For millions of people around the world, the green card is a symbol of the American dream – the opportunity to move permanently to the United States, work legally, live, and eventually obtain citizenship. Therefore, it is important to understand what a green card is and how to obtain such a status.
But what does this term actually mean, what rights and obligations does it grant, and most importantly – how to get one? As of 2026, there are several legal ways to immigrate to the U.S., with the most well-known, yet often mythologized, being the green card lottery, officially known as the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery). This article explains in detail what a green card is, what paths there are to obtain it, who can participate in the lottery, what requirements are set for applicants, and how to avoid falling victim to fraud. Understanding these processes is critically important for anyone planning to tie their future to the United States.
Overall, the question of what a green card is and how to win a green card has been quite relevant in recent years. After all, applying for a green card may seem like a simple process, but not everyone can completely understand how to apply for a green card.
What is a Green Card: Legal Status and Meaning for the U.S.
A green card (Green Card), officially known as a Lawful Permanent Resident Card, is a document that confirms a foreigner's right to permanent residence and work in the United States of America indefinitely. Contrary to popular belief, a green card is not U.S. citizenship, but it is the most important step towards obtaining it. This status is referred to as 'Lawful Permanent Resident' (LPR). The card itself, issued to residents, is usually valid for 10 years, after which it needs to be renewed; however, the status of permanent resident does not disappear after the expiration date of the card – it can only be lost under certain conditions, such as a prolonged stay outside the U.S. or committing serious crimes. The name 'green card' is historical: the first cards indeed had a green color, then the color changed to pink, blue, yellow, but since 2010, the design has returned to the classic green. Legally, holding a green card means that a person has received permission for permanent residence in the U.S. but remains a citizen of their country. This status is highly valued due to the stability it provides: unlike work or student visas, a green card is not tied to a specific employer or educational institution. You can freely change jobs, professions, move to another state, or even not work for a certain period. Moreover, having a green card is a necessary condition for applying for naturalization (obtaining U.S. citizenship) after a certain period of residence in the country – usually after 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to a U.S. citizen.
Rights and Obligations of Green Card Holders
The status of lawful permanent resident grants a wide range of rights, but at the same time imposes a number of serious obligations that should be known. The main rights of a green card holder include: the right to reside without hindrance in any of the 50 states of the U.S.; the right to legally work in any profession (except for some positions related to national security that require citizenship); the right to study in public schools and universities (although tuition for residents is usually lower than for foreign students, it is higher than for citizens); the right to receive social benefits, Medicare, and Social Security (provided that the requirements regarding work experience and tax payments are met); the right to request visas for spouse and unmarried minor children. Additionally, you can buy property, start a business, obtain a driver's license, and serve in the U.S. military (although officer positions often require citizenship).
However, significant limitations exist: you do not have the right to vote in federal elections, most state elections, and you cannot hold certain government positions related to national security (for example, working in the State Department or FBI) or serve on juries. Violating this prohibition (for example, voting without the right to vote) is a crime and may lead to deportation. The obligations of a permanent resident are as important as the rights. You are required to comply with all federal laws, state laws, and local laws; pay federal, local taxes, and taxes on income earned anywhere in the world (even if you are temporarily residing abroad, you must declare your global income to the U.S. tax service). An important obligation is to always carry a valid green card as proof of status, especially when crossing the border. It is also important to remember the rule regarding staying outside the U.S.: if you leave the country for more than 6 months, upon your return, you may be subjected to additional scrutiny regarding your intent to reside in the U.S. (you must prove that your permanent home remains in the U.S., for example, by having a job, property, or family). Staying abroad for more than 1 year without having previously obtained a Re-entry Permit is considered a waiver of permanent resident status, and you may lose your green card.
Main Ways to Obtain a Green Card
There are several legal ways to obtain a green card, and understanding each of them is key to choosing the right strategy. What is being talked about:
The first and most common way is family-based immigration. U.S. citizens can file petitions for a green card for their spouses, parents, married and unmarried children, brothers, and sisters. Permanent residents (green card holders) can only request petitions for their spouses and unmarried children. This route is usually the longest due to limits on the number of visas per year and backlogs that can last for years.
The second way is employment-based immigration. An employer in the U.S. can sponsor a foreign worker if they have unique skills, academic degrees, or simply as a qualified specialist. There are five categories: EB-1 for individuals with extraordinary abilities (for example, internationally recognized scientists, Olympic athletes, outstanding artists); EB-2 for individuals with higher education (masters, PhD) or those with exceptional abilities in science, business, or arts; EB-3 for skilled workers (with higher education or special training) and unskilled workers; EB-4 for special immigrants (for example, religious workers, translators who worked for the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan); EB-5 for investors who invest at least $800,000 in a business venture in the U.S.
The third way is asylum and refugee status. Individuals who can prove that they face persecution in their homeland based on race, religion, nationality, political views, or belonging to a particular social group can obtain asylum in the U.S. and, after one year, the right to a green card.
The fourth way is various special programs, such as the U visa for victims of crime (if you have been a victim of a violent crime in the U.S. and cooperate with the police), the T visa for victims of human trafficking, and programs for foreign graduates of American universities in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), etc.
And the fifth, most famous yet most lottery-based method is the Diversity Visa Lottery, or green card lottery. This is the method we will discuss in detail further, as it is the only way for most people who do not have relatives or employers in the U.S. to try to obtain a green card.
All of these methods have their own conditions and limitations.
Green Card Lottery (DV Lottery): Participation Conditions and Selection Principles
The Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) is a U.S. government program that provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas annually to people from countries with historically low immigration levels to the United States. The program was created to 'diversify' the immigration flow so that countries sending few immigrants also have a chance. The most important thing to remember is that registration to participate in the lottery is free. No official site or government agency charges for this. All paid sites that offer 'help with registration' or 'guaranteed visa approval' are fraudulent. To participate in the DV program (for example, for the year of visa issuance 2026), there are strict requirements. The first requirement is the country of birth. You must be born in a country that in the last 5 years has sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S.
As of 2026, citizens of the following countries cannot participate in the lottery: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (including Hong Kong, but excluding Taiwan), Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam. Citizens of Ukraine, most European countries (excluding the UK which is often also excluded), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, etc. are allowed to participate. If your country of birth is not on the allowed list, you can use the 'country of substitution' option: if your spouse was born in an allowed country, you can apply from their country, provided that both of you secure visas and enter together. Additionally, if at the time of your birth your parents were not residents of the country of your birth (for example, you were born in France but your parents were Ukrainian citizens temporarily working there), you can claim your father's or mother's country of birth. The second requirement is education or work experience. You must have at least a full high school education (12 grades, high school diploma), which is equivalent to American schooling. Alternatively, if you lack education, you must have two years of work experience in the last 5 years in a profession that requires at least two years of training or experience to perform it (for example, electrician, plumber, chef, accountant).
The selection process occurs through computer random sampling. You cannot influence the outcome. If you are selected, you will receive a notification when checking your status on the official U.S. State Department website in May. No letters or emails are sent – you must check yourself. It is important to know that submitting more than one application for one person results in the disqualification of all applications. Even if you are accidentally selected twice due to an error, you will be removed from the winner's list.
Immigration Programs for Obtaining a Green Card (Family, Employment, and Other Grounds)
Although the lottery is the simplest to understand, statistically, most green cards are obtained through family or employment-based immigration. Family immigration is divided into two main categories: 'immediate relatives' – these are spouses, parents, and unmarried children (under 21) of U.S. citizens. There is no annual limit on the number of visas for them, so there are either no queues at all, or the wait is minimal (usually from a few months to a year and a half). The second category is 'relatives under the preference system' (Family Preference Categories): these are adult married children, brothers, and sisters of U.S. citizens, as well as spouses and unmarried children (over 21) of permanent residents. Annual limits and backlogs apply here, which can last from several years to several decades (for example, for siblings of citizens from some countries, such as Mexico or the Philippines, the queue can be 20+ years).
Employment-based immigration provides a pathway for qualified specialists. The EB-1 category (priority) is designed for individuals with extraordinary abilities in science, arts, business, sports, outstanding professors and researchers, and managers of international companies (transferred to the U.S. from overseas branches). There are usually no waiting queues here, but the requirements are very high. The EB-2 category is for those with higher education (masters, PhD) or for those with exceptional abilities. Often requires certification from the U.S. Department of Labor confirming that there are no Americans who can perform the work. The EB-3 category is for skilled workers (with higher education or special training, such as engineers, nurses) and unskilled workers (such as agriculture, hospitality workers). This category often has the longest queues – from several years to decades. The EB-4 category is for special immigrants: religious workers (clergy, monks), translators who have worked for the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan, staff of international organizations, etc. The EB-5 category is for investors who invest from $800,000 (in rural areas or high unemployment zones) to $1,050,000 (in regular locations) in a commercial enterprise in the U.S. that creates at least 10 jobs for Americans.
Conditional 2-year green cards deserve special mention. They are issued, among others, to spouses of U.S. citizens if at the time of obtaining the status, the marriage existed for less than two years. The goal is to check bona fide (authenticity) of the marriage – whether it is fictitious or made just to gain immigration advantages. After 2 years, the holder of such a card must file a petition to lift the conditions (Form I-751), proving that the marriage was genuine (cohabitation, joint finances, shared travel, children, etc.). If this is not done or if the marriage is considered fictitious, the permanent resident status will be revoked. It is important to remember: regardless of the method of obtaining a green card, all permanent residents have the same rights and obligations. The main difference is how many years must be waited for the opportunity to apply for citizenship (usually 5 years). If you obtained a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen, you can apply for naturalization after 3 years (from the moment you obtain the status, not from the moment of marriage).
How to Apply for a Green Card: General Steps
The process of applying for a green card may seem complicated, but if broken down into separate steps, it becomes quite understandable. The general order of actions depends on the basis for obtaining (family, work, lottery), but there are common stages. The first step is to determine the basis and check eligibility to apply. You need to clearly understand on what grounds you are claiming the green card and ensure that you meet all requirements. For example, if you are a winner of the DV lottery, you are eligible to apply only in the year you won (usually from October to September of the following year).
The second step is to gather the necessary documents. The basic package includes: a foreign passport (valid for at least 6 months); a birth certificate (translated into English and notarized); marriage or divorce certificate (if applicable); education documents (diplomas, certificates); military ID (for men of draft age); police certificates of no criminal record from all countries where you have lived for more than 6 months after age 16; a medical report (needed from a doctor approved by the immigration service); photographs according to U.S. standards (2x2 inches, on a white background, without glasses and head coverings, except for religious ones).
The third step is to fill out the necessary forms. For family immigration, this is Form I-130 (petition from a sponsoring relative) and Form I-485 (application for permanent residence) or DS-260 (for consular processing abroad). For the DV lottery – Form DS-260. For employment immigration – Form I-140 (petition from the employer). All forms are filled out online on the USCIS website or through the consular portal.
The fourth step is to pay the government fees. The amount of fees varies; as of 2026, the filing fee for I-485 is about $1,225; for filing I-130, about $535; for biometric fingerprinting, about $85. For DV lottery winners, the fee is lower – about $330 per person. The fifth step is to submit your application and wait. After submission, you receive a notification of acceptance (Form I-797).
Next comes the biometrics invitation (fingerprinting and photo). The sixth step is the interview. Most applicants are interviewed at the USCIS office in the U.S. or at the embassy abroad. During the interview, you will be asked about the basis for obtaining the green card, check documents, and may be questioned about your life, work, and family. The seventh step is receiving a decision. If your application is approved, you will receive the green card by mail within a few weeks. If denied, you have the right to appeal the decision.
Stages of Green Card Processing Depending on the Basis of Obtaining
The process of obtaining a green card significantly differs depending on whether you are applying from inside the U.S. or abroad, as well as the basis. The first option is obtaining through the DV lottery. This is the fastest way. The stages are: winning the lottery (checking status in May); submitting the online form DS-260 (by September of the same year); undergoing a medical examination by an approved doctor; receiving an invitation for an interview at the U.S. embassy in your country (usually from October to September of the following year); attending the interview; receiving a visa (sticker in your passport); entering the U.S. (within 6 months from receiving the visa); receiving the physical green card by mail within a few weeks after entry. The entire process takes from 6 to 12 months.
The second option is obtaining through family or employment basis from abroad (consular processing). The stages: a sponsor (relative or employer) files a petition (I-130 or I-140); waiting for petition approval (from a few months to several years depending on the category and queues); after approval, the case is sent to the National Visa Center (NVC); you fill out the DS-260, pay fees, upload documents; NVC schedules an interview at the embassy; you undergo a medical examination and interview; receive a visa; enter the U.S.; and receive the physical card. Queues can last from 1 year to 20+ years (for example, for siblings of U.S. citizens from Mexico or the Philippines). The third option is adjusting status from within the U.S. (Adjustment of Status). This is suitable for those who are already legally in the U.S. on another visa (for example, a student or tourist visa but with some restrictions). The stages: you submit Form I-485 along with proof of eligibility (for example, an approved I-130 or I-140); undergo biometrics; receive an employment authorization document (EAD) and advance parole usually within 3-6 months; undergo an interview at the USCIS office; receive approval and your green card by mail. This entire process takes from 8 to 24 months depending on the office load. Important: during the review of your application, you cannot leave the U.S. without Advance Parole, otherwise, the application will be considered withdrawn.
Common Mistakes When Submitting Green Card Documents
Even a small mistake when submitting documents can lead to delays, additional costs, or even denial. Here are the most common mistakes that applicants make. What are we talking about:
- The first mistake – an incomplete or incorrectly compiled document package. For example, missing translation of a birth certificate, not notarized; using old or inappropriate photographs (wrong size, dark background, glasses, smiling); missing necessary educational documents.
- The second mistake – discrepancies in names across different documents. If in your passport you are Ivan Petrov, in your birth certificate – Ivan Petrenko, and in your diploma – John Petrov, this will raise suspicions and require additional explanations. Before submitting, make sure all names are spelled the same.
- The third mistake – missing deadlines. For DV lottery winners, the deadline for submitting DS-260 is September 30 of the year following the win. If you miss it, you lose your chance forever. For other categories, there are also statutes of limitations.
- The fourth mistake – concealing information or providing false data. For example, applicants sometimes hide previous visa denials, criminal records, or issues with immigration law. This is considered fraud and leads to immediate refusal, often with a lifetime ban on entry into the U.S.
- The fifth mistake – submitting an application without proper preparation for the interview. During the interview, you may be asked about details not obvious from the documents. For example, for a family green card, you may be asked: 'What color are the curtains in your spouse's bedroom?' or 'What toothpaste do you use?'. If you cannot answer, it may indicate a fictitious marriage.
- The sixth mistake – neglecting medical requirements. Certain medical conditions (for example, untreated tuberculosis, certain infectious diseases) make you ineligible for obtaining a green card. It is also mandatory to have all required vaccinations (measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B, flu, etc.).
- The seventh mistake – submitting more than one application for the DV lottery. This leads to automatic disqualification of all applications. Even if you accidentally submitted two applications (for example, due to a system error), it is better not to participate at all this year.
- The eighth mistake – submitting through paid intermediaries who promise 'guaranteed winning'. Remember: the lottery is free, and no paid service increases your chances. Such intermediaries often make mistakes when filling out, and sometimes even do not submit the application, just taking the money.
- The ninth mistake – misunderstanding financial requirements. For family and employment immigration, the sponsor (relative or employer) must demonstrate that their income is at least 125% of the federal poverty level. If the income is lower, a co-sponsor is needed.
- The tenth mistake – ignoring messages from USCIS or the embassy. Applicants sometimes miss letters, emails, or calls and do not check their case status for months. This can lead to the case being closed due to inactivity. To avoid these mistakes, it is advisable to consult a qualified immigration attorney, especially if your case has any unusual circumstances (having a criminal record, previous refusals, medical issues).
However, the process is a process, and any difficulties may arise.