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How to apply for the Green Card lottery
The entry is made online and takes 20–30 minutes. What matters most: use only the official site, enter your details correctly and keep your confirmation number.
In short
- Entries are made only at dvprogram.state.gov, during the registration period
- The registration fee is $1, paid only on that site
- Since 2026 you need a valid passport and a scan of it
- Each person may submit only one entry
- Always keep your confirmation number
Registration isn't open yet. DV-2028 dates haven't been announced. Latest status: Green Card lottery dates.
Who can apply
- You were born in an eligible country. Azerbaijan has been on the eligible list in recent years. The list is published each year in the official instructions.
- If your country of birth isn't eligible, you may in some cases enter through your spouse's or parents' country of birth.
- Education or work experience. A high school education (equal to a 12-year U.S. course) or 2 years of work experience within the last 5 years in a job that requires at least 2 years of training.
What to prepare
- A valid, unexpired passport.
- Scans of the passport's biographic page and signature page (JPEG).
- Photos of yourself, your spouse and all your unmarried children under 21. Photo rules
- Date and place of birth, address, email, education level and marital status.
- A bank card to pay the $1 fee.
Step by step
- Go to the official siteWhen registration opens, visit dvprogram.state.gov. Make sure the address ends in .gov.
- Fill in the formThe electronic entry form (DS-5501): name, date and place of birth, address, education, marital status. Write names exactly as in your passport.
- Enter your passport detailsEnter the passport number and dates, and upload scans of the two pages.
- Upload the photosAdd photos of yourself and your family members. Each photo is a separate file.
- Pay the fee and submitPay the $1 registration fee by card and submit the form.
- Save your confirmation numberWrite it down and take a screenshot. You'll need it to check your result.
Mistakes that can disqualify you
More than one entry. If one person has two entries, all of them are disqualified.
Leaving out family members. You must list your spouse and unmarried children under 21, even if they won't move with you.
An old or non-compliant photo. Photos must be taken within the last 6 months and follow the rules.
Wrong details. What you enter must match your passport and documents.
If you're married, your spouse can submit a separate entry too, each listing the other. That gives your family two chances.
How to check your result
- Results are available only at dvprogram.state.gov, under Entrant Status Check, with your confirmation number.
- Results usually come out in May.
- The State Department doesn't email, text or mail winners. If you get such a message, it's a scam.
If you're selected
- You fill in the DS-260 form, gather documents and attend an interview at the embassy.
- Each applicant pays a $330 visa application fee.
- Selection doesn't guarantee a visa: it must be issued within that fiscal year (October 1 – September 30).
My Green Card Photo doesn't submit entries. We only help you prepare the photo. You make the entry yourself on the official site.
Get the photos ready now
Take a compliant photo of every family member. Your first photo is free, and the 12-month pass covers the whole family.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State: DV instructions
- dvprogram.state.gov: official entries and results
- Federal Register: $1 registration fee (September 16, 2025) and passport requirement (in effect April 10, 2026)