GREEN CARD LOTTERY

CONSULAR PROCESS

USAFIS Organization eBook Series

© 2014 by USAFIS Press
 GREEN CARD LOTTERY
CONSULAR PROCESS

2014 Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, USAFIS
Organization, except the forms included in the book, intended for personal use only.

Copyright © 2014 by USAFIS Press, USAFIS Organization

Related websites: www.usafis.org

USAFIS PRESS, 2576 Broadway #443, New York, NY 10025
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 Table of Contents

DISCLAIMER 4
INTRODUCTION 5
DS 260 FORM 7
DOCUMENT PREPARATION 9
PHOTOS 14
MEDICAL EXAM 15
CONSULAR INTERVIEW 17

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 3

DISCLAIMER
Green Card Lottery Consular Process is an overview of the procedure that
occurs after being selected in the Green Card Lottery. While it does not replace
the expertise of immigration lawyers, it does provide the individual with the
background of what is involved in the process. The information contained in this
book should not be considered as legal advice.

Although the author and publisher believe the information in this book to
be accurate on the date of its publication, the reader should be aware that
immigration laws, regulations and procedures are constantly changing. It is up
to the reader to make sure that the information is accurate and up to date. The
author and publishers shall not be held liable for any damage suffered directly or
indirectly due to the use of this book.

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 4

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
From the millions who applied, only 100,000 applicants are randomly selected in
the Green Card Lottery each year. However, only 50,000 winners will be granted a
Green Card. The post-selection process is an intensive procedure involving many
documents. Statistics show that 80% of people actually don’t receive a Green
Card due to not completing the forms correctly, failing the interview with a U.S.
consul, or not providing the required documentation. The Green Card Lottery
Consular Process eBook will provide an overview of the procedure that follows
being selected in the Green Card Lottery, including the forms that must be
submitted, the documents that must be provided and other important aspects of
the post-selection procedure.

In general, a Green Card Lottery winner will need go through the following steps
before being granted a Green Card:

• Properly fill out and submit all required government forms in a timely manner
• Gather and prepare all documents required for the Consular Interview
• Interview with a U.S. consul
• Pass a security background check
• Receive a visa immigration number

Government Forms
All applicants must complete the U.S. government Form DS-260 Online
Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application on the U.S. State Department

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 5

website and submit it electronically to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) which
will process the form so that the Consular Interview may be scheduled.

Gather and Prepare Required Documents

Before the Consular Interview takes place, the applicant will need to gather and
prepare all of the documents (and photos) that they will be required to present
to the U.S consular official at the interview, including any English translations.

Medical Exam
The applicant and all of their family members who are applying for a Diversity
Visa (Green Card) must complete a medical exam and receive any necessary
vaccinations with an “authorized physician” prior to the Consular Interview.

Consular Interview
The applicant and all of their family members who are applying for a Diversity
Visa (Green Card) will attend a Consular Interview at the U.S. Embassy or
Consulate in their country of residence. The Diversity Visa Lottery Fee must
be paid prior to the Consular Interview and all of the required documents and
photos must be brought to the interview. Following the Consular Interview, the
applicant will receive a decision which could be (1) approval of the Diversity Visa;
(2) denial of the Diversity Visa; or (3) more information may be requested.

This is simply a summary of the Consular Process and further details will be
provided in the following pages of this book.

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 6

CHAPTER 2
DS 260 FORM
The first step of the Consular Process for a Green Card Lottery winner is to
complete the Online Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application, also
known as the Form DS-260. This online form is completed on the U.S. State
Department website and submitted electronically to the Kentucky Consular
Center (KCC) so that the Consular Interview may be scheduled.

The Form DS-260 is a rather lengthy online document that requests information
about the applicant and all family members who will be applying for a Diversity
Visa (Green Card). The information that is provided in the Form DS-260 will
be reviewed by the U.S. consular officials and used in making a decision about
whether or not to approve the issuance of a Diversity Visa (Green Card) to
the applicant and any family members listed on the form. Consequently, it is
extremely important to complete the Form DS-260 correctly and to be able
to provide acceptable documentation that may be required to verify the
information contained in the Form DS-260.

Before completing the Form DS-260, it is recommended that an applicant have

with them any documents that may be necessary in filling out the form. After
completing the Form DS-260 online, the applicant will provide their E-Signature
and submit the Form DS-260 to the KCC for processing. After the Form DS-260 is
submitted, the confirmation page should be printed out and kept in a safe place
since it is one of the documents that must be brought to the Consular Interview.

Since the detailed information requested in the Form DS-260 must be accurate,
the form must be completed in English, and the decision about whether or not

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 7

to approve the applicant (and their family members, if applicable) for a Diversity
Visa (Green Card) will be based to a large extent on the information contained in
the Form DS-260, many Green Card Lottery selectees (winners) decide to use the
professional services of experienced immigration lawyers who can guide them
throughout the procedure.

The following detailed information must be provided in the Form DS-260:

99 Name 99 Date of marriage

99 Other names used 99 Parental information
99 Date of birth 99 List of names of all children
and their birthdates
99 Age
99 Places you have lived for
99 Place of birth at least six months since
99 Nationality reaching the age of 16
99 Gender 99 All employment in
the last 10 years
99 Martial status
99 All educational institutions
99 A U.S. address attended in the last 10 years
99 Present occupation, address 99 Military service
and phone number
99 Previous U.S. visits
99 Spousal information

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 8

CHAPTER 3
DOCUMENT PREPARATION
Before the Consular Interview takes place, the applicant will need to gather
and prepare all of the documents that they will be required to present to the
U.S. consular official(s) at the interview, including any English translations of
documents that were not originally written in the English language. The certified
English translation of each document must include a signed statement from
the translator declaring that “the translator is competent to translate” and that
“the translation is accurate.” These documents will be reviewed by the U.S.
consular official(s) at the interview to verify the information that was submitted
electronically in the online Form DS-260 and will help them determine whether
or not to approve the issuance of a Diversity Visa (Green Card). Thus, proper
document preparation is a crucial aspect of the Consular Process.

Since there are many documents that must be brought to the Consular Interview,
it is highly recommended that Green Card selectees (winners) start gathering and
preparing the documents required for the Consular Interview early. In addition
to bringing the original document or a “certified copy” of the document to
the Consular Interview, the applicant/selectee and any family member who is
applying for a Diversity Visa (Green Card) and accompanying the applicant to the
interview will also need to bring a photocopy of each of the required documents.
The photocopies of each of the required documents will need to be made
before the applicant and his/her family members arrive at the U.S. Embassy or
Consulate for the interview.

Which documents must be gathered and prepared for the Consular Interview can
vary, depending on the background of the applicant and their family members

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 9

(if applicable) and the information provided in the Form DS-260 which must be
verified with adequate documentation presented to the U.S. consular official(s).
It is common for the following documents to be requested for the Consular
Interview (depending on the background of the applicant):

• Documents to Confirm Eligibility Based on Education or Work Experience

• Birth Certificate(s)
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
• Marriage Termination Documents (if applicable)
• Child Custody Documents (if applicable)
• Police Certificates
• Court and Prison Records (if applicable)
• Deportation Document (if applicable)
• Military Records (if applicable)
• Medical Exam Results (keep this in the sealed envelope*)
• Consular Interview Appointment Information printed from the Entrant
Status Check section of the U.S. State Department’s E-DV website
• Form DS-260 Confirmation Page printout
• Passport(s) valid for at least six months past the expected date
of entry into the United States for the applicant and each family
member applying for a Diversity Visa (Green Card)
• Two identical color passport-style photos (made according to
the Diversity Visa standards) for the applicant and each family
member who is applying for a Diversity Visa (Green Card)
• Any additional documents that may be requested

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 10

* Sometimes the Medical Exam Results will be sent directly to the U.S. Embassy
or Consulate where the interview is scheduled and other times the applicant will
be given a sealed envelope containing the Medical Exam Results which they must
bring with them still sealed (unopened) to the Consular Interview.

Proof of Education
Besides being a native of a qualifying country, the other Green Card Lottery
eligibility requirement is either completion of a high school education OR two
years of qualifying work experience in the last five years. At your visa interview,
you will need to present a certificate of completion of a 12-year course of
elementary and secondary education. The high school education needs to be
sufficient to qualify a student to apply for college admission.

The following are not acceptable:

• Equivalency certificates (such as the G.E.D.)
• Vocational degrees that are not considered a basis for further academic
study will not be considered equivalent to a U.S. high school education

Proof of Work Experience

If you do not meet the education requirement, then you will need to
submit documentation to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at your interview
demonstrating that you have two years of qualifying work experience in the
last five years immediately prior to application. Qualifying work experience
must be in an occupation that, by U.S. Department of Labor O*Net Online
Database definitions, requires at least two years of training or experience that is
designated as Job Zone 4 or 5, classified in a Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP)
rating of 7.0 or higher.

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 11

Birth Certificates
You must present original birth certificates for you and each family member
applicant issued by the official custodian of birth records in the country of birth,
showing:
• Person’s date of birth
• Person’s place of birth
• Names of both parents
• Annotation by the appropriate authority, indicating
that it is an extract from the official records

Marriage Certificate
Married applicants must present an original marriage certificate, or a certified
copy, bearing the appropriate seal or stamp of the issuing authority.

Marriage Termination Documentation

Applicants who have been previously married must present acceptable evidence
of the termination of EACH prior marriage, such as:
• Final divorce decree
• Death certificate
• Annulment papers

Custody Records
Applicants who have adopted children must provide:
• A certified copy of the adoption decree
• The legal custody decree; if custody occurred before the adoption

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 12

• A statement showing dates and places where child resided with the parents
• If the child was adopted while aged 16 or 17 years, evidence that the
child was adopted together with, or subsequent to the adoption of,
a natural sibling under age 16 by the same adoptive parent(s)

Police Records
Each applicant aged 16 years old or older must submit police certificates at
the visa interview. However, present and former residents of the United States
should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the U.S.

The police certificate must:

• Cover the entire period of the applicant’s residence in that area.
• Be issued by the appropriate police authority.
Include all arrests, the reason for the arrest(s), and the disposition of each case
of which there is a record.

Deportation Documentation
Applicants who have previously been deported or removed at government
expense from the United States must obtain and complete Form I-212,
Permission to Reapply After Deportation, from the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services or from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Follow the
instructions included on that form.

Military Records
Applicants who have served in the military of any country must obtain an original
copy of their military record and submit it at the visa interview.

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 13

CHAPTER 4
PHOTOS
As stated previously, you will need to bring to the Consular Interview two
identical photographs of yourself and of each family member applying for
a Diversity Immigrant Visa. All photos must comply with U.S. government
requirements.

10 Commandments of Photo Requirements

1. Photos must be in color
2. Size: head is between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches (22 mm and
35 mm) or 50% and 69% of the image’s total height from
the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
3. Taken within the last 6 months and portrays your current appearance
4. Taken in front of a plain white or off-white background
5. Taken in full-face view
6. Must have a neutral facial expression and both eyes open
7. Taken in clothing that you normally wear on a daily basis
8. No uniforms
9. No head covering; unless a religious one that
does not obscure the hair or hairline
10. If you normally wear glasses (without tinted lenses and no glare), a
hearing device, or similar articles, they may be worn in your photo

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 14

CHAPTER 5
MEDICAL EXAM
Before the visa interview, you and your family members will need to complete
a medical exam, including required vaccinations. The medical exam must be
conducted by a doctor listed on the Panel Physicians in your country. Medical
examinations performed by non-authorized physicians will not be accepted.

The medical examination includes:

• Review of the applicant’s medical history

• Physical examination (eyes, ears, nose and throat, extremities, heart,
lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, skin, and external genitalia)
• Chest X-ray
• Blood tests

Children under the age of 15 are usually not required to take chest X-rays and
blood tests.

When meeting with an authorized physician, make sure you bring past
vaccination and immunization records, prior chest X-rays, copies of your medical
history records as well as your passport, identity card, laissez-passer, or travel
document. Please note that there will be a fee for this visit, determined by the
physician.

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 15

The following vaccinations are required for immigration purposes:

99 Hepatitis A 99 Pneumococcal
99 Hepatitis B 99 Pertussis
99 Influenza 99 Polio
99 Influenza type b (Hib) 99 Rotavirus
99 Measles 99 Rubella
99 Meningococcal 99 Tetanus and diphtheria
toxoids
99 Mumps
99 Varicella

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 16

CHAPTER 6
CONSULAR INTERVIEW
After a Green Card Lottery selectee electronically submits their Form DS-260 to
the U.S. State Department’s Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), their details will be
processed and reviewed.

Once the KCC schedules a Consular Interview, it may send the selectee an email
informing them of the upcoming interview and instructing them to go to the U.S.
State Department’s Electronic Diversity Visa (E-DV) website and to login to the
Entrant Status Check webpage using their DV-Lottery Confirmation Number to
read the details about the location, date and time of the Consular Interview.

The selectee can also login to the Entrant Status Check webpage on the E-DV
website periodically after they submit their Form DS-260 to check if the KCC has
scheduled the Consular Interview, even if they did not receive an email from the
KCC. This may be a good idea just in case an interview has been scheduled, but
the email was not sent or in case the email was sent but the selectee did not
see it (e.g., the email may have been diverted to a spam folder or they did not
receive it or see it for some other reason).

If a DV-Lottery selectee/winner is informed that the Consular Interview has been

scheduled, they and all of their family members who are applying for a Diversity
Visa (Green Card) will attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in
their country of residence on a certain day and at a specific time. Depending on
their country of residence, there may be special instructions regarding visiting
the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that particular country, so the selectee may
want to check far enough in advance prior to leaving for the interview. The

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 17

Diversity Visa Lottery Fee must be paid prior to the Consular Interview and all
of the required documents and photos must be brought to the interview (as
summarized earlier). Although the Consular Interview usually doesn’t last very
long, it is very important to adequately prepare for it since the interview is a
crucial stage of the Consular Process.

Following the Consular Interview, the applicant will receive a decision which
could be (1) approval of the Diversity Visa; (2) denial of the Diversity Visa; or (3)
more information may be requested before a decision can be made.

Not everyone passes the Consular Interview, so the U.S. State Department
wisely cautions that, “You should not make permanent financial commitments,
such as selling your house, car or property, resigning from your job or making
non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your
immigrant visa.”

If the selectee (and their family, if applicable) pass the Consular Interview and
are approved for a United States Permanent Resident Visa (i.e., Green Card),
they will initially have a colorful Diversity Immigrant Visa stamped inside their
passport. The Immigrant Visa is usually valid for up to six months from the date it
is issued and it authorizes a foreign national to enter the United States as a U.S.
permanent resident after a specified date and no later than the specified date –
both of which will be shown on the Immigrant Visa.

After a foreign national has been issued a Diversity Immigrant Visa, they will be
given an Immigrant Packet which must remain sealed until they present it to the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official(s) when they first arrive in the
United States. They will also need to pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) so that they can be issued the hard plastic

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 18

Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), which will be sent within 30 days to
the address specified by the selectee. That Green Card will be used as a form
of identification in the USA and is the proof that the holder is a U.S. Permanent
Resident and officially authorized to live, work and study long-term in the United
States of America!

USAFIS Organization eBook | Green Card Lottery Consular Process | 19