Comprehensive Guide: Step-by-Step Free Registration for the U.S. Green Card Lottery

Complete Guide to DV Lottery 2027 Registration

In this section of the VWALT website, we have reviewed everything you need to know about registering for the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery. Stay with us as we continue this guide.

Topics You Should Read Before Starting Your Registration:

One of the U.S. immigration visa types, the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, has been in place since 1990 under the directive of the U.S. Congress. Each year, the U.S. Department of State, in accordance with Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), conducts a lottery to select individuals for this visa. Ultimately, winners of the lottery are granted U.S. permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card.

Philosophy: The primary goal of the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery program is to maintain racial and ethnic diversity among U.S. immigrants. This visa is not available to individuals born in countries that have sent more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. through other visa categories over the past five years. Each year, the U.S. Department of State releases a visa bulletin listing the eligible countries.

For example, Russian nationals were allowed to participate in the lottery until 2004. However, from 2005 to 2009, they were excluded due to the high number of immigrants from Russia. In the 2010 DV Lottery, Russian citizens regained eligibility to participate.

The lottery is conducted by the U.S. Department of State under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This program makes 55,000 immigrant visas available annually, aiming to enhance racial and ethnic diversity in the U.S. immigrant population. The selection process prioritizes applicants from countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the United States in the past five years.

In 2020, approximately 13 million people applied for the Diversity Visa Lottery. The U.S. Department of State distributes these visas across six geographic regions, ensuring that no single country can receive more than 7% of the total DV visas issued in a given year.

Many fraudulent agencies charge applicants fees or falsely claim to increase their chances of winning the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery. However, the only legitimate way to enter the lottery is by completing the official entry form on the U.S. Department of State’s website completely free of charge.

Since 2005, efforts have been made to eliminate fraudulent programs related to the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery and protect applicants from scams.

Complete Guide to the U.S. Lottery Application Form

VWALT Guide to U.S. Lottery Registration Steps

Registration Steps:

Section 1: Registration – Applicant Information

  1. Last Name and First Name
  2. Gender
  3. Date of Birth
  4. City Where You Were Born
  5. Country Where You Were Born
  6. Eligible Country for the Lottery
  7. Upload a Suitable Photo
  8. Address and Residence Information
  9. Country Where You Currently Live
  10. Phone Number
  11. Email Address
  12. Highest Level of Education
  13. Marital Status
  14. Number of Children
  15. Confirmation Number (Single)

Section 2: Dependent Information

  1. Spouse’s Last Name and First Name
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Gender
  4. City of Birth
  5. Country of Birth
  6. Upload a Suitable Photo
  7. Confirmation Number (Married Without Children)
  1. Last Name and First Name of the First Child
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Gender
  4. City of Birth
  5. Country of Birth
  6. Upload a Suitable Photo
  7. Confirmation Number

Read More:

How to Register on the Lottery Website

Official Free Lottery Registration Website

First, go to the official Lottery website and click on the “Entry Begin” option to start the registration.

Complete Image Guide for Lottery Registration

Form: DS-5501 Lottery
Training Version: 2025 VWALT

  • Start Page

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After clicking “Begin Entry,” indicated by a green button, you will be directed to the page below.

  • Security Code

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In this section, you need to enter the captcha code and select the “Submit” option.

Section 1: Entering Applicant Information:

1- The Name section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Last/Family Name: should be written exactly as it appears on your passport.
  • First Name: should be written exactly as it appears on your passport.
  • Middle name: In some countries, people do not have a middle name, in which case this field should be left blank. If you have a middle name, please fill it in.

2- Gender Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • For males, select “Male”.
  • For females, select “Female”.

3- The “Birth date” section includes the following fields:

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  • Day
  • Month
  • Year
  • The birthdate should be entered in the Gregorian calendar (Western date). If you don’t know your birthdate in the Gregorian calendar, you can search on Google to convert your Persian (Hijri Shamsi) birthdate to the Gregorian calendar and enter it.

4- Section for City Where You Were Born:

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  • Write the name of the city where you were born (if you do not know the name of the city, check the box for “Birth city unknown”).

5- Section: Country Where You Were Born

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  • Select the country where you were born from the dropdown menu.

6- The section for Eligible Country for the Diversity Visa (DV) program:

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  • Do not click on the “No” option if you are from an eligible country, and do not select any country from the dropdown list. Proceed to the next step, which is section 7. (This means your country is eligible, so “YES” should remain selected, and “NO” should not be chosen. We have already discussed the eligible countries and provided their list earlier.)

7- Section for Uploading Photo or Entrant Photograph:

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  • The next step is uploading the photo (the photo you wish to upload must meet specific conditions and requirements, which are explained in detail in the first link of this article).

8- The Mailing Address section, which includes the following fields:

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In Care Of : 
If you are using someone else’s mailing address, enter their name in this section.

Address line 1 و Address line 2 : 
Enter your mailing address.

City / Town :
Enter your city name.

District/County/Province/State :
Enter your state/province name.

Postal code/Zip Code :
Enter your postal code.

Country :
Select your country of residence from the dropdown menu. (If you have trouble entering your mailing address in English, continue reading.)

✱ Important Tips for Filling in Your Address:

  • Writing a correct and concise address is very important, not only for the lottery but also for international matters. Ensuring accuracy in address formatting is essential.
  • In English, the address format is reversed compared to some other languages. You should start with the house/building number and then proceed to the city.
  • In Iran, since streets and highways are often named after historical figures or martyrs (Shahid), it is not necessary to include the word “Shahid” in your address. However, if needed, you can use the word “Martyr” instead.
  • When filling out the Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) form, the city and country are entered in separate fields, so there is no need to repeat them in the address section.
  • The correct way to write street or alley numbers is highlighted in purple in the table on the next page.
  • Since there are only two fields available for entering your address, ensure that it is as concise and complete as possible.

Now, I will explain how to convert a Persian address into English and correctly place it in the relevant fields with an example.

  • When writing an address in English, the order is reversed. You start with the house/building number, followed by the alley/dead-end/street name, then the neighborhood or district, and finally the city and country.

Example: 14, 25th Street, Limmatquai Street, Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland, 8001

Address Line 1: No. 14, 25th Street
Address Line 2: Limmatquai Street, Bahnhofstrasse
City/Town: Zurich
District/County/Province/State: Zurich
Postal Code: 8001
Country: Switzerland

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Here are common terms you can use when writing an address in English:

Building Number & Units:

Building Number = No.
Unit = Unit
Floor = Floor
Ground Floor = Ground Floor

Buildings & Complexes:

Building = Bldg
Complex = Complex
Residential Complex = Residential Complex
Town = Town

Neighborhoods & Districts:

Quarter = Quarter
District = District
Postal Code = P.O. BOX

Streets & Roads:

Alley = Alley
Small Street = St
Main Street = Ave
Boulevard = Blvd
Square = Sq

Highways & Roads:

Highway = Highway
Freeway = Freeway
Road = Rd
Crossroad = Cross
Intersection / Junction = Junc

Directions:

West = West
East = East
North = North
South = South

Location References:

Right Side = Right Side
Left Side = Left Side
Lower than = Lower of
Higher than = Above of
After = After
Before = Before
Between = Between
Phase = Phase
Near = Near
Corner = Corner

Landmarks & Positions:

First of = First of
End of = End of
In Front of = In Front of
Dead End = Dead End

Cities & Provinces:

Village = Village
City = City
Province = Province
Country = Country

Industrial & Business Areas:

Industrial Estate = Industrial Estate
Entrance = Entrance

Google Translate (Using Google Translator for U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery Registration)

And finally, you can enter your address using this link in Google Translate, and Google will provide a shortened English version of your address.

⚠ Please note: Google Translate may sometimes make mistakes, so this option does not work with 100% accuracy. Always double-check your translated address before submitting it to ensure it is correct.

9- Country Where You Live Today Section:

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– Select the name of the country where you currently live from the dropdown menu.

10- Phone Number Section:

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  • Enter your mobile number: (Example: 0790000000 should be entered as +41 79 000 0000 for Switzerland).

11- E-mail Address Section:

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  • E-mail Address is very important because, if you win, all correspondence will be conducted through this email.
  • Confirm E-mail Address: Enter your email address again.

12- What is the highest level of education you have achieved, as of today? Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Primary School Only – Equivalent to elementary school education (basic primary education).
  • High School, No Degree – Equivalent to high school without a diploma. This applies to individuals who are still in high school and have not yet graduated, those who have not received a high school diploma, or individuals who dropped out before completing high school.
  • High School Degree – Equivalent to a high school diploma (11 or 12 years of education or pre-university diploma). This certifies that you are academically prepared for university admission.
  • Vocational School – Equivalent to a technical and vocational certificate. This type of education does not include academic subjects. For example, if you attended vocational training programs (e.g., hairdressing courses) without studying theoretical subjects, this is not considered an academic qualification for university admission. This option is not acceptable for the Diversity Visa Lottery unless you have two years of work experience meeting O*NET requirements. If you have completed a vocational high school diploma, do not select this option; instead, select “High School Degree.”
  • Some University Courses – Equivalent to being a current associate’s or bachelor’s degree student (you have started but not completed your degree).
  • University Degree – Equivalent to an associate’s degree (two years) or a bachelor’s degree (four years).
  • Some Graduate Level Courses – Equivalent to being a current master’s degree student (you have started but not completed your master’s degree).
  • Master’s Degree – Equivalent to a master’s degree (postgraduate education after a bachelor’s degree).
  • Some Doctorate Level Courses – Equivalent to being a current Ph.D. student (you have started but not completed your doctorate).
  • Doctorate Degree – Equivalent to a completed Ph.D. degree (highest academic qualification).

You must have at least a high school diploma, which is defined as successful completion of an 11-12 year elementary and secondary education program that qualifies you for university admission.

If your highest level of education is below a high school diploma or you hold an adult education diploma, you must have two years of work experience within the last five years in a job that requires at least two years of training or experience.

For more details, visit this link.

13- What is your current marital status? Section, which includes the following fields:

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Explanation of Marital Status Options in the Diversity Visa Lottery Form

1. Unmarried

This means you have never been legally married before and are currently single. If you are in a relationship but not legally married, you must still select “Unmarried.”

2. Married, and my spouse is NOT a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

This means you are legally married, but your spouse does not have U.S. citizenship or a Green Card (Lawful Permanent Resident status).

  • If your spouse is a foreign national without U.S. residency, you must include them in your DV Lottery application.

3. Married, and my spouse is a U.S. citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)

This means you are legally married, and your spouse is either a U.S. citizen or has a Green Card (Lawful Permanent Resident status).

  • In this case, you do not need to include your spouse in your DV Lottery entry because they are already eligible to live in the U.S.

4. Divorced

This means you were previously married, but your marriage has been legally dissolved by a court.

  • You must have legal divorce documentation to prove your marital status.

5. Widowed

This means you were previously married, but your spouse has passed away.

  • You are now considered single due to the death of your spouse.

6. Legally Separated

This means that a court has issued a legal separation order, but you are still technically married.

  • Important: If you are legally separated, your spouse cannot be included in your application because your marriage is legally recognized, but you are living separately under a court order.
  • If you are not legally separated by a court but are simply living apart, you should still select “Married” instead of “Legally Separated.”

14- Number of children  : 

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  • In this section, enter the number of your children on the day of registration in numerical form.

You must list all children for whom you are a biological parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent who are under 21 years old and unmarried on the day of registration. This includes:

✔ Your biological children, even if you are divorced from their other parent, they do not live with you, or they do not intend to immigrate to the United States.
✔ Your legally adopted children, even if they do not live with you or do not plan to immigrate.
✔ Your stepchildren (your spouse’s children from a previous marriage), even if you are divorced, they do not live with you, or they do not plan to immigrate.

⚠ Failure to list all eligible children will result in disqualification and will prevent your family from receiving a visa if you win.

❌ Do not include children who are already U.S. citizens or Green Card holders.

** Unmarried individuals complete their registration at this step. However, married applicants must proceed to the next form to enter their spouse’s and children’s details. **

If you have completed your form as a principal applicant, the entered information will be displayed on the next page. Review all details carefully to ensure accuracy.

Once you have confirmed that all information is correct, click the green “Submit” button at the bottom of the page to finalize your registration.
After submission, the following confirmation page will appear.

Confirmation Number:

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Save the information on this page as you will need it when the Diversity Visa Lottery results are announced.

Section Two: Dependent Information

If you are not unmarried and have a spouse and/or children, you must continue with the following steps.

Note: Be sure to enter your spouse’s information, even if they do not wish to apply for a visa or for any other reason. If you win the lottery and you have not included your spouse’s name, your spouse will not receive a visa under any circumstances.

Spouse Information:

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13- Spouse Name Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Last/Family Name: Must be written exactly as it appears on the passport.
  • First Name: Must be written exactly as it appears on the passport.
  • Middle Name: In some countries, middle names are not commonly used. Leave this field blank if there is no middle name. If a middle name exists, enter it exactly as it appears on the passport.

13d- Birth Date Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Day
  • Month
  • Year

The date of birth must be written in the Gregorian (Miladi) calendar.
If you do not know your birth date in the Gregorian calendar, you can search on Google to convert your Persian (Shamsi) date to Gregorian and enter it correctly.

13e- Gender Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Select Male for males.
  • Select Female for females.

13f- City Where Spouse Was Born: Enter the name of the city where your spouse was born.

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  • Enter the name of the city where your spouse was born.
    ⚠ If you do not know the name of the birth city, check the “Birth City Unknown” option.

13g- Country Where Spouse Was Born: Enter the name of the country where your spouse was born.

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  • In this section, select the name of the country where your spouse was born from the dropdown menu.

13h- Spouse Photograph Section:

[ Photo here ]The upload step is where you submit your spouse’s photograph. The photo you wish to upload must meet specific requirements, which are explained in this link.

Married individuals without children complete their registration at this step, but married individuals with children must proceed to the next form to enter their spouse’s and children’s details.

If you have completed the form as a married applicant without children, the entered information will be displayed on the next page. After reviewing the information and ensuring its accuracy, select the green “Submit” button at the bottom of the page to finalize your registration.

After submission, the following confirmation page will be displayed.

Confirmation Number:

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Save the information on this page, as you will need it when the Diversity Visa Lottery results are announced.

Children’s Information:

  • 14.1: Number of Children

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14- Child #1 Name Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Last/Family Name: Must be written exactly as it appears on the passport.
  • First Name: Must be written exactly as it appears on the passport.
  • Middle Name: In some countries, middle names are not commonly used. Leave this field blank if there is no middle name. If a middle name exists, enter it exactly as it appears on the passport.

14d- Birth Date Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Day
  • Month
  • Year

The date of birth must be written in the Gregorian (Miladi) calendar.
If you do not know the birth date in the Gregorian calendar, you can search on Google to convert it. For example, convert your Persian (Shamsi) date to Gregorian and enter it correctly.

14e- Gender Section, which includes the following fields:

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  • Select Male for males.
  • Select Female for females.

14f- City Where Child Was Born: Enter the name of the city where your child was born.

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  • Enter the name of the city where your child was born.
    ⚠ If you do not know the name of the birth city, check the “Birth City Unknown” option.

14g- Country Where Child Was Born: Enter the name of the country where your child was born.

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  • In this section, select the name of the country where your child was born from the dropdown menu.

14h- Child Photograph Section:

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The upload step is where you submit your child’s photograph. The photo you wish to upload must meet specific requirements, which are explained in this link.

Information Review Stage:

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On the next page, the entered information will be displayed.
After reviewing and confirming the accuracy of the details, click the green “Submit” button at the bottom of the page to complete your registration.
Once submitted, the following confirmation page will appear.

Form Submission:

  • In the next step, if all information has been entered correctly, a page will appear displaying all the details again for your review.
    If you find any errors, you will have the opportunity to correct them before final submission.
  • If all the information is correct, click “SUBMIT” to finalize your application.

Confirmation Number:

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If all the required fields have been correctly completed, you will receive a Confirmation Number.

Make sure to write down or save this number, as you will need it to check whether you have won the Diversity Visa Lottery when the results are announced.

✅ Recommended Actions:

– Print a copy for extra security.
– Take a screenshot of the confirmation page and save the image.

Final Notes:

  • Minor mistakes such as missing a letter or swapping letters typically do not lead to disqualification, as long as these errors are not repeated multiple times in the form. If you are selected, the consular officer during the interview will decide whether to overlook the mistake or not.
  • Do not forget: The 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) registration period will begin in October 2025 and end in November 2025. It is recommended to complete your registration as early as possible to avoid any last-minute issues.

🎉 We hope you will be one of the lucky winners of the 2027 Diversity Visa Lottery! 🎉

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