrating family member with you. A joint sponsor must meet all the same requirements as you; however, the joint sponsor does not need to be related to the immigrant.

The joint sponsor (or his or her household) must reach the 125% income requirement alone. You cannot combine your income with that of a joint sponsor to meet the income requirement.

Does a joint sponsor also need to fill out I-864?

Yes, a joint sponsor must also fill out Form I-864. Additionally, if you are using the income of other household members to qualify, then each household member must complete a separate Form I-864A.

What documentation do I need to fill out Form I-864?

You must provide the following documentation to fill out Form I-864:

• Your U.S. federal income tax return for the most recent tax year.
• Proof of current employment.

How do I submit Form I-864

Upon completing Form I-864, compiling the necessary documentation, and having the affidavit (or form I-864) notarized in the United States or before a U.S. consular or immigration officer, you should provide this packet of information to your relative to submit with his or her application for permanent resident status. If you are given specific instructions to file your affidavit of support directly with the National Visa Center, you should follow those instructions.

What is the cost to submit Form I-864?

There is no filing fee. However, the National Visa Center (NVC) does send the sponsor a processing fee before the case will be processed.

How long am I responsible for the immigrant?

The sponsor's legal financial responsibility usually lasts until the immigrant either becomes a U.S. citizen, can be credited with 40 quarters of work (usually 10 years), leaves the U.S. permanently, or dies.

Do I need to inform USCIS if I move or change addresses as a sponsor?

Yes, by legal requirement. If you change your address, you will need to file a Form I-865, Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address, within 30 days after the date of your move.

What if I fail to provide financial support?

An affidavit of support is legally enforceable against a sponsor. If a sponsor does not provide basic support to the immigrants they sponsor, the individuals sponsored may receive “means-tested public benefits.” If the individual you sponsored receives any of these public benefits, you are responsible for repaying the cost of those benefits to the agency that provided them. If you do not repay the debt, the agency or sponsored immigrants can sue you in court to receive the money owed. When the immigrant sues, he or she can collect enough money to bring his or her income up to 125% of the amount listed in the U.S. government’s Poverty Guidelines.

Additionally, bankruptcy does not necessarily terminate a sponsor’s I-864 obligations. While most debts and contractual obligations are dischargeable in bankruptcy, “domestic support obligations” are not dischargeable. Such obligations are defined as alimony, maintenance, or support owed to or recoverable by one’s spouse, former spouse, or child. By United States court decisions, these also include I-864 support obligations.

Forms for Financial Sponsorship

• Form I-864 | Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
• Form I-864A | Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member
• Form I-864EZ | Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act
• Form I-864P | HHS Poverty Guidelines for Affidavit of Support
• Form I-864W | Request for Exemption for Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support

Additional Facts and Data

• Of all 2015 accepted Green Card applicants, 44% were immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, 20% were other family members of citizens and lawful permanent residents, 14% were individuals in employment-related cases, 11% were refugees, and 3% were individuals granted asylum, according to a Pew Research Center study.
• Each year, the USCIS receives and processes about 6 million immigration applications from individuals and employers. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the United States issued green cards to nearly 1 million applicants in 2013. This number has remained relatively constant throughout the following years.