DV-2027 Green Card Lottery: Application Dates, Step-by-Step Guide, and Key Rules

Step 3: Filling Out Personal Information

In the first section of the form, you will be asked to provide your personal details.

Note: The passport requirement has been removed. You can now proceed with your national ID information.

• Name: Enter your name exactly as it appears on your passport or ID.

• Last/Family Name: Your surname.

• First Name: Your given name.

• Middle Name: If you have one, enter it. If not, check the box “No Middle Name.”

• Birth Date: Enter in the MM/DD/YYYY format (not DD/MM/YYYY as used in many countries).

• City Where You Were Born: Enter the city exactly as it appears on your passport or ID.

• Country Where You Were Born: Select the country, using its current official name.

• Country of Eligibility: Confirm that your country is eligible for the DV Lottery and select it from the drop-down list.

Step 4: Green Card Photo Guidelines

Your photo must meet strict technical criteria. Applications are frequently disqualified due to incorrect photos, so this step is critical.

• The photo must be square, with a size between 600×600 and 1200×1200 pixels, and it must be in JPEG format.

• The background of the photo must be plain white or off-white, and the photo must have been taken within the last six (6) months.

• Applicants are not allowed to wear glasses in the photo, and the use of filters or any digital editing is strictly prohibited.

• Before submitting, you should check your photo with an online Green Card Photo Checker tool to make sure it meets the technical standards.

• You should also compare your photo with the official examples provided in the Photo Examples section of the State Department website.

Step 5: Address and Contact Information

In this part of the form, you must carefully complete the Mailing Address section.

• In Care Of: This field is optional and should only be filled in if someone else will be receiving mail on your behalf.

• Address Line 1: Enter your primary street address.

• Address Line 2: Use this line only for additional details, such as an apartment name or unit number.

• City/Town: Enter the name of the city where you live.

• District/Province: Enter the name of your district, province, or state.

• Postal Code: Enter your postal code. If you do not have one, select the option “No Postal Code/Zip Code.”

• Country: Select your country from the drop-down menu.

• Country Where You Live Today: Select the country where you currently reside.

• Phone Number: This field is optional and may be left blank.

• Email Address: Enter your current and active email address twice to confirm it. All communication during the application and especially the interview process will take place through this email address, so make sure it is accurate and accessible.

Step 6: Education Requirement

To qualify for the DV-2027 Lottery Program, you must meet a minimum education requirement of having at least a high school diploma or its equivalent.

If you do not have a high school diploma, certain types of work experience may be accepted as an alternative. To check whether your occupation qualifies, follow these steps:

1. Go to the official O*NET Online occupation database.

2. On the left-hand side of the page, click on Find Occupations, then select Job Zone, and choose All Job Zones before clicking Browse.

3. Locate your occupation in the list and open its details page. Check the fields for Job Zone and SVP Range.

4. If the SVP score is 7 or higher, your work experience may qualify you to apply even without a high school diploma.

Step 7: Marital Status and Children Information

In the Marital Status section, you must select your current status:

- Single
- Married
- Divorced
- Widowed
- Legally Separated (this option applies only if you are legally separated by a court order)

If you are married, you must include your spouse’s information in your application, even if your spouse does not plan to immigrate to the United States. Failure to provide this information will result in your application being rejected.

For the number of children, you are required to include all biological, step, or legally adopted children who are under the age of 21 and unmarried, regardless of whether they live with you or intend to immigrate.

For each child, you must provide the name, date of birth, place of birth, and a compliant photo.

Note: If the photos do not meet the requirements or if any child is omitted, the entire application will be disqualified. For infant photos, the child must appear alone, looking directly at the camera with eyes open, and the background must be plain white.

Step 8: Review and Confirmation

Before you submit the form, carefully review every field. If you need to make changes, do not use your browser’s Back button. Instead, navigate with the form’s own Back and Next buttons. Using browser navigation can trigger the “Unexpected Page Request” error. If you see this message, use “Resume Entry” to continue from where you left off.

Step 9: Confirmation Number (Save It)

If everything is correct, click SUBMIT. The system will display your Confirmation Number. You must save this number:

Copy it, take a screenshot, and download the page as a PDF. You will need this number to check your case later.

Green Card Results

You can check your result only with your Confirmation Number in May via the official Entrant Status Check (ESC) page.

Next Steps After Winning the Green Card Lottery

If the portal shows “You have been selected,” you will receive a Case Number. Next, you should:

• Complete the DS-260 online immigrant visa application and upload your civil documents in CEAC:

• Monitor monthly progress by checking the Visa Bulletin to see which case numbers are current:

• When your case number becomes current, you will be scheduled for a consular interview. If approved, an immigrant visa will be issued.

Contact Us

We will update this article in October, when the entry period officially opens. Please bookmark this page and return for updated screenshots and instructions.

If you are wondering “When does the Green Card Lottery open?”, the application window usually runs from early October to early November each year.

For professional guidance with U.S. immigration processes, you can contact our experienced legal team at Gozel Law. Visit our Services and Contact pages to learn more and get in touch with us.